THIRTY-FOUR

- sedona -

That night, I sit naked criss-cross in Kuvier's hut using my hands to gently stream water over the wounds on his body. After the chaos of the last twenty-four hours, the quiet and stillness of the dimly lit hut are very welcomed.

I put the water pouch back over the fire and pick up a small skull full of a foul-smelling paste Kuvier's mother had given me. She'd stopped us as we left Tiqii's hut and pressed it into my hand with a watery smile before walking away. Kuvier promised that we would take time for a proper introduction. Carefully, I spread a thin layer over the cuts and scratches on his back and shoulder.

"How do you feel?" I ask him when I'm done. I crawl around him and the moment I am in front of him, he pulls me towards him. Straddling his legs, I sit on his lap, carefully resting my hands on an uninjured spot on his chest.

"Better, the tiva paste is already soothing the pain." He nuzzles his nose into the crook of my neck and inhales deeply. "Having you back in my arms soothes everything else."

"I missed you," I say, leaning into his gentle nosing.

"I was half a male without you," he states, honesty clear in the timber of his voice.

"Kuvier," I begin hesitantly, "what do you think will happen now?"

He pulls away and considers me for a moment. "My mother told me to take you and leave. She thinks that Junq will never give up and that his ire will transfer to you and then our kits."

I try not to focus on the flutter in my stomach when he mentions us having kits.

"We can't leave without the others." I frown deeply. "I want to leave, but they won't be safe here. Not with the way some of some of these men see us as objects."

"I know this," he responds with a sigh. "This is why I do not have a true answer for you. I do not know what we should do next. Tomorrow, Enikk will fight, and I will fight with him again. But after that, I do not know. We cannot fight for the other females, as they have no one else to claim them at the end."

This circles my brain back to the idea that's formulating in my head.

"How did you know I was your mate?" I've guessed the answer already, but I want to know for sure.

"By your smell," he divulges. "Lieq are scent driven, and when I smelled you, I knew that you were mine as surely as I knew that there are three eyes in the sky."

More pieces of my plan fall into place.

Switching to English, I tell him, "I have a plan to stop these Rites." I lay out my idea, completely in English in case of wayward ears.

His gaze sharpens and I know he's with me when he says, "It will antagonize Junq, but you are right. It will stop everything in its tracks. Are you prepared to deal with the fallout?"

"After we stop the Rites, we need to do what your mom said and run," I answer. "I don't want to stay in a clan that treats you or us like this."

"It will be dangerous to leave now," he admits, though his voice isn't telling me no. "The dark season is quickly upon us."

"I thought about that, too. What if we go back to the cra—er, cave in the valley? We can stop by the hunter's caves on the way and take back what we put in."

He considers this for a moment before giving a slow nod. "This is what we will do. I know Enikk will come with us."

"All of the girls already know about the first part of my plan, but I don't doubt that they will be happy and ready to leave." My nose crinkles in disdain. "We all hate it here."

"Then we will do as you have said. Tomorrow." He gently tilts me back until I am laying on my back, my legs spread open over each of his hips to completely expose me to him. "Tonight, I have other plans for you."

"I want you to mark me," I blurt out before I lose my nerve. Kuvier's entire body goes still around me. I sit up on my elbows and hold my breath, waiting for his response.

"Ti khesi," he begins carefully, "I want nothing more, but I will not allow you to be pushed into this decision by Junq of all people."

I shake my head, but keep my eyes trained on his chest. "No, that's not why. I want you to. Really."

"Before you had been very clear that you were not ready." The uncertainty is evident in his voice.

"I realized tonight that I've never wanted anything or anyone more than the way that I want you." I finally look back up at him. "I've spent my whole life running from emotional connections because I didn't want to end up in loveless relationships like my mom. I didn't think there was anyone who could make me as happy as I was alone. But, you do. You make me so much happier."

Even if the other girls find a way back to Earth, this is where I want to be. He's silent for a long moment, so long I think he doesn't believe me and my gaze drops back to his chest. But then, his one clawless finger touches under my chin. When my eyes are lifted to meet his, the unbridled joy in his face is more than I could have expected.

"I want all of you." His eyes scan over my face searchingly. I know what he's asking, and I know what answer I want to give.

"Take all of me," I whisper back.

He needs no further words of encouragement. Gently, he pushes me down so I'm laid back completely, my body still spread in front of him, draped over his crossed legs. His eyes fall on my exposed pussy, drinking me in hungrily in the dim firelight. Reaching his one clawless finger out, he skirts over my core, teasing my folds but not delving in quite yet.

"You look so beautiful like this," he murmurs reverently before he suddenly thrusts the finger in me and I moan at the invasion. "You look even prettier like this, with your eyes screwed shut and your head thrown back."

His finger slides in and out of me, fucking me in a slow rhythm. I grind into each thrust, riding his hand with abandon. His thumb brushes against my clit with each movement, sending jolts of pleasure through me. When his finger curls inside me, hitting that perfect spot, my back arches up off of the furs.

He leans forward, using the claws of his free hand to skillfully snap the thin leather straps of the ceremonial fur dress and yank the top down until my breasts fall out. With a guttural growl, he uses that same hand to pinch and pull my nipples until they are taut under his fingers. My breaths come faster as I ride the waves of pleasure coursing through me. Every thrust and curl of his digit in me is intoxicating, but I want more. I want him.

"More, Kuvier," I pant, needing more of him, all of him. "Please, I want to feel you inside of me."

I plead, knowing that it'll drive him crazy. My Kuvier loves to tease me and make me beg, but when I clench around his finger, he caves quickly. He withdraws his finger, making me whimper at the loss, but only for a moment. I watch him with hooded eyes as he raises me off of his legs to stand and remove his leather pants. He slides them down his muscular thighs, freeing his huge cock. Once he's fully naked, he kneels back down, positioning himself above me, his hard length pressing against my entrance. He pauses, his eyes searching mine for any hesitation.

He's never said the words, but I'm pretty positive Kuvier is a virgin. With no women in his tribe and the way they treat him, I wouldn't be surprised. I've never been one to care about body count. Still, something about the idea of being the only one to ever give this man pleasure does things to me.

"Please, I want to feel my mate's cock in me."

With a deep groan, he pushes into me, filling me completely. The stretch is intense, almost too much, but I welcome it, reveling in the sensation of being so utterly claimed by him. His cock in my mouth was amazing, the glide of it like the softest suede, but god, his cock in my pussy makes me see stars. When he begins to move, those hard, raised nodules along the top of the base of his shaft rub deliciously against my clit and I throw my head back in ecstasy.

His thrusts are slow and deep, each one sending waves of pleasure crashing through me. I cling to him, my nails digging into his back, urging him on. His pace quickens, the rhythm becoming more urgent, more desperate.

"Kuvier," I moan, my voice breaking on his name as he drives me closer to the edge.

He leans down, capturing my lips in a searing kiss, his tongue tangling with mine. Our bodies move together in perfect harmony, each thrust bringing us closer to the peak. His hands roam over my body, caressing and claiming, making me feel like I belong to him completely.

I need him deeper so badly that I take over. Pushing him by the shoulder, I keep my legs locked around him so he can't pull out. I tilt up and he lets me roll us over until I'm straddling him. I sit all the way down, taking him to the hilt. Fuck. I'm filled to the brim, walking the line of pleasure and pain so deliciously.

I stay still and savor it for a moment, wanting this to last, and wanting to tease him with only the pulse of my pussy around him, but I start moving a second later. My body raises up and down, my pussy sliding along his ridged length, the tip pushing against my cervix every time I lower myself down completely. I try to go slow, but when he begins meeting me thrust for thrust, I lose what little control I have left.

I bounce on his dick, my hands on his chest for stability. I end every bounce with a deep grind, pressing his nodules against my clit with incredible friction. The pleasure builds, coiling tight in my belly, and I know I'm close.

"You are so tight, ti khesi," Kuvier groans out, his eyes watching me with adoration. "So tight around my cock. So wet for me."

I whine when he gives a particularly deep thrust as we crash into each other. "Only for you."

"Whose cunt is this?" he demands as he reaches up and tweaks my nipples, making my cries grow louder.

"Yours." My eyes screw shut and my movements become erratic. "Always yours."

Kuvier sits up so our chests are pressed together. He wraps a hand around my throat and squeezes just enough, pulling me to his lips. The kiss is sloppy and dirty and so fucking good. He sucks on my tongue and then pulls away before kissing down my jaw. I know where he's headed, but I'm too deep in ecstasy to feel an ounce of nerves. All I feel is want. I want this so bad I can taste it.

"Mark me. I want the world to know whose I am," I encourage through breathy pants.

Caught in the lusty haze, he doesn't hesitate. When he bites my neck, breaking the skin, it stings sharply at first. But then, a wave of warmth spreads from the bite, through my body and straight to my clit. Along with the mix of pain and pleasure, a surge of energy courses through me. I gasp when I feel it. The mate bond flares to life for me for the first time, and I feel a line snap between us, like a primal connection.

"Oh my god," I call out. "I feel it. I can feel the bond."

This does him in, he flips us over until I'm on my back again and he pumps in me at a punishing pace. His teeth are still on the crook of my neck, flooding my body with warmth. He hits the perfect spot, deep inside me and I see stars.

I shatter around him, my orgasm crashing through me like a tidal wave. My cries fill the hut, mingling with his groans as he follows me over the edge, spilling into me. His thrusts slow and he takes his mouth off, giving the wound a soft lick. Then, he presses his forehead to mine as we ride out our climax together.

When he finally stills and both of our hearts slow just a bit, he moves his lips to mine in a coppery kiss. Then he gingerly pulls out and rolls to the side, collapsing on the furs and immediately dragging me closer. His nose buries in my hair and we stay there for a long minute, our bodies entwined and our chests heaving in passionate rhythm.

He strokes a hand over my hip and murmurs into my hair, "Mine?"

"Yours." My voice has quiet conviction and I press a kiss to his jaw. "Always."