Episode Fifteen Hurry!

N adira

He dresses me as though I'm the most important, most breakable thing on the planet, clutches me to his chest, and runs us back to our village.

How was I lucky enough to find such an astute, sensitive male as my mate? He knew I'd lost my way, lost my self, even before I noticed. I just tumbled into a trance, falling to my knees to suck him as if I'd been ordered to do so.

What a wonderful male he is, because he didn't want me that way. Even though it would bring him pleasure, he didn't want to use me when I was in an altered state.

Being fully present for what we did was so much more fulfilling. I feel even closer to him than before.

In the past, I've never felt true desire, having always thought it was the province of men. But there's nothing ambiguous about the damp heat between my thighs. Or the urgency I feel to get to our hut and feel the intimacy of having him inside me. I haven't eaten since breakfast, but I'm much hungrier for my mate than for food.

Azael is certainly emboldened since our little interlude, because he says, "I'm going to make you come a dozen times when we return to our hut, then I'm going to slide into your wet channel and make you mine."

There aren't many females Down Below. That's not only what he said, but I've seen with my own eyes how few there are in his village. I don't know how a handsome male like him could be a virgin, but maybe he is. He should certainly know women don't come.

"Very funny," I say to clue him in to the facts without calling attention to his ignorance. "But you can have me as many times as you like."

He was running as fast as his muscular legs could carry him, but he slows, cocks his head, and looks at me as I'm tucked to his chest.

"What's funny, little Nadira?"

"The ‘come a dozen times' part."

He stops walking altogether and ducks his head closer. "You can only come once? Is that a human thing?"

"Women don't come, Azael," I say it matter-of-factly, not wanting him to feel stupid.

"Human women don't come?" he asks, his head tipped. "Monk females don't spurt like males, but they have big bursts of pleasure like we do. This does not happen to you?"

He looks baffled.

"‘Fraid not."

A dozen emotions fly across his face, ending with sheer stubbornness.

"We shall see, Nadira. We shall see."

He pours on the speed, and we wind up at his village in the trees just as the sun is setting. The large communal firepit at the outskirts of the grove of tall trees is ablaze, and many of the monks are cooking their dinner.

"I completely forgot we were hunting for rabbits," I whisper.

"I distracted you." He kisses my forehead.

"Azael, Nadira," Kaz and Onyx's mother, Beyette, calls from across the fire, "come share some of our squirrel."

"I'd rather go to our hut," I whisper.

"Monks' hearing isn't as good as wolven, but we hear well. Everyone probably heard that," he says.

When everyone suddenly becomes very interested in their food, I realize he's right.

"Shit."

"They all know you want…," he leans and makes almost no sound as he speaks directly in my ear, "to go to our hut and come a dozen times."

I smack his arm and laugh, causing everyone around us to join in. They must have known things had been tenuous between us over the past few weeks. I guess us joking about sex is all the clue they need to know we're going to be acting like true mates from now on.

We eat quickly and Beyette offers to clean our dishes, saying with a laugh, "Looks like you're in a hurry."

Several of the young males have been busy making our village in the treetops feel like home to me. They've constructed a rope ladder from our hut to the ground and have built a bridge-like structure from our door to Reese's. I have yet to climb the ladder, though, because my mate always carries me.

A little thrill sizzles up my spine when I even think the words "my mate." It feels so good, making me feel so special and cared for. I refuse to think about the secret Azael finally spilled today when we heard the drums from the rendezvous. I'll worry about having two more mates later. Tonight, it will just be the two of us. Me and the handsome monk who treats me as if I'm the most important thing in his world.