19. Khuldruk

19

KHULDRUK

H is decision to carry his little mate was made to make better time. He could have already been at the inn if he was traveling by himself; his legs are much longer than hers. Plus, he was a warrior—he was used to long journeys. He had thought if he could carry her, they would make better time. He did not factor in that holding her like this would press her sweet, warm cunt into his back. He could feel her through his tunic and vest, and she seemed to be just as aroused as she clung to him. The sweet scent of his mate’s arousal filled his senses, and it was all he could do not to find a place for them to rut in peace, but he wanted something different for their first time in this form.

He could sense the mating bond sparkling in her since they crossed into this world. He was aching to bury his knot in her sweet cunt, but he would not bed her until they were at the inn, and he would not bury his knot in her until she was ready to perform the mating bond. Plus, they had another day of travel before they could do that.

He picked up his pace now that his mate was safely holding onto him and made their way to the inn. After another hour of walking, the sun was sinking low in the sky. At last, the little inn on the outskirts of the elven village came into view.

"There it is, my pet," he said as he knelt so she could get off.

"Look at the sky," she said in awe.

He turned to spy a particularly lovely sunset with violet and teal and pink all painting the sky.

"I have never seen such a beautiful sunset in all my life," she said, taking it in.

His heart squeezed at the sight of his little mate appreciating the beauty of his land. It filled him with hope that she would choose to stay here with him.

"Shall we?" he posed as he rested his hand on the small of her back to guide her into the inn.

As he opened the door, the sound of people chattering away and the smell of freshly baked bread hit them both. His little mate's stomach gave a mighty rumble for such a small creature. Shame needled his insides. How had he let her get that hungry? It was done. She would have a warm meal before her and a bed beneath her.

They entered the inn, and he could feel eyes on them. He was not in his clan's territory, but he wasn't in enemy territory either. The elven town between the mountains was neutral, but he caught the eye of another orc, one from the other clan. He watched closely as this orc eyed his little mate.

Khuldruk pushed her gently to the other side of him, blocking her from the gaze of the rival orc. He may be the leader of his clan, but being alone with his mate made him more vulnerable to attack.

"Good evening, Khuldruk. Welcome back. Your horse is still stabled here, ready for your return voyage."

"Thank you," he said with a slight nod of his head. "I think we’ll head out in the morning. Do you have a room available tonight?"

"For you, of course. Do you wish to have your dinner in the dining room or have it brought up for you?"

"We’ll eat in our room."

"Of course," said the innkeeper with a nod before leading them up the stairs to their room.

Calli stifled a gasp as the innkeeper came around from behind the bar, showing his goat legs. Clancy, the innkeeper, was a fawn. Khuldruk thought nothing of it; he had almost forgotten his human mate wasn't accustomed to such a diverse array of creatures. Pulling a large key ring from his pocket, he unlocked the door at the back of the hallway and showed them in.

"Best room for the chief of the Lochcraig Clan," said Clancy with a hospitable smile.

"It is much appreciated," answered Khuldruk as he guided Callie into the room.

"I’ll be up soon with your dinner. Please rest till then," he said before turning back to the door and shutting it behind him.

Khuldruk's eyes fell to Callie as she walked around the room, taking it all in. Her hand traced along the bed as she walked to the window and gazed at the setting sun.

"What are you thinking, my pet?" he asked.

She turned and smiled at him. That smile settled in his soul. Seeing her here, in his world, made him even more sure of their next step. She would be his. His mate. His everything.

"How is it possible to be in a place so foreign to me but still have it feel familiar? The people look different, the places like something out of a fairytale. Even the sky looks different," she said, looking out the window at the deep purple sky as the first stars started to twinkle. "How is it possible that a place this different feels like home?"

The look on her face had him cutting the distance between them with giant strides. He cupped her face in his hands. "Because you are home. We belong together. All the universes seem to agree," he said as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. His need to not be gentle was growing hard in his trousers, but he closed his eyes and took a careful breath, pushing those feelings away.

He was saved by a knock at the door as he moved across the room to open it.

Clancy was there holding a tray. "I have your dinner."

Khuldruk nodded and moved to open the door, allowing him in. After he set the table next to the fireplace with two bowls of steaming stew and a plate with bread and cheese, along with a pitcher and two mugs, he moved to leave.

"May I have a word?" Clancy asked Khuldruk, motioning to the hallway.

"One moment," he said to Calli and followed Clancy to the hall.

"I just want to tell you that since you've been gone, there has been a battle brewing between the clans. Your brother has done his best to stave off the other clan, but tensions are high. Be careful on the road through the mountains."

"Thank you for the warning. We’ll leave first thing after breakfast. Can you make sure the horse is ready for the journey?"

"Of course. Please, go join your mate," he said with a nod.

Khuldruk's eyes cut to him. "How did you know she was my mate?"

"Your journey to find your mate has spread through the kingdom. Is she not your mate?"

"She is. Can we please try to keep the fact that I’m back and I found her between just us until I have returned to my mountain?"

"Of course."

"Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d like to go eat my dinner."

Clancy just gave a small bow and made his way down the hallway. Khuldruk turned and headed back through his door. The news he had received was less than ideal, but he still couldn't help but feel hopeful as he gazed upon his beautiful mate sitting at the table waiting for him.

"What was that about?" she asked as he joined her at the table.

As he poured them each some honey mead, he had a choice to make. What kind of relationship would they have? Would she be his precious mate who he kept safe and treated as the little mate she was? Or would he treat her as a confidant, a true equal who could rule with him? There was only one answer he knew to be true.

"Apparently, there is some unrest. Our rival clan heard word of my search for a mate to reclaim the magic. My brother has staved off any battles, but it looks like the road home might be a bit more dangerous than I would have hoped."

"Oh," she said, her brow creased with concern.

"Never fear, my pet. I’ll get us to our mountain safely."

"I know you will."

The ease with which she spoke those words comforted him. "Now, let's eat."

Once they finished dinner, he stood and held his hand out for his little mate. He had been patient long enough. She had been patient long enough, if the scent of her arousal was any indication.

"Shall we get ready for bed?" he asked, his hands finding the laces of her stays once the door to their room was closed behind them.

Her eyes connected with his as he slowly pulled the laces before it fell away and she stood in her shift before him. The hard peaks of her nipples called to him. He had to make this good for her. He startled as he felt her hands pulling at the ties of his trousers.

He helped her take his pants off. As they fell to the floor, he gripped her shift and slipped it over her head. Both stood naked in front of each other in their true forms. She looked much the same, but his gaze traveled up her body, taking in all her curves and soft lines, the soft mound of her belly, the lush breasts, up her neck to her eyes filled with...horror.

"What's wrong?"

Her mouth dropped open, and she gaped at him, her eyes never meeting his, stuck on...well, on his cock. A hearty laugh rumbled through this chest, but it did nothing to get her attention anywhere else.

Finally, her eyes flew up to his. "That is not going to fit," she said adamantly.

"It will fit."

"I'm not a physicist or anything, but unless my vagina grew magically, there is no way," she said, still eyeing his massive cock.

"You're good for my ego," he said as he swept her off her feet, carrying her to bed.

"But seriously, Dru, it was a tight fit when you were in your human form. How is this going to work?"

"Do you trust me?" he asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Heaven help me, I do," she said as she shook her head and huffed a small laugh.

He laid her in bed and crawled right in next to her, wrapping them in the covers.

"This is a very soft bed," she said, sitting up, looking surprised.

"Did you think I would take you to an inn with an uncomfortable bed?"

"No. I just didn't know what to expect."

Her eyes caught on his cock tenting the sheets. She looked at him, and he gave a small nod. She pulled back the covers, and he clasped his hands behind his head and stretched out for his mate’s perusal.

She traced her finger trip the tip of his cock, all the way to the base, as pre-cum began to bead at the tip.

"What is this?" she asked as she traced her fingers along the bulge at the base of his cock.

"My knot."

"What's it for? Pleasure?" she asked as she ran her fingers all around it.

A groan rumbled in his chest as she touched him. "Yes, it is for pleasure, but also to make sure my seed stays deep in your cunt. When we are mated, it will lock inside of you after we fuck."

The air was suddenly thick with her arousal. "You like the thought of that, little mate? You want to take my knot?"

"I can't!" she said, panic mixing her with the arousal in the air.

"Yes, you can. It will fit. I’ll make sure you are slick and stretched and begging for it."

It would seem all that was left now was arousal, and she brought both of her hands to wrap around his cock and squeeze as she stroked it up and down. He groaned as a bead of pre-cum rolled down his cock. Callie lowered her head and traced her tongue along the ridge of his cock, catching the drip on her tongue.

"Enough. Now, I get you ready," he said as rolled her onto her back and settled between her legs. "I’m going to taste you and stretch you until you beg for my cock. And you will beg for it," he said before spreading her legs and running his nose along her slit, inhaling deeply.