3. Zeleck

3

ZELECK

The pleased look on Jay-duh's face is every bit as satisfying as Lukka's scowl. My Rakui friend feels I am intruding on his courting of the desirable Terran female. Yet he knows I plan to claim her for myself.

"You know where to find Rakuium?" she says excitedly when I offer to help her look for some. "That would be great, Zeleck."

Lukka turns his back to me. "I can accompany you instead, Jay-duh."

She raises a single brow. "I thought you said Rakuium is dangerous."

"It is—" Lukka says before I interrupt him.

"In the wrong hands," I say. "A smart female like you would know to be cautious with Rakuium."

Lukka growls. "I was just about to say that myself."

Jay-duh looks at us and laughs. "While you two finish your pissing contest, I'm going to get something to eat. Let's talk more about this later, Zeleck." With a wave she leaves me and Lukka standing alone.

"What is this piss-zing contest she speaks of?" he says.

I do not know. "Maybe it is related to the Terran mating habit of kiss-zing ?" The mouth-to-mouth pleasure sharing that Trauhn first described is something I long to experience with Jay-duh. Her lips are full and rosy, and I imagine her mouth tastes sweeter than the ripest moogah fruit.

Lukka considers this possibility. "I will win this contest since I am the younger and stronger male."

Now I am the one who scowls. "Unless this is a contest won with wisdom and experience."

He crosses his arms over his broad, bare chest. "We need to learn more about this contest before declaring a winner."

I nod thoughtfully. "You go talk to Ken-zee, and I will see what Jill-ee-un has to say."

"Why do you get to talk to Jill-ee-un?" Lukka argues about everything. "She is the most forthcoming Terran when it comes to mating habits."

"Because I also need to thank her for something," I explain.

Lukka eventually gives in. "Very well. I will go find Ken-zee."

I spoke the truth about needing to thank Jill-ee-un. She is the one who lured Jay-duh to the celebration at my request.

Earlier, I was watching Jay-duh sit in the shadows when a pang of yearning stirred within me. I wanted her to celebrate the new lives that were conceived. To share in the joy of the Rakui- Terran matings. To experience the camaraderie of belonging to the tribe.

That is why I took a mug of mead to Jill-ee-un.

"Thanks, dude, but preggo women can't drink alcohol," she told me.

"It is not for you," I explained to her. "It is for Jay-duh. Perhaps you could take it to her and ask her to join the celebration."

"You don't want to take it to her yourself?" she said, grinning. "Just kidding. I'm happy to play matchmaker. What's your plan once she's here?"

I handed her the mug. "I will bring her food and tell her she is my mate."

Jillian laughed at that, which made me bristle. "That's a shitty plan, Zeleck. Jade doesn't want a mate, so telling her that would be the worst thing to say. You need to play it cool."

"Cooler weather is coming now that it is the rainy season. Should I offer to keep her warm under the furs?"

That suggestion had made Jill-ee-un laugh even harder. "Playing it cool means taking a more subtle approach. Find ways to spend some time with her as friends. Get to know her better before trying to change her mind about the whole mating thing or offering to share furs."

I am a seasoned warrior and a leader among my tribespeople. Yet nothing in my life has prepared me to win the heart of my Terran mate. "That is very good advice."

"Of course it is," Jill-ee-un told me as she went to talk with my mate. "I'm an expert at matters of the heart."

While half-listening to Reyzon's story about hunting for the celebration, I watched Jill-ee-un's interactions with Jay-duh. While I could not hear their words, when Jay-duh smiled and got to her feet, I knew that Jill-ee-un had achieved success.

Now, I had a plan to spend more time with Jay-duh. I needed to find Jill-ee-un and thank her.

I scan the group, seeing her across the fire pit nestled in the arms of her mate. She is speaking with vigorous animation to a small group surrounding them. As I get closer, I realize she is recounting the tale of her Rakuium ring.

"The rock was flying right at me, so I put my hands up to shield the baby. It all happened so fast, but the ring Remmel gave me started glowing, and then it shielded me from the rock. Can you fucking believe that? It was crazy!"

"I am very angry with Lukka for putting my mate in danger," Remmel grumbles, pulling Jill-ee-un tighter against him.

"Accidents happen, babe." Jill-ee-un speaks to him in a soothing voice. She will be an excellent mother. "I don't think I was in any real danger."

I join the group. "I saw it happen, and it was truly remarkable."

"We need to do some Rakuium testing," the Terran female Gee-uh says. "Find out what it's capable of."

"Jay-duh has already thought of that," I tell her and the others. "She is going to look for more, and I am going to accompany her."

Jill-ee-un looks at me, surprised. "As friends?"

"For now." I grin, then lower my voice. "Thank you for your help."

She winks and nods. "Any time."

"Sounds great," Gee-uh says. "I'll work with Zavra to establish some testing protocols."

"Jill-ee-un," I say. "May I have a word with you?"

"Sure." She looks at Remmel until he lets her go, and we step away from the group. "What's up?"

"I need to know what a piss- zing contest is."

She bites back a smile. "How come?"

"After Jay-duh accepted my help to find more Rakuium, Lukka argued with me about it, saying he should go with her instead."

Jill-ee-un nods. "Then what happened?"

"Jay-duh said she would talk with me later about our Rakuium search, and that she was going to eat while Lukka and I finished our piss- zing contest."

She bursts into laughter. "In this case, it's a human phrase that means a pointless competition between two male rivals."

"So, it is not related to kiss- zing ? Lukka and I thought it might be some form of human courtship ritual."

Jill-ee-un shakes her head. "It's a fight over something silly."

"How do you determine the winner of the competition?"

"You don't. Since you two were fighting over something Jade thought was stupid, you're both losers."

"Ah, I see. Then, I will attempt to avoid piss- zing contests in the future, especially with Lukka. Thank you, Jill-ee-un. Your wisdom is always appreciated."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jay-duh stumble close to the fire. Her movements are unsteady, and I realize she has had too much mead. Concern wells up inside me. If she falls into the fire, she will be seriously hurt.

Then, as if sensing my gaze on her, she glances my way, and our eyes lock. A sizzle of energy crackles between us, making my pulse race. To my delight, the corners of her mouth quirk upward in the barest hint of a smile.

"If you're going off to save Jade from herself, tread lightly," Jill-ee-un warns. "She doesn't like to be told what to do."

I nod, grateful for her advice as I walk toward my future mate. Jay-duh greets me with another tentative smile, and I cannot deny the thrill that courses through my blood.

"Are you enjoying the celebration?" I ask.

She shrugs, swaying slightly, and lifts her mug. "I'm enjoying the hell out of the mead."

"If you still wish to search for more Rakuium, I suggest we leave at first light."

"Sounds great." She empties her mug. "That means I should probably head to bed while I can still walk."

"I will accompany you back to the North Caves." Then, remembering what Jill-ee-un told me, I add, "If you like."

For a moment, I fear she might decline my offer. Then she nods and takes my outstretched hand so I can lead her away from the dangerous fire, away from the celebration, and into the darkness. When she trips on the uneven ground, I realize the mead has affected her even more than I thought.

"Oopsie." She struggles to remain upright. "I might be a little drunk."

There is no might about it. Without a second thought, I slip my arm securely around her trim waist, pulling her flush against my side.

When she sinks fully into me with a soft sigh, a shiver of need ripples through me. Every instinct in my body screams at me to tighten my hold, to crush her against me and taste the sweetness of her lips. I tamp down a groan…and the desire to take things further.

It would be easy to take advantage of Jay-duh in her current state, to use her lowered inhibitions to claim her as my mate. Yet even though my cock is hard and throbbing for her, I am an honorable male who would never betray her in such a way.

Using great effort to control my desire, I guide her toward her sleeping quarters in the North Caves while enjoying the soft curves of her body tucked against me and inhaling the intoxicating scent that is uniquely Jay-duh.