BEK

“I need a new loincloth after that bit of travel,” Aehako tells me with a nervous laugh as we slide to the ground from the dragon’s back. He kneels in the snow and presses his horned brow to the ground. “I never thought I would be so glad to see snow underfoot.”

“Didn’t like air travel?” Vuh-ron-ca asks sweetly, her hand patting the golden dragon’s scales. “My poor Ashtar. So misunderstood.”

The dragon snorts and lowers one massive shoulder to let her down off his back. Over on the far side of the creature, Vektal and Rokan steady themselves, looking as ill at ease as I feel. My stomach is still gurgling unpleasantly from the ride over.

Hard to believe that the male called Ash-tar can turn into such a thing. Bigger than two sky-claw together, he is a massive predator of claws and scales and fanged teeth—and wings. It is like nothing I have ever seen before, but Vuh-ron-ca assures us that this is normal for his people. Ash-tar has told her all about it, and judging from how at ease she is with his strange, gargantuan form, this is not the first time she has encountered him as a dragon.

When I first heard that Ash-tar would be our travel, I thought I misunderstood. Then I worried that Vektal’s mind had perhaps gone soft, because the golden male is tall, but he is no stronger than any sa-khui male. I did not imagine how he would carry us and so quickly. Of course, I could never imagine that he would shift into such a creature. He is like nothing on this world…which should not surprise me, and yet does. For all his size and fierce demeanor, though, Ash-tar is extremely careful with his human mate, making sure she was seated well and covered up before he took off into the air.

And so we were carried on a dragon’s back through the air, in a leather pack of sorts that had two pouches hanging off each side of the dragon. Each hunter rode inside a pouch, surrounded with bags of supplies. Vuh-ron-ca calls it a “modified saddle” and explained that her people—humans—used to ride atop of animals much like Farli’s Chahm-pee, but such a suggestion seems ridiculous to me. The dvisti is dumb and skittish and smells bad. I do not understand why anyone would ride atop it when feet are perfectly fine. But…it is also hard to believe that we have made many days of travel and crossed over the mountains in one afternoon. Ash-tar could fly so high in his creature form that no obstacles stood in our way. The wind was biting to the bone at so high up, no matter how many layers I put over my body, but I cannot say that I am displeased.

If I must ride a monster to get to my Ell-ee, I will do so gladly.

The suns are setting in the distance, and here we are, at the lip of the gorge. It is oddly quiet, but cookfires thread plumes of smoke up from the gorge itself, so I know there are people below. Why does no one come to greet us?

“I think they’re scared of the dragon,” Vuh-ron-ca states, kneeling near a pack and opening it up, then shaking out a long, heavy fur cloak. She gets to her feet and holds it out. “Come on and change, babe. You’re scaring the locals.”

The enormous dragon makes a chuffing sound that might be laughter and tucks his massive wings in close against his body. Then, in the blink of an eye, the dragon is gone and Ash-tar is kneeling in the snow, naked and sweaty. The leather packs strapped across his back fall to the ground and Vuh-ron-ca moves to his side, wrapping him in the cloak and pressing a kiss to his face as he pulls her against him. “You did great, babe,” she tells him.

“I know,” he says, an arrogant smile playing on his mouth as he glances over at us. He is amused at how terrified we were at his flight.

I do not care. All I care about is that we are home and somewhere below, my Ell-ee waits for me. “Come,” I say, impatient. “Let us pick up our packs and go. I did not fly on the back of a monster all day to sit here at the entrance to the valley all night.”

“Grab a pack,” Vektal says. “For once, Bek is right.”

“My thanks for the confidence,” I retort. I do not mind his words, though. I am going home to my mate, and that is all that matters.

We each take some of the packs that were sent along with us. For those that were not allowed to return home on this trip, gifts and small treats were sent along from the Icehome camp. There are packs of shells for kits, salt for cooking, and a few frozen crawlers for meals, as well as bundles of fur and gifts of dried foods. It is a small comfort for those left behind, and I think of Liz’s and Raahosh’s sad faces when they found out there was no room for them to come. I will make sure to give their gifts to their kits and tell them how much their parents miss them.

“Ready?” Vektal asks, glancing around at our small group. I am curious as to why he would ask such a thing, and then I realize that Ash-tar is hovering very protectively over Vuh-ron-ca, who looks nervous. I wonder if she is like my Ell-ee in that she is anxious around new people. Wise of Vektal to try and ease their worries.

“Let us go see who is brave enough to greet us, eh?” Aehako sings out, all cheerfulness once more. “I would wager my best fur tunic that it will be Sessah, ready to shake his spear at us.”

I snort at that, because in my mind, Sessah is still a kit clinging to his mother’s tunic.

“All will be well,” Rokan promises. He has been quiet on this journey, and I wonder at his thoughts.

We take our packs and lower them down the pulley, then head down in groups. I go down with Aehako and Rokan, and Vektal stays close to Vuh-ron-ca and Ash-tar. I do wonder who will be coming to greet us. The elders? Kashrem and Hemalo? Sessah? There are not many hunters left in the village as of late, and the ones that are will be determined to protect their mates. I do not blame them. I should never have left my Ell-ee’s side. I have regretted it every day since. If Warrek and Harrec could stay behind because they were newly resonated, it should not matter that I had only a turn of the moon more with my mate. She is far more fragile in spirit than their mates. But then I feel guilty for thinking such a thing, because is my Ell-ee not strong and brave? It is only my longing that makes me worry over her. She is a survivor. She will be fine without me…and perhaps that is what worries me the most. That she will have decided she no longer needs me at her side. That she will be a different person when I return and even resonance will not anchor her to my side.

I rub my chest, wishing for the friendly hum of my khui that would tell me she is near, and that I am wanted.

A band of hunters appears at the far end of the canyon, spears in hand. I can make out Oshen’s age-rolled shoulders, and the two next to him must be Vadren and Drayan, with Drenol and Vaza behind them. I snort with amusement at that. Have the elders decided to come and protect the village and left the able-bodied hunters behind to protect their mates? It is admirable…and a little foolish as well.

Aehako raises a hand in the air, jogging forward. “Ho, Father. It is us! No need to be afraid.”

“My sons?” Oshen calls out, squinting as he steps forward.

“It is us, Father,” Rokan agrees, moving to Aehako’s side. “We have journeyed back.”

“But where are the rest?” Vadren asks, studying our small group. His braids are stark white against his skin and the hand that holds his spear trembles just a little, but he keeps himself strong and upright, a fierce look on his weathered face as he studies Vuh-ron-ca and Ash-tar. “What of the giant creature in the sky? And who are these newcomers?”

“There is much to explain,” Vektal says briskly, moving forward. “But everyone is well and sends their greetings. It is good to see all of you.”

The elders cluster around us, offering to take packs and greeting the Icehome newcomers with pleasantries. I watch Aehako and Rokan hug their father and wonder if my sister and her family are well…but I mostly think of my Ell-ee. She is the one I truly want to see. “If we are done shaking our spears at each other, let us go home,” I announce, but everyone is busy exclaiming over Ash-tar’s scale-like golden skin and the packs of goods we carry. They are in no hurry, it seems.

Annoyed, I shoulder my pack and head on toward the village. They do not need me here for greetings. They are just fine without me. I head on through the canyon, my steps quickening as I round the bend and catch sight of the village at the far end of the gorge. The smoke from the fires has disappeared, and all of the huts have privacy screens in front of them. In the distance, I see a few hunters standing in front of the longhouse, armed with spears. No doubt they are still frightened at the appearance of the dragon.

Bah. The time for protectiveness is past. I cup a hand to my mouth, calling out for my mate. “Ell-ee! It is I, your Bek! I am home!”

“Bek?” A startled shriek rises from behind the wall of hunters standing in the doorway of the longhouse, and then a small figure wiggles out from underneath Haeden’s shoulder and races toward me. It is my mate, covered in furs, her pale face all eyes and pointed chin, and she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. My khui races at the sight of her, and my knees grow weak. I feel the overwhelming urge to weep like a female, I am so relieved to see her alive and well.

She sobs as she runs toward me, her arms outstretched, and I drop my packs on the ground. I do not care if the delicate shells inside are crushed—all that matters is getting my arms around my sweet mate and holding her close.

Ell-ee slams into me with all of the weight of her slight form, and her arms go around my neck. “Bek!” she cries, and buries her face against my neck. She sobs my name over and over, her body shaking even as she wraps her thin legs around my waist, as if she is terrified I will leave again.

My mate.

The hollow parts inside me suddenly feel full once more. The bitterness I carried for these long days without her is gone, and I touch her hair, her back, her leg, petting her and reassuring myself that it is her after all. “My Ell-ee,” I murmur, and my voice is husky with emotion. “How I have missed you.”

“Never leave me again,” she weeps against my throat, her hands tangling in my hair. “You’re not allowed.”

“Never,” I agree. Even if I must go on the trails hunting, I will take her with me. The thought of leaving her again is unbearable.

She lifts her face and her cheeks are streaked with half-frozen tears, but she is smiling. She is so lovely that it steals the breath from my throat. Our khuis sing loud at our reunion, and I feel a surge of lust at the sight of her.

Mine. My mate.

I press my mouth to hers. It has been far too long since I’ve tasted her. To my delight, my normally shy Ell-ee responds with a hungry little moan, clutching my face as she kisses me with ferocious intent. There is nothing better than a mate eager for my touch, and I return her kiss with equal intensity, our mouths hungry as they lock together. There is nothing that exists beyond Ell-ee’s slight form pressed against me, her tongue slicking against mine.

I have waited too long to claim her again, and I will wait no longer. I ignore the happy cries of those around us reuniting with family. Nearby, I hear Aehako laugh as he swings his daughter into his arms, and Vektal calls out for Shorshie. Others crowd around, wanting to know about family members and greet the newcomers, but I care for none of this. With my Ell-ee in my arms, I push through the crowd, heading for our hut.

I am going to claim my mate and fill her body with my seed. Greeting the rest of the tribe can wait.

She makes hungry little noises as I carry her away, her legs tight around my hips. I have missed this—missed her—so much that it makes my spirit ache. It is like I have become whole once more and must take my fill of her to wipe away the memories of those endless nights and days without her at my side.

We make it to our hut, and I kick aside the privacy screen. The fire inside is nothing but banked coals, and our furs remain in the same spot as they always are. I move to the bed of furs and gently lay my mate down amongst them.

Ell-ee whimpers when I let her go, clinging to me. “No,” she whispers, urgent. “Stay.”

I groan when she slicks her little tongue against the seam of my mouth. There is nothing I want more than to stay. “I must put the privacy screen back up so we will be undisturbed.” Even for a moment, the idea of leaving the warmth of her arms seems like a poor choice. But then I think of the others coming in and disturbing us when I am cock-deep into my mate, and I growl at the thought. I wish to see no one but her until dawn tomorrow, at the very least. I force myself to get up from the furs, ignoring the tempting brush of her fingers down my arm, and cross the hut with haste. I slap the screen over the entrance, shove a basket behind it so it cannot budge, and then return to my mate’s waiting arms.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Ell-ee breathes. Her eyes glimmer with unshed tears. “I feel like we’ve been apart more than we’ve been together.”

“That changes this day,” I vow to her. “I will not leave you alone again. This I swear.” I take her hand and press my mouth to her palm. “Being without you made every day difficult.”

She nods, her eyes so full of sadness. “It was hard to get out of bed sometimes, knowing that you wouldn’t be there. I had to force myself to eat, too.”

The thought brings me pain. I picture her, thin and miserable, and pull her close to me. “You must be strong for our kit, my Ell-ee. For me and for him.”

“I know,” she says in a soft voice, and her fingers flutter along my jaw. “But sometimes it’s really hard.”

All the more reason to never leave her again. Perhaps she is not as independent as Leezh, or as outgoing as Mah-dee, but it does not matter. She is strong in different ways, and she needs me to feel whole. I understand this—how many mornings did I wake up and feel as if I was hollow without her at my side? “From now on,” I tell her, “when I go to hunt, you will come with me. If I must return to the Icehome shores, we will go together.”

“You promise?” Her thumb skims over my mouth.

“I vow it.” I nip the tip of her finger. “I need you as much as you need me.”

“Good.” She strokes a lock of hair back from my brow. “And when the kit comes…?”

“We will stay wherever we must until you can travel again. I mean it when I say I will never leave your side again.” I undo the knotted band holding her first layer of furs wrapped around her torso. “We are together, always. The others will have to accept this.”

“We can go back to the other tribe—the Ice home, you called them? —if you are needed.” She bites her lip, uncertain.

“No one needs me as much as you, my mate,” I tell her. “And the same holds true for me. I need you more than anything.”

With a happy sigh, Ell-ee caresses my face as I pull at her layers of clothing. Like all the humans, she covers herself in heavy wraps of fur to keep warm, and finding her soft skin underneath is a challenge. She helps me with the clothing, sitting up and watching me with eager eyes as I pull her boots off and then remove her leggings. Next, her tunic goes, and then the band that covers her slight teats. When she is bare and laid out before me, I breathe out a sigh of pure joy. I am a fool for ever leaving her side.

Ell-ee reaches for me, tugging at the heavy wrap I wear over my shoulders. “You’re all covered up,” she whispers. “I want to touch you.”

I strip off my layers, casting them aside until I am in nothing but my loincloth and my boots. She sits up in bed and tugs at the knot at my waist that keeps my loincloth in place, and her hands skim over my hard, aching cock. A groan escapes my throat. “Do not,” I murmur, catching her hand in mine. “It has been too long since I have touched you. I must keep my control or else I will not make this very good for you.”

For some reason, that makes Ell-ee give a throaty laugh. “Is that supposed to discourage me? I like the thought of making you crazy, Bek. I dream about it all day long.”

“You do?” I am astonished. I think about new and exciting ways to touch her constantly, but I did not realize she did the same.

She nods and gives me an excited look, squirming on the blankets with enthusiasm. “I think about when I put my hands on you and you make that noise in your throat.” She lays her palms against my chest, and I suck in a breath. “Like that,” she murmurs. “And I think about what noises you’d make if I put my mouth on you.”

Is she suggesting…I groan at the thought. “Ell-ee.”

“I want to do it,” she tells me. “Can I? Will you let me?”

Will I let her? I can think of nothing else but that, now that she has called my attention to it. “Only if you wish to.”

“Being with you makes me wish to do a great many things,” she says, and she pulls my loincloth free, exposing my cock to the air.

She looks at my cock with such hungry eyes that it makes my entire body twitch in response. Her small, soft hands curl around my length, her odd-colored skin so vibrant against my dark blue. I love the sight of her fingers against my skin…almost as much as I love her touch. "I always forget how big you are," she murmurs in that soft, shy voice of hers. "And when I see you, it always surprises me. In a good way, of course." She flicks her gaze up to me and gives me a bashful smile.

"I feel the same when I look at you, my Ell-ee," I tell her. "I forget how lovely you are, and then when I look at you, you take the air from my lungs."

Her cheeks go pink with pleasure and she licks her lips. "I love you," she whispers. "I'm so glad you're home."

I want to tell her of all the days I missed her, of how hard it was to be separated from her after I've found her, of what torture the long nights were, of how I worried over her, hating that she was here alone and that she might need me—but everything flies from my mind when she leans forward, her rounded bottom going into the air even as her mouth descends on my cock.

I…have never felt something as good as this. The hot, wet suction of her mouth as she closes over the head of my cock…it is an indescribable pleasure. I make a noise that is neither sigh nor gasp, but something garbled in between. Her soft mane falls over my lap, caressing my thighs even as she works her mouth over my length, exploring me with her lips.

Ell-ee's hand curls around my shaft, her other resting on my thigh. She kisses the head of my cock and then moves her mouth, trailing it up and down my skin, her tongue flicking at a thick vein on the underside. I try to remain still so I do not interrupt, but I cannot help but twitch in response every time her tongue touches against my skin. "Your skin is very soft here," she whispers to me. "And it smells like you." She sighs and rubs her face against my length, and I nearly spill my seed all over her face and mane at that small gesture.

A groan escapes me and I reach out to brush her mane back from her cheeks, because I want to look at her as she touches me. I want to see if she finds this as pleasurable as I do. No matter how good it feels, if she does not look pleased, we will stop and I will put my mouth between her legs, because I know she likes that. But her eyes are closed and there is an expression of soft joy on her face as she touches me. Her fingers skim up and down my length in fluttering caresses, and when a drop of my seed crowns on the head of my cock, she leans in and tastes it with her tongue.

And I must clench my fists so I do not lose control. My breath rasps in my throat, hard and rough. "Ell-ee," I growl. "Your mouth…it is too good. Let me pleasure you instead."

"No," she insists, her stubborn streak showing. "I want to do this for you. I like this. Aren't you enjoying it?" She looks up at me, worried. "Am I doing it wrong?"

"I do not think there is a wrong, my mate. If it feels good, that is all that matters." I reach out and caress her cheek. "And it feels very, very good."

She smiles up at me, pleased.

"Perhaps too good. I would give you pleasure instead." It is difficult to say the words, because she is already leaning over me once more, taking my cock into her mouth. Just that small motion is terribly distracting, and when her tongue glides along my shaft, I clench my fists and try to concentrate on less pleasing things so I do not spill my seed too soon and ruin her fun.

"You can," she says after a moment. "When I'm done with you. It doesn't have to be either-or." Ell-ee chuckles, her breath whispering over my skin. "We can do both."

I groan. She is too much, my sweet mate. I touch my hand to her mane, and when she makes an eager noise and takes me into her mouth again, I resist the urge to guide her head, to pump into the hot well of her mouth with my cock, to claim it like I do her cunt. The thought is a starkly appealing one, but my Ell-ee is fragile. I cannot—

But then her fingers glide up to my spur and I lose control. She teases it, rubbing the length gently with her fingers, and the breath explodes from my body. I growl again, my hand twisting in her silky mane, and I cannot resist rocking forward, thrusting into her mouth. She makes a little sound of eager pleasure, looking up at me with hot eyes. She likes it, and she wants more. I will give her more, then. I groan as she clasps one hand around my shaft and sucks me back into her mouth. She increases the sensation, using her tongue and licking me eagerly, making little pleasure noises as she does. I cannot help myself; I push into her mouth again, and when she encourages me to do so again, I thrust back into her mouth. It feels incredible, and the realization that she enjoys it as much as I do doubles the pleasure I feel. I pump into the soft, wet heat of her mouth again, and it feels like I am stroking into her cunt. My people do not do this, but I have heard humans have no such problem, and the realization that my Ell-ee wishes to take me every way possible is a heady one. I am gentle as I stroke into her eager mouth, but as she caresses my spur and touches my sac, my movements become shaky, my motions less gentle. She encourages me, and then I am thrusting into her mouth, on the verge of my release, even as she whimpers and makes delighted sounds, ready for my seed. I want to come inside her, but she is so frantic with her mouth, so ready, so willing, that I cannot pull myself away from the delicious sensation, even for a moment. I thrust in again, and again, and when she rubs her tongue along the underside of my cockhead once more, I lose all control.

I come inside her mouth, spilling on her tongue and lips. She gasps even as I groan, and when I try to pull free to finish my release, she grabs my tail and holds me in place, and I give her every last drop of my seed. It paints her mouth and chin, and she swallows, then licks her lips. "Oh, Bek," she whispers as she uses her tongue and fingers to lap up my spend. "I liked that so much."

"You did?" I am fascinated by this, by how giving my mate is. I came in her mouth. It seems…wrong, but I liked it far too much for it to be something bad. Nothing is bad between us. "It is not the sa-khui way."

"Maybe it should be." The tip of her tongue slicks along her upper lip. "I loved it. I loved watching you get so turned on, and when you put your hand in my hair…" She gives a little shiver of delight.

I groan again, because even though I have just finished, she makes me hard with need once more. My cock stirs just as my khui does, and this time, I wish to pleasure her. With a low growl, I grab her by the waist and bear her back to the furs, trailing my mouth down her belly. She is thinner than I remember, my Ell-ee, and I resolve I will never leave her side again. I will make sure she eats all the time, until she is as round and plump as Mah-dee. I like that thought very much. I press kisses to the soft, pale skin of her belly, moving lower until I brush my lips over the curls of her cunt. Her scent is sweetest here, and I know her curls hide the pink flush of her folds, the wet, rich flavor of her. My mouth waters for a taste, and when she moans and her hands go to my horns, her thighs trembling, I understand why she enjoyed giving me pleasure with her mouth. When I do the same for her, there is nothing better in the world.

And then I place my mouth on the soft flesh of her cunt, and she cries out, her body arching underneath me. A burst of wetness touches my tongue, telling me that she enjoys this as much as I enjoy her responses. There is a saying amongst the hunters—that there is no taste better than that of a resonance mate on your tongue, and I know this to be true. I have missed the taste of my sweet Ell-ee these long days apart. I have missed the taste of her, the scent of her need, the clench of her thighs as she presses against the sides of my face and horns. I glide one hand down her flank, caressing her. She has no tail for me to grasp onto, but I wind my tail around her ankle, clasping her against me. Her legs tremble and quiver as my tongue glides over her folds, and I can hear her breathing quickening with nervous anticipation. Ell-ee sucks in a breath when I explore her, teasing my mouth all along her cunt, but avoiding the best part—that sensitive third nipple at the top of her folds that she loves to be touched so much. I want to savor her first, to make her wild with need.

"Bek," she pants, her teats heaving. "Please. Come inside me. I want you to fill me up."

"Patience," I tell her, pleased that she is so needy. My khui rumbles with pleasure at the sight of her sprawled below me, her thighs clasping against my face. My mate. My perfect female, full of my kit and so wonderfully responsive to my touch. Resonance has chosen wisely for me, and I feel a burst of pride just looking at her. Ah, my sweet Ell-ee. So utterly perfect.

Mine. All mine.

With a grin of pure joy, I lower my head and go back to kissing and licking her cunt. I explore her with my mouth, though I have been between her thighs many times since we first mated. It does not matter. Every time is a delicious journey, and I love to feel her squirming underneath me, lifting her hips in silent guidance of where she wants my mouth most. I tease my tongue at the entrance to her core, where she is wettest, and when she moans my name, I give her a lick and then move away again, delighting in her whimper. I will pleasure her there, but in time. My cock already aches and grows hard with need once more, but I ignore it. It has been too long since I pleasured my Ell-ee, and I want to enjoy my time between her thighs.

I could spend all night here and never grow tired of her little sighs, her whimpers, her moans. I glance up at her even as I trace one finger up and down her wet seam, and her head is thrown back in the furs, her eyes closed. Her teats thrust into the air, nipples tight and pink, and as I watch, she rolls her hips, a silent request for more.

How can a male refuse such a pretty thing? I lower my head and press a kiss to the little nub of her third nipple, and she gives a little cry that makes my sac tighten in response. Ah, how I love that sound. I slide my finger back and forth along her folds, teasing her even as I tongue her nipple, making wet circles around it. She cries out, hips undulating underneath me, pressing up against my finger as I stroke nearer to her core. She wants to be pierced by it—by my body. She wants to be speared on my length, to have me fill her up.

By the snows, I want that, too. But I want the taste of her release on my tongue first, like she gave to me. I picture her mouth, shiny and painted with my seed, and groan deep. It renews my fever for her, and I apply myself with ferocity, tonguing her nipple with rapid, repeated strokes even as I pump a finger into her warmth.

"Oh! Bek! Oh, I want you so much," she cries out, and it is the loudest I have ever heard my mate. I groan at this, rocking my hips into the furs as if it were the clasp of her body. I am desperate to be inside her, but I need her to come first. I need it more than I have needed anything in this moment. I know my Ell-ee's body well, though, and I know for her to come, I must not falter. So I ignore her cries and her sweet begging, I ignore the rock of her hips and continue to lap at her third nipple with sure, steady strokes, even as I pump my finger inside her, mimicking the way my cock will fill her shortly. She arches and writhes up against my mouth, her hands gripping my horns. Her breath comes in short, sharp pants, but she is no longer begging for me. She has no air left for words. I can feel the quivers racing through her body, the way her thighs tense against my shoulders, and I know she is close. I add a second finger when I stroke into her heat, and continue with my tongue. Over and over, I flick it in a steady, unhurried rhythm against her most sensitive spot even as she goes wild underneath me.

Then, with a little scream of pleasure, my mate comes. Her body shudders against my face, and I taste a rush of wet warmth against my tongue. Her cunt clamps down against my fingers and I keep stroking her, determined to wring out every bit of pleasure possible. She moans and rubs up against me, rocking even as she shudders, until she is spent and panting, her pale skin glazed with a light sheen of sweat.

My Ell-ee is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen like this, sprawled and content underneath me. I press a kiss to the inside of her thigh, well pleased at her response. "I have missed that, my mate."

She gives a long, trembling sigh. "Oh, Bek."

I love the contented sound of her sigh. "I am here, my Ell-ee."

"Good." She curls her toes and stretches her arms over her head, then slides them back down to caress my face. "I missed you far too much. Missed this. Missed everything."

I kiss her thigh again, then continue upward, pressing a brief kiss at her curls before moving to her belly, and then up to her teats. They are small but perfect. I toy with the sensitive nipples and drag my tongue over them as she murmurs my name. Did I miss her? Like breathing. Have I dreamed of this? Every night. But I am here now, and my cock is a brief span away from where it belongs. I move over her, letting my larger weight settle carefully against her body. I prop myself up with my elbows so I do not crush her, and when she slides her legs apart wide in welcome, it feels as if I am truly home.

I rub the head of my cock against her slick folds, and then sink deep. Her sigh of pleasure is almost as wonderful as the hot clasp of her cunt around my length. I groan and hold her tightly against me, kissing her face as I ease into her. My Ell-ee is always tight, and no matter how deep I push with my initial thrust, I must always work my way deeper with slow, careful motions so she can take all of me. I push shallowly into her, rocking my hips as I whisper her name, and she digs her nails into my shoulders, closing her eyes and giving herself over to me with such trust that it makes my spirit ache with how much I love her.

And then I am seated fully inside her, and it feels…perfect. She sucks in a shuddering breath and then squirms underneath me. "Your spur," she murmurs, shifting. I know that it rubs against her third nipple, and the very sensation makes her crazed with need. She is already sensitive there, and this will just add more to it. I know that my Ell-ee can come at least twice before I do, and I am determined to make sure that when I pump her full of my seed once more, she is right there with me, clenched tight in her own release. When she comes hard, she bites at my skin.

I love that. I want it again.

So I do everything I can to ensure that our joining is all about her pleasure. I take one of her hands and stretch it over her head, making her arch underneath me. She opens her eyes and watches me, her lips parted. With every thrust, she gives a little gasp, as if I am giving her brand new sensations every time and she does not know what to make of them. Her eyes locked to mine is intense, and every time I slide deep into the clasp of her body, it feels a little more intense with our gazes locked. As I thrust into her, I take my time, moving slow at first, and then speeding up. I flick my tail along her leg, teasing her because I know she is ticklish and more touches just add to her pleasure.

My Ell-ee does not keep her hand over her head for long. She pushes back against my grip and then whimpers when I thrust deep. Her hands come up and she clasps them against the sides of my face, as if she needs to anchor herself to me. "My Bek," she whispers, and there is such love and intense devotion in her eyes that it breaks my control. I want to go slow, but I cannot. Not when she looks at me as if I have placed the stars in the skies for her enjoyment alone. Fast and hard, I claim my mate, pumping into her slick heat with one forceful thrust after another, until we are moving across the furs with the clash of our bodies. She clings to me, utterly silent except for small sounds of pleasure that let me know she is here with me, riding this. Wild with my desire for her, I claim Ell-ee over and over with every stroke, as if I could paint into my soul the way she looks at me in this moment.

Her body clenches tight under my assault, and she arches under me, her mouth parting wide, her blue eyes seeming to grow darker with the force of her need. I hear her khui's thrumming song grow louder, and then my mate clutches at my neck, burying her face against my chest as she comes, her cunt tight and rippling around my length. With a shout of pleasure, I give in to my own release, emptying all of my desire for her into her welcoming body. When I have come so hard that it feels as if all of the seed has been wrung from my cock, I collapse on top of her, holding her close as our sweaty skin sticks together. She wraps her arms even tighter around me, pressing her mouth to my neck as she shivers with the aftershocks of her release.

It takes several long moments before she stops her trembling, and I roll over onto my side and tuck her body against me protectively. I cannot stop kissing her, though. Her eyes are closed and she looks tired and sated, but I kiss her brow and her nose over and over, fascinated by her delicate features and feeling as if I am the luckiest male alive because such a perfect female is mine. It is incredible to think how much my life has changed since she came into it.

To think that I once wanted a mate—any mate. Now I feel foolish that I would have settled for anyone less than her. Of course my khui waited many long turns of the seasons for her. It is far wiser than I am.