GREN

A short time later, Veronica and her mate return to our tent. Willa and I have both eaten, but the food has not taken the relentless edge off of my body. I am exhausted and yet full of need, and I know from the way my Willa shifts back and forth on the blankets that she feels the same restlessness. The tent feels too small for what we will be using it for, and as Willa slips under the furs, I can sense her uneasiness. It is in the tense set of her shoulders, in the worried gaze, in the way her hands flutter over the blankets. She is fully dressed, and then when she gets under the furs, she shifts and pulls her leggings off, casting them aside. I wear a loincloth, but I know when I join her under the furs it will be cast aside, as well. Veronica is fully covered, and her mate lingers by the tent flap, his arms crossed, his big body naked as I wish to be.

"I'm going to sit up here by your head," Veronica says to Willa as my mate lies down. "And I'll put my hands on your shoulders."

"Okay," Willa says, and then blinks as Veronica loosens the neck of her tunic and slips her hands inside. My mate lies flat, the healer's legs crossed and tucked under her inches from her mane. Willa looks up, and I know she is gazing right at Veronica. "So…this is weird."

"Are you kidding? I'm giving you a neck rub while telling your eggs that they're in need of some serious alien sperm. What could possibly be weird about this?" Veronica says lightly.

Both women freeze, and then burst into fits of giggles.

"Lord have mercy," Willa says between choking laughter. "When you put it that way, it does sound mighty strange."

"Oh, it's definitely strange," Veronica admits. "But I'm starting to roll with the whole 'strange' thing. There's a lot of strange on this planet and there's not much we can do but go with the flow."

Willa reaches out for me, a hesitant smile on her face. I put my hand in hers, squeezing, and then I let her go to slip under the furs with her. It feels even more crowded in our tent now, and Veronica is so close I can smell her scent all over my mate.

I…do not like this. Her scent does not appeal to me, nor does her nearness. My need for Willa is constant, but I want Veronica to leave. I force myself to lie carefully next to my mate, propped up on one arm so I do not crush her when I move over her. I do my best to ignore the healer, but it is difficult, especially with her mate glaring at us from nearby.

"So this just keeps feeling weirder," Willa admits as I settle in against her. She reaches for me and I move atop her, pulling my loincloth off. My cock brushes against the fur of her mound, but I do not move to claim her. She feels comfortable and familiar and as wonderful as ever, but Veronica's scent is clogging my senses and my cock is not as hard as it should be to give my mate pleasure.

I did not imagine this would be that difficult.

"Weird for me too, but we can do this," Veronica reassures us. "Just pretend I'm not here."

Willa chokes on another laugh. "Yeah, sure. Okay." She pauses, stroking her hand down my side and sending shivers through my body. "We appreciate you doing this, Veronica."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Veronica pats Willa on the shoulder, her hand somewhat trapped by Willa's tunic. "I want you both to be happy and healthy. If this is what it takes, so be it. I'm just happy all I have to touch is your shoulder and not, say, lower."

"I am happy about that as well," Ashtar says drily.

My mate just chuckles and continues to caress me, her hands moving over my backside. Her eyes are enticing, her body warm, but…I am struggling.

With Ashtar and Veronica's focus on our mating, I am uncomfortably reminded of the arena. How many times before did I see a gladiator win the prize of a female? How many times did I watch a gladiator rut upon her on the floor of the arena before everyone, showing off his claiming of his prize as the female wept and struggled?

Willa does not struggle, but this is different than when we were in the cave together. Even when Ashtar and his mate were sharing quarters with us, they did not watch us so intently. This is different, and my cock threatens to shrivel even as my khui hums louder and angrier, as if displeased with my mind for fighting this.

But…I do not want to take my Willa like this. Not like she is some prize won in a fight. She is mine, but not like that. Never like that.

"Gren?" my mate murmurs, and her fingers skate along my fur. "Sugar?"

I lower my head, seeking out her mouth with mine, but my mane brushes against Veronica's arm and I suppress a shudder. "I am…trying."

Veronica clears her throat. "I, uh, guess I can help with that—"

"No," Ashtar says quickly.

"No," Willa agrees.

"Right. Okay." Veronica sounds relieved. "I'm going to be completely quiet and just think real hard about eggs and sperm meeting and how badly your eggs want to be fertilized."

Willa nods, and her focus is on my face. She reaches up and caresses my cheek, her smile sweet. "I'm here," she murmurs to me. "It's just me and you, truly."

I growl low in my throat, wordless in my frustration. It is…and yet this is different. I press my mouth against her palm, breathing in her scent and trying to cover myself with it.

Realization flickers in my mate's eyes. "Ah," she murmurs, and then slips her hand between our bodies. I feel her fingers skate down my belly, and for a moment, I think she is going to grasp my cock and manipulate me until I am hard. The thought is enticing, but it is not something I want to share with Ashtar and his mate. "Willa—"

But my mate's fingers brush past my cock and she shifts. I realize she is touching herself, and my frown deepens. Is she going to climax first, and then hope that I do the same?

A moment later, her hand moves back up and then she presses it against my mouth. The scent of her cunt, juicy with arousal, floods my senses. My growl turns to one of arousal, and my cock grows impossibly hard in the space of a breath.

"It's me," she whispers. "It's only me." Her gaze holds mine, her eyes full of love and need. She hooks one leg around my hips and arches up against me, her cunt rubbing against my length.

I groan and put my hand to her hip, holding her as I seek out her welcoming heat. One thrust and then I am buried deep inside her, and our khuis resonate so loudly that our bodies feel as if they are coming apart. I pump into my mate, my gaze locked onto hers as I feel her clench and tighten around me. Like every mating for the last few days, it is quick and brutal, and within moments, my seed releases in a flood a moment after she shivers around me with her release, my name on her lips.

Then, panting, I lower my forehead to hers, breathing in her breath, filling my senses with Willa and Willa alone.

My mate smiles at me, and then her eyes close and she sighs heavily, going limp.

"That's right, sleepytime," Veronica murmurs. "You both need a nice, long sleep. I'll do the rest."

The healer brushes a hand over my shoulder, and then I fall into a dreamless slumber, tucking my mate close.