Chapter 11
Katem
In spite of the weight of the three dead dhibani and two dreri weighing down the sled I haul behind me, my pace is quick.
Normally, I would begin skinning and preparing them myself once I returned to the village and took them to the tanning tent.
However, Zalik offered to do it for me this turn so that I might spend my evening with Piper.
For the past seven turns I have risen early—far earlier than I normally would—and traveled to the human settlement to escort her back here for her lessons with Alesha.
While she spends the turn with the elder, I spend it hunting or scouting.
When I return in the evening, we gather with the rest of the tribe around the central fire to eat before she and I walk back.
This turn, however, we begin Piper’s swimming lessons. We only have approximately one moon cycle left until the water cools to a temperature that is no longer comfortable for the humans. My mate has said on several occasions that she does not wish to wait until the next warm season to begin.
Ahead of me lies the village entrance. With it that close in sight, my already quick pace hastens further.
My muscles ache from hauling the load, but in a good way.
Especially as I have frequently caught Piper studying my form.
Each time, when our eyes meet, her cheeks darken, but there is a change in her scent.
The muskiness of her desire keeps my cock semi-hard at all times when I am in her presence.
Far too often, I have had to leave the tent I share with Daveel and Zalik just so I can relieve the burning need I have for her.
My seed has found its way to the forest ground more times since meeting Piper than it has since the previous cold season.
While I remain patient, I pray for the turn when my mate shares my furs with me and it is her cunt that milks my essence instead of my hand.
“Greetings, Katem,” Zydon calls out from the other side of the field, dragging his own beast-laden sled. At his side, is Remi, who carries several leburin in her hand. “It would appear we all had a successful turn hunting.”
“Deeka has certainly blessed us. The creatures that roam the land have been far more plentiful this season than in seasons past. Considering how quickly our tribe continues to grow, this is a boon.”
Together we walk through the gate and head straight to the tanning tent, where Daveel, Zalik, and several other hunters have already arrived with their kills.
“You have my thanks again.” I fist my chest at Zalik.
“When I find my keeshla, I know you will do the same for me,” he says.
“May Deeka bless you as she has me.”
I leave my sled with him and go in search of my mate.
I find her in a small tent set up outside of Benham’s forge.
Zander had it erected and stocked with all the tools and supplies Alesha and Piper would need for clay making.
The elder asked for it to be close to the forge so they did not have to carry their creations far to fire them.
Piper lifts her head from her work and her eyes widen in delight at the sight of me. She jumps to her feet and rushes over.
“Welcome home.” Her arms go around my waist, and I hold her tightly.
We embrace for a moment and separate, except she doesn’t go far.
Rising on her toes, Piper brushes my cheek with her lips.
She started doing this the first evening I brought her here, but each time, her mouth moves closer to mine.
This time, she caught the corner. Perhaps, the next turn our lips will fully touch. I look forward to finding out.
“Did you have a good day of hunting?” She keeps her arm around my middle and tips her head back to stare up at me.
“It was extremely successful. How was your lesson today?”
“Oh, come see what I made.”
Piper leads me over to a table on the other side of the tent from where Alesha is seated on the ground still crafting her piece. On the surface is a roughly hewn bowl. It is slightly crooked, and there is an indentation on one side, but my mate beams with pride at her creation.
“When you have finished it, I hope you will let me be the first to use it. It is lovely.”
Piper’s laughter is a sweet sound to my ears. “It’s all wonky, but, yeah, it is kind of lovely. Thank you.”
“It was made by your hands, so no matter what flaws you think it might have, to me, it is perfect.”
“You really are too good, you know that?” She rises up once again—balancing herself with her palms on my chest—and this time, her lips caress mine.
The kiss is sweet and far too short, but I cherish it regardless.
“I must go find Wakiel, but I shall see you again the next turn.” Alesha has risen without notice and stands at the door flap of the tent.
Piper waves. “Thank you for everything.”
The elder female dips her head and ducks out the entrance, leaving me alone with my mate in the dimly lit interior. Neither of us move, but rather, continue staring at the other with an awareness that grows with each passing turn.
Unable to resist, I pick up one of the long spirals of her hair and twirl it around my finger. It is so different from mine, and yet, so beautiful. I release it and it springs back into place.
“I am proud of your accomplishment. Alesha says you are quite skilled for a beginner.”
Piper tilts her head. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before.”
Other than her mention of living in the bottom tier of Earth, my mate has not mentioned anything of her past. Nothing spoken of siblings nor of a nene or baba.
“None of your family ever told you of their pride in you?”
“We were never close. Even when they were alive.”
“Then I will make sure you hear it every turn to make up for all the times you missed.”
Piper strokes my chest, her fingers tracing one of my mating marks.
A shudder runs down my spine, and beneath my leg coverings, my cock twitches.
I bite back the groan. As if sensing what she is doing to me, my keeshla glances up at me through the fine hairs that dust her cheeks when she closes her eyes. The scent of her arousal strengthens.
“You unravel my control, my precious mate.”
“Is that not what I’m supposed to do?” Piper says with a sly grin.
“Aye, but not when we both go to sleep in our empty furs.”
She nibbles at her bottom lip. Each time she does this, I imagine replacing her teeth with mine, so that I might nip at her the tender flesh.
“What if,” she pauses. “What if we don’t return to our empty furs?”
My heart skips and my mind is uncertain of the words I heard. “Are you saying you wish to share my furs?”
“I know you’re not getting enough sleep, because every day you come get me before dawn and don’t walk back to the settlement with me until well after we eat.”
“As much as I want us to share my furs, I do not want you doing so only because you think I am not sleeping long enough.”
“It’s not just that,” she says, but nothing more.
With my finger, I tip her chin up. “Then what else is it? Remember, you can speak any and all truths to me.”
“Fine. I don’t want to keep sleeping alone. But I’m also scared.” Her blunt teeth wear at her lip again. “I love kissing you and I want us to…touch each other, but I’m not sure I’m ready to go further than that yet. I don’t want to be a tease.”
“You are only a tease in the best of ways.” I play with that long spiraled curl again.
“Just knowing you wish to kiss and touch is more than I ever prayed for. Until I met you, I thought I would be alone for the rest of my days. Any affection I receive from you is a gift from the goddess. If, and when, the time comes and you are ready to mate physically with me, I will cherish that gift just as much as all the others you have given me.”
“Damn it, Katem.” Piper sniffles. “You’re trying to make me fall in love with you, aren’t you?”
I cock my head and offer a small grin. “Is it working?”
She sniffs again. “Maybe.”
“Then, yes.”
Piper scans my face and then slowly rises to mouth touch with me.
She deepens our connection and slips her tongue between my lips.
I meet it with my own and they glide against each other, tangling and twining in a synchronized movement that defies pleasure as I knew it before I discovered my mate’s touch.
My fingers spear her hair and I meet every stroke with my own, swallowing down the mewling sounds she makes.
Mating fluid leaks from the nodes of my cock dampening my leg coverings.
Without thought, I grind my pelvis against Piper’s and drink down the gasp she releases.
The hard pebbles of her chest mounds dig into my flesh and my hand itches to know how they feel as well.
Not wanting to frighten her, I grip her hip harder, to keep my hand anchored in one place so it is not tempted to wander and disrupt us.
A burst of laughter from outside the tent startles us and we break apart, each of us breathless. Piper covers her mouth and giggles.
“I suppose that’s going to happen a lot after I move here, isn’t it?”
“There are joys of seeing our village grow, but then there are times like this when I have brief second thoughts.”
She puffs out a breath of air that quickly turns into a cough, then another. They continue, growing progressively harsher. Piper folds over and appears to struggle breathing. I quickly shove aside the door flap and call out for help several times until I catch the attention of Rassim and Alanda.
“Get a healer, quickly.” I stumble back inside and hold onto my mate so she does not collapse.
Piper sways, but remains on her feet. She needs water, but there is none in here safe for her to drink.
“I have you keeshla. I have you.”
Her coughing slows just as the door flap swings open and Healer Sage steps in.
“What happened?” she rushes forward to examine Piper.
I give her room, but do not release my hold. “We were talking and laughing and then she started to cough, but couldn’t stop. She also struggled to breathe.”
“Can you bring her to the healer’s tent?” Healer Sage asks.
“I’m fine now,” Piper rasps, her words barely audible. “I just need some water.”
I glance down, but she will not look at me. Instead, she keeps her head slightly turned. “Piper, please allow the healer to examine you.”
She coughs once more, and when she draws her hand from her mouth, there is a dark, wet spot on her palm. I catch it and tug it more into the light. She tries to yank her arm away, but I have already seen it.
“Why are you bleeding?”
Piper’s shoulders sag in defeat, and she releases a quiet sob.