Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
Ahmya stared at the bundle in Rekosh’s hands.
He wants me to be his mate.
He wants me to be his mate .
Rekosh had always been attentive to Ahmya and her needs, had always been protective, caring, and patient. He’d spent so much time with her, seeking to learn her language as swiftly as possible so he could communicate with her.
The question had never been if Rekosh would declare himself, but when .
She’d always known, deep down, that this moment would come. But the trepidation that knowledge had once caused her was nowhere to be found now as she looked upon his bowed head. Rekosh was her friend. He was a kind, fierce protector who would make a loving…
Mate.
He would be my mate. My mate.
My…husband.
A nervous thrill coursed through Ahmya as she reached forward, lifted the bundle from his hands, and drew it close to her chest .
Rekosh released a shaky breath and raised his head. His mandibles ticked up into a vrix smile. Those crimson eyes burned for her, but she did not fear their heat. She yearned for it.
“Open it,” he said.
Flooded with eagerness, Ahmya held the gift along one forearm, untied the silk string holding it together, and peeled back the leather wrapping. It revealed another bundle, this one wrapped in silk cloth, which she also opened.
Her breath caught.
Sitting atop a layer of cloth was a pair of shoes—the most beautiful shoes she’d ever seen. They were dainty and elegant, made from white silk with intricate, lacy designs. She ran her fingers over them. They were soft right down to the light brown leather of their soles.
“You made me shoes?” she asked. It was a pointless question; of course he’d made them. But it had been prompted by her surprise. Vrix didn’t have feet, and though they sometimes wore adornments on their bodies, they didn’t wear clothing like humans did. For him to have made these was so thoughtful.
“Yes. Your boots are too big, and they will not…” Rekosh waved a hand. “Will not look…”
Ahmya chuckled and stuck her foot out, resting her boot on its heel and rocking it back and forth. “Look pretty?”
Rekosh met her gaze. “You are pretty.”
Heart fluttering and cheeks warming, she ducked her head and returned her attention to the gift. There was more beneath the shoes. Picking them up, she set them atop a rock before straightening and peeling back the cloth they’d been resting upon. The contrast between that piece of cloth and what was beneath it was like night and day.
Ahmya’s lips parted as she ran her fingers over the silk. It was so fine and soft, the softest she’d ever felt, even more so than fluffed silk or the petals of the silkblossom. “Rekosh, is this…”
He carefully grasped the sides of that delicate material with his long, clawed fingers. As he lifted it, the fabric unfurled to reveal a gossamer dress.
She could do nothing but stare in awe as the dress swayed in the gentle breeze, a hint of opalescence playing across its surface.
Ketahn had made Ivy a dress—a wedding dress—after she’d told him about marriage. She’d been wearing it the day she’d awoken Ahmya and the other survivors from cryosleep. It had been strange yet beautiful, with intriguing, weblike designs and fine silk. But this dress…
The sleeveless garment had a low-cut neckline with flower and leaf patterns woven throughout the silk and embroidered lace along the hem. It was embellished not just with fine stitching, but tiny white crystals that sparkled in the sunlight. And the diaphanous material was so sheer that she could see Rekosh clearly through it. The only part of her body it would hide was her breasts, which the fullest patterns would cover.
This wasn’t a wedding gown; it was a dress befitting a wedding night.
She set aside the cloth and leather wrapping and brushed her fingertips over the front of the dress. “This is so beautiful, Rekosh.”
He trilled, mandibles rising, and held it a little closer to her. “It will only be truly beautiful when you wear it.”
Her blush spread, growing ever hotter, and Ahmya couldn’t ignore her anticipatory flash of desire for what would come after she put on the dress.
This was it. If she accepted this gift from Rekosh, she would be accepting him as hers. She would be allowing him to claim her. It would be …
Well, it would be the same as getting married.
But as she stared at the gown, at craftsmanship beyond anything she’d ever imagined, she grew increasingly aware of the dirty, tattered silk wraps clinging to her. Aware of the sticky sheen of sweat covering her from head to toe, and the smudges of dirt the day’s travel had left on her skin.
She couldn’t wear that dress in her current state.
Ahmya lowered her hand. “Could I…bathe?”
Rekosh’s mandibles fell. He glanced at the dress and back to her. All eight eyes blinked. “Now?”
He thinks you’re rejecting him.
She raised her palms and waved them. “Oh! No, no, no. I’m not…” She gestured at herself. “I’m sweaty and filthy.”
“You are beautiful, vi’keishi .”
Ahmya bit her bottom lip as her heart melted just a little more. There was never a moment when he made her feel anything but beautiful and cherished.
And he is going to be mine.
“For humans, a bride prepares herself to face her groom. Her soon-to-be husband, her…mate.” Gathering her resolve, she stepped closer and settled her hands upon his, which still held the dress. “I want to do this for you, Rekosh.”
“Ahmya…” He gently tipped his headcrest against her forehead and squeezed his eyes shut. “You accept me as yours? As your mate?”
“I do.”
A shudder ran through him. “Your words have made my heartsthread thrum.”
She cupped his jaw between her hands and smiled. “You have made mine thrum for a long, long time.”
A low, content purr rumbled in his chest. Ahmya dropped her arms as he straightened and stepped back.
Those dexterous hands of his folded the dress with all the grace and precision she’d come to expect of him before he handed it to her. “Bathe, my mate. Prepare as you must. What time you need is yours.”
She accepted the dress with a smile, trying to ignore the heat coursing beneath her skin, trying to suppress the excited energy pulsing at her core.
Rekosh remained in place.
Toeing the ground with her boot, Ahmya lifted her eyebrows.
He canted his head.
She held the dress against her belly. “Um, Rekosh…”
“Yes, Ahmya?”
“The preparation is usually done in private.”
His mandibles fell again. “Private?”
“Yes. If you could maybe”—keeping hold of the dress with one hand, she raised the other and pointed toward the edge of the clearing—“go over there and turn around for a bit?”
He turned his head to follow her gesture with an unhappy hum. “You wish to be alone? The bathing is not done with your mate?”
“It’s not.”
“It is not safe.”
“I won’t be alone-alone. I’ll just be by the water and can call for you if I see anything. But I…I need this. I want to do this. For you.”
Rekosh searched her face silently before he nodded and rose, plucking up his spear in one hand and his bag in the other. He reached inside the bag and rummaged through for a moment before taking out a little cloth bundle tied with a silk string, which he held out to her. “ Nath’jagol .”
Cleanleaf.
Ahmya beamed up at him as she took the bundle, touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”
Rekosh grasped her jaw and tipped her face up toward his, keeping his hold gentle but firm. “I will be near, vi’keishi .” His gaze dipped to the dress, and another trill emerged from him, this one softer, warmer, and all the more endearing for it. “Call for me if anything happens.”
“I will. I promise.”
He stroked his thumb claw over her cheek, hesitating before he released her, and turned. He strode away, disappearing behind a large rock.
She didn’t like it when he was out of sight, when they were separated, but knowing he was close was enough to keep her calm. She’d requested privacy, and he was granting it.
And he wasn’t likely to leave her alone for long.
I’m getting married.
Ahmya grinned, clutching the dress and cleanleaf to her middle, and bounced in place. It didn’t matter that Rekosh was a vrix. He was going to be her mate.
Crouching, Ahmya gathered the shoes and the cloth and leather that had swaddled the bundle, then made her way to the pool’s edge. She surveyed the area for any lurking creatures, and when she was sure there were no predators about to pounce on her, she set everything down, spreading the leather out on a rock and the dress and shoes upon it to keep them protected.
Not wanting to waste time, Ahmya tugged off her clunky boots and undressed. Though she’d been living in the jungle for months, she still hadn’t quite shaken her self-consciousness. She always felt like people were watching her even when she knew nobody was around.
It was…silly to hold onto such modesty. Ivy, Callie, and Diego had done away with it, and Cole never had any qualms about stripping and streaking through the village without a care in the world, dick swinging freely. But Ahmya, Lacey, and Will still struggled with it.
Ahmya dropped her dirty silk wrappings on the ground. Her naked skin prickled as the breeze swept over it, and she fought the urge to cover herself.
I can do this. I will do this.
I want this.
She retrieved a few thick, aloe-like stalks of cleanleaf from the small bundle and walked into the water. Many of the rocks on the bed of the pool were thankfully smooth, but the water, while incredibly clear, was deceptive with its depth. She hadn’t stepped in far before it reached her chest. Ahmya smiled. It felt incredible on her heated skin.
Taking a deep breath, she briefly ducked beneath the surface to wet her hair.
As the cool water swirled past, Ahmya broke open the cleanleaf, scooped out the inner flesh, and used it to scrub her hair and body. The substance fizzled on her scalp and skin and made a little hissing sound when it met the water, releasing the strong fragrance of gardenia and lemon into the air. She’d always loved that scent.
Running her hands over her body, she washed away the day’s sweat and dirt, relishing the feeling of cleanliness.
The sound of the spring drew her attention. The water ran from a tall rock formation, tumbling down the uneven stone to feed the pool below. Stones of varying shapes rested on the natural ledges and recesses in the formation, and one of them caught her eye—a large stone lying in the path of the water. Erosion had made its surface convex, forming a natural bowl.
Or a cup.
A sake cup.
An idea took shape in Ahmya’s mind. Even if she was missing a traditional component, she could share a piece of her culture with Rekosh.
She swam toward the small waterfall. Ahmya shifted to the side, squinting against the misty spray, and plucked up the rock. It was mostly smooth, and the inside had been hollowed out enough that it would work perfectly.
Now to find two more …
Excitement fueled her search. The rock had been a lucky find—a sign to guide her. Though she didn’t find any other rocks like the first, she soon discovered an eldernut tree beside the pool with several of its nuts scattered on the ground. Their curved shells, similar to walnuts but the size of her palm, had already been emptied by animals and would suit her needs well enough.
Ahmya carried her finds back to shore, and water ran down her body as she stepped out of the pool. After setting the shells and stone down, she wrung out her hair and picked up the spare silk cloth to use as a towel.
She looked in the direction Rekosh had gone, where he waited for her to call him back.
So they could mate.
Heat spread through her. This was it; she was going to have sex with a vrix.
She was going to have sex with Rekosh.
Ahmya clutched the makeshift towel as arousal flared low in her belly. She wanted him, had wanted him longer than she’d admitted to herself. She wanted to discover how different he was from her, wanted to discover how he would react when she touched him and what would bring him pleasure. She wanted to kiss him.
And she wanted to be pleasured by him in return. Ahmya didn’t want to be a virgin any longer. She…she wanted his cock. She wanted to experience the intimacy, the passion, the… love that could be shared between two people.
Rekosh had always been gentle with her, but... Would he lose himself to the mating frenzy that she’d witnessed from other vrix in Kaldarak?
Would he lose control with her ?
I want him to.
That thought surprised her, but it was true. She wanted Rekosh to let go, to hold nothing of himself back from her. Wanted him to relent to the fierce passion burning inside him.
She wanted all of him.
Ahmya smiled as she picked up the silky, diaphanous dress and held it up.
Soon, you will be mine.