11. Sirin #3
''I didn't think to grab anything to clean up with. I don't love sleeping in a wet spot, so I suppose I'll need to figure something out. Someone, me, a while ago apparently, thought throwing my shirt across the room was a good idea, but it would be pretty handy right now.''
Sirin burst out laughing with him. She smacked his shoulder playfully.
''I thought there was something wrong, I thought—'' she cut off her voice devolved into a whisper ''I thought you didn't have a good time.
'' Mortification heated her face. It'd seemed like he'd enjoyed himself, but he might have been regretting saddling himself with her for a partner.
Intensely grateful and so overcome with the magnitude of feeling swelling in her breast, Sirin leaned into the side of Berne's face.
She pursed her lips against his temple and breathed in sharply.
''Did you just smell me?'' he asked, his eyes crinkling in mirth.
Sirin blushed; she hadn't even thought about doing it.
It had been a purely instinctual action, one she'd not engaged in since being home.
Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, and she cleared her throat, smiling.
''It's actually a cultural thing. I am honestly not sure why we do it.
It's a closeness thing. For loved ones.'' She shrugged, trying to play it off.
If he thought it was weird, it was not like she needed to keep doing it—though even thinking of that felt like a rejection.
Berne leaned up to kiss her on her forehead, and he sniffed in as he did so. ''I love that. Did I do it right?''
Sirin pressed her lips together, nodding. ''That was just right.''
''When I said you were a gift, I had no idea.
'' He looked down at her before softly kissing her lips, cheeks, and eyelids.
''I'm the happiest, proudest man in the world because I get to do that over and over again for the rest of my life.
'' He squeezed her close, trailing his fingers down her spine.
''Really?'' she asked, knowing that she was moon-eyed after his lovely words. ''You aren't disappointed you ended up with me?''
The deep rumble of his laughter vibrated through her as he ducked his face into her neck.
''Never! If I'm disappointed in anything, it's in myself.
I wanted to make this perfect and I'm realizing I have nothing to catch my seed, nowhere inside for you to pee, and I didn't start a fire before we started and you might be getting cold,'' he punctuated his sentences with kisses.
''Oh well, I am pretty cozy right now,'' she said, wiggling beneath him.
''Good, it's a start. Because I still feel like I need to trick you into being happy with me and I'm worried I haven't done enough.
I know you didn't have much choice in the matter but I'd prefer it not be something you regret forever.
I will be a good mate to you Sirin and I swear I'll show you every day how grateful I am to have you,'' he smiled and tucked his head back into the crook of her neck.
''Plus, I'll take you to see where the lady sleeps tomorrow, and that has to count for something eh? ''
Sirin nodded and thought for a moment before scratching into his beard.
''I haven't had much time to process, but I can think of thousands of worse scenarios than to be stuck in the exact place I need to be to do my research with an insanely handsome man who gives me the most delicious sex I have ever had.
'' She cupped his face, rubbing her thumb along his temple.
''You didn't choose this either. But I don't want you thinking for the next seventy years you need to make this up to me.
You saved my life and got an, admittedly gorgeous, talented, kind, wonderful, sexy wife out of it. ''
He nodded into her neck and she laughed at herself. ''But seriously, we're partners now, which means we're equal, alright?''
''Alright,'' he said before whispering into her shoulder, ''but I can still be very grateful I got to save you, out of anyone else in the world. I have it on very good authority you are smart, talented, and kind.''
''Hey!'' She laughed. ''And gorgeous and sexy and…something else!''
''Oh no, love,'' he whispered against her ear. ''I don't need to know those things second hand. I trust my own judgment that you're the most gorgeous and sexy far more than yours.''
Tears stung her eyes as Berne pushed himself off of her and cupped his cock in his hand before lunging for his shirt. He wadded it up and shoved it between her legs. ''Hold that, I will be right back.'' Once his pants were back on, he kissed her lightly and moved toward the door.
''Where are you going?'' she called after him, bewildered.
''I'm getting you a chamberpot from somewhere so you can pee inside!
''1 He winked at her and shut the door. Sirin burst out laughing, marveling at her fortune.
This morning, she'd been convinced she was getting close to finding something she'd looked for her entire life.
She'd had no idea she would find it and something far more precious than she'd ever imagined.
1. I am happy to report we installed a flush toilet shortly thereafter.