Chapter 16
HAL
I knew holding her, bringing her to climax, would be overwhelming, but I absolutely cannot get this smile off my face as I watch her float carelessly on the other side of the cavern in the hot water while I try to cool down from what almost felt like a heat stroke.
I am battling the warmth to be with her, but I fear that at some point it is going to cause us conflict.
It is crazy how much my life has changed in such a short time.
My mind drifts back to Troza and Father for a moment, but I refuse to dampen this moment with those thoughts.
I must turn away from Dawn’s breasts that are peeking above the water as I can feel my shaft hardening once again, and I do not want her to ever think that all I want from her is personal pleasure and gratification. Then her voice echoes across the walls.
“I can hear your thoughts all the way over here.”
“What am I thinking?”
“When can we do that again?!” The sound of her giggling as she turns so that she is now facing me has me smiling in return. Before I can say another word, my communicator pings.
“Yes?”
“HaL, the dropship came one rising early, and there are several crates marked for you. Do you want us to set them in the hallway or in your rooms?”
“Gelid, my main room will be fine. I will unlock the doorway so that you can gain entry.”
“I will have them directed there. I know you are unavailable right now, but I knew you would want to know that we have three new calves, and all are healthy.”
“Good news and I will bring my mate to see them soon.” I no longer disconnect from Gelid when SAGE pops up out of nowhere.
“Here you two are. I have hunted all through the halls for you. Get dressed because we have goodies to go through.” Just as quickly as she came, she is gone.
“Well, I do believe playtime is over, dearest.”
Groaning, I make myself move toward the heat, only to feel scalded when I pull Dawn up against my chest.
“Damn, you’re cold.”
“Hot.”
We both say it at the same time. I stare down at her. She stares up at me. Then we burst out laughing. Making my way back up the slick side of the hot spring, I reluctantly set Dawn down. Even though the very touch of her skin feels like it is leaving blisters on my hands, I prefer her in my arms.
She turns, wiggling that cute little ass of hers while shimmying into the heated suit Troza had made for her.
I sigh when her body is fully covered, and I know I need to re-wrap my own loincloth, but my girth is still sensitive, and I grit my teeth when I feel the material rub across its once again hard form.
“I see Goliath is not cooperating.”
I turn around, looking for someone else, a growl on my lips, when she abruptly cups my balls, and I gasp out in surprise.
“This is Goliath, honey.”
“You are naming him?”
“How else are we gonna talk about him? He practically takes up an entire zip code on his own. He deserves a name.”
Shaking my head back and forth, I cannot help but smile, as I never have a clue what she is going to say or do next. I reach down to pick her up, only for her to wiggle loose.
“I can’t leave without my snuggie.”
“What is a snuggie?”
“The coat made out of you. I had all kinds of names in my head, but this one stuck. Are you becoming hard of hearing? Because I’m pretty sure I keep repeating myself.”
“No, just a little slow when it comes to my human mate it appears. I think perhaps she is doing some of this on purpose.”
“Damn, all my secrets are out now.”
After she tugs the coat on, I throw her up into the air, a small scream on her lips before I catch her.
“Show-off. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a date so do carry on, my noble steed. Actually, that’s almost accurate after all, since I did say you were hung like a mule.”
“You know, it is not polite to talk of such things.”
“You wanna talk proper when you just licked my juices off your fingers like I was your favorite candy.”
“Roja!!”
I can’t help but smile at the shocked look on his beautiful face.
“Yes, dear…???”
“Later, me and you … we are …”
“Yeah, yeah, allll talk.”
I spank her playfully on the bottom, knowing she can’t feel a thing through that thick coat she has on, then I nip at her bottom lip when she sticks it out, pouting.
Dawn swings her legs playfully as I make my way back through the cavern, smiling up at me mischievously the entire time.
“You know, you are way too easy to rile up.”
Before I can answer her, SAGE pops up in front of me.
“OHHH right on time! I have everything done and I can’t wait to see your reaction.”
I step around the camouflage entrance, SAGE twirling around, her skirt flying out in her small holo form.
“I would tell you to close your eyes, but I don’t want ya to get hurt, so here goes.”
She waves her hand, and the doorway opens with a soft groan of shifting ice. For a moment, I simply stand there. I am not sure this is still my quarters.
“Put me down.”
I slide Dawn from my arms almost absentmindedly, barely noticing the weight leaving me as I step across the threshold.
My attention is caught by everything around me, my eyes moving from one unfamiliar detail to the next.
The room is still bitterly cold. I can see each breath leaving my lips in pale clouds, and steam continues to rise from my skin after spending so long in the hot springs.
Droplets of water cling to my hair and shoulders, quickly turning icy against my skin.
But the cold is no longer the first thing I notice.
It is the colors.
My quarters have been transformed.
The walls are still carved from the ancient, blue-white ice, but they no longer seem bare and severe. Soft fabrics now cover portions of the stone and ice, their deep blues, silvers, and faint violets creating warmth without diminishing the room’s frozen beauty.
My bed has been completely remade.
New coverings spill over it in thick, luxurious layers, embroidered with patterns that resemble frost spreading across a window.
The blankets shimmer whenever they catch the light, as though tiny crystals have been woven into the fabric.
At the head of the bed, pillows have been piled high, their edges trimmed in white fur.
And that is not the only place meant for resting.
In one corner of the room, enormous pillows have been arranged directly on the floor, forming a deep circular nest around a low table made from translucent ice. Someone has even placed small cushions along the inner edge, making the whole thing look ridiculously comfortable.
I stare at it.
Then at the rest of the room.
Several benches now line the enormous viewers, positioned so that anyone sitting on them has an unobstructed view of the frozen landscape beyond. The benches are carved from pale wood and capped with thick cushions, making them seem almost impossibly inviting against the cold.
I walk toward one of them.
Beyond the clear walls, snow-covered mountains stretch toward the horizon. Jagged peaks rise into a sky painted in shades of lavender and silver, while enormous flakes drift lazily past the glass. Far below, the ice fields glitter beneath the fading light.
Then I look upward. A new ice chandelier hangs from the ceiling. Dozens of slender crystals branch outward from its center like frozen flowers. Each catching the light pouring through the clear ceiling above and scattering it across the room in hundreds of tiny reflections.
Blue.
Silver.
Violet.
White.
The entire room sparkles.
It almost looks as though I have stepped inside a frozen constellation.
I slowly turn in place, taking it all in.
There are little touches everywhere now.
Crystal lamps sit along the walls, glowing with a soft blue light.
Frost-white curtains hang beside the windows, their translucent fabric moving slightly despite the complete lack of wind.
Small shelves have appeared between the pillars, holding glass ornaments, carved figurines, and strange little pieces of ice that glow from within.
SAGE even placed a brazier near the bed.
Not a normal fire, though.
The flames burn a pale blue, giving off a strange warmth without producing smoke or melting anything around them.
I fixate on it for several seconds.
“What happened to my room?”
Dawn says nothing. I glance back at her. She merely smiles.
That smile tells me everything.
I turn back toward the room, suddenly aware that I am standing in the middle of something far more personal than a simple renovation. This is not just a room anymore. SAGE has made it an environment meant to be lived in and comfortable. A place meant to feel like home.
“SAGE, it’s freaking awesome! Holy hell, who would have thought you could make a freezer look inviting? But I should have never doubted you.”
When I say nothing, both of them turn toward me, and I can tell when the smile drops from Dawn’s face and she starts nibbling on one of her claws, that she needs me to say something.
“SAGE, this is quite …” I stall, trying to find the right word … “Life-changing, as it should be. I appreciate you doing all of this so please do not be discouraged by my silence, as I am simply running to catch up with all the changes the Lord of Light has thrown at me lately.”
“We can change anything you do not like, Master HaL.”
“The place is perfect, but it will take me just a tic to get used to some of the finer things that I have never experienced before.
“Wellllll, it has been a day for new things!
Dawn winks at me, and I must turn around and bite my inner lip to keep from encouraging her constant antics that keep me on my toes.
“If you two no longer need me, I have a few things to tend to. Dawn, I will return at last meal.”
“Go do your snowman stuff … I’ll be right here, BIG guy.”
Smiling, I walk out of the room. “Lord of Light, that little female has me wrapped around her finger, and she knows it.”
Glancing down at my comm unit I take in the current time, only to realize Oset should be sparing with some of the younglings and I do believe I need to work off some steam and a little frustration since this is the calmest my beast has been since I picked Dawn up off that frozen tundra.