Chapter 25 #3
His stem popped free with a squelching gush of hot essence, which poured from Lacey to run down his pelvis and rain on the ground, pattering on the vegetation. It was ridiculously loud in the relative quiet.
Her skin heated impossibly more, turning a bright shade of red he’d only seen when she’d been badly sunburned.
“Put me down!” she said frantically.
He set Lacey down on her feet, positioning his body to shield her from the others’ view. She stumbled back on shaky legs, but rather than fighting for balance, she quickly covered her breasts with one arm and her pelvis with her other hand.
Telok caught his mate’s shoulders to steady her. He felt the tremors coursing through her, each one constricting his hearts.
She looked up at him, features stricken. “Tell me that seriously didn’t just happen. Please, Telok. Please tell me I’m not standing here with cum running down my legs after being stuck on your cock while you fought a pack of rabid beasts. Tell me I’m dreaming and wake me up.”
His mandibles sagged. “You ask me to lie?”
Lacey groaned, shoulders curling inward as she covered her face with a hand. “Can the ground just open up and swallow me?”
“I will not let it take you.” He swept his gaze over her, checking her for wounds from head to toe, front and back, ignoring her muttered insistence that she was fine.
Her skin was spattered with blood, and though they were not the source of that blood, he found wounds aplenty.
Newly forming bruises on her hips, waist, and backside, claw pricks in the same spots, and a bite on her shoulder.
All inflicted by him.
A low, unhappy buzz sounded in his chest. He never wanted to hurt Lacey, and he hated that some part of him thrilled at seeing the marks he’d left on her because they would declare to all who looked upon her that she was his. That he had conquered and claimed her.
His gaze dipped to the moisture flowing down her inner legs. Telok’s fingers itched with the urge to gather his spilling seed and press it back into her slit, letting none escape, to ensure it took root. His lower hand reached for her.
“Here, human,” said Gai’Tahk Var from behind Telok.
With a snarl, Telok spun toward the winddancer, fingers hooked to put his claws to use, but Lacey grabbed his extended wrist, halting him before he’d made even half a turn.
Var flinched back, purple eyes wide. A brown silk blanket dangled from his raised hand.
“No,” Telok growled, mandibles spreading. “She is mine.”
Heat skittered beneath his hide as he watched Var slowly lay the blanket on the ground and back away, arms pressed together in apology. Telok slid a rear leg back, snagged the blanket with its tip, and flung it at the retreating vrix.
When he faced Lacey again, she was looking at the ground, squirming uncomfortably in place as she pulled her hair forward to cover her breasts.
She hadn’t been injured, but his mate was standing here in the middle of the jungle, naked, trembling, and embarrassed, with far too many sets of eyes nearby that could fall upon her at any moment.
But Telok would not tolerate another male’s scent upon her skin.
He crouched over his bag and pulled it open, thrusting a hand inside. He tore out his blanket, unfurled it with a snap of his wrists, and swept it behind Lacey, drawing it over her shoulders. She quickly grasped the cloth with both hands and pulled it tight to cover herself.
Making no effort to quiet their approach, Garahk and those who’d followed him returned. Droztar and Koss carried a dead kurghest between them, lashed to two spears.
“It did not stride far before it fell,” the white thornskull declared. “Cole’s hands were steady, and his eyes true.”
“Can’t lie, that shot had me sweating,” Cole replied with a chuckle.
Tas hummed, and his voice was soft with disbelief when he spoke. “Three… Telok fought three at once.”
“I…have never witnessed that sort of fighting,” Ayali said hesitantly.
Okkor chittered. “Nor I. It is true under sun and sky.”
“Mating sure does make vrix…possessive and vicious,” Sophia said.
“I need to go,” Lacey whispered, moving to step past Telok.
He scooped her into his arms and clutched her to his chest.
She fought and pushed against him, but she was unable to escape his hold. “Telok!”
“Finally, Telok and Lacey have mated,” Garahk said with a trill. “All Kaldarak will take joy.”
“Oh my God,” she groaned, pulling the blanket over her face as she curled against Telok like she wanted to disappear into his arms. Voice muffled, she said, “Please kill me.”
“Never,” Telok growled, the entirety of his body, hearts, and mind railing against the very thought. Embracing her protectively, he crouched to snatch up their bags, stuffing Lacey’s boots into hers, and collected their spears before setting off toward Tovuunshai.
“Hey Lace, at least your first time together was nothing if not memorable,” Cole called.
“Ugh.” Waves of heat radiated from Lacey’s body as she shrank further into the blanket. “Then kill him instead.”
Telok chittered. “Ask again later and I may, vi’jatai.”
For you…anything.