Chapter 13 #2
I couldn’t answer, I was so consumed in my own pleasure.
I bucked against him as he began to thrust upward with a ferocity I hadn’t experienced.
I held on, each plunge prolonging my pleasure.
I had thought climaxing around his fingers had felt good, but this?
‘Twas astonishing to be filled so completely by him.
Kragorn threw his head back as his fingers tightened on the skin of my hips.
“Lillian!” he roared as the first jet of warmth flooded against my womb. I sank lower, and felt another spurt of warmth, then another, as he filled me with his seed.
Claiming me.
Behind me, I could hear the clan roaring their approval, but I only had eyes for Kragorn.
My Mate.
He’d claimed me in front of everyone, and instead of shame or embarrassment, I felt only wonder. Pride. When he smiled at me, I leaned in to eagerly kiss him, and he chuckled as he wrapped me in his arms and stood.
The movement pulled his cock from me, and I felt the thick strands of his cum sliding down my leg as I threw my arms around his shoulders.
“Where are we going?”
He turned away from the firelight, from the celebrating clan, and strode back toward our cottage.
“To properly love my Mate,” he promised.
And I sighed happily, knowing I had hours—days!—more of pleasure ahead of me. Kragorn was mine, and I was his, and I was worthy.
Kragorn
The Mating Heat lasted a mere three days, to my surprise.
I would have thought it would take my Kteer a fortnight to slake my aching need for Lillian, but mayhap we made up for the time.
The gods themselves likely lost count of the number of times I made her scream, until she was hoarse with exhaustion and we fell asleep, only to wake a few hours later, driven by my desperation to taste her again.
The poor female would have dehydrated if not for the gifts of food and mead our friends left us while I was near-mindless with lust.
The third morning, I rolled over to find a naked Lillian spread-eagled on the bed, her head tipped to one side, her mouth open as she slept. To my surprise, I wasn’t overcome by my Kteer’s urging to take claim claim taste Mate claim.
Instead, I merely smiled at her, resisting the urge to brush a soft kiss across her skin—she needed her sleep, the gods knew—and rolled out of bed to heat some water. Gods below, I was sticky and sore and utterly sated…how must my Mate feel?
I vowed to pamper her. Mayhap a visit to the hot springs?
When she finally woke, I pulled her into my lap and fed her bits of cheese and bread and honey, taking my time to kiss her and lick the sweetness from her lips. We made love slowly, languidly, without any of the desperation of the last days.
I loved that my Mate was so comfortable with me. Gone were her blushes and hesitation, and she met my gaze boldly now. The change which had overcome her the night of the claiming had been a joy to see.
After, I bathed her with scented soaps and hot towels, invigorated by the sounds of her blissful moans. Aye, I would take her to the hot springs, as soon as I checked in on the clan.
I should have known that when we stepped outside for the first time, we’d be met with laughter and cheers. Unable to help myself, I pulled Lillian in for a kiss, and she was smiling as she wrapped her arms around my neck to kiss me back.
My perfect little human might not think of herself as bold or courageous, but she was the perfect Mate for me and our clan.
We found ourselves moving from group to group, cottage to cottage, accepting congratulations and good-natured ribbing, and more than a few gifts.
It was incredible to watch Lillian—who just a fortnight ago would have blushed and stammered—meet each act of kindness with a smile of her own and genuine thanks.
She was remarkable, and I preened at knowing she was mine. She would bear the next Bloodfire chief, and our clan’s future was secured. Between Lillian and our new alliance . . ..
To my surprise, Vrogul Stormseeker offered his own congratulations.
“Chief’s Mate,” he greeted Lillian with a bow, “ye are enriching yer clan already?”
She frowned at the male, and I’ll admit her response made me want to gloat.
“Was that your way of asking if I am pregnant yet? You would not be the first to inquire.”
Stormseeker pressed his palm to his chest with a gasp.
“I wouldnae dare. I merely meant that ye seem to have found yer place. Ye are happier here than in yer father’s Keep.”
Her ruffled feathers soothed, Lillian settled back against me.
“Hmm. Well, aye. I am much happier here.”
I turned his attention.
“What are ye still doing here, Stormseeker? Is my brother that good of company?”
“Yer brother is shite when it comes to holding his uisce beatha, but yer cousin—the one with the new kitling—is quite amusing.” He jerked his chin toward the west. “I sent my lieutenant to gather my Battleborn sea wolves, so we might stand beside ye during the Bladesedge attack.”
Fook.
‘Twas not that I had forgotten the threat…I just satisfied myself knowing that Vartok was aware of it and could handle things during the Heat, and— Well, aright, mayhap I’d forgotten about it briefly.
Could I be blamed?
Still, I pulled my Mate closer and grumbled good-naturedly.
“Bloodfire warriors can withstand any attack.”
“Aye.” Stormseeker smacked his hand against my shoulder and turned us both toward the Council Hall.
“But ye’ll need the Battleborn if ye expect to stand against Bladesedge and Tarbert.
Now that yer father-in-law is less than a day’s march away, ‘tis good ye finally decided to join the council of war!”
Damnation, the bastard was that close? Aye, my clan needed me; ‘twas a good thing I wasn’t distracted by Lillian any longer.
As I stalked toward the Council Hall, I completely missed the fact that she stiffened and slipped away.