Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Tai
The way Bri hovers around the room while I clean up tells me everything I need to know. Regardless of her little rant, she wants me. The air crackles with anticipation. I wash up quickly and wrap a towel low on my waist before sliding the privacy screen closed over the window.
“That’s a bit presumptuous of you,” she says with a quirked eyebrow.
“Oh, really? I guess I could move it back.” I slowly reach for the shade. She darts over and grabs my arm to stop me.
“I didn’t say that.”
My thumb traces slowly and deliberately across her chin to her jaw and down the column of her throat, savoring every inch. Her eyes flutter closed and a ghost of a breath leaves her lips. All restraint and intention to go slow snaps.
I don’t know what is happening between us either, but I am too far gone to think about it. Right now, all I want is her.
Her mouth gently closes around my bottom lip, pulling me closer and deepening our connection. My towel drops to the ground and I leave it there. The only thing between us is the soft fabric of her dress. The one I painstakingly selected, thinking it would look nice with her pink hair.
She steps backwards toward the bed and pulls me by the shoulders with her, not breaking the contact between us. I love it when she leads. She could lead me off a fucking cliff and I would follow. Willingly. Enthusiastically. Smiling the whole damn way down.
She stumbles on the long hem of the dress and lands on the bed with a laugh. I gently pull the fabric over her head and drape it next to the water basin on the table.
I run my hands up her body. Her hard nipples graze my palms. My mouth joins my hands, and I tease her nipple with my teeth.
She writhes against me. With her hands on my dick, she positions me at her entrance and thrusts her hips up to mine. In one movement, I am inside her and moving.
“Are you going to scream my name this time, Sunshine?” I ask, thrusting deeper into her. She gasps and digs her nails into my shoulder. I nip at her forearm, driving into her.
“You don’t know when to shut up,” Bri says, pulling my head toward her and silencing me with an unrestrained kiss.
I’m building toward an orgasm and need her to get there as well.
My plans to make this last have failed spectacularly.
I grab her arm from my shoulder and push her hand to where we are connected.
I can’t take my eyes off her fingers pressing on her clit.
It happens before I can stop it. I let go, or maybe I just finally stop pretending I was ever in control.
Bri and I reluctantly get up from the sex haze and go down to the ground level.
In no hurry to find Eio’sh, we wander through the market and take it all in.
Every sense is on overload. The sounds of the Sabaaki language being translated in my ear.
The smells of dried herbs and spices shoved under our noses with offers of the best price.
Dates and figs generously pressed into our hands.
We follow the smell of roasting meat to a spit-roasting stand that’s big enough to feed half the city.
A group of Sabaaki stand around the meat and offer opinions about how to cook the communal meal.
For such willowy people, they look ready to dig in.
We watch them bicker and critique the cook’s methods.
Bri and I stand back, mindful of their suspicion. It’s not every day a Tilak and a human walk into their small city. As soon as they notice us, we are beckoned into their circle. A warm bowl of rice is pushed into our hands.
One of them inspects Bri’s kaftan and clicks their tongue approvingly at her attire. I can’t help but puff up with pride.
“Your wife looks lovely,” they say and pat me on the back.
Bri’s head snaps to me at the misconception. Part of me is tempted to let them think we are married. It feels fun to pretend. If I had my visor, it could calculate the odds of Bri and I being together. The chances would be less than 1%.
I decide to go with it before she can correct them. “Yes, she does.”
Bri laughs and shakes her head. Maybe after everything we have been through the odds have ticked up slightly.
“We heard you are seeking out the Boraei so you can return home. Are you sure that is a wise decision?” they ask.
“It’s our only way,” Bri says with a mouthful of rice. One of the Sabaaki places a thick slice of meat in her bowl and she tears into it.
“Then may the winds guide your path,” one says and piles my bowl high with the sizzling meat. The flavor hits my tongue, and I take three more big bites before I swallow.
It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten.
“Do you know where we can find the Boraei?” I ask while trying to swallow the piping hot food.
“They were across the plains the last time we encountered them.”
“Past the deep sand, the ground hardens and levels out. Then you will pass the canyon with water. Follow the river and pray they don’t find you first,” another adds solemnly.
“Sounds fun,” Bri says. Her sarcasm goes straight past them.
“Yes, thank you so much. You’ve been so generous. It’s a nice change of pace from our last encounter,” I say.
“Who else have you met on Sabaak?” they ask.
“There’s a group that call themselves brethren.
“A cult,” I interject.
“Whatever. They thought I was their goddess. When they decided this one,” she says, angling her thumb at me, “needed to return to the gods, we got the hell out.”
“Goddess? An easy mistake,” says the one who thinks we are married.
“It wasn’t as great as it sounds,” Bri says. “Trust me.”
They lead us to a group sitting around a fire.
We lower ourselves to the ground and sit shoulder to shoulder as we finish our food.
The sun dips below the mountains around us and the circle widens to accommodate the Sabaaki who have trickled up to the fire.
Drums show up. They play a simple beat together that branches out into a polyrhythm.
A waterskin gets passed around. When it gets to me, I take a small sip, not sure what to expect. A sweet and spicy liquid burns my tongue and all the way down my throat. I gasp for air and cough from the sting. The Sabaaki all have a good hearty laugh at my expense.
I hold it out to Bri. “This one has a kick.”
She grabs it roughly from my hands and takes a long drink. She wipes her lips with the back of her hand and gives a satisfied “ah.” She passes it along to the next person in the circle, earning nods of approval from our hosts.
“Your mate is stronger, yes?” Eio’sh says coming up behind me.
It must be my lucky day because Bri didn’t hear the comment. I don’t think her confidence needs another boost, even though they are right.
More wood is added to the fire and the waterskin comes around again. I’m prepared this time and take a long pull before handing it off to Bri.
This reminds me of the night back at the muraDome when Bri dragged me into her room. All those months ago, I would never have guessed I would find myself here on Sabaak with her.
When everyone clears out for the night, Bri and I stumble up the stairs to our room and pass out face-first on the bed.