Devi’s Distraction: Icehome Book 7

by Dixon, Ruby

  I wake up with my lovely Devi in my arms, her mane tickling my face, my cock nestled against the rounded swells of her buttocks. I changed loincloths twice last night as we touched each other, and saved this one for sleeping, because I know that my naked cock makes her shy. It is not as if a piece of leather is a deterrent, but it makes her happy, so I will wear it and rub myself against her as shamelessly as if I were naked.

  She wakes up in my arms, greets me with a kiss, and I touch and rub her until we both release once more. Then, we dress, and she combs her long, tangled mane. I braid it for her, using her red band to tie the plait, and do the same for my own mane. It looks deliberate, and it is. I will take every opportunity to show the others that Devi is mine. Let them ask questions, let them stare, let them wonder. I will shout to the world that I want this female.

  I do not think about resonance at all anymore. All I think of is Devi and her smile. Devi and the way her eyes light up with wonder.

  No resonance could ever make me feel as good as when she looks at me, her eyes hungry with need.

  I know Devi is nervous when we leave the tent together. I keep one arm wrapped around her waist, and my tail locked around the length of her belt. Others see us and smile, and one or two smirk with knowing. Devi fiddles with her braid as we stand by the fire. She is obviously nervous, but I touch her cheek and limp forward on my aching false leg to get her a cup of tea. I scoop it into the cup, bring it back to her, and then hold out my pouch of shells.

  She smiles at me, takes two and drops them into her cup and sips quietly, trying not to notice how everyone’s staring.

  I just hold her tighter, leaning in close. “Do you want food?”

  “Not yet.”

  “You need to eat,” I remind her. “Today will be another challenge and you must be strong.”

  “I’ll eat. Soon.” She smiles shyly at me. “You don’t have to stay next to me. J’shel looks like he wants to talk to you.”

  I glance across the fire, where G’hail and L’ren are ladling out portions of the early morning meal. Behind them, V’za and K’thar stand next to J’shel. My friend is giving me an outright curious look, but I do not feel the need to join them just yet. “I like staying here with you,” I say to her. I feel very protective of my Devi right now.

  “I don’t mean to pry,” Sam says, coming up to our side. “But I have to ask.”

  I brace myself as Devi stiffens against me. I know she is imagining what people will tease. That they will make things an issue as B’shit and A’tam became an issue.

  “But did you just drop a couple of dead bugs into your tea?” Sam looks at Devi, then at me.

  A little laugh bubbles out of Devi, the sound pure and sweet—and relieved. “They are a type of shrimp that are in the tidepools here. N’dek dries them and takes the heads off and when you put them under your tongue, they are sweet and a stimulant. It reminds me a bit of chai and I miss coffee so much that I’ve been adding them to my tea.”

  Devi looks over at me, her gaze full of affection. My chest swells with emotion, and I want to grab her and haul her back to the supply tent, to take her in the furs and kiss her until she squeezes her cunt against my cock through my loincloth again. Did I love her smile before? Because now I will strive every day to have her look at me like she did just now—affectionate, proud, possessive.

  As if I am her fierce mate and she is pleased with me.

  “Shrimp tea?” Sam asks, peering at Devi’s cup.

  “It’s really quite tasty,” Devi says. “Rather sweet. And it definitely helps me miss coffee less.”

  Sam groans. “I miss coffee so much, you have no idea.” She studies Devi’s cup and then gets one for herself by the fire pit, dipping it into the tea and then jogging back to our side, the contents sloshing. “All right. I’m in. Can I try?”

  Devi looks to me, her brows up. For a moment, I want to say no. I have deliberately kept these aside for my Devi, and I do not have many. I do not want anyone to take them from her…but her eyes are sparkling and happy, and the tension is gone from her body.

  Another female comes up to Sam’s side—this one P’nee—and peers at Devi’s cup. “I want to taste. Is it really like coffee?”

  “Hold the fuck on, did someone say coffee?” Liz bellows, and Devi laughs happily, holding out her cup for others to try.

  She looks at me again and I wordlessly hand her the bag of precious shells. I can collect her more. For now, the females are excited about the drink and not teasing my Devi about the fact that she is with me. She looks relaxed, and I relax, too.

  The females gather around with cups, staring at the shells inside them as the water bleeds a darker golden shade, steeping. They sniff experimentally, and someone gags. Sam tastes hers, though, and P’nee takes a sip of Devi’s, and then both of them exclaim in pleasure.

  “I’m out of the games today,” Sam declares, passing her cup to G’hail to try. “I’m going shrimping. That tastes awesome.”

  “Saaaaame!” P’nee cries, and then the cups are drained and the females talk in excited voices, grabbing baskets.

  Devi looks at me, a chagrined expression on her face. “I guess we should too, since I gave away all your shells.”

  “Everything I have is yours,” I say, gently touching her cheek.

  P’nee sighs dreamily. “That is the sweetest thing. You guys are giving me some serious feels.”

  “I will go and help the females,” S’bren blurts, moving to Devi’s side. “I have a basket we can use.”

  I frown at him. I do not like how he looks to Devi for reassurance…or that she smiles encouragement at him.

  “I go as well,” I declare.

  * * *

  The females fish shrimp out of the tide pools all morning, despite the grumblings of many of the males. To the island clans, shrimp are no novelty, but the human females are all terribly excited. Once the suns are high in the sky, the shrimp fishing is exchanged for skewering the creatures through the heads and then drying each stuffed skewer in the smoke of the fire. I show Devi how to snap the head off once it is cooked so she can keep the shell, and while a few of the humans gag, most are intrigued after a few sips of “shrimp tea.”

  S’bren has hovered far too near Devi all morning. I glare at him to let him know she is mine, but my warnings do not last for long. I will have to take him aside later and tell him to leave her alone. Devi is polite to him, but her smiles are mine, and she pushes him to help P’nee with her shrimp. For all that she has been hunting many times, P’nee is squeamish at the sight of the shrimp wriggling in the baskets, and struggles to skewer hers. S’bren helps.

  Then, once the shrimp are drying, the games start up again. This day, an elaborate thing called a “relay” has been set up in the area of the beach with the four lanes. Each lane will hold a team, and the lane has been studded with obstacles—a large piece of wood to jump over, baskets to carry, and a fire-roasting spit at the end to crawl under.

  “This is a three-legged race,” Tia declares, holding up rope. “One leg will be bound to a partner’s leg, and you’ll have to work together to cross the finish line.” She beams at the group. “We’ll pair girls with girls and guys with guys.”

  Normally, the humans clap after the rules as if to acknowledge them, but today it is silent. I think of my aching stump and notice the others are staring at me. They are thinking of my stump as well.

  “That’s not funny,” Devi says, stepping forward. “This is not appropriate, Tia. You should apologize.”

  Tia’s mouth forms a little circle of surprise and then she looks at me. Her eyes fill with tears. “Oh. I didn’t mean anything…I’m so sorry N’dek. I wasn’t thinking. We do three-legged races back home…” She trails off, obviously devastated. “I’m sorry,” she says again, wiping her eyes.

  “Just think next time,” Devi snaps.

  I stare at my female in surprise. Her hands are clenched into fists at her side and she practically bristles with
anger. Over this? Because she thinks it is unfair to me? I am both awed and amused at her ferocity. Does she think she protects me? “Devi, it is all right,” I murmur, putting a hand to her back. “I have said I wish to be treated as everyone else, have I not?” I gesture at the obstacles. “This is no problem for me.”

  Devi crosses her arms over her chest and moves to my side. The mood on the beach is uncomfortable, everyone watching us. “I just don’t want you to feel singled out,” she murmurs to me, her expression indignant. “It’s not fair.”

  She is defending me. My fierce, sweet female. I pull her close, not caring that the entire tribe is watching. “I do not feel singled out, my Devi,” I murmur. “But I like that you are willing to battle for me.” I touch her cheek, grinning, and wonder if it would be too much if I kissed her right now. “This is a race I can win. Am I not working without one leg every day as it is?”

  Her expression eases. “Are you sure?”

  “Watch me,” I tell her. “And then you can shower me with kisses when I win and the sight of your…male fills you with lust.” I almost said “mate.” Strange how easy that word comes to my lips when I think of Devi.

  She chuckles. “I guess. You just want to be showered with kisses, I’m thinking.”

  “It is a good incentive.”

  15

  N’DEK

  The games begin. I volunteer to go first, because I do want to show my mate there is nothing to fear…and I want Tia to stop her weeping. J’shel volunteers to be my partner, and we tie my stump and false leg to his. On the other side of the course, O’jek and Sessah face off against us.

  We win. Easily. J’shel is used to carrying my weight and I am used to balancing when I cannot use one leg, and it is far too easy for us. We untie, Tia gives us points for our team, and then I adjust my false leg and return to Devi’s side with a swagger in my step.

  She chuckles, her expression shy as she puts her hand in mine. “Is the kiss-showering time now?”

  “You can save it for later,” I murmur. “When we are alone.”

  “Deal,” she says breathlessly.

  I hold her against me as other teams move through the obstacle course relay. It is fun to watch them struggle, and nothing is more amusing than when R’hosh’s leg is tied to R’shel’s and they face off against Liz and A’yla, who hauls her kit through the obstacle course with a determination that surprises me. Then it is Devi’s turn, and she is tied to Sam. The height difference between them worries me. I did not realize how much taller my Devi is than some of the human females. They race against a yellow-maned one named R’ven and T’chai’s mate M’rsl.

  Right away, all the females struggle. Devi clings to Sam’s shoulders and they nearly fall over, laughing. The other team does better, but not by much. When it comes time to cross over the log, I remember how J’shel and I moved as one, timing our legs. The women do no such thing, and I wince when they tumble forward, landing on their faces in the sand.

  Devi lifts her head, sputtering, and her lovely brown skin is covered in grit. She laughs, and I laugh, too—only to have it die in my throat. At her side, Sam tries to get up and only manages to push Devi further into the sand. The other team, a few steps behind Devi and Sam, loses their balance on the log and goes tottering into the other team’s lane. I watch in shock as the other two females collapse on top of mine, knocking Sam into her again.

  My heart feels as if it freezes in my chest when R’ven groans and rolls off of her partner. No one is getting up. I see Devi’s long legs sticking out of the pile of females, but she is still.

  She is fine, I tell myself. The other humans are light.

  But I still rush forward, because I have to see for myself.

  T’chai is there, too, picking up M’rsl and her partner. R’jaal moves forward as I do, and I see Sam sprawled on top of Devi, neither one of them moving.

  “I’m so sorry,” I hear R’ven say distantly, the blood in my ears roaring. “It was an accident.”

  I stumble forward, hating this false leg of mine because I cannot move swiftly enough. R’jaal gets there before I do, gently easing Sam off of Devi, who is still face down in the sand.

  Sam jerks awake, and I can see blood on her face. Her eyes widen in terror as she looks at R’jaal and she flails. “Don’t fucking touch me! Get away!”

  “Human,” he murmurs, even as I move to Devi’s side and try to turn her over. Their bound legs make it difficult, and I snarl and get my belt knife out, slicing through the leather ropes and then hauling Devi into my lap. She is covered in gravel, her face scratched in multiple places from being slammed into the sand. She is not bleeding, but there is a lump the size of one of her small fists on her brow.

  “Don’t fucking touch me,” Sam shrieks, terrified. “Don’t touch me!”

  “Calm down,” H’rlow says in a gentle voice, and I look up as she and W’lla move to Sam’s side, easing R’jaal away from her. “We’re here. It’s okay.”

  “Devi,” I murmur, caressing her lovely, too-still face. I cannot breathe. “My Devi.”

  She stirs and I wipe sand from her face. “Ow,” she croaks, her hand fluttering to her brow. “I think I fell. Did we win?”

  “Yes,” I lie, and scoop her into my arms. It is a struggle to get to my feet with her weight added, but I manage to do so, my thighs straining with the effort. Once I am up, I haul her higher against my chest and then begin the arduous walk off the beach. “I am taking you to the healer.”

  “I’m okay,” Devi says, pushing against my chest as I walk away from the group, leaving the cries of the terrified Sam behind as the females try to calm her. “I can walk, really.”

  “No,” I say, even as I step and it shoots pain up my stump. “Let me take care of you.”

  “Don’t be silly,” she says, her words dazed as we move through the camp. The healer’s tent is up the slope and toward the back of the encampment, and I feel every step. It does not matter, though. It is nothing compared to the fear thumping through my chest. I do not like the lump on her brow, or the sluggishness in her normally bright and inquisitive gaze. “Someone should be taking care of you.”

  I grit my teeth. “Do you think that? Truly?”

  She moans when I take another step. “No. I’m sorry. That was shitty of me.” She curls up against my chest. “Forgive me?”

  “There is nothing to forgive,” I say. “My leg does hurt, but it is a good hurt because it is worth being able to walk, to carry my female in my arms when she needs me. I do not mind bruises. I do not mind my stump aching. I mind being forced to sit and watch life pass me by. This is nothing.”

  Her delicate hand touches my jaw, stroking the light fuzz of beard I have. “I just hate the thought of you hurting. It hurts me deep inside.”

  Devi’s soft words make my stiff pride ease, just a little. I look down at her scratched, bruised face. “Now you know how I feel right now.”

  “Oooh, fair enough.” She closes her eyes and goes so quiet that my heart quickens again.

  I walk as quickly as I can toward the healer’s tent, and bellow for her as I approach. “V’ronca!”

  She emerges, her eyes wide as she rubs her face. “Oh man, I lie down for a nap and everything goes haywire. What happened?” Her mate moves to her side, holding her close.

  “There was a fall,” I say, and gently set Devi down the moment I step inside the healer’s tent. I can hear others coming behind us, their feet loud on the sand, but Devi is here first.

  “She just looks a little banged up. Nothing a bit of hands-on healing can’t fix, right?” V’ronca smiles cheerily at us. “Have a seat, this won’t take too long.”

  I sit on the other side of Devi, holding her as the healer touches her wrist and closes her eyes, fingers wrapped around Devi’s arm. It seems to take forever, but as I watch, the lump on Devi’s head lessens, her scratches smoothing away until they’re nothing but slight marks on her skin.

  “You’re good,” the healer says af
ter a time, lifting her head and smiling at us. “Maybe just take it easy for the rest of the night.”

  “She will sleep,” I agree. “My thanks.”

  “You need me to look at your leg while I’m here?” V’ronca asks. “I noticed you limping a bit.”

  “No,” I say. “But you have my thanks.” And I get to my feet, gather my Devi into my arms again, and make my way back out of the tent. There, I see the other females, dirty and disheveled, but not nearly as wounded as my Devi. The one called Sam gives me an embarrassed half-smile as W’lla hugs her shoulders.

  “Stubborn,” Devi murmurs as I carry her toward the tent we have claimed. “I really can walk now.”

  “I know.” I do not put her down, though. We are not so far from our tent, and I like holding her. “Perhaps I wish to carry my mate.”

  She sucks in a breath. “Your mate?”

  I said it aloud. I will not take it back, though. Seeing her wounded just reinforced how quickly I have come to care for this human. If my khui was not so silent, I would say that our instant attraction was the result of resonance. Since it is quiet, though, I suspect it is just because Devi speaks to me of the brightest things in life. She is happy and eager to meet each day and what adventures it brings. She is clever but kind.

  And she has the perfect tongue to suck upon.

  I am quiet as I walk through camp. Yes, I did call her my mate. It fits. “I will not take the words back,” I say as I duck into our tent. “I will not deny that I want to be your mate.”

  “But…resonance,” she says weakly. “What about that?”

  “You do not have to claim me as yours,” I tell her. “I know I said we would take it one day at a time, and I meant it. I will not change how I feel about you, though. In my eyes, you are mine. You may take as long as you wish to decide.”

  I set her down gently in the furs and she just sighs at me. “You are a very stubborn man.”

  “I am.” I sit down next to her, easing my weight off of my false leg. It throbs underneath the leather straps, and I undo them as quickly as my fingers will let me, then sigh with pleasure when it is unwrapped. I rub the sore spots and I know without looking that Devi is watching me. I am certain she is frowning, too.