by Lily Thomas
She shrugged her shoulders. “I was too focused on other things, like proving myself to my clanmates.”
“Why?” He wanted her, but he needed to know her as well. They were about to spend a lifetime together, but he wanted to know everything about her as quickly as he could.
“They took me in when I was a child.” She admitted. “When they could have just let nature take its course.”
His heart went out to her. Not only had she lost one family, but then his people had killed her second family, but if she were willing he would eagerly make her feel loved and welcomed. All she had to do was accept him.
“Come, let me take your mind off such troubling problems.” He reached out a hand coaxing her towards him.
She stepped closer, and he directed her hands to his pants. Soon they would both be naked, and then he would be able to show her exactly what he could offer her between the furs.
Aiyre untied the leather strap and sank to her knees as she pulled his pants down his legs. He stepped out of them and kicked the pants across the cave floor.
Her eyes focused in on his cock, and he felt it jump eagerly in front of her gaze. “Like what you see?” He held his breath.
“Yes.” She sighed, her soft brown eyes just staring at his rigid length.
“Suck on it.” He commanded her again. The image kept flashing through his mind, and he hoped she would. After she’d sucked on his fingers as he’d hand fed her earlier in the night, all he could think about was her doing the same to his cock.
Her head dipped closer, then her hand took hold of his hard length, and she guided it in between her soft lips.
Daerk groaned but tried not to make too much noise. He knew she wouldn’t want them advertising their nighttime encounter to the sleeping occupants of the cave further down the corridor. And he definitely didn’t want her to cut this short because she was afraid the others would find out what they’d shared.
The tip of his cock entered her wet hot mouth, and he nearly came right there. It was pure bliss. His teeth gritted against each other, as her sweet little tongue swirled around the tip of his shaft.
For a woman who hadn’t been with a man, she had a natural talent of pleasing him. Her mouth went up and down on his cock as her hand followed close behind.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her away.
“Did you enjoy it?” She asked, her brown eyes tipping up as the tip of her tongue licked her lips delicately.
“Too much.” He smiled down at her. “Lie down.” He directed her. Just a few seconds of her sucking on his cock and he felt ready to burst.
She obeyed him, laying down on her back on some of their discarded clothing, her brown eyes filled to the brim with expectation and desire. She was as ready as he was, and it sent his sabertooth purring with pleasure.
He bent down next to her, his cock still straining for release. Her mouth had given him a taste of the pleasure he would enjoy inside her hot sheath. His finger ventured to the junction of her thighs, dipping between her plump lips and feeling the moisture that had collected between them.
“So hot,” Daerk whispered his voice taking on an animalistic growl. His inner sabertooth purred with satisfaction demanding to be heard by their mate.
His finger slid up and down her lips spreading her wetness about, and then he found the nub at the top of her lips. When he circled it with a fingertip, she sucked in a harsh breath and then arched her back against his hand as pleasure shot through her.
He could smell her desire rising. His sabertooth purred some more.
Daerk continued to rub the pad of his finger against her nub, wringing out moan after moan from her lips. Bending over her he captured her mouth with his before she woke the people down the corridor with the pleasure that was building inside her sweet little body.
Aiyre trembled below him, as he felt her thighs clench around his hand. She came quickly, quivering around his hand, as she moaned into his mouth. His sabertooth reveled in her sounds of bliss.
Once she finished, he pulled away, a smile dancing across his lips. “You are an amazing mate.”
Aiyre blushed under his praise. “And you?” She asked. She was eager to do more, before she backed out… not that she thought she would. She was so hot and bothered. She’d come, but now she wanted to bring him to climax as well.
“Are you ready for me?” His fingers brushed over her slickness, causing her back to arch again as he lightly touched her sensitive nub. “You feel ready.” He purred, his golden eyes gone a shade darker, and she could swear she saw the sabertooth inside him ready to pounce. Her inner pronghorn quivered.
“I’m ready.” Her mind had gone nearly blank with the pleasure he’d been basking her in, and she wanted to feel him fill her.
Daerk moved over her, placing himself between the juncture of her thighs. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for most of my life, and I could never have imagined a more perfect mate.”
Aiyre blushed at the emotion in his voice. She hoped she wasn’t leading him on by sharing this night with him. She was in need and wanted him, but she still wasn’t sure what life a sabertooth and a pronghorn could share together.
She’d just take it one step at a time and see where it led.
“Please.” She begged him. She was tired of talking, and just wanted more of what he could offer her.
His head dipped down, and he captured a nipple with his mouth, sucking it deep into his mouth and gave it a slight nip with his teeth. Then he let go of it with a wet pop.
Aiyre wanted him to capture more than just her nipple. She wanted him to claim her, to mark her as his own. She may have already come once, but her body was ready for a second time. She could have never imagined it was so amazing to lay with a man. She’d been too focused on proving herself as a hunter to her clan.
Kissing his way down from her breast, she felt her skin tremble under his administrations.
“I need you.” He mumbled against her hot flesh.
“Yes.” She panted.
Aiyre felt the tip of his member prod her hot entrance. She trembled below him from excitement, but also a little apprehension. Sucking in a calming breath, she prepared herself. There was no going back, once he entered her.
Slowly, Daerk eased into her entrance. Her mouth popped open as he stretched her entrance wide, and then her jaw clenched as he pressed against a barrier inside her sheath.
“Slow or fast?” He asked, sounding like he was on the brink of losing control. His words almost seemed more animalistic with the building tension inside of him. She got the feeling his sabertooth was right there with him.
“Fast.” She decided, not exactly sure what he was speaking of and unsure what she should say.
Daerk’s hands wrapped around her waist, and then he plunged into her entrance with one swift stroke. His lips captured her scream of brief pain, but he continued to plunge in and out of her, easing the pain away until pleasure once more soared through her body.
“You feel amazing.” He groaned, as he continued to move inside her. The head of his cock stroking the ridges inside her.
Her head fell to the side, as pleasure washed over her mind. He drove his member to the hilt, their hips touching with every thrust inside her. Wave after wave of pleasure soared through her. Her hips moved with his thrusts, matching him with the same eagerness. She wanted nothing more than to come again.
Her hands came up to his shoulders, and she lightly scraped her nails down his back until she reached his well-toned buttocks. She squeezed them, spurring him on a little faster.
Suddenly, the pressure built until she couldn’t take it anymore, and she felt her body shatter into a million pieces as her body closed down around his member.
He let out a groan, as he burst inside her. His hips kept thrusting into her, and she felt him shoot his seed deep into her. Her contractions milked every drop from him as he shattered around her.
Leaning down he pressed a soul-searing kiss to her l
ips. “I don’t wish to withdraw.” He laughed, and she could see the twinkle in his golden eyes despite the dark. “I’ve waited so long to be joined with my mate.”
Aiyre laughed and pushed lightly on his shoulder. He rolled off of her, his member leaving her entrance. The moment it had gone, she felt as though she was missing something. But he didn’t give her long to dwell on it, his arms wrapped around her, drawing her into his embrace.
“You laugh at me?” He asked as he nipped her earlobe with his teeth.
She swatted him with one of her hands. “We’ve only just met.”
“You can’t deny there is something here,” he motioned between their still hot bodies, “even though you pronghorns don’t have mates.”
He waited for her to deny it, but she couldn't! There was something between them, and it was the very reason why she’d slept with him. Something beyond their power was driving them together, and she cursed it. She wanted to hate him for what his clan had done, but it seemed impossible.
She snuggled her back against his chest, enjoying the warmth from his body which wrapped around her like the caress of a blanket. Turning around she buried her face against his chest, his scent entering her eager nose. Her hands wandered over his chest, twisting lightly in the fine hairs that dotted his chest.
She could have stayed like that for years and never wanted for anything. Sadly, reality slowly came back to her as the high from what they shared wore off.
As much as she wanted to stay there in his arms, she knew she had to get dressed and go back to her place by the fire. If she fell asleep here, she might not wake before the others, and then what they did would be evident to the rest of the group.
Right now the only people who knew what they’d shared was just them, and she wanted it to stay that way for now.
Aiyre pulled away from his grasp.
“Where are you going?” He mumbled from where he was still laying sounding like he had almost fallen asleep.
“To go sleep beside the fire. Where it is warm.”
“I can easily keep you warm right here.” Daerk’s arms opened as he welcomed her right back.
It was tempting to roll back up in his arms, but she had to keep her distance for now. The future was still unknown, and she wanted to keep her options open. Sharing his furs was one thing, but giving him hope of a future she couldn’t promise was a whole other thing.
Aiyre rose and gathered her clothing from the cave floor.
Daerk groaned as he rolled over and rose to his feet as well. “My mate is shy and doesn’t want the others to know.” He surmised.
She glanced over her shoulder to see him sending her a smirk through the darkness.
“I’m not shy.” She argued.
“No?” He slipped on his pants. “Why not stay in my arms then?”
“It’s not because I’m shy… it’s because I just slept with a sabertooth shifter.” Aiyre slipped on her last piece of clothing and fled the area. Quickly, she made her way back to the front of the cave.
She glanced around, and everyone still appeared to be fast asleep. Tor was still near Ezi, but not too close to cause concern. She’d keep an eye on him though. She didn’t need him unnerving her friend when she was injured both physically and emotionally.
Settling down she watched as Daerk made his way back to his spot next to the fire. He threw a couple more logs onto the dwindling flames, stoking it up a bit and spreading a wave of heat throughout the cave.
Aiyre put her head down on her fur and closed her eyes. Flashbacks of what they had done wouldn’t leave her alone. They plagued her like a bad dream. She hadn’t thought she would enjoy such a personal encounter with a sabertooth shifter, but she had.
Chapter 11
“My leg feels a lot better.” Ezi sat up against the rock wall of the cave. Her feet kicked out towards the flames.
“I’m glad.” Aiyre tossed her a smile.
Eron was again checking on Ezi’s leg, which he had set. Her leg was now a normal color, and Aiyre hoped that was a good sign. The gods owed them some good luck after everything that had happened.
She took a bite of some meat and watched Daerk out of the corner of her eye. The blush that formed on her cheeks just wouldn’t stay away. All she wanted to do was go back into the dark of the cave and strip naked with him again.
He caught her staring at him, and he sent her a wink.
She frowned.
“I was hoping Eron wouldn’t mind coming back to my village to perform a death ceremony over my people. He may not be our shaman, but it would be better than nothing.” Aiyre looked between Eron and Daerk.
Daerk looked over at Eron. “Would you mind?”
Eron shook his head. “I have everything I need to speak over their bodies.” He patted the bag beside himself.
“Thank you.” Aiyre was glad something would be done. Hopefully, no predators had found them by now, but there was little she could do about that. It was winter, and the ground was frozen solid, which wouldn’t allow her the chance to give them a proper burial.
“I wish there was more we could do.” Daerk handed her another chunk of cooked meat.
Aiyre shrugged. “What you are doing will help them with their journey to the Eternal Hunting Grounds.” She looked around the cave. “I will want to visit our sacred cave to send them on their way though.” To be truthful, visiting the sacred cave would be more for her than for her clan. It would be one more way for her to say a final goodbye.
He nodded. “When Eron is ready we can head out.”
“I’m ready.” Eron stood and looked at them.
“Are you ready?” Daerk turned to her, but she was already on her feet. “I don’t want you to irritate your leg.”
“It was barely a scratch.” She waved it away unconcerned.
“It was more than that.”
She frowned at him. “I can walk.” Aiyre wanted to get this over with. Going back to her village would only bring that horrible night back into her mind. She didn’t look forward to it, but she had to see Eron speak over their bodies. She hadn’t been able to save them that night, but she could at least help them on their way to the afterlife.
Daerk grabbed a couple of packs.
“What are those?” She asked as she glanced over at the full packs.
“Tents and other supplies, just in case we don’t make it there within the day.” He looked down at her leg. “We have no idea how tired you might get with your injury.”
She wanted to take offense at his comment, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure as well. Her leg was still a bit sore, even if she wanted to play it off as feeling normal. There was always the chance she could cause it to begin bleeding again.
“What about Ezi? She can’t come with us.” Aiyre turned worried eyes over to her friend.
“I will stay here with her.” Tor volunteered, looking a little too eager for Aiyre’s taste.
Aiyre hesitated. “Are you alright with that?” Aiyre looked down at Ezi.
“I’ll be fine.” Ezi rolled her eyes.
Aiyre wasn’t sure she wanted to leave Ezi alone with Tor. She didn’t know this man very well, and she wasn’t keen on him pressing any advances when Ezi had just lost her partner.
Grabbing her spear, she leveled it at Tor. “Anything happens to her, and I will hold you responsible.” She wasn’t entirely sure if she could beat him in a fight, but she’d do her best if he did something to Ezi.
He held his hands up in the air. “I will keep her safe. Eron has shown me how to tend to her leg.”
“It is fine,” Ezi reassured her.
Aiyre relented. “Let us go then.” She wanted to get out of there so they could get back sooner.
She made her way out of the cave, pushing past the fur only to have the blowing snow greet her. Pulling up her hood she tied the leather straps under her chin. She slid on her fur gloves and hefted her spear as she made her way down from the cave.
“Will you know the way from
here?” Daerk slid down the hill until he was next to her.
“I’ve lived in this area for as long as I can remember, so I sure hope so.” She wasn’t familiar with this area specifically, but she knew in which direction she needed to head to get back to her village. Then she’d be able to spot landmarks that would help her back to her village.
“What happened to your parents?” Daerk insisted on walking right next to her.
How close did she want to get to him when it came to the information of her life? Nothing was secret. She just worried about them getting to know each other.
She glanced over at him. If he behaved like the sabertooths who’d attacked her village this would’ve been easier, but he was kind and watchful. He wasn’t like any sabertooth she knew, and neither were any of the others he’d introduced her to so far. All of them had been too relatable to people in her life.
“I’m not quite sure on all the details.” Aiyre tried to think back to when Naru had spoken to her about it. “I was too young to get the whole story. All I know was that my parents were killed by a bear, and my clan took me in and never made me feel unwelcome. Bhirk made sure everyone knew I was his daughter from then on, and that was all they needed to know.”
His eyebrows raised slightly.
She smiled. “I know. Usually, a clan leader wouldn’t welcome a child that wasn’t of his own blood into his hut, but Naru, his wife, wouldn’t let me go. They’d never been able to have any of their own children.”
Images of Naru and Bhirk flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help the small hitch in her chest. She’d never see them again, and she still found it hard to believe. They’d always been there for her, since her very first memories.
“I can see how much they meant to you when you speak of them, and I’m sorry I can only apologize for what happened to your clanmates.” She could hear the remorse in his voice.
She nodded, feeling a bit too choked up for words. Images of Naru and Bhirk kept flashing through her mind unrelenting and torturous. Naru hadn’t deserved to die in such a brutal attack. Naru had been like a mother to her. She’d always been there and had always made Aiyre feel welcomed in their tent.
