Finally, he took to a room segregated at the back of the building. “This is for our bed. I worry it is not big enough,” he said. “I will need to build another room when we have younglings.” Mishal wandered off, babbling about glass, roofing materials, and furnishings. Despite having slept on a mat on the ground for weeks now, she needed a bed.
Amber and her back agreed.
“I am particularly interested in the size of the bed,” Pel whispered in her ear.
She squeezed his hand. “I bet you are. How many kids is he talking about?”
“At least nine.”
She dropped his hand. “What?”
“Three for each of us. It is traditional,” Pel replied in his authoritative tone.
“I call shenanigans.” Nine babies weren’t coming out of her body. She wasn’t even sure if she could get pregnant. Yes, Lucie and Lydia became pregnant, but they were also altered from their time on the Concord. They were a little bit more than human now, and Amber remained plain old original flavor. She had asked them once if children were important and they assured her that whatever happened, children or no, they would be content. Still, possible or not, trying to get pregnant was fun.
“Do not listen to that greedy one,” Flin said.
“I didn’t plan on it.”
“Then I will be content with what fate provides. It has already given me much.” Pel pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Back on Earth, Amber hadn’t been the type of person to believe in fate. Yet here she was, on another planet, with three wonderful men who happened to be aliens, happier than she had any right to be.
She was home.
“How is your back?” Pel asked. His hand traveled down her shoulders and stopped just before the blistered patch.
Amber had applied the salve twice a day, per Joi’s instructions. The blisters eventually drained and dried. The healing skin itched as the old layer flaked off, but she had resisted all urges to scratch. The new skin was still pink and raw, but it was healthy and without signs of infection. Amber knew what Pel was really asking. “Joi gave me the all-clear for, um, adult activities.”
The guys insisted on waiting to bond with her until the burn was completely healed. She had waited for weeks to be intimate with them, had walked to E’Lek for them, so logically waiting a bit more shouldn’t be a problem. They were worth the wait and what they had was based on more than sex. Frustrating? Yes. Worth it? Hell yes.
“I believe we need to try the pool,” Flin said, a gleam in his eye.
“But Mishal isn’t done showing off yet,” she said.
“What? What is it? What are we doing?” Mishal asked, attention snagged when they said his name.
“We are going to enjoy the hot springs,” Flin said.
Amber thought about their tent inside the city and the pack with soap, shampoo, and clean clothes. “Are we going back to the settlement tonight?”
“This is our home. We will stay here,” Pel said.
“What is wrong with here?” Mishal asked.
“Nothing, I just curious if we’re going back for our stuff or if we plan on sleeping in the bare ground?” She wouldn’t mind. The tent inside the village’s walls offered no privacy. She’d be willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort for privacy. Besides, the three of them kept her plenty warm.
Pel pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I will fetch the possessions.”
“I don’t mind sleeping under the stars,” she said.
“If it rains, you will be thankful for the tent.”
True enough. The house Mishal built did not yet have a roof. “Sounds good,” she said.
Pel smiled down at her, his gaze heated. “Why don’t you enjoy the pool now with Mishal and Flin. When I return, we can finally claim you as our mate.” He pressed her palm to his heartstone and closed his eyes, savoring her touch.
“Yes,” she breathed. Finally. No interruptions, absent members and no injuries to worry about aggravating.
“We will keep our mate occupied,” Flin said, draping an arm over her shoulder. Pel gave a quick touch to his heartstone and bowed before jogging off in the direction of Phoenix.
“So explain this bonding to me again?”
Chapter Nineteen
Amber
Amber crushed a few bright scented leaves she recognized as an ingredient in the soap the valos made. She sprinkled them across the surface of the pool to negate the sulfur stink. After her time in the Caldera, it was hardly noticeable. Using the same leaves, she scrubbed herself. It wasn’t perfect, but she felt clean. Mishal and Flin were more than happy to help her scrub the spot she couldn’t reach.
“So tell me how we bond,” she said.
“I think you know,” Mishal said, a voice in her ear.
She shivered in delight. “Mmm. You said a bit of blood on the heartstone?”
“Yes. It aligns us with you,” Flin said. His massaged the knots in her feet, melting away the tension she didn’t know she had.
Blood on the heartstone. It seemed so visceral and primitive. So much of the technology in the caldera could only be accessed with a Creator’s blood, though. Lucie claimed she once found a room stockpiled with weapons that could only be used once a Creator jabbed themselves with a pinprick. The more her guys explained “bonding”, the creepier it sounded. The only way they could safely have sex was for her to bleed all over them.
“Did a Creator ever bond with a valo?” she asked, finally voicing the question that had rattled around inside her head for the last few weeks.
Mishal gasped, but Flin was slower to react.
“No. Never,” Mishal said.
Flin continued to massage her feet, but he watched her with hooded eyes. “Why do you ask this?”
“Idle curiosity. How did your tribe bond before the heartstones?”
“Much in the same manner,” he said.
Amber chewed her lip, thinking. From what she could tell, the Creators were flesh and blood, just like her. They ate, they slept, and, presumably, would want to fuck at some point. The Fire Valos had been given a means to have sex with the Creators without injuring the Creator.
The idea of the Fire Valos being used for sex in addition to all the horrors pressed upon them, disgusted her. It was wrong in so many ways. If she could, she’d punch Sheenika right in the cooter.
She was deeply glad no Creator bonded with a valo. From their descriptions, life without their heartstones was a numb, zombie-like existence. To be bonded and used for sex—
She was thankful they had been spared that.
“You remember bonding from before the Creators?” she asked Flin. He nodded. His memory gradually returned, and Mishal no longer watched him with a forlorn expression. His recovery had not been swift, but it allowed them to each to know each other, almost as if they were dating.
Dating.
She already agreed to get married and move in. Dating seemed a bit backward, but every moment spent with her guys reaffirmed that following her impetuous impulse had been the correct decision. Her gut had yet to steer her wrong.
Pel returned by the time the sun sank behind the trees. Mishal set up the inaugural fire in the hearth while Flin set a kettle and food on the ledge to warm. Amber watched them set up the bedroll while she brushed out her hair. The heat of the heart behind her dried it quickly. Anticipation coiled in her stomach. They were going to do this. Far from spontaneous, the fact that her men wanted it to be right meant so much. They wanted to court her, for her to choose them, and then they built a freaking house.
How lucky could a girl be?
“It is time,” Pel said. he held out a hand and lead her to the bedroom. The light from the hearth spilled through the doorway. Looking up, the two moons glowed brightly overhead. She’d miss that view once the roof went on. Maybe she’d explain the concept of the skylight to Mishal, and he could come up with something clever.
Pel, Mishal, and Flin knelt on the ground before her. With both hands, Pel held out a small
blade. “Amber of Earth, you are our one mate. Our heartstones beat for you. Will you accept this triad as your bonded?”
She accepted the blade. “Yes. Of course.”
The edge of the blade had a wicked gleam in the moonlight. They explained this part of the bonding to her.
Just a prick. No harder than testing for blood sugar.
Amber pressed her thumb to the tip of the blade. Bright, scarlet blood welled up. Moving quickly, she smeared her bleeding thumb across Pel’s heartstone. He grinned broadly, placing his hand over hers. She pressed her forehead to his. With her eyes closed, she could almost hear the heartstone pulse to the rhythm of her own heartbeat. She repeated those actions with Mishal and Flin.
“Is that all?” she asked, setting the blade down on the dirt floor.
Without speaking a word to coordinate, her triad surrounded her and stripped her of her clothes. Six hands stroked her skin, on her arms, thighs, legs, stomach, back, shoulders, calves—everywhere but her breasts and pussy. The soothing heat of the caresses relaxed her. Whatever happened next between them would be beautiful. She didn’t need to worry about jealousy, unequal attention, awkward positions or, heaven forbid, burns. She loved her valos and how they shared their bodies with her.
Mishal turned her head to hold her gaze. “I would never knowingly hurt you,” he said.
“I know.” Amber tilted her head back for a kiss. Sweet and possessive, she trusted him.
Pel pulled her to him, a hand around her waist to lift her up. “You accept us as your triad? Your mates?”
“I do.” Amber smiled as she said the words. Someone’s hand parted her thighs and delved between her pussy lips. She gasped at the unexpected but not unwelcomed sensation.
“She is wet for her valos,” Mishal said. His fingers teased her clit. Instinctively, she widened her stance and pushed her ass out, inviting him. He pushed his fingers into her core, working two then three to prepare her.
She felt herself edging closer to a climax, pinned between Pel’s rock hard abdomen and Mishal’s muscular form.
Pel lifted her chin. “Look at me. mate.”
Her eyes flew open at his command.
“We choose you, Amber of Earth,” he said, leaning down to cover her mouth with his. Hot and deep, it was no kiss but a claiming. She belonged to him as much as they belonged to her.
Mishal withdrew his hand, eliciting a whimper in her. “Do you want your mate, sweet one?” He planted a kiss on her shoulder.
“Yes.” Oh, how she ached for him.
“Tell me how you want me.” He positioned his thick cock at her entrance, waiting.
“I want you. All of you.”
Mishal groaned at her word. He didn’t waste a moment before pushing in.
Amber gasped as she stretched around him.
Heat surrounded her and pierced her. Hot and growing hot with each thrust, Mishal’s heat moved inside her, reaching her deepest place. Her eyes fluttered shut as sensation overwhelmed her. Finally, just she reached her own peak, his searing seed released deep within her. Amber tensed, waiting for the pain of a burn, but only felt a pleasant warmth.
Mishal gave her hips a squeeze before withdrawing, his warm seed trickling down the inside of her thigh.
Pel sank to his knees and placed her to straddle his lap. Already slick with semen, his cock slipped inside easily. She raised her once, moaning at the feel of him. With his hands firmly planted on her ass, he worked her up and down on his member.
“I can’t believe how good you feel,” she said. He filled every inch of her.
She gestured for Flin, and he approached with his monster dick in hand. She wrapped her hand around his cock, judging it to be as thick as her wrist. She gulped, unsure how she’d take that inside her without splitting her in two. Mishal and Pel’s dicks were impressive, but Flin was something else.
Hard, harder than anything dick had a right to be, she appreciated the unique texture as she worked her hand up and down his length. Pre-cum leaked at the head, and her thumb swiped through, spreading it.
He gasped when she touched it.
Hot but not boiling, she smiled at him before popping her thumb in her mouth. He tasted sweet, reminding her of vanilla cake.
Pel gently grabbed her chin and turned her attention back to him. His gaze burned bright as he thrust slowly into her. She hooked her arms behind his neck, holding on. Each stroke sparked along her skin, catching fire with an intensity that would consume her.
She crested, crying out with his name on her lips. Her inner muscles tightened, milking his cock as he emptied into her, filling her with his scalding hot seed.
Barely able to catch her breath, a pair of strong hands pushed her forward. Pel reclined, holding her to his chest as Flin raised her hips. He rubbed circled on her back, cooing sweet words as he positioned himself.
“Are you ready for me, mate?” Flin asked.
Amber tensed, not sure if she was ready for his monster dick. If she wasn’t stretched enough now, she’d never be. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Yeah. Go slow, okay?”
He pushed in, and her flesh burned as it stretched around him.
“You’re beautiful,” Pel said, smoothing back her hair.
Mishal stretched out next to them. She traded kisses with him and Pel, soon forgetting her discomfort.
Fully seated, Flin paused, letting her adjust. One hand tangled deep in her hair and his other arm snaked under the stomach. It’d get easier to take him with time and practice, she knew. She certainly looked forward to the practice bit.
She rocked her hips and pushed back, urging him to move.
Each thrust rocked her forward. She bounced, breasts pressed flat against Pel’s chest. Flin’s fingers dug into her hips, branding her.
Their heat surrounded her, melting her down to her base components and shaping her into a new creature altogether: a woman who was free, a woman who was home at last.
She came hard, her entire body tenses before sagging into a boneless mass. Pel and Mishal lavished her with kisses and praise.
Flin’s grip tightened in her hair, and he pulled her up, covering her mouth with his in a fierce kiss. His cock pulsed deep within her as he reached his climax. His internal fire flared alarmingly hot for one bright moment. His fire surrounded her and filled her but did not burn her.
Gently, he stretched out and arranged her on top of him.
“Wow. Guys, that was just wow,” she muttered, words barely making sense to herself. They were amazing, but she couldn’t do that every day. Maybe all three was a special event kind of thing, like birthdays or weddings.
“I’m married,” she whispered.
“Mated,” Flin said.
His hands skimmed over her, not to inflame but as if searching for any injury. Satisfied, a cool cloth replaced his warmth, and someone cleaned her. Amber drifted off to a content sleep, home at last.
Epilogue One
Amber
One Year Later
Rekka crawled toward the basket, the object of her desire gleaming in the sun.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Amber said, swooping up the baby before she could reach the spyglass. Mishal worked hard grinding and polishing the lenses, then setting them in a metal tube. The last thing the handheld telescope needed was baby slobber on it. The primitive tech worked surprisingly well, and he had plans to build a larger, stationary telescope. Amber described how ancient scientists on Earth observed the stars and bent light with glass lenses to learn about the universe. He became obsessed with the idea.
Rekka’s face bunched up and her cheeks grew bright, warning of an imminent tantrum. Amber held the baby with outstretched arms like she was a bomb about to detonate.
“Here.” Asche took the baby and held her in the crook of his arms. He produced a wooden ring with discs that clattered. Reeka swung it wildly in her chubby fists, hitting her father in the arms and face, all the while squealing with delight.
Rekka was cute, a mix of
her human and valo heritage. Her features were human in their proportions, right down to her stubby little human fingers, but her complexion was all valo. Skin smooth and uncracked, she glowed like an ember. Unable to regulate her own heat, the hot air created currents that stirred her wispy baby hair, like a personal wind machine.
“You looked beautiful with a baby in your arms,” Flin said, standing next to her.
“Liar.” As excited as she was over her own pregnancy, babies made her nervous. She didn’t have much experience with children, let alone infants, back on Earth and now the village was swarming with babies.
Swarming was a bit of an overstatement, but Crystal was about to deliver any day now, and Brandi wouldn’t be far behind. The tribe welcomed each pregnancy with an enthusiasm that bemused Amber until she found herself in the center of their joy. The tribe showered them with gifts because the good fortune of one triad was the good fortune for the entire tribe. Every valo had an opinion on the best foods to eat, how much sleep Amber needed, how much exercise and how often her triad needed to have sex to satisfy her.
All the time, apparently. Not only were Pel, Mishal and Flin constantly trying to get her in bed, the rest of the tribe expected it. Any time Pel drew her away for a private conversation, the tribe smiled and jabbed each other with their elbows.
Nosy busybodies.
Still, worse problems to have. Joi estimated her to be a little more than two months along in her pregnancy.
“I cannot wait to see your hold our baby in your arms,” Flin purred in her ear.
“I agree,” Pel said in her other ear.
She shivered at the heat in their voices and the warmth radiating from them, familiar ache flaring to life inside her.
Damn these hormones.
“Will it truly fly?” Asche asked, Rekka happily beating him with the wooden ring.
Mishal checked the harness connecting the balloon to the basket once again. He heated the air and inflated the balloon. It strained at the tether attaching it to the ground. “It floats but I find I very little control over directing it.” Hence the tether. “It is ready.”
Inferno Page 18
