Elodie blushes and returns to eating her bizele. I have found I enjoy causing that reaction in her. While Gannen dominates the conversation, we finish our pieces of fruit. Several more peoplehave made their way down to the river as well and are seated on the few benches available.
“How about a quick game of Pac before we turn in for the night?” Elodie suggests.
Gannen perks up, because he loves playing this game with her on the machine she has. “Perhaps this turn, we can convince Gogo to play.”
She laughs and flicks her gaze my direction. “Excellent idea. I think now that you guys are living here, we should make it a nightly requirement. Gogo plays one game before bed.”
I narrow my gaze as they both stare up at me. “I am at an unfair advantage when it is two against one.”
Elodie finally stands and within two hops, she comes toe to toe with me. “Who says I play fair?”
My cock thickens at the way her voice caresses my flesh. She has never used that tone when speaking to me. It is how I have imagined far too many times how she would speak to me if we were alone in my furs. Heat slithers through me, and it takes me several beats before I realize I have been left standing there. Elodie and Gannen have already headed toward the village.
She glances over her shoulder and the look I am given makes me burn. It also confuses me, because I do not understand this new behavior of hers. The way she is looking at me is how I have seen Iris look at Kala before they ask Sorin to spend time with the elders and they disappear into their dwelling. Every tribe member knows what it is they are doing in there. We hear them.
I will retreat to my tent with them and wait until Gannen sleeps. Then Elodie and I will speak.
To give myself time to get my cock under control, I walk slowly and do not catch up with them quickly. They have already made it to my dwelling and wait outside by the time I reach them. Elodie turns to Gannen.
“Let me grab my data pad and I’ll be back over.” She turns to me, but whatever she was feeling down at the river is gone. Her expression is friendly, but no different than it has been the past moon cycle. “If you don’t mind that we use your tent while we play our game?”
“You are always welcome in our home.”
Elodie smiles and ducks inside her own dwelling.
“Let us go in and wash up before she returns.” I gesture for Gannen to enter. “We will bring out a few extra furs for her to sit on.”
“I will place them near mine.” He rushes around, first quickly washing at the basin, and then he throws open one of the storage chests and drags out several furs.
My movements are slower. I wash as well and after, I tend to the small fire that burns in the pit dug in the center of our dwelling. While the sun is out, it is warm, but once the moons are fully in the sky and night blooms, it grows colder. Even during the warm season.
“Knock, knock.” Elodie stands in the doorway that I left open for her. “May I come in?”
“Come.”
She hops inside and Gannen crosses over to her.
“I brought out some furs for you to sit on. They’re over here.” He guides her to the pallet he laid out beside his and points. “Those are yours.”
“Thanks.” Elodie is not graceful, but she manages to lower herself to the bed of furs.
Gannen drops down next to her and sits so close they touch. They began this nightly ritual of game playing nearly a moon cycle ago, but instead of sitting out at the central fire like they have always done before, they are now in my dwelling.
I lower myself to my own furs on the other side of the fire from where they sit and watch them laugh and have fun. No one was more surprised than me to discover I enjoy it.
My hearts swell seeing Gannen being a kit that has no need to war with anyone. He does not need to fight with other Krijese to keep his place in our tribe. He has eaten a full meal with no need to worry if it is his last. The way he has thrived in Elodie’s presence eases an ache I have had for so many sun cycles.
She glances up at me and smiles before her attention turns back to the game they play. The light that sneaks in from the two small holes in the ceiling shifts and dims as the sun continues its trek across the sky and the first moon arrives. As the night grows later, Gannen leans more heavily onto Elodie and his eyes drift shut more often until they remain that way.
Carefully, she maneuvers out from beneath him, and I quickly jump to my feet and help guide him down to his furs. Not once does he awaken. She covers him and reaches out her hand for me to assist her to her feet. I grab her crutches and offer them to her once she is standing.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I should head back to my own tent and get some sleep as well.”
I am still determined to speak with her first. “I will walk you to your dwelling.”
“You remember I’m literally right next door, right?” She grins.
“I will walk you.”
