“More than anything. Do you?”
He caresses my face in the most gentle way. “More than anything.”
“Will you carry me?” I’ve resisted any help since I started using the crutches to get around, but I want to be in Ortak’s arms. I don’t want to waste any time and he’ll get us there much faster than with me hopping.
He sweeps me up in his arms—bridal style—like he did once before and carries me out of his tent into my own. The low-burning fire gives off a dim light, but it’s bright enough for Ortakto locate my pile of furs and lower me to them. He covers my body, but rests most of his weight on his side.
“You will have to teach me how to pleasure you. How to be gentle with you.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to be gentle.”
Ortak caresses my cheek. “Even in mating, Krijese must fight and battle. There is no tenderness. No being gentle. I do not wish that for me. For us.”
Each new piece of information I learn of his prior way of life breaks my heart even more. I lay my hand on his chest. “Then gentle is what you’ll get.”
I trace my fingers over his shoulders, down his arms, and up again. Next, I draw lines along the length of his spine and around to his ribs before returning to his back and mapping the entire surface of it.
“Where should I touch you?” Ortak asks.
“Help me take my shirt off, please.”
I lift up so he can draw it up my torso and over my head. He places the piece of clothing on the ground near us. My bra is next. I unclasp it and push the straps off my shoulders. Ortak drops it on top of my shirt. Not once has he taken his eyes off me. Tiny flashes of silver appear in his eyes and this time I know I’m not imagining them.
“My breasts are really sensitive, and I love having them touched and played with.”
Ortak palms one and the callouses on his fingers and hand abrade my flesh in the most delicious way. I arch at thecontact, pressing myself harder into his touch, needing more. He carefully kneads the pliant orb. Arousal spikes and a bolt of desire spears my center. I part my legs so that Ortak’s thick thigh settles in the cradle of mine.
“Yes, just like that.”
Pleasure ripples through me, and I ride a wave of ecstasy. He takes the lead and moves from one breast to the other, giving them both his full attention. His fingertips dance along the ridges of my ribs, and I giggle at the way it tickles. Ortak explores my upper body with a tenderness I’ve never experienced before. His touch is soft and loving, but it’s also exhilarating and sexy and makes me breathless.
He leans down and rubs his cheek along mine. Once. Twice. Then he travels down, rubbing against my sternum until he reaches my stomach. Through half-lidded eyes, I take Ortak in as he learns my body and what brings me pleasure. His tusks move outward and his mouth slit parts only far enough for his tongue to dart out. He circles around my belly button, barely tasting me, before he lifts his head and stares down at me.
I can sense the question in his gaze and I nod my assent. That long tongue loops around my nipple and squeezes. A moan of pure pleasure spills from my lips. I thread my fingers through Ortak’s floks and clutch his head desperately to hold him in place while he continues his sensual assault.
“More, please.”
He lashes his tongue against one nipple, then the other. I press myself harder onto his thigh cradled against my core and even that small bit of friction I’m able to generate makes my entire body shudder. While Ortak plays with my breasts, alternatingbetween using his tongue and his hands, I roll my hips against his leg, chasing the orgasm building within me.
Wetness flows from my pussy, and my clit pulses and throbs. I find the perfect pressure and motion that lights up all the nerve endings. Between that and the way Ortak teases me, the thread of tension pulls tight until finally, it snaps and my release hits me like a bolt of lightning.
I cry out his name during my climax and his body tenses. He grunts and collapses half on top of me with my breasts pillowing his cheek. His weight feels amazing. I just want to lie here and absorb his warmth and his strength. My hold on him tightens, afraid he’ll leave me before I’m ready.
We lie together as our breathing slows and the beads of sweat on my forehead and upper lip dry. Ortak shifts, and I grumble in complaint.
“I am merely getting more comfortable, sivalla.”
I’ve heard that word before. Kala used it when introducing Iris to me. “What does sivalla mean?”
“The closest meaning it has is a gift from our god.”
My stomach flutters with joy. “Kala called Iris his sivalla. I thought it meant she was his mate. Does that mean I’m yours?”
Ortak raises his head. “For many turns I have desired you to be my mate, but I feared all you wished from me was friendship. I was content with that. Having you in my life in whatever way you were willing to be there was enough for me. Still, I wanted more.Wantmore. It means you are my mate if you will also have me as yours.”
I blink back my tears, because I don’t want to ruin this moment. “You asked me before about my life on Earth and if I had to choose whether I was running from something or toward it. I chose toward something, and I think that something is you and Gannen. I’ve never been more happy than I am now. It’s like here with you is where I’m supposed to be. All the roads I’ve traveled have led to you.”
“My sivalla,” Ortak rumbles.
