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Krista had looked at Thon, too, her eyes dark and serious. Thon would give anything to read the thoughts behind those eyes, to know which way she is leaning. Yes to the bargain or no? Thon or Pel or Noss? Or she might ask to wait and choose from all the bachelors in the clan. There are many. If she elects to wait, then Thon won’t stand a chance. There are bigger males than he, more attractive males than he, and males with longer records of accomplishment tattooed into their flesh. On the other hand, this is a transaction, so Krista might prefer someone familiar to her. Someone like Pel, who is more attractive than Thon, and more fun-loving, and less grave. But Pel is not bigger, or more accomplished.
Shecouldchoose Thon.
This thought halts his agitated march through the trees.
Krista might agree to their bargain despite the Human tendency to prefer other Humans. And if he can get to know her as they travel, shemightchoose him. The possibility is remote, but if she does—
Thon’s breath catches in his chest. He turns his back to the nearest tree and fumbles with the ties at the front of his pants.Ifshe chooses Thon, then she may allow him to rest between her thighs before the trip has concluded. Before they reach home with their wagon full of venison, he might learn what it feels like to be wrapped in a female. Thon shoves his pants down over his hips, already swelling within his sheath. If Krista likes Pel’s cock, then she wouldloveThon’s. He has that going for him, though she likely will not know it unless she chooses him.
Thon strokes a hand along his smooth protective sheath, rolling back the tough hide to release the head. He’s slippery with his natural lubricant, which patters over the ground as he twitches in his fist. Looking down at himself, Thon wonders what a Human would make of him. Would Krista like the way he looks outside of the sheath? Harkurians are not dry like Human males. They are far too large to be dry. It would never work. The fat mushroom head of Thon’s cock is more bulbous than a Human’s, and it flares wide before it joins the muscular shaft. He flexes in his fist, shooting a powerful wave of sensation up his spine. The Krista in his mind is not disgusted. If she thinks he is monstrous, she adores him for it. As he fucks his hand, this Krista parts her legs and shows him just how much she desires him. Her body would cling to his like a glove, her interior muscles milking his cock for every last drop of—
“Nn—”
Sucking in a sharp breath, Thon’s eyes flare wide as he watches the sensory nodes at the base of his cock start to swell. Ancestors, this is not supposed to happen without a living body to lock into. With a pained grunt, Thon slides down the trunk of the tree to slump amongst the roots, his legs refusing to support him in this. It was meant to be a quick release, just an edge off the tension, but Thon’s body has other ideas. His hips buck feebly as he clings to his cock, unable to give it exactly what it needs. He nearly shouts as he closes his fingers around the delicate sensory nodes, electricity snapping through him as his body spasms and thick ropes of come spatter the ground.
It hurts. Ancestors, it hurts. He isn’t meant to be exposed like this when the nodes swell and Thon grimaces, his teeth sinking into the inside of his cheek. He has always assumed that he will die without knowing what it feels like to lock himself into a female, but Thon can see himself inside of Krista. He can see her claiming him, leaving her mark on him, her belly swelling first with his seed and then with his pup. He wants this so badly that it frightens him—frightens him as very few things have.
Another wave hits him and his back arches, his legs tangled in his pants as he makes a complete mess of them. He can’t do anything about it. By the Ancestors, his body thinks it’s mating her. Thon chokes on nothing as the pleasure rocks through him, but never quite hits the note he needs it to. He needs her. Heneedsher.
There are two more waves before his body gives up. He growls as the fire leaves him wrung out and unsated, shivering pathetically on the damp pine needles. It’s never pleasant when the sensory nodes swell. They aren’tsupposedto swell until they’re buried in a partner, but Thon has no idea if that feels any better. For all he knows, a full mating rut is always miserable.
He lets his fingers relax as he finally feels himself start to soften. His head falls back against the tree and he gazes up into the dark canopy, his chest heaving. He’s filthy and ashamed of himself. His brothers will smell this on him when he returns and they willknowit was about Krista. If she chooses one of the others and they know this about him, this will be too humiliating to imagine.
5
Krista
Movementoutsidethetentrouses Krista. She isn’t a heavy sleeper or a groggy one. She wakes instantly and completely, recalling where she is as soon as she smells Thon on the warm furs.
Though it’s still pitch black, the Harkurians make quiet morning sounds outside, moving cookware around and speaking in gruff undertones. Fat droplets of rain patter over the top of the tent, gently lulling once more now that she’s no longer soaked and freezing. Krista considers joining the Harkurians for breakfast, but when she sticks a bare arm outside of the blanket the air is chilly and unreasonable and she doesn’t have an answer for them anyway, so she pulls the arm back in with a grimace and dozes off again.
“Krista,” Thon calls sometime later.
“Mm?”
“I need to enter. You have my day pack.”
Oh. The pack her head rests on. Rather comfortably, in fact.
“What time …?” she mumbles, but she sits up sluggishly and flicks on the lamp, gathering Thon’s pelts to cover her bare chest as she blinks into the light.
“Still very early,” Thon answers. His hands are at the tent flap, working the ties, and his thick fingers move nimbly for their size. Great. She hasn’t even seen him yet and her abdomen already wants to tighten. If this is the way things are going to be, she might as well shove rational thought aside and tell him to take her now. He would probably do it if she asked. That’s one more beauty of this arrangement. Krista knows exactly where she stands with the Harkurians.
Thon pokes his head in cautiously like he isn’t sure what to expect, and immediately his nostrils flare.
Oh Gods.Can he smell her? Does he know what she did in his blankets? It had been a stupid, impulsive idea. It hasn’t even improved her concentration much, and now here’s Thon, his verdant cheeks darkening as he scents her on the air.
Yeah, he knows something he shouldn’t.
Then she sees his eyes lift and go wide.
“You’re not—” his eyes are locked on the dowel above her where her underthings hang. “If you want to pass it out to me I can stay where I am.”
Krista considers leaving the warm nest she’s madequite her ownin here and shakes her head. “Too cold. You can come in.”
Thon’s throat bobs as he swallows, his eyes stress-blinking rapidly. In this light, Krista can see that they’re amber on the inside—closest to the pupil—and green on the outer ring. When he enters, he’s so huge that he fills the entire space, especially in his great fur-lined overcoat with the mantle flared out around his throat. His tent felt so huge and empty until just now when he ducks inside and just. Looms. He dwarfs Krista completely, even sitting, evenduckingto avoid the support dowel. Gods. This ought to be a very intimidating situation. Krista is completely naked in what amounts to this strange Harkurian’s bed and heknowsit. But then there’s that deep green flush across his cheeks, unmistakable in the lamplight.
Something warns Krista that she ought to be very cautious with this, but that part sounds a lot like the Patriarch's daughter and she isn't that person anymore. She lifts her chin slightly. “What are you willing to trade?”
