Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Tomorrow.” I run my thumb over his lips, my arousal sparking. “There’s a lot to be done tomorrow. I want to meet with the weavers and give the half-completed project back. I want to learn from one of them if they’ll have me. I want to talk to the women and reassure them about the changes—which means I have to hunt down Noj’me and get her to interpret, unless you want to do it for me.”
“I will happily be at your side.”
“And then we’ll have to make sure Lauren, Vivi, and the others are all settled and see how they feel. And, oh gosh, I’ve forgotten entirely about the feast.” I give a little groan. “Did I mention we’ll be busy?”
“Once or twice,” Rem’eb teases. “And you will need to learn more of our words.”
“I will,” I agree. I can talk to Noj’me about how much—or how little—of the ancestors’ language their “oracle” has. I’m guessing I’m going to have to learn to speak their language so I can talk to them. I can understand them when they speak but I’d like for them to be able to understand me. It’s fine—I rather like a challenge.
Rem’eb sits up, gazing down at me. His expression is worried. “If I am taking over chief’s duties, there will be a great deal that needs attending to. The rebels have nothing to rebel against any longer, but I am certain they will need soothing. There is Kin’far and making certain he remains in exile. There is establishing trade with your people. We must ensure the women feel safe and as if they have a choice as to where they dwell. We will have to watch carefully for sickness, too. So much is going to be changing that we must be firm and resolved in our decisions. And…I worry that this is not what you envisioned when you agreed to come with me. It will be a great deal of work.”
That’s sweet that he’s worried about me. “I don’t mind work. I’m excited about the changes we’ll make together. Just promise you’ll always hear me if I have opinions about something and we disagree.”
“I am excited to hear all your opinions,” he tells me earnestly.
“You say that now,” I chuckle. “Wait until the pregnancy hormones kick in and I start making insane demands of what I want to eat.”
His eyes flare with excitement, his gaze skimming to my belly. “I look forward to your insane demands, because it will mean our child is growing.”
“You’re too good,” I tease him, stroking my fingers down his neck and to his shoulder and twining in the pelt there. “Are you happy to be back?”
“I am.” He leans down and kisses me, settling his bigger body over mine. The affection in his gaze turns to hunger, and he pushes my short skirt up. “My beautiful stranger. You are more than I ever dreamed of when I hoped for a mate.”
“Am I still a stranger, then?” I slide one leg up, hooking it around his hip. The thin blanket over me gets pushed to the side, and then we’re skin-to-skin on arms, legs, and stomach. I caress my mate, appreciating his large form and the strength in his body.
“No. You are the mate that handles the Fist.”
Oh god. I will never live that down. “Can we go with something else? That sounds filthy.”
Rem’eb looks down at me in surprise. “It does?”
I make a hand motion of jerking off.
“Aaaaah.” He gives a bark of a laugh. “While I like your hands teasing my frill, I like your cunt more.” Rem’eb slides down over me, nibbling his way over my cleavage and then continuing farther down, his fingers dancing over my stomach. “So if I should not call you my stranger, what should I call you? Tia the Perfect? Tia the Clever? Tia the Tasty?”
“Maybe you just call me yours?”
Rem’eb flips my skirt up. “I can do that.”