The Barbarian Before Christmas (Ice Planet Barbarians #17.5)(16)

My lips brush against hers and I feel a bolt of pure need surge through my body, startling in its intensity. Far too long indeed since I have touched my mate. Her mouth is soft and willing against mine, and when I intensify the kiss, she wraps her arms around my neck, pressing the length of her body against mine. "Aehako," she gasps between kisses. "Don't think you can distract me like this."

"Why not? I find it a very good distraction." I kiss her again, slicking my tongue against her smooth one, and reach through the neckline of her tunic to clasp one of her teats in my hand. The nipple is hard, thrusting against my fingers, and I groan at how fierce my need is. "I have missed you far too much, my sweet Kira."

"I missed you, too," she tells me, and then slaps a hand against my shoulder. "Wait. No distractions. What is it that's troubling you?"

I shake my head, my khui beginning a deep, steady song as I touch her. "It can wait until after I have claimed my mate."

"No," she protests, even as she lets me haul her up into my arms and carry her across our hut into our furs. "Aehako, that isn't fair—"

"Shall I show you just how unfair I can be?" I tease, pulling the laces of her tunic free until her teats are exposed to my gaze. "I made you another courting gift."

Her face flames bright pink. "You didn't."

"Oh, I did. I thought of nothing but you and Kae while I was gone. Mostly you, and your sweet, giving body. The heat of your cunt as it milks my cock. The tease of your teats as they scrape against my skin when I mount you…" I slide my hand down into her leggings, seeking her warmth. "I have had to tug my own cock far too many times during this last moon. Seems a shame when I have such a pretty mate."

She moans, arching up in the furs. "God, you are making my cootie go crazy with all that dirty talk."

"Mine is wild with need as well," I admit, a little surprised at how fierce it is this day. I have been parted from my Kira before, but never has our homecoming been so…thick with arousal. I lean in and as I do, her khui's song grows even louder. Mine changes tone, resonating harder, and then we are in perfect harmony together, our khuis loud and insistent.

And I feel it in my cock. The need in my body intensifies, so much so that it takes all the breath from my lungs.

Kira gasps, her hand pressing to her chest. "Aehako," she whispers, and her voice is so husky and lovely with need that I nearly spend as she says my name. "Is this…"

I nod slowly. "Resonance. Again."

"Oh." Her hand goes to her mouth and her eyes shimmer with tears. "I…I thought Kae would be the only one. She's such a gift, but I thought maybe that I wouldn't be able to bear more, and that I was fine with that, but…this is wonderful."

Her joy is as great as mine. I cannot smile, though. Not when Rokan's warning is still ringing in my ears…

And then I groan with the realization that I am a fool. "Rokan. That idiot."

My mate sits up, frowning at me. "Why are you talking about Rokan when we're resonating?" She grabs the front of my tunic and hauls me down against her, panting. "Shouldn't you be claiming your mate?"

Oh, I want nothing more than to sink deep inside her. I chuckle and lean in close, nuzzling her chin before claiming her lips once more. "That is what I plan on doing. I am merely laughing because Rokan insisted I be among the first to return, but he would not say why. I thought something was wrong, and have not been able to stop worrying." I shake my head. "He should have told me it was resonance."

"You know he doesn't like to point that out," she tells me, caressing my shoulder and giving me a sleepy-eyed look that makes my cock stir with excitement. "But he also shouldn't have scared you like that."

"He told me it was nothing to worry over," I admit. "But when your mate is as perfect as mine is, and your kit as clever and smart, you cannot possibly think things will get better."

"And yet," Kira says, smiling. She pauses, her smile fading away. "And yet…is this better? For you? It's going to mean changes for us. Are you happy with this?"

Happy? I am overjoyed. I touch her flat stomach. "To see you rounded with my kit? It is the best No-Poison gift ever." She flings her arms around my neck, and it takes me a moment to realize she is weeping. "Why do you cry, my mate?"

"Because you're right. This is the best No-Poison ever," she says between sobs. "And these are tears of joy."

"If you say so." I pull at her leggings. "Enough about Rokan. I will stomp on his head later for scaring me so. Now, let me see if I am making other parts of you wet with joy."

I am pleased that my mate's laughter fills our hut just moments before her cries of joy do.





7





ROKAN



My mate is not with the cluster of tribesmates who come out to greet us. I am not surprised at this. I knew that she would be in our hut when I arrived. Nor is the healer in the happy, chattering group. I smile and clasp the arms of those who crowd in, wanting to know about loved ones. I will let Vektal answer those questions, because I must be somewhere else. My Li-lah needs me.

I detangle myself from the welcomers, squeezing Vaza’s shoulder in greeting as I head past him, moving toward my home. The privacy screen is up, but I can hear voices inside.