Page 148 of Mates for the Raskarrans #1-6

EPILOGUE

Lorna

I t’s a couple of days before I feel fully well again, my headache lingering a little. I get the impression it’s less to do with my bump and more to do with the burden of emotional baggage finally being lifted.

I tell all the girls my truth, and all of them hug me and tell me how sorry they are that I had to go through all that. How glad they are that I’m here with them, not locked in my prison cell alone. I feel a little bad for ever doubting they could have compassion towards me.

Between Shemza’s busyness with Callif, and my needing to sleep a lot, I feel like I hardly see him.

The dreamspace doesn’t form again, my bruised head and the sleeping tea Shemza gives me each night keeping the dreams away.

But there’s no room for any doubt in Shemza’s feelings for me.

Every night we fall asleep with his body wrapped around mine, and every morning I wake up to find him gazing down at me, running his fingers over my hair, an expression of wonder on his face, like he’s the luckiest man alive to have me.

I’m grateful for his devotion, but I know who the truly lucky one is.

Sally asks me if I’ll take over teaching Jassal’s lessons.

A very nervous Molly asks if she could join in with them again.

Khadija asks if I’d consider teaching all of them.

Hannah suggests getting Rachel to help teach us to speak the raskarran language better as well - a whole education program forming as we talk.

It makes me so happy how casually they include me, how confident they are in my ability to teach them anything.

When Shemza comes over after lunch and gives me a small smile, asking ‘walk?’, it tips me over the edge and I burst into happy tears.

Shemza just smiles and sweeps me up into his arms, proceeding to walk me all the way out to our shelter. He grins as he sets me down, and I don’t think he has any bird watching on his mind.

I throw my arms around him, kissing him with all the pent up want and need I’ve felt these last few days when I’ve not been able to touch him as I’ve craved.

Shemza wouldn’t entertain more than a little snuggling while my head was still hurting, and honestly, with the throbbing pain behind my eye, I wasn’t feeling up for much more.

But that didn’t stop me wanting it, and my whole body sighs a kind of relief to be wrapped in his arms, his mouth on mine, his erection pressed up against my body, solid proof that my secrets haven’t affected his desire for me even a little.

We crawl into the shelter, a set of furs already waiting inside to pad the floor.

Shemza scoops me beneath him, his hands questing urgently over my body, tugging at my clothes and seeking out my skin.

I’m just as greedy for him, sliding my palms over his chest before tugging at the ties of his trousers.

I want his cock in my hand. Want to stroke him until his eyes pinch shut with pleasure.

Want to wrap my mouth around it and lick him from the base of his shaft to the tip, and all the other filthy things that Rosa described in her stories. I want to try it all.

But when my fingers close around his cock, I find it’s pulsing, vibrating.

“Er, I don’t recall it doing that before?”

Shemza stills, then pulls down his trousers. The sight of him has me writhing with need, and I’m sure I’m far more wet and ready for him than I should be, all that anticipation building up inside me.

Or, I think, as I spy his mating node, noticing how it has enlarged, something different is going on.

Shemza’s hands go to my face, his eyes so full of joy and love that mine start to well up again. He says something I don’t understand, but then he touches my belly.

“Pregnant.”

It’s not quite the right word, but I know what he means well enough.

“Yes,” I say to him, looping my arms round his neck and kissing him with all the passion and love I feel for him.

What’s left of our clothes disappear in moments, and then his body is over mine and he’s pressing into me, sliding inside one delicious inch at a time.

When his hips lock against mine, his mating node rests right above my clit, pulsing and moving against it in exactly the right kinds of ways.

He remains still, but it’s not long before I’m gasping with the pleasure of it, the dual sensation of his pulsing cock and node driving me to release.

And it doesn’t stop. Over and over again, I come apart in his arms, all the while he just remains still, feathering kisses against my skin, holding me in the cradle of his arms. His tail locks around my thigh, as if every part of him wants to be wrapped around me.

“I love you,” I gasp while I still have breath. “I love you so much.”

“Nhi linasha.” He speaks the words against my neck, his voice low and rumbling. Then he says something else, his raskarran words tumbling over my ears, sexy and incomprehensible. And just like on the beach, I don’t need to understand them to know what he’s saying.

I love you, too.

When it ends, we lie in each other’s arms, skin sticky with sweat, breath gradually slowing. Shemza traces his fingers over my belly, his smile a permanent fixture on his face. I can’t stop smiling either, my cheeks aching with it.

There’s your answer, Rosa, I think out to the universe.

What would I do if I was free?

I think of Ahnjas and his slate full of smiles.

Be happy. I’m going to be happy.