CHAPTER FOUR
He pushed his somber woman inside of their sleeping hollow.
Jon then moved to the side, sliding a torch firmly into a crevice, crouching and carefully watching Lena and her mother's exchange; reassuring touches and purrs. He felt confident now that he had what he wanted and gave the two females a little time to get his chosen settled, anticipating what was to come.
The Chief's woman gave Lena the large furs then lifted a hand, her fingers touching her daughter's hair and cheek. She looked into her searching eyes, seeing anguish and hurt, but knowing there was nothing she could do to reverse the situation. Their king had spoken and his daughter's new mate was Jon. She would serve him and be loyal - and make the best of it. The tribe's senior healer, she who had the sight and held their leader's heart and faith, had seen it coming. She was resigned, despite the betrayal to their offspring.
A rough growl and fierce grunt, along with a terse thrust of a finger, indicated that Jon - patience now gone - wanted the older woman to leave. He could only be munificent for so long and, he suspected, the Chief's woman feared and distrusted him. She often looked at him as if she saw something others did not. Or perhaps the tribe did see it but were wise enough not to let it show.
Later, he would realize his own mate was very much the same way.
When she was gone he watched as Lena carefully spread the new fur over his own. The second was placed to the side for later, to cover them from the cold. His trophy-cape, won from a battle that also secured him a valuable wife, was used as a pillow. Already the cave was cooling but she knew what was expected from her. He was not her first mate after all. Lena removed her own cape from slender shoulders and positioned it at the corner of the bed fur.
She then sat waiting, her long legs tucked underneath her.
Lena felt the tingle. It ravaged her brain and savaged her soul.
She was brave and submissive, awaiting the attention of her man. If his blood was still burning from the violence he had just participated in Jon could hurt her, whether he meant to or not. She had seen it happen before from even lower men than he. As a healer, taught and trained by her mother, she had been called upon to help females with private aches and pains from such attacks.
In the dim light, Lena watched him toss his spear away and come to her. He crawled slowly on all fours, his eyes raking over her body, displayed in the orange gleam of his torch. She shivered and every instinct told Lena to run and hide. She could not. She had a duty not just to her father and this man but to her tribe. It was expected from her body the next King would come and if it was foretold that Jon would be its father then so be it.
He rested on his knees, gazing at her.
Lena was surprised when he did not immediately seize her. Instead, she watched and remained seated as he leaned forward and sniffed, at first her neck and then her hair, taking in her scent. A hand rose to touch her face, cheek and shoulder - surprisingly gentle. He then carefully pushed her backward so that she was resting, face up, on the soft fur. Jon could do what he wanted with her, sadistically if he wished, but he seemed content in wooing his new mate. Lena was stunned by his consideration under the circumstances.
He wanted to know her scent, body and texture. In an abrupt motion he pulled his bone knife, short cape, and skin-tunic off, revealing a hard abdomen and a defined, well-muscled chest.
Lena was impressed to see him bared despite her reservations.
Once again, he leaned forward and sniffed her upper chest at the underside of her chin. He then tugged at her clothing, wanting to see her. With his unruffled help the skin was removed and she was naked. His hands touched her smooth shoulders, slid over her chest and breasts and down her flat belly and firm legs.
"Spelza." He murmured his tribe's word for special or beautiful.
The air was cool but his hands were warm and she felt near pleasure as he stroked her flesh. His nose, lips, teeth and facial hair caressed where his hands had touched. Lena felt a calming heat in the pit of her stomach. An ache and need she had long denied herself.
Jon's attention was diverted from her just once when he heard a noise from the outer cave. He looked but it was dark and he saw nothing. It did not matter. This night would not be disturbed. He had waited long enough!
She reached up and pulled at the necklace of sharp teeth that dangled just past his throat. They scratched her when he bent down close. Jon understood and pulled it from around his neck and placed it at the top corner of their fur.
Again, he inhaled and touched. He then he lifted her up and over. His firm hands slid from her shoulders, down her spine and rear. Jon, with little formality, felt the moist warmth of her desire and was pleased. She wanted him, craved him, even if she behaved to the contrary.
Lena could not see him behind her but she could hear his ragged groan. She could feel him positioning himself, balmy breath in her ear, his cheek rubbing against her hair and temple, ready to claim his mate – his prize - for the first time.
She was ready and willing. Lena wanted him.
/
In the darkness an infuriated female figure crouched near a rough cave wall. From the angle where she was perched she could see and hear the activity in the common cave, where music had started again and the inhabitants celebrated the marriage of their princess.
She could also see into the inner cave where Jon was collecting what was his. She could hear grunts and cries of pleasure from both.
Her knife dug viciously into the soil near her feet. She twisted it back and forth as she snarled.
One day, Jem vowed, her weapon would find a home in soft, pliant flesh!
/
When she awoke in the morning he was gone.
He had taken her … and it had been good.
She was still wrapped in their fur and Lena felt strange. The woman knew she should be fatigued and sore. Her man had been eager and could not get enough of her last evening. Yet, she felt far more satiated than used. No wonder the other females had enjoyed his company so much. But now he was hers. Her man.
And she was sorry he was not with her now.
Lena sat up and felt something had slipped from her chest onto her lap. She lifted it up for inspection. It was his pride and joy, the necklace with his trophies, the teeth he had taken from the monsters he had destroyed.
It was hers now, to wear with pride.
/
SHORT CHAPTER!
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