Page 50 of Scarred

“I talk a lot less than when I first got here.” Shelly muttered, and rolled her eyes. “I think I’m doing well.”

“You are, little sister,” Ru said. “You two go have fun with my mate. I want to see if Suni is the warrior his scars boast of.”

“Be safe my mate,” Suni said. He pulled her close and gave her a kiss with the merest spark of heat. “I will come find you soon.”

“Yuck,” Shelly gagged. “Can’t anyone stop kissing long enough for things to get done around here?”

Amma ignored her cousin. “There is no rush to come find me. We have a lot to catch up on, and I doubt you want to be in the middle of that.”

“I do not like being away from you for too long,” Suni said.

“I bet you are going to have a lot of fun knocking warriors around.” Amma said. She doubted Suni would resist the challenges he would get.

Suni shrugged one shoulder. “I may test a few of the warriors of this village. It is the way we are.”

“Well, have fun.” Amma pulled him down for another kiss and whispered, “I don’t think I can handle you getting more scars.”

“You like my scars,” Suni whispered. “You have licked many of them.”

Amma covered his mouth and pushed him away. “Hush. What am I going to do with you?”

“Keep me. That’s all I ask. Keep me.”

Amma wished they were alone, so she could reassure him that he was hers. “Tonight, I will show you just how much I want to keep you.”

Suni gave her a gentle kiss. “Until tonight.”

Amma left Suni to do whatever warriors did when they had free time and followed Shelly toward where the housing was located. She could see the structure of the village coming together.

“How do you like this world so far?” Shelly asked.

“I love it,” Amma admitted. “To be honest, I have only seen a little of it, but the warriors I’ve met say what they mean. It’s refreshing.”

“I learned that the hard way.”

“Want to explain that one?” Amma could imagine what trouble her younger cousin had gotten into.

“Well, there is no flirting here with someone you aren’t thinking of entering into a matehood with.” Shelly shook her head. “I don’t know how I’m going to learn to flirt if I can’t practice.”

“You don’t need to be thinking about flirting,” Amma scolded.

“I’m seventeen. I think I’m allowed to think about guys now.”

“Yes, but you are no longer on Earth. The males here don’t think like human men. They’re looking for permanent relationships right off the bat. You’ll have to pick and choose carefully.”

Shelly shoulders slumped. “I know. I’ll behave.”

Amma doubted Shelly would stop being herself, and she didn’t want her to. There was something refreshing about being around someone who still viewed the world through young eyes. While they walked, Amma noticed the housing area was set up much like a human neighborhood. The homes were longer than they were wide and had domed roofs. They reminded her of a Viking settlement. Each home had a yard clearly marked, and she could see the personality of each homeowner shining through the way they were decorated.

“I like how this Ykot is set up. I mean, it has room to grow, yet feels fully developed,” Amma said. “Are all their homes built the same way? Even outside of this village?”

“I’ve only been in two so far, but yes, I think so,” Shelly answered. “Ru’s place back in his old village was sad looking. Jo has really made this one a home.”

“I don’t know if I want to see Suni’s,” Amma said. “He’s older than Ru and has been a bachelor this whole time. All I imagine is dirty socks and underwear everywhere.”

Shelly giggled. “Good news! they don’t wear either.” When Amma choked on a laugh, Shelly giggled more. “Didn’t you notice the hooves? And their pants are so tight, I don’t think there is room for underwear.”

“Little girl, stop looking at their tight pants,” Amma said with her eyebrows raised. When she was seventeen, she was constantly flipping through magazines, dreaming of a man who would give her the sweetest daughters. It was only natural.

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