Page 37 of Gentle Giant

“I promised you I would return, and I always keep my promises.”

After licking her earlobe one last time, I led her to the hot spring and helped her step into the steaming water. Joining her, I sank onto a bench in the spring and set her on my lap. Another groan left me as her bottom pressed down on my length. She reached for my head and caressed her hands through my long fur, and the faraway look in her eyes led me to believe she had something on her mind.

“What are you thinking about, Hailey?” I asked.

“I know about the crash.” Her eyes filled with sorrow. “I know about the fire and the twenty-five souls who perished on your mountainside during the last moon cycle, twenty-one of them females. One of the women mentioned it as we were waiting for your return. I’m so sorry, Brutus.”

My chest tightened. “It was the greatest tragedy our tribe has faced in a long time.”

She placed a hand on my chest. “Why didn’t you tell me? It’s something that happened so recently, and now your tribe has more males than females… well, I suppose it makes sense that you must look to human females now, otherwise some of your males might never find a mate.”

I exhaled a long breath. “I didn’t tell you because it was painful to talk about, Hailey, but also because of what happened after we put the fire out. Did anyone tell you what we did to the human males who survived the crash?”

She paled and gulped hard. “No one mentioned anything about human males surviving the crash. But… I imagine they probably threatened you when they encountered you, and you probably had no choice but to kill them. Just like the hunters.”

“They threatened us with guns,” I confessed, deciding on the full truth, “so I lit a torch and ordered them to be burned alive.” Even if I didn’t tell her what we’d done to the human males, she would eventually find out from another member of my tribe.

I searched her face for signs of shock or horror, bracing myself for her rejection. But while she appeared mildly surprised, she didn’t push away from me or call me a murderous beast or beg me to let her go. Instead, she cupped my face and said, “It sounds like they brought their demise upon themselves. If they would’ve been peaceful and not brandished weapons, I doubt you would’ve burned them alive.”

“If they’d been peaceful,” I said, “I would’ve still wanted to kill them, as it was their vessel crashing that caused the deaths of so many of my people, though in the end I wouldn’t have gone through with it. I would’ve let them live after altering their memories to protect my tribe. But I won’t lie to you, sweet Hailey, there was a part of me that was happy and relieved when they started waving guns at us, because it gave me an excuse to order their deaths, and their deaths gave my people a sense of justice during a time of great anger and grief.”

There was no judgment or reproach in her eyes as she said, “I see you clearly, Brutus, and I see that you’re a good male, a decent male. A strong and wise chief who cares about his people. If you are worried that I’ll want to leave you, or that I will fear you, because of what happened with those human men, well… you needn’t worry.”

The tightness in my chest vanished, and I held her closer, hugging her as her words of understanding and acceptance washed over me. We held onto one another for what felt like hours, and I almost feared she’d fallen asleep until she shifted in my arms and peered up at me with a soft smile.

“The Montikaan mating call,” she said, taking me aback, “as well as the celebration that the tribe breaks into after they hear the call, the dancing and the stick banging. Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

I ran my hands up and down her back. “In truth, I never thought to tell you about the mating call, Hailey. It never occurred to me that humans did not celebrate matings in a similar fashion. Is that not the case?”

“Well, we celebrate when two people getmarried, and marriage is the Montikaan equivalent of becoming lifemates with someone, but the actual bedding—the having sex part—that is completed in private. No mating call. No announcing it to the world.”

“How do humans celebrate a marriage?” I asked, curious to know more about her customs.

“Friends and family members attend the marriage ceremony of the couple,” she said, “and after they exchange vows, there is music and dancing and food. Usually, a lot of drinking too. After the celebration is over, the newly married couple spend the night together—just the two of them, no one else is invited—and they consummate the marriage. Physically. By mating.”

“I see.” I couldn’t imagine not releasing a mating call when I entered her, let alone a fierce howl at the conclusion of the joining after I spilled my seed inside her. “Do you intend to ask me not to release a mating call as we join for the first time?” I swallowed hard and awaited her answer, praying she would accept this custom of my people.

But it was more than a custom. It was instinct, and I wasn’t certain I could restrain myself from howling in primal delight as I mounted her for the first time.

“I’ll admit it feels strange knowing your entire tribe will be alerted when we mate for the first time. But if it’s important to you, I won’t ask you not to do it.”

Happiness swelled inside me, and I cupped her face and tipped her chin up, then leaned close so we stared one another directly in the eyes. “You are talking as though you have reached a decision, as though you have decided we will become lifemates.” Holding my breath, I waited for confirmation.

Her eyes widened. “I-I didn’t realize I was talking like that, but…yes, I have come to a decision.” She placed her hands upon my chest, curling her fingers into my fur, and took a deep, steadying breath. “I want to mate with you, Brutus. The whole thing feels crazy to me in some ways—I mean, we haven’t known one another for long—but it also feels right. I cannot imagine leaving you, and I am starting to feel at home with your tribe.”

“Then we shall mate,” I announced. “Tonight. Here in the alcove if you wish, or in my rooms upon the mattress. Or in a forest clearing on a bed of soft grass. You may select the location where you feel most comfortable offering yourself to me.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down,” she said, patting my chest. “I want to mate with you, I really do, but I worry now is not the appropriate time—given all that’s happened today, I mean. There’s a danger facing your tribe, and I would imagine your people are feeling tense and worried right now. None of themprobably feel like celebrating, and today was a long day for everyone. I suspect your people are exhausted and want nothing more than to get some rest.”

I considered her words and soon realized the wisdom in them. She was right. I was so eager to mate with her that I hadn’t thought of how tired most of my people were at this moment. Even those who hadn’t spent the day trekking over the mountainside were likely mentally exhausted from all the worry.

I sighed and tried to ignore the intense throbbing of my cock. “I want you more than anything right now, my sweet Hailey, but I suppose you are correct.” I kissed her forehead. “You are wise. Far wiser than me. Yes, my people are probably very tired. But perhaps tomorrow, after everyone is well-rested, we could join our bodies as one. I long to become your lifemate, and I regret that it cannot be tonight.”

She grinned. “Tomorrow sounds good, once everyone is rested. After a day like today, I would feel terribly guilty if I caused your entire tribe to stay up all night dancing and whatnot.”

“Tomorrow,” I rasped. “Now, I want to practice more of this human kissing with you.” My cock shifted beneath her bottom, as though this part of my anatomy wasn’t pleased to wait another day. “Just because we won’t be mating tonight doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy one another’s bodies,” I continued. “I intend to spend the remainder of the night kissing youandlicking you. And hearing you cry out my name as you shatter upon my tongue.”

I pressed my lips to hers before she could reply.

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