Page 16 of Savage Giant

CARI

Everything about Gorrandrew me in. His unusual pale eyes that glowed on occasion, his heady masculine scent, his ruggedly handsome face, and his huge muscular body that I couldn’t seem to stop admiring. And that was just on the physical level.

I loved the way his deep voice rumbled through my insides like a sensual caress. Especially when he promised to protect me, when he promised to make my enemies pay if they dared to come anywhere near me.

No one had ever promised to keep me safe before. Not even my father. And there was a part of me that resented our life in the city. Particularly when we’d had a perfectly good cabin we might live in that rested far from the violence and political turmoil that plagued most American cities.

After my mother’s death, I’d even asked Dad if we could leave Portland and make the cabin our permanent home. I’d suggested selling our restaurant and opening a diner in Newhalem. Yet he’d always refused and became agitated when I broached the subject of moving to a more rural place.Yourmother would’ve wanted us to keep the restaurant going. She wouldn’t want us to give up. Things will get better.

But things never got better. They’d only gotten worse.

I dashed away thoughts of the city I’d left behind and the violence my family had endured while living there and focused on the amazing sight before me: the seven-foot-tall Sasquatch—no, a Montikaan—who wanted to abscond with me to his people’s cavern and make me his lifemate.

He sat quietly, his face drawn in a serious expression as he watched me. I flushed because I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting here staring into space, completely zoned out as I thought about a past I couldn’t change.

Montikaan mating customs. That was what we’d been discussing—or about to discuss. I glanced at his lap and my face heated further as I recalled his invitation for me to sit there. He wore no clothes. If I sat on his lap, I would be sitting directly upon his manhood. With nothing between us but my underwear and the snug thermal pants I was wearing.

If I sat on his lap and he became hard again… I would likely feel every inch poking my bottom. I took a steadying breath and held his gaze, hoping my face wasn’t as red as it felt. Did Montikaans blush? I supposed if I hung around Gorran and his people long enough, I would find out.

“So,” I said, striving for a casual tone, “will you tell me about Montikaan mating customs?” My mouth went dry at the feral gleam that entered his eyes, and a second later, a soft blue glow emanated from them. His otherworldly handsomeness made my heart flutter.

“Yes, pretty human. I will tell you all you need to know about my people’s mating customs.” His nostrils flared and he breathed long and deep, and I suspected he was intentionally smelling me again.

It would seem that when ovulating, I smelled rather delicious to a Sasquatch. The low growl of pleasure that rumbled from his throat confirmed my suspicions. I didn’t dare allow my gaze to fall to his crotch.

“As I’ve already explained, when a Montikaan male feels called to mate with a particular female, he will begin courting her. He’ll bring her gifts and spend time with her. They will spend approximately two to three moon cycles getting to know one another.”

“I see. And what happens after that? If they decide they’re compatible and want to become lifemates?” I shifted in place and had difficulty holding his gaze, but I forced myself not to look away. “I’m assuming there’s a ceremony of some sort.”

His eyes twinkled, and I found myself fighting the sudden urge to crawl forward and take his face in my hands, or even sit in his lap. My whole body tingled with the urge to be close to him. Touching him. I gulped past the continued dryness in my throat and hoped the ceremony didn’t involve anything too outlandish.

Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to mate with him anyway. I just want to know for the sake of knowing. That’s all. Scientific curiosity.

Yeah, right. Then why can’t you stop glancing at his crotch? Why can’t you stop admiring his impressive physique? Why are you becoming increasingly achy between your thighs?

“Oh, shut up, Cari,” I mumbled to myself, then pretended to cough when Gorran gave me a strange look.

“I wouldn’t call what happens when a male and female Montikaan mate a ceremony, but there is an order to things, and all the members of our tribe participate in a way.”

“Please don’t tell me you mate in…public?” I flushed so hot that I almost took my shirt off.

He grinned, the lines around his eyes crinkling as he revealed a set of white teeth, some of which were pointed. It reminded me of canine teeth. God, he was fascinating. I held my breath as I awaited his answer.

“We don’t mate in public, pretty human, but the entire tribe knows when a male mounts his female for the first time.” His voice became deeper as he continued his explanation. “When a Montikaan female decides she has accepted the male who has been courting her, she turns over on her hands and knees and offers herself to him. She offers him the use of her tight, untouched mating hole.”

I coughed, nearly choking on my own spit. I blinked rapidly as my eyes watered.Tight, untouchedmating hole. Oh, my goodness. “Sorry. Damn allergies,” I said once I recovered. “Please continue.”

His eyes glowed brighter, and I suspected he was picturing the two of us performing the acts he was describing. “When a male first surges into his female, he releases a thunderous howl known as themating call. The entire tribe will hear it, and they will immediately begin rejoicing. They will dance and beat sticks upon trees and try to make as much noise as possible.”

Water. I needed water. I glanced toward the kitchen but didn’t trust my legs to work right now. My whole body was quivering with desire, and I felt weak in the knees. Because I was suddenly envisioning Gorran mountingmefrom behind and releasing a savage howl.

“Why-why do they make so much noise? The tribe, I mean?”

“To ask the Great Spirit to bestow many blessings upon the newly mated couple. It’s said the more noise that’s created by the tribe during a joining, the more blessings the Great Spirit will bestow.” He sighed as a dreamy look crossed his face. “Then the male will roar again when he completes in the female, when he spurts his seed deep inside her.”

“Oh.”Oh. I didn’t know what else to say. I’d asked him about his people’s mating customs, and he’d provided me with a detailed description that had rendered me nearly speechless.

“You’re still ovulating, Cari.” He sucked in a long breath and his muscles tensed as he leaned forward a bit, as though he were about to pounce on me. “If we mated now and I spurted my seed into you, there is a good chance I would get you with child. But the snow…”

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