Chapter 43: A Promise
Spring was right around the corner.
He knew this because it was raining. Again. For the fourth time this week.
It wasn’t enough to remove all the piled snow, but there were spots where the dead grass showed through the sea of white. The patter of droplets hitting his trench coat drowned out the complaints from Harrow, the female having since received a similar, if simpler, garment for such occasions. He pulled his hood to the side to distance the sound from his ear.
“What?”
Harrow glared up at him, the fur on her legs soaked through thoroughly. “I hate the rain.”
He chuckled, adjusting the sheet of oak as she held the pillar in place. “Same. It was actually kinda nice to only deal with the occasional storm instead of the constant typhoon season.”
“Is it in place yet?”
He aligned the hole with the pin, connecting the last corner of the new flat roof for the fire. It was quite a bit bigger than strictly required, but it was nice to have the space to have the entire pack gather around to relax if they so chose. Even if it did take several hours to simply put up. Luckily, it only needed to be done once.
A final strike with his fist seated the two pieces together. “It is now.”
She let her shoulders go limp and took refuge under the covering to drop her hood and shake off any water that accumulated. “Thank the Hunt Mother, my arms are killing me.”
Joseph dropped from the crude ladder, the ground splashing under his feet as he joined her. A cursory glance at the tempering projects she was laying on the table showed that they had all remained dry underneath her cloak. “So what’s left to make?”
The orange-furred female made a show of looking displeased that he would interrupt her attempts to dry herself before counting off the remaining items that they needed in order for him to set out. “Those plates for your upper arms and legs, a belt quiver for the crossbow bolts, Tel’s armour, Sahari’s crossbow is just about done, and you need your auxiliary storage. That should cover everything that will take any real time.”
“So we should be good to leave in a few days.”
She nodded. “Should be.”
The two cleaned away the wet muck and ash from the fire pit, placing new wood inside of it and igniting the tinder. They used the warmth to dry off their bodies, ignoring the fact that they would be just as soaked once it was time to return. Joseph removed his coat to hang it on a spear to dry off the clinging water droplets, catching Harrow staring at his arm in the process.
“It’s pretty neat, huh?” He held up the scarred appendage. Four circular scars located between the two bones and six long ones running almost the entire length from his elbow to his wrist. It wouldn’t look out of place as a grim tattoo, were it done with ink instead of marred flesh. Regardless, he still thought it looked better than he had expected.
She shook her head, diverting her attention to relieving the dampness on her paws. “Just worried about you.”
He lowered his arm, reaching out to muss up the fur between her ears. “I’ll be fine. You and Jax will be right back to harassing me and suggesting I should join you at night as soon as I walk through the doors again.”
“The offer is still open.” Harrow grinned at him with a wink.
“I’m fine disappointing one partner at a time, thank you.” He pulled her in to a rough hug while she laughed. “Besides, Tel and Sahari will keep me safe.”
The female did not miss her chance at a riposte. “So you’re fine with disappointing the two of them?”
He choked on a stifled breath, bending over to collect himself from the unexpected joke. “Sahari’s not going to do anything. I wouldn’t think so anyway.”
“Likely not.” Harrow agreed, pondering for a moment before glancing at him with a grin. “But Tel would.”
He raised a finger to complain, eventually abandoning the motion with a frown. “I’m... I... I’m not...”
“You’re not going to reciprocate the advances of a female whom sees fit to pursue you?”
“I’m spoken for.” He deadpanned.
She give him a disappointed look, rolling her eyes as she readied the ducts for tempering. “Do we need to go through this conversation or are you just being spiteful?”
“...Maybe just a bit.”
“Then shut up and hand me your arm coverings.” She held a paw out expectantly. He laid the piece in her grasp and leaned against the support beam of the roof.
“It’s just weird to think about multiple partners, ya know?”
She waved a paw dismissively. “Yes, yes. Humans are prudish, we know. Poor Pan certainly does.”
He flushed red, opening his mouth to counter when Harrow stopped him by pointing a claw in his face.
“I know. Doesn’t mean I don’t feel bad for the female. She’s left here to manage this place while you’re gone and isn’t even given the option to go with you because you refuse to humour the idea of taking another Paw who could substitute for her.”
“Couldn’t I just promote someone?” He asked with a genuine curiosity. Harrow shook her head as she adjusted the piece over the heat duct.
“In a lot of positions, the workaround you opted for will suffice. Unorthodox, and maybe rejected in some circles, but sufficient. The Paws? No. Those are explicitly limited to two of your mates. The only reason Pan was accepted as such is because of her condition and your species. Neither of you can mark the other nor yourselves, so it is seen as valid as a concession.” She glanced at him. “To cut your question off early; The entire pack knew you two would be involved. There was no need to wait to confirm it.”
He stoked the fire, eyebrow raised as he shrugged off the premature answer to his query. “Fair, I guess. Why only two?”
“How many paws do I have?” She asked, holding both of her own forward with a nonplussed expression.
“Besides translating a literal interpretation of the title to anatomy.”
“Because it is folly to think that more than two mates could ever share enough of the Grand Hunter’s values to act for him as well as to prevent factions from forming across a large distribution of power. Take Sahari for example.” She held up a claw to place movement to her speaking. “She may agree with you on many things, but she does not prioritize technology as we do. Were she a Paw and left to manage the settlement, she would press weapons and the like without seeking to improve them as you do. Nalah would likely do alright until it came time to break up an argument, and I’m not interested in being in charge to begin with. All of those would be considered heavily before elevating our authority to a scale in which we are second to only yourself. That is saying nothing of us being required to be your mate.”
The Human sighed, shifting the armour over the fire for her and donning his mostly water-free cloak while she explained. “Fine, fine. I get it. I’m horrible for leaving.”
Harrow exhaled through her nose heavily, waving him off. “Of course that’s the message you take from that. Go on and take a break, you’ve been sleeping less to the point that even I can tell you’re exhausted. Go play with Violet or something. Rest.”
“I’m not that-”
“Shoo.” She cut his protest short. “I can’t work if you’re going to be distracting me.”
He held both arms up in surrender, flicking his hood up and walking towards the base. “Alright. I’ll go see if anyone needs help.”
Harrow’s voice carried just loud enough to be heard over the thunderous rain. “I’m tying you up and leaving you to Tel if you pass out!”
He flipped a finger over his shoulder as he chuckled.
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“Hey, guys.” Joseph greeted as he joined the pack in the hub. Sahari was scratching Violet across her base while Nalah was petting her head, the two being covered by the young Atmo as they lounged on the couch. “Move over.”
Sahari patted Violet, the den-kit getting up once she noticed he would be joining the arrangement. With a paw to brace herself, she seated herself in the centre next to Nalah, placing her arm around the blond Lilhun to avoid their shoulders being pressed together uncomfortably.
The Grand Hunter flopped to her left, leaning into her lazily until Violet reclaimed her position as a blanket for everyone. He rested his paw on her head and rubbed small circles, the Atmo purring as the other two on the couch joined in on spoiling her.
Nalah leaned forward a bit to see past the black-furred obstruction between them. “Everything on track?”
The Human shrugged. “As much as it’s going to be. How’s the construction going?”
“They finally caved and agreed to use the pieces that Mama cut.”
“Lucky we decided to prepare most of the smaller pieces ahead of time, i guess.”
Sahari snorted. “At least our preparations are suitable.”
Joseph glanced at her with a worried expression. “Sure you’re okay to go with me? I can make Nalah do it. Save us the headache of listening to the complaints when we get back.”
Nalah opened her mouth to complain but snapped it closed when Sahari pulled her into her breast. “I fear I would worry for her as well as you were I to simply await your return.”
“Seriously,” He reiterated. “Nobody is forcing you to go.”
She patted him across the head with her free paw, the den-kit clicking in complaint as the scratching decreased. “I will follow because I desire to do as much, not merely because you have requested it of me.”
“I don’t want to be within scenting range whenever Tel loses her patience with you.” Nalah quipped, making no effort to remove herself from the loose headlock.
Sahari tensed for a moment, internally cursing herself for forgetting the more sensitive matters of the bond. Oh well, what’s done is done.
“Why is everyone riding me about that?” The Human threw his arms up in frustration. Nalah shrugged in response.
“You’re leaving. It’s an easy joke.”
“I blame them not for their disruption of their anxiety.” Sahari concurred. “Allow them their jests, it is the same as any other. Though it is interesting that this particular topic has you reacting so strongly.”
The Grand Hunter flushed for a moment, eliciting a chuckle from her as he changed topic. “Does everyone have their work orders for when I’m gone?”
Nalah leaned back into Sahari, sinking into the black fur more than strictly necessary. “The den they want constructed has been marked out, the lodge will wait until after. Mining efforts are going to start in the cave with ironwood tools as soon as you and Harrow have finished your preparations.”
“There are six members of the pack whom are able to manage our trapping.” Sahari added. “Several of them have begun training to hunt in small groups under Jax’s tutelage for the larger game. Pan has almost completed the clothing for our trip and has finished supplying the High Huntress’ pack with theirs.”
“Has Mi’low picked her guard?” He asked lazily, shifting his paw to stroke the den-kit between the shoulders.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Their cook was chosen because he has the least to do.” Nalah answered from Sahari’s chest.
Joseph gave her a curious glance but seemed to quickly dismiss whatever thought he had on the matter. “The dirty-blond one, yeah? Same color as Nalah but not as yellow?” Sahari nodded in response. “Makes sense. Jax’s been running him pretty hard for security training. Does he have everything he needs?”
“Mi’low had denied our armament assistance.” The ex-Grand Huntress sighed. “She believes the leather armour that Pan had provided will send the appropriate message.”
“Being?”
“That she is indeed subservient and that we are not arriving to wage war.” She gave him a sideways glance. “Our equipment does seem to be that of which would be donned for such.”
The Human shrugged. “Not my problem. Wildlife here has a tendency to do damage that I don’t want us taking. How’s your equipment, by the way?”
“Excellent.” Sahari responded with a firm nod. “Mama was kind enough to make adjustments for my weapons to be holstered to the back and it fits my form well.”
Joseph raised an eyebrow and his gaze shifted to her chest for a moment longer than he may have intended, his eyes meeting those of the cuddling Nalah. Sahari chuckled as the two hastily found more interesting objects in the room to observe. The male cleared his throat.
“Good, that’s good. Have we started CQC training with the rest of the pack?”
“Training will begin in large as Jax completes the lessons with the dedicated security force. I will likely take over for some sessions once we return to ease his workload.” She released Nalah from her arm, the female taking a second before hesitantly separating. “Though it is a shame they will lack your guidance.”
“Not much I can do about that, there’s too many people for me to oversee them directly and we’re pressed for time.” He patted the Atmo to be released, the den-kit allowing it after receiving a more enthusiastic pawing. “I’ll go see how Tel is doing and then I guess I should work on her rope.”
Nalah adjusted her position with the freed space. “Shouldn’t you rest? You seem tired.”
The Human waved her off as he set towards the facilities wing. “I’ll get some after the first shift of fire watch. Might sleep in tomorrow.”
“He’s going to drive himself into the dirt, isn’t he?” The blond-furred female questioned while watching the male leave.
Sahari sighed with a smile. She knew full well how concerned he was about everyone and would not rest until he was satisfied that he had done all that he could before he left. “I will request Pan to accompany him for his watch. He should not be left to stew within his own mind for too long. It will hardly do him any good.”
Nalah nodded, absently scratching at the Atmo who had fallen asleep. “Will you be okay?”
“I will.” She pulled Nalah into another side hug. “Worry not, I shall return and we may discuss the adventure at length. Perhaps with more interesting details regarding the Grand Hunter, no?”
She didn’t get the laugh she was expecting, but did notice the female rest more weight into her side. “Okay.”
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He peeked into the kitchen to see Tel facing away, her meal preparations being done with an absent paw and wondering mind. She didn’t even swivel an ear when he approached her, not that he made an effort to alert her to his presence. He lightened his step, landing each foot on the outside of his heel and allowing his weight to roll to his toes to remove the sound. He slowed and eventually stilled his breathing as he got close, poking his head over her shoulder to observe her muscle memory at work.
He indulged in the smell of peppermint that permeated from her fur as he allowed a small breath, the subtle curvature of her flesh under the new clothing that clung tightly to her form drawing his eye. He had to mentally kick himself for staring and focused on the food that they would be eating later on.
“Damn, now i-”
He felt the air leave his chest forcefully, the seasoned meats he had been looking at being replaced by the ceiling and a dagger pressed to his throat. He coughed as he regained his breath.
“Don’t sneak up on me.” The irritated voice of Tel was mixed with a sense of worry. If he has the faculties available, he might have noticed the expression matched more of the latter than the former as she sheathed the knife.
“Sorry.” He went to rub his neck, feeling his wrists bound by her tail. Curious, he made an effort in looking down to see that the gunmetal-furred Lilhun had straddled him at the hip and was using her legs to pin his knees flat to the floor, effectively immobilizing him. Feeling the days of abusing his waking hours without the assistance of caffeine to support it, he dropped his head back to the floor and laughed. “I gotta say, this might be your most successful attempt at seducing me yet. Skipped right past the dinner and a movie. Good, i hate crowded places and theatres are overpriced anyway. The knife might require a safe word though.”
He winked at the assailant, pausing for a moment to register that he had failed to reign in the attitude he would have taken while joking with the blunt Harrow or crude Jax. Cursing himself slightly, he prepared himself to politely request she forgive him for being too crass and breaking the rules of their game again.
Instead of the expected reaction, what he seen when he looked at her was a smouldering gaze with a paw tracing his chest. It didn’t have the overblown and overacted seductress vibe that she sported usually, nor did it contain the small scowl that happened when he stepped too far in one direction or the other. He felt a paw slowly move up from around his thigh as she leaned into him, his heart quickening as she brought her face close to his. His breath hitched as a claw traced up his throat, his tired mind too weak to wage the required war with his base instincts, instead just barely keeping them at bay.
There was a tremor in her touch, as if she was deeply considering her actions. The minor shake dissipated, a heavy exhale preceded further advance. He felt her breath as she turned his head to the side, his muscles tensing as the hot air burned his ears.
“Do it again and I’m not stopping.”
With a word of warning and a slightly delayed release of his limbs, he was alone on the floor, Tel having returned to her work. It took a moment for his brain to catch up with the events. He couldn’t help the flicker of thought as he glanced at her daggers peeking under her pants suggesting that he wasn’t entirely sure if he was against finding out what she meant by that.
He cleared his throat, forcing away the dryness that had overcome him. “Sorry. I just wanted to come see how you’re doing.”
She started portioning another slice for seasoning. “I am fine.”
“Are you sure? You seemed pretty put off when Rob put in his recommendation... well, demanded you go.” Joseph worked his way to his feet, ignoring the blank regard of the cook with a slight thankfulness that she had chosen to drop his seduction comment. “Figured I’d give you a while to back out if it felt forced.”
Tel shifted her eyes off of him. “I will do as i am commanded.”
“I’m not commanding you to go. I’m asking you to, since i trust Rob’s judgment.”
A glare caused him to flinch, it lasting only a moment. “I will rest easy knowing your trust in him is the reason for my accompaniment.”
The Grand Hunter placed a hand on her shoulder firmly from behind, grimacing slightly at his own slip. “Look, you know i trust you. God knows I’ve been saved by you enough in some way, shape, or form. I’d feel better if you came along.” The tension in her shoulder under his fingers lifted almost imperceptibly. “But you know i wouldn’t want you to come out of some vague sense of duty when there are others who would go. I care about your thoughts on this. I care about you and I’m not telling you to do this if you would rather stay behind.”
She paused in her task, eyes fixed on the work in front of her instead of looking at him. The silence between them lasted a while.
“I want to go.” Tel spoke softly, an intonation foreign to him broached her words. “I’m going.”
“It will likely be dangerous.” He warned quietly.
She resumed her work, speaking just loud enough to be heard over the soft sounds of conversation throughout the base. “I am very much aware.”
“You’ll be stuck with me.” He added in an attempt to lighten the mood.
She exhaled a sharp breath in amusement, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “Curious that you would fear for my well being when you are the one stuck with me.”
He backed up half a step and closed his open mouth with a furrowed brow. It took several attempts to speak. “Sahari will be there.” He paused to think. “And Mi’low and her guard will be around.”
She laid her refurbished knife down to face him, pushing him against the island table with a paw as her usual posture returned to her actions. “And they will stop it?”
“Well, since you’re sure, i have to go work on your rope.” The Human forced through a squeak, desperate to abandon the conversation since his main concern had been addressed. “Your measurements for the amour and everything is good, yeah?”
Through a sound he could have swore was a subtle hiss, she released him and walked back to the counter. “Everything is fine. I still require the tempered line but other than that, i am prepared.”
Joseph slipped out of the kitchen while wrestling his increased heart rate. “Cool, I’ll go take care of that. Later.”
He could have swore he seen her shaking her head as the door closed behind him.
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The rain had abated somewhat as the moon rose over the sky, the sun lasting longer as the temperature regularly increased past freezing. The wind had mostly died, leaving the drops of moisture to flow directly down from their origin. The crackling of fire was audible over the soft patter on the thin roof.
Pan watched her Human stoke the fire, him occasionally adjusting the armour plate that was cut to fit Tel’s form. She enjoyed seeing him think when he believed he was alone, the seamstress using the cover of the weather to approach. He was worried, alarmingly so, but it was held at bay by a solid determination that wavered in intensity as he inspected the equipment he was working on. She quietly smiled from behind him, able to tell his satisfaction with the progress on the piece by his emotions regarding it.
She waited for him to switch to a larger portion that should last the rest of his watch, leaving him with little else to do but ruminate. Removing her cloak and placing it upon a spear out of view, she approached him, carefully ensuring her fur was dry as she stepped closer.
“I thought you would like some company.” She opened sweetly, giggling at the Grand Hunter falling off his seat onto the ground with a startled flail.
“Jesus Christ, Pan. Scared the shit out of me.” He breathed heavily to ease the shock. “Fuck, now i know why Tel flattened me.”
She tilted her head, an ear flicking in confusion. “Tel attacked you?”
He laughed, embarrassment evident through the bond as he slowly got to his feet. “Yeah, i gave her a good jump and it ended with me completely pinned and with a fairly annoyed Lilhun sitting on me holding a knife.”
She felt her own cheeks flush as he recalled it. First in response to the bond, again when she connected the dots, and a third time when she considered replicating the actions that caused it. A mischievous smile crossed her muzzle as she decided to take a page from the trouble maker in the pack.
“These are... Well, i need to dry them now.” He held out his shirt and inspected his pants, the clothing now thoroughly soaked through. He shrugged, removing the shirt and moving another post close to the fire to hang it on. He seemed to be considering his pants for a moment, but a slight wind discouraged it. The Human sighed, moving the broad log closer to the fire to combat the chill.
She waited for the Human to sit back down before she spoke, him using a spear as a back rest and leaning on it heavily. “It is rare to catch her unaware.”
Joseph laughed. “Yeah, something was on her mind, but she was mostly back to normal before i left.”
He closed his eyes, oblivious to her silencing her steps as Tel had taught her and placing a foot on either side of his seat. She carefully aligned herself and mounted the male, leaning forward to rest against him as she laid her weight upon his lap. He opened his eyes in surprise, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
She returned it, the expression growing into a grin as she held his hands behind him and used her tail to bind them in place. It was difficult, her tail being shorter than the rest of the pack due to her size, but she simply shifted her hips forward to make it possible. The action sparked something deep within him and, in turn, her.
That simple flare stoked her internal embers.
Pan placed a paw upon his chest and another to his jaw, drawing him into place as she moved in for a kiss. It was a light affair, motivated by the desire to connect with her bond, but it increased the spreading warmth nonetheless, moving her to seek the heat further.
The connection reestablished, she drew it out into a longer taste, her mate drawing a sharp breath as her claws extended slightly. Her weight leaned in heavily, pressing her chest against him as she sought more of what fuelled her and receiving it in spades.
She separated from him, her gaze meeting his own hazy eyes. She found herself lost in the bridge between them, their wants and needs being disrupted by but a thread of doubt. She promised she would wait for him, but she would not do so without imparting upon him that which has been disturbing her rest many a moon. It was petty and perhaps immature, but in the moment that those portals to his soul gazed upon her, they did so with lust. It was difficult to ignore.
Wavering conviction broaching the forefront of his mind, he tried to speak until she pursued him with renewed vigour, every iota of the bond screaming for more in time with her attention upon his lips. Gently, wrapped within baser instincts, she rocked her hips with a slow pattern matching their push and pull, the fabric barriers between them doing little disguise the effects it was having on him. The thin hesitation was dissolving by the second as she explored his body with renewed drive, her paw mapping every scar, every texture, and every pulse of his pounding heart. She searched him for every scrap of information her clouded mind could want, settling on the waistline of his pants.
She knew how they were made, how to perfectly tear the seam to get to that which her body years for in the moment. A small shudder arced its way down her spine as she hooked a claw into the thread, several stitches breaking as she dragged it down. Both sets of breath grew heavier with the fervour and subsequent assault. Her bond pressed into her motions, a bonfire burning underneath her scar due to the heat further below being muted by naught but the fabric she held in place.
He struggled to free his arms, careful not to harm her while still making the intent clear, a silent demand to return the touch. She released him, a muffled gasp escaping as he wrapped his arms around her body, a wondering paw slipping up her back under her garment. It was electrifying to be sought with such abandon. To feel such raw concupiscence from two sources. To feel it returned at all.
With deft hands and what she could only assume to be planned actions through hours of fantasy, her top loosened, the material quickly folded upwards to expose her and met with rapacious paw. She inhaled sharply as his avaricious grasp sunk into her flesh with increasing intensity of his affections and his own exploratory touch which followed along her chest.
He separated from their osculation, pulling her in tight to bury her into his neck as his touch from the unoccupied paw sunk lower across her back, a tantalizingly slow escapade settling upon her rear. A hot gasp of surprise escaped her mouth in time with the squeeze, the rough contact forcing herself closer to him. There was but a single glimmer of trepidation. An infinitesimal push was all that separated the male she held so close and burned so deeply for from completing what she sought.
His lips pecked at her neck, the fur dissipating some of the intended effect yet stirring a primal reaction within her. She pressed into it to communicate what her body wanted, him accepting the unspoken desire.
A hiss of satisfaction leaked from her as his teeth firmly gained purchase on the skin, her lowers digging towards its objective with rhythmic rocking when the scorching electricity shocked through her spine. The accumulating pool of heat within her began spilling outwards as his grip tightened.
An almost bodily snap vibrated through her, the last of the resistance breaking like fine wire under unimaginable tension.
He picked her up in a motion and roughly pinned her against the supporting structure for the roof, her legs supported by the crook of his arms, and the both of them, the pillar. The roaring of the rain just past the cover above them was just barely sufficient in drowning out the cold sting from errant spray on her fur. She exhaled as he pressed into his nearly true engagement with her, the actions growing less and less restrained as she clawed into him with internal displeasure that there remains separation between them, their lips barely parting from their sensualist pursuit for other ministrations. A shift in the mild wind blew rain at an unfavourable angle, allowing the chilling precipitation free access to her bond.
The water cooled her mate, him freezing in place as lucidity from the unrelated sensation overcame his drive. He pulled away, surveying the result of their progress thus far, flickers of the inferno she sought lighting behind his eyes as they scoured her partly unclothed form.
Riding off his fleeting decrease in momentum and the lapse of intensity through the bond, she remembered what she set out to do with the actions. Seeing his passion ready to complete the intertwining of their beings, she framed her arm across his shoulders like she had been taught when learning grappling with him, the confusion clear on his face with the forced distance.
“What’s wrong?”
His breathing was heavy, his eyes burned with moist desire, yet a single action of pause caused worry to coat his words. She chuckled, she doubted she would have ever found a more caring mate within her own people, given her condition. It made her love him even more for it.
She placed a claw to his lips, a smirk masking her own internal struggle to surrender to the bestial urge. “When you return to me, once your journey is complete and you are successful, we shall continue.”
He stared in shock for a moment, the expression giving way to a deep laughter as he buried himself in her neck, the singular goal hesitantly abandoned upon her request. His pants dropping to the ground from the disassembled band a moment after speaking earned her a bemused shake of his head while her cheeks flushed with the reignited flame she tried so desperately to quell.
Setting her down, he retrieved the damaged coverings, not entirely unaware of her lingering gaze towards what she had almost allowed herself take prematurely. She looked away, fixing her top to regain her modesty, though being sure to permit him time to ‘covertly’ linger upon the objects of his interest.
“Had to rip my pants?” He prodded, equal parts excited and disappointed at the change in activity while he adjusted the damaged clothing to remain upright.
She fought to maintain a composed veneer, slightly ashamed to have given in as much as she did and trying to distract from it. “You required motivation to return to me.”
The male sighed, amusement in his voice. “I told you i would drag myself back with only my fingers if i had to.”
She smiled at him, knowing for certain that the declaration was genuine. “I needed you to be whole so that we could finish what i started.” The suddenly mischievous mate winked at him, her clothing reset to how it was before the encounter. “I like my suggestion better.”
“Me too.” He retrieved his shirt, donning it again while distracting himself from the protests of his body by checking the tempering of the piece he had set earlier. “Though I’m going to be fucking stuck thinking about that for the next two weeks.” His lilt conveyed the lack of serious annoyance, but the message was the same. She preened slightly, happy to have this effect on him. A few longer strides was enough to close the mild distance they had used to make themselves presentable.
She stood to her full height and drew his gaze, planting a deep kiss onto him, removing herself only once the flames within him brightened. “I’m sure you’ll manage somehow.”
Joseph stared into her for a few moments, eyes closing with a long exhale. “I really should have told Rob to fuck off when he insisted that Tel would go.”
The remark elicited a flick of her ear to accompany the tilt of her head. “Why would her inclusion be unwanted?”
“Because...” He started, drawing an absent breath until his eyes widened, catching what he was about to say. Embarrassment and shame filled their bond. “Just... It’s nothing, never mind.”
Pan placed her paws on his cheeks to redirect his gaze that tried to escape her when she made the connection. “You feel it shameful to find her enticing?”
The bright red that crept upon his cheeks answered before the bond could. A recent greed within her flared once more.
The seamstress chuckled, her own opinion on the matter seeming to have been long since settled. She increased the pressure of her paws, dragging him lower to speak into his ear at a low volume, sibilance present in every word. “You are forbidden from taking of another before me. You are my bond. I shall claim you properly upon your return to the limitations of my condition. Beyond that? We will discuss.”
She didn’t wait for his response, it would do no good to allow him room to convince himself of another meaning through extended conversation. She had been clear with her position, and he, his desire. She donned her coat, offering him a playful wink before scurrying back to the den with a stunned male watching her leave.
The doors closed behind her, the mild warmth of the den paling in comparison to that which threatens to spill further from within her like the rain that fell from her clothing. She leaned against a wall, questioning her own decision to end the events, but smiling with the confirmation that she held exactly what she had wanted her entire life.
A heated sigh escaped her, her heart refusing to calm.
She started towards the baths to wash off his scent, lest it continue to torture her for her decision.
He was not the only one who would be thinking about the moon’s events during his absence.