Page 29 of Theirs to Crave

I knelt, patting the furs. Perhaps she didn’t understand what I wanted her to do? “Hellt,” I said, trying and failing to reproduce the popping sound at the end.

She fidgeted, and I watched in fascination as she took her bottom lip between those small, flat teeth. What did biting your own mouth mean?

Finally, she knelt, then scooted her legs around to sit on her tailless rear.

I tried not to notice how her flesh jiggled, but I was not successful. Her head fur fell forward, the short strands above her eyes drawing my attention. Did that mean the same thing among her people as it did among the Teterayuh? I moved my head, feeling the comforting brush of my mating braids against my cheek.

She leaned back, stretching out her legs, and I caught a glimpse between them. Oh, spirits. I bit back a whimper, looking away as she pulled the cloth firmly down.

The sight was seared in my memory, however. Thighs that looked softer than our best cushion and just as tempting to sink into. A familiar delta, plump and covered in fur the same dark shade as that on her head. My fingers flexed, aching to pet it. Would it be coarse? Or soft?

How like us were these Hyunans? They were not so different in shape, although their limbs were odd. Their legs were so long—and straight, like arms—that they walked only upright, slow and with bellies exposed. I wondered at their feet, so narrow, flat, and useless looking.

How similar were we in the places I could not see? Were their bones like ours? Their organs? Their...sexes?

My gaze slipped down her body again—half admiring, half with a healer’s curiosity. I tilted my head. She did have fur! Just a fine sprinkling, darker and thicker in some places, so fine I only saw the sparkle of firelight on the strands in others. It was oddly charming.

The acrid sting of fear made my nose wrinkle. I stilled. With horror, I realized that while I’d been fantasizing, Estrayuh was terrified. She held her body so tightly she trembled, and tears fell from her closed eyes.

I snarled at myself silently—not wanting to scare her any more than I already had. How could I be so thoughtless? I had no right to call myself a healer. Too busy lusting after her like akhotin rut to notice she was in distress. I couldn’t even ask her what was wrong!

Panic tickled at me, but I shoved it down with the ease of long practice. I had to think. She hadn’t been frightened when we’d come into the den, then she laid down...

Oh, spirits. No.

I looked at her hands, fisted in the cloth. Covering her sex. Guarding it fromme, I realized, and recoiled. Sickened, I sank my claws into my thighs and thought back over the last few moments. I’d seen her hide herself, hadn’t I?And thought nothing of it, I hissed at myself viciously.

I’d been too flagrant with my interest, an interest she obviously didn’t return—and why would she? We were supposed to be sheltering these people, helping them. Not demanding...what she clearly thought I’d brought her here for. And if she’d recently lost her mate...

I wanted to howl my remorse, to beg her forgiveness. I could do neither. I had to show her she was safe, that I wasn’t trying to mate her against her will.

I looked around wildly. My gaze snagged on the drying cloths hanging by the door, and in a breath, I’d snapped one open and lowered it gently over Estrayuh’s body. My heart pounded in my chest as I crouched next to her, alert and watchful.

Slowly, her breath steadied. The slip of tears into her head fur stopped. A moment later, her eyes opened and met mine.

The white parts were tinged with pink now, and the berries at their centers were dark and shimmered wetly. I hated that I was the reason she cried. She clutched the cloth to herself, as if afraid I might leap upon her and snatch it away.

I lowered my eyes, shame bowing my body.

“Thank you.”

Her voice was rough with tears, and I winced. Being thanked fornotviolating her was like a spear to the gut. I nodded, unable to force the word “sahvon” from my lips. My honor wasn’t anywhere near this den tonight.

I flicked a glance at her, testing her reaction, only to still with shock. She was smiling at me. With such a flat face, the expression was not quite the same, but it was recognizable. Her forgiveness humbled me.

I hovered my hand over her flat little foot covered in cuts. “Zafetthellt?” If she said no, I would get Litha. She’d learned enough healing from me to—

Estrayuh nodded.

If it would not have terrified her all over again, I would have laid myself at her feet and thanked her for her kindness. Instead, I tended her wounds.

I was careful not to startle her, and soon I sank into the space I always went to when I healed. I was fascinated by the differences between her Hyunan body and that of a Teterayuh—or even a Svestrix—and my heart wept at the evidence of all that she’d suffered.

Still, a part of me noted the softness of her skin, the decadent give of it under my touch. I breathed evenly, settling my spiritand hers, only to draw in the warm musky scent that rose from her as the heat of the fire banished the last of the rain.

As Estrayuh’s tension faded, her scent deepened. Internally, I rolled in it, even as I continued my work—healing and learning her body.

I hummed soothingly as I ran my fingers over the angry swelling on her left forearm. It was hot to the touch, and hard, but the bones didn’t feel broken. She flinched, and I inhaled, checking for pain or fear. There was pain there, but not too much, along with the barest hint of...desire?

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