They cuddled her afterward, drowsing in the gentle glow of having shared something wondrous. Sated at last, Tina curled in the warmth between Tukui and Yorso, with Osopa’s hand reaching across their Imdiko to cup her shoulder.
It was delightful to doze in their midst, safe in the knowledge she’d never be sent away. She held at bay the many questions she had, the exciting notions of what other pleasures she could discover. Such as perhaps being spanked like a naughty girl. Or kissing their sexes as they’d kissed hers. If they let her use her mouth, she could have all three at once?
Tina was sore from the intense play, or she might have given into the enthusiasm that begged her to try everything as soon as possible. She could afford to wait, she counseled herself. After all, she wasn’t going anywhere.
Chapter Eight
Yorso was the first to recover enough to speak. “You said you were being sent from the convent. What were you going to do?”
“What could I do? I would have returned to my father’s home and hoped he would let me stay. Except for cleaning and cooking, I don’t know how to do much of anything.” She burrowed her face against his chest, enjoying how he smelled like her. How he smelled of the exciting things they’d done.
Osopa rubbed her arm. “It’s good you won’t be living in such an abusive environment.”
“I wouldn’t say it was abusive. I wasn’t beaten.”
“Neglect can be more hurtful than blows.”
She heard the anger simmering beneath his quiet tone. She was touched that he felt protective of her. However, she didn’t want tension straining the agreeable atmosphere intimacy had created. She changed the subject. “I have a younger brother and sister. I haven’t met them. I might have been a nanny to them if I’d gone home.”
She couldn’t help the regret that crept over her. She’d only seen pictures of Zac and Callie, the last of which had been sent over a year before. They were adorable pudgy-cheeked youngsters, with their mother’s dark hair and their father’s hazel eyes.
“You’ll have children of your own to love, whenever you wish it,” Yorso reassured her.
She liked the sound of that, especially in light of the revelation that the clan was hers for keeps. What had seemed a terrifying future was now bright with promise. So many things were possible now.
Could this be real?
“Children would be wonderful,” she agreed.
“Please, not too soon.” Osopa, gazing at her from over Yorso’s shoulder, had his impassive face on again.
It gave her a moment’s concern. He didn’t want children?
Tukui distracted her by snuggling, his expression happy enough to calm the instant of anxiety. “No, not at once. Not when we have to dote on you for a while.”
That sounded wonderful to Tina.
* * * *
The next morning came too early, dragging Tukui from his beautiful—and delightfully amorous—Matara. He headed towards the bridge, his mind whirling.
He should have been out of his mind with joy, and he was, for the most part. As happy as Tina’s eager turnaround made him, certain things weren’t sitting well with him. Such as her asking permission to come. What had that been about? Was it another symptom of her needing to please? Maybe it was only a game for her, the same as bondage. He should have asked right away, but he’d hated to spoil the hard-won happiness the clan had gained. He’d ask her about it tonight.
Meanwhile, the other matter bugging him needed to be nipped in the bud. He cast a sidelong glance at the Nobek at his side. Fortunately, Osopa matched Tukui when it came to dedication to getting to his duty station early. They were in no danger of showing up on the bridge late. After doublechecking the time, Tukui spoke.
“Stop. We need to talk.”
Halting, Osopa scrutinized Tukui’s expression and frowned. “Is there a problem, my Dramok?”
“Is there? I’m sure you have a reason for holding back when it comes to Tina.”
“I—I don’t understand.”
“Don’t hand me that. Yorso discussed it with you. Since you’ve failed to take his concerns to heart, it’s my turn.”
Tukui wasn’t the hardass of the clan. Yet he could call on his sterner Dramok leanings when he had to. Osopa sighed, resigned to being the one chewed out for a change. “I’m working on it.”
“Work harder. Of all people, you should be guarding against the tendency to be distant. It’s unacceptable that she’s left wondering how you feel.”
“I’m not distant, not always.”
Tukui was ramping up, gathering a full head of steam. “A single second of it is intolerable. Our Matara has been abandoned by those she trusted. Rejected. How can you, with the history of neglect you suffered, be so damned emotionless around her?”
“You know I’m not emotionless. We’ve discussed this at length.”
“I’m not talking about how you feel. I’m pointing out what you show. You’re inconsistent with being open with her.”
“I gave her great pleasure last night, and I plan to make her feel good every chance I get. Beyond that, she’ll come to understand I’m there to protect her at all costs.”
Tukui crossed his arms over his chest and glared. As much as he loved Osopa, his clanmate could be infuriatingly stubborn, especially when it came to revealing how he felt. “She needs to realize that now. All you’re doing at this point is confusing her. You have moments where you show her you at least want to be kind, moments when you display the caring person beneath all that Nobek discipline. But mostly, it’s no-nonsense Osopa, guarding his thoughts and feelings. You have to do better.”
The Nobek wasn’t guarded at the moment. His consternation was peeking out around the edges of his imperturbable mask as he struggled to find an argument.
It hurt to watch Osopa attempting to bare his feelings. Tukui hated to force the issue, but he had no choice. For Tina’s sake, the whole clan had growing up to do.
With shift change still several minutes away, they’d had the corridor to themselves for a few precious moments. Footfalls warned Tukui someone approached from the branching hall ahead. He sighed. “We’ll talk later. When we do, I expect you to have a strategy in place for this issue.”
As he finished speaking, another crewmember turned the corner and headed towards them. Dramok Zevs. Of course.
The other man slowed, staring with frank, expectant curiosity at them as he neared. No doubt he enjoyed the obvious scene of confrontation. He might have even heard Tukui’s last statement.
Tukui stared in return, challenging but controlled. Silently daring Zevs to say something.
Zevs scowled and kept going. Tukui watched him, but his rival never looked back.
When he was out of earshot, Tukui turned to Osopa. “You see? You save the cold attitude for work and trash like Zevs. When you’re around Tina, you behave like the parents you wanted or the friends you wished for in training camp.”
“I’m not sure how.” Osopa wasn’t good with uncertainty. It made him obstinate. Tukui wasn’t having it.
“Figure it out. Your Matara deserves your protection from those who would harm her—not you protecting your childhood hurts from her.”