Barbarian's Bride (Ice Planet Barbarians)

She hesitates, a look of uncertainty on her face. "Were we not supposed to have sex again?"

"Not like that."

"Oh…is that against the rules?” She looks confused. "I didn't even bother to ask. I just assumed…"

I realize to my horror that she has never mated before either. I took her so roughly and her first time was by the fire just recently. She will still be sore. More shame piles upon me, and I cup my mate's face in my hands. "Next time," I vow. "Next time I will do it right."

The third time will be the best time.

Her brows furrow but she gives me a bright smile. "Okay?"

7

NORA

I'm getting whiplash from Dagesh's emotions. I watch as he storms into the cave, his tail swishing back and forth. It's clear he's agitated about something, but what? He said we had sex wrong but…I've never come so hard in my life. There was absolutely nothing wrong in that for me. Maybe it was the position? He didn't like holding me up? Doing it outdoors? Was there some custom we skipped over?

And how soon can we do that again?

I watch him make fire in the small pit in the center of the cave. It's mostly dark inside, with a bit of light spilling in from the entrance behind us and a bit more provided by our glowing blue eyes. I can see just enough that this cave is rather rough-hewn, with a few stalactites dripping down from the ceiling in the back. It looks like someone else's stuff is already here, which is odd to me, but then again, what about this entire situation isn't odd?

"So, Dagesh," I say brightly when I can't stand the silence any longer. "What's the rest of your name? Or is it just Dagesh?" I try to say it like he did, but I'm pretty sure I fumble it spectacularly. "Dageesh? Dayuush? Oy vey. You're a bit of a tongue twister."

He glances up at me, so handsome, and his expression is baffled. "Dagesh is all of my name. You have more of a name?"

"Well, yeah. On my birth certificate I'm officially Nora Esther Leah Broder, after both the grandmothers, but I just go by Nora." I smile at him and sit down near the fire, because it feels strange to keep standing near the cave entrance with my ass to the breeze. I tuck the tunic down over my lap, hiding my pussy in an attempt to be modest just in case he doesn't like boldness in a girl. "You?"

"I am just Dagesh."

I practice saying it again, trying to swallow the “G” sound like he does, and I know I mangle it badly when a hint of a smile touches his mouth. "I'll get it right eventually, Dagesh."

"However you say it, it is beautiful," he promises me. "Human tongues are perhaps a little different."

"I can show you my tongue later, if you like," I say, giving him an encouraging smile. "I think you'll like it even if it's different."

He places something round on the fire, washes his hands with a bit of water from his water skin that he keeps at his belt, and then gives me a woebegone look. "We should talk, my No-rah."

Oh no. Is this the breakup conversation already? I've known him for like, half a damn hour. "Let me guess…you don't think it'll work out between us?" I keep my voice light, trying to hide the hurt that's brimming through me. How is it that I land on an ice planet and get a fated mate and get dumped? That has to be a record.

Dagesh runs a hand over his mouth, looking sad. "I am a bad mate for you."

"So you're getting rid of me?"

He pauses. "What?"

"What?" I echo.

"I do not follow."

"That makes two of us!" I cross my arms over my chest, trying not to cry. "You're dumping me?"

"Dumping you? But you are already on the ground." He tilts his head, as if regarding my feet.

"You're breaking up with me?" Then I realize that can be misinterpreted too, if you're not familiar with English. My breath hitches. "You're ending things between us? You don't want to be my mate?"

"What? No, that is not it at all." Dagesh moves forward, scooting to my side. He reaches out and brushes his knuckles gently against the side of my face. "From the moment you opened your eyes, I could look at no one but you, No-rah. You are everything I have dreamed of as a mate. There is no other female that I want."

"But?" I prompt, wiping a tear that spills down my face. "There's always a but."

He grabs my wrist and twists my hand, turning my palm face up. There's the mark of a fingerprint on my skin—unsurprising given our vigorous wall sex, and I've always been the type to bruise easily. "That, No-rah. That is why I am a bad mate. I was unkind to you. Our mating should have been…better."