“You look tired, my mate,” Vektal says.
“Do I?” I look over at him in surprise. I don’t feel tired. It was a long trip, sure, but I…oh. He’s giving me a slow, wicked grin that I recognize. “You did say you were leaving me tomorrow, didn’t you?”
He nods, pulling me so close that my boobs brush against his chest. “I must go out on the hunt like all the others. It is my duty. But it will make my return twice as sweet to know you and our kit are waiting for me.”
It’s an aspect of life I’m going to have to get used to. I nod, smiling. “Until then, you did mention you have time for one more honeymoon night?”
“I do,” he murmurs, gaze intent on me and a promise in his eyes.
“Maybe we should play Gollum and his precious, then,” I say, fluttering my lashes at him as I take him by the hand and lead him back toward the nook of our cave.
“As long as you tell me what it is, I am game.”
I chuckle. “It involves lots of rubbing.”
“All the best games do.”
Part II
Ice Planet Honeymoon: Raahosh & Liz
Newly-mated (and grudge-holding) Liz wants nothing more than to be away from the tribe that’s exiled her man. Raahosh wants to prove to Liz that he can be a good mate, even if he’s ugly.
On a honeymoon, they can get to know each other better. Perfect, right?
This story is an extended epilogue for book 2 of Ice Planet Barbarians -- Barbarian Alien -- and is for readers who want a little more of their favorite couple. Don’t start here! Start with book one, Ice Planet Barbarians.
5
LIZ
“We’re totally going to do a honeymoon, too,” I tell Georgie as I add a fresh pouch of herbal tea to my carrying pack. “I love that idea.”
“You are?” Georgie seems surprised at my declaration.
“Sure, why not?” I consider the bag of tea in my hands. I’m raiding the storage room before Raahosh and I go out for our second round of “exile.” We came back to drop off some meat we’d hunted and some extra furs, and Raahosh is talking with Vektal while I rummage through the storage room. I told my guy I was just going to get some soap, but since I’m here, I’m helping myself to a little bit of everything.
I mean, if they bitch about the tea, I’ll pick some leaves and replace them. But I’m part of this tribe, too, and if the tea’s for anyone, that means it’s for me as well as everyone sitting on their asses by the fire.
If Georgie has a problem with my grabbiness, she doesn’t say anything. She just gives me a curious look. “I’m surprised you’re in such a good mood about having to leave again.”
“Why?” I take the soap she hands me and sniff it, then wrinkle my nose. “We got anything that doesn’t smell like a salad? My pregnancy nose doesn’t like leafy smells.”
She picks through another bundle and holds a pink-colored bar out to me and it smells like the soap-berry pulp that’s been used to make it. Better. “I don’t know, I just thought you’d be more upset…about everything. And at me.”
“I admit I might have said a few choice words about everyone in the tribe once or twice.” Or twenty. “But then I woke up and realized that I’m with my guy, I’m doing what I love, and I don’t have to listen to Josie natter on by the fire about how many kids she wants to have if she ever resonates.”
“She’s excited,” Georgie says gently. “And lonely.”
“And talky.” I lift a hand and mime a chattering puppet. “But no, I’m over the anger. I don’t want to spend the next three years—or however long it takes for this baby to bake in my belly—full of anger. Which is why a honeymoon should be awesome. We’ll get some bonding time in, some sexy time, and we’ll connect so deep as a couple that bitches won’t be able to pry us apart ever. It’ll be great…even if you guys are wrong for exiling us.”
She chuckles at my jab. “There it is.”
I beam at her. “You knew I had to try. So, tell me what fun shit you two did on your honeymoon. Did you see anything cool? Do anything cool? Try anything kinky?”
Her face tenses, and I’m surprised at her expression. She looks…guilty? Which is weird. “Just your usual honeymoon stuff.”
“That’s a boring answer. Give me ideas,” I prompt. “I want to steal them to use on Raahosh.”
“We were boring.” She shrugs, putting back the soap I rejected and then straightening the stack. “I wish I could tell you we did a million crazy things but we didn’t. It was just the two of us, alone, and…it was nice.” Her smile turns sweet. “It was nice to just be Vektal and Georgie and not chief and chief’s mate.”