The big Kindred was bare-chested, like all the other males, and wearing a pair of white linen trousers which were also like what the H’raken males were wearing. Danni wondered where in the world they had found a pair to fit him since he was nearly twice their size.
Then she noticed the outline of his cock, straining against the light fabric and felt her cheeks getting red. Bravik’s shaft was obviously standing at attention—was that because of her?
Well, I don’t see him staring at any other woman, whispered a little voice in her head. So I guess that’s all for you, Danni.
Oh God, this was too much—way too much. She stopped about three feet from the big Kindred, completely unable to proceed. What was she going to do?
Bravik seemed to see her reluctance because he spread his muscular arms wide and grinned rakishly at her.
“Come here, little girl, and give me a hug,” he commanded in that deep, rumbling voice of his.
Of course, at that point, Danni could hardly refuse. Trying to smile, she went to his arms and Bravik leaned down and enfolded her in a tight embrace that pressed her breasts against his broad, bare chest while still keeping their pelvises apart—much to Danni’s relief.
“Act happy to see me, little girl,” he rumbled in her ear. “Everybody in the whole fucking town is watching us.”
Danni cleared her throat.
“Oh, my brave warrior!” she exclaimed theatrically, throwing her arms around Bravik’s neck and hugging him back. “How I have missed you! It has been an eternity since we saw each other last!”
Of course, this was exactly the kind of thing the H’rakens said to each other when they met, so she was hoping it would sound sufficiently passionate to their guests. But apparently her dramatic words and actions tickled Bravik’s funny bone. His big body began shaking against hers and after a moment, Danni realized he was laughing.
Suddenly, the whole scene struck her as funny too and she couldn’t repress the giggles that bubbled up in her throat. Soon the two of them were rocking together, trying to smother their laughter as they pretended to hug passionately while the entire township watched.
At last Danni got control of herself, though an occasional giggle still leaked out. Her stomach hurt from trying to hold in the hilarity—she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard.
“Gotta stop now, little girl,” Bravik rumbled in her ear. “They’re going to get suspicious.”
“Okay. I…I think I can stop now,” Danni whispered back, with one last giggle.
Bravik slowly released her and she wiped at her eyes, which tended to water when she laughed that hard. The H’rakens, she noticed, were looking at them with confused expressions on their faces, as though they weren’t quite sure what had just happened.
Well, join the club, Danni thought to herself. I’m not sure either!
The mutual giggle fit was the last thing she would have expected to happen upon hugging her dour coworker. But it had certainly cleared the air and now she didn’t feel quite so awkward around him, she thought. She didn’t even mind—too much—when she saw that the seating arrangement appeared to have all the wives sitting in their husband’s laps.
Kozen and Navii were already seated at the head of the table, with Navii cradled in Kozen’s lap. Kozen made a motion to both of them, indicating they should sit down.
“Friends,” he said to the rest of the H’rakens at the table. “These two very fine, small-headed people are Commander Bravik and his wife, Danielle. They have come to learn our ways and the ways of the Mother Stone. Please, answer any questions they have of you and make them welcome.”
All of the H’rakens pursed their lips and made a soft hooting sound—after a moment, Danni realized it must be their form of applause. She and Bravik waved and smiled at the H’rakens seated at the long table and then got settled—Bravik on the grass and Danni sitting between his legs.
“Well that was an interesting introduction,” Bravik murmured in her ear. “It’s good to know we’re very fine people even if we are small-headed.”
Danni had to bite her lip to keep from laughing again.
“Don’t!” she exclaimed in an undertone to the big Kindred. “My stomach already hurts from laughing so hard and we might offend them!”
“Sorry, little girl. I mean, Dr. Adams,” he murmured.
Danni sighed.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but since they seem to love endearments and nicknames here, I guess you might as well go ahead and call me ‘little girl’ since you seem so set on it.”
“I can’t help it—you’re just so tiny and adorable,” Bravik rumbled in her ear. “But what are you going to call me? If you start with that ‘Oh my brave warrior’ shit again, I’m seriously going to lose it.”
“Hmm, I don’t know,” Danni murmured. “What would you like to be called? Sweetheart? Baby? Darling? Honeybun? Big Daddy?”