She handed some blue-skinned asil to Ashleigh, who used a small blade to cut away the peel and slice the fruit. When the biscuits were cooked, Pilar set them on a small wooden table she used for food preparation. Ashleigh split the still steaming biscuits open and laid thick slices of the asil inside. Taking a bite, she groaned in happiness.
“Holy shit, that’s good.”
“What’s shit?”
Ashleigh snorted so hard she coughed and then started laughing. “It’s a curse word, so I probably shouldn’t be saying it. I don’t want my little one to learn bad words. But in this case, it was just an exclamation. These are delicious.”
Pilar knew she was beaming. “Thank you.”
“No,” she said between bites, “thank you for letting me interrupt your work.”
“I don’t mind the company.”
“I’m glad. How is your cookbook coming along?”
Pilar handed the book to Ashleigh who was starting on her second biscuit. “Very well. Villi and the other hunters are enjoying eating my mistakes as I get the recipes figured out.”
“I’m sure. When the baby’s ready to eat solid food, will you teach me how to prepare appropriate things?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Well, I hate to eat and run,” Ashleigh said as she finished her second biscuit and picked up two more. “I see your mate on his way. Thanks for the biscuits.”
“Anytime,” Pilar said as Ashleigh stood and left.
Pilar’s heart skipped a beat as her sexy mate drew near. She stood and hugged him when he reached her. “Are you busy? I have something to show you in the community tent.”
“Let me just move the fourn.”
She used two pieces of thick hide to protect her hands from the flames as she lifted the spit and moved it over the rack so the meat wouldn’t burn while she was gone. When she was finished, she took his hand and walked with him to the community center. The large tent was where they gathered for the weekly meals, and she’d come to think of it almost like a second home since she spent so much time there cooking for the city.
He held open the flap for her, ushering her inside. The tent was empty, save for a large, fabric-covered object in the center.
“You told me you didn’t want to change anything about the interior of the tent, but I know it’s very male.”
She smiled. “Yes, but I don’t mind.”
In truth, she’d been too busy focusing on cooking that she hadn’t given much thought to the furniture. Or lack of it.
“Well, I do,” he said, leading her to the large object. “You’ve been so gracious in learning how to cook our way that you haven’t had time to do anything for yourself.”
She opened her mouth to tell him that she didn’t feel anything but enjoyment from cooking when he pressed his finger to her lips.
“I made this for you. With a little help from my friends and family.”
He pulled the fabric cover away with a flourish to reveal a couch and a chest. She gasped in surprise and moved to the sofa, sitting down on one of the cushions and running her hands over the surface. The hide was soft and supple and had been dyed the same deep bluish-purple the sky changed to when the sun was setting.
“How did you get this color?”
He joined her, tugging the chest over as he sat down. “It wasn’t easy. I hunted white refows for their hide and used asil skins to get the right color. Carus and my father helped me build it, and my mother helped me with the dyeing. Do you like it?”
“I love it!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “But why is it in here?”
“Because I didn’t want you to see it before it was finished. Carus is already taking our old couch out of the tent and will help me carry this one to replace it. Now for your second gift.”
He gestured to the chest. It was framed with smooth branches, with the sides, top, and bottom made of hide that was attached to the frame.
“I made this for storage for your cooking utensils,” he said.
“I don’t need gifts, but thank you.” She gave him another kiss.
“Look inside. I put some other things in there for you.”
She lifted the lid and paused as she looked down at what appeared to be clothes.
“What is this?” she asked, pushing the lid open all the way and reaching inside. She pulled out trousers made of hide and beautifully woven tunics. At the bottom of the stack of clothing was a pair of slippers made of hide, with a stitched bird on the top.
“I made the shoes with hide I tanned myself, but Paoli made the clothes for you by making patterns from your other garments.”
“Oh, Villi,” she said, putting the clothing back in the chest. “You didn’t have to.”
“I did. You’re my soul mate and I promised to take care of you. You’re busy cooking and taking care of me.”
“Because I love you,” she said, her eyes stinging with happy tears.
“I love you, too, saera. You’re the true light of my heart.”
Before they got carried away in the community tent, they left with her chest, Villi going back with Carus to carry the couch into their tent. After checking on the fourn, Pilar pushed Villi into their tent so they could enjoy their new couch in every way.
She may never bear children with her soul mate, but she’d found fulfillment in many ways, from the joy of watching the sun rise to their meals at the lake, to learning new dishes and ways to prepare the food that her new family loved. It hadn’t taken much to convince her to go with Villi; he’d offered her a chance at a new life, and she was thankful every morning that she’d gone with him. A life without Villi wasn’t worth all the technology in the universe, and she wouldn’t trade a moment in his arms for anything.
Coming Next from R. E. Butler
Dero’s Bride (Norlanian Brides Book Five)
~*~ June 11, 2017 ~*~
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&nb
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*Coming June 11, 2017 in the Norlanian Brides Series*
Dero’s Bride (Book Five)
Tarihn, an unmated female on the planet Norlan, has spent most of her life knowing that she’ll likely never be chosen as a mate because she’s sterile. She spends her days watching her people take soul mates from other planets and find happiness, but she knows she won’t ever be so lucky.
Dero lives on the forbidden side of the Issizlik Mountains. He’s never ventured to the other side of the mountain until now, when he and his people mount a mission to destroy the soul-walk machines used to abduct females from other planets, and the vaccinations that have caused the females to become sterile. What he doesn’t expect is to scent his own soul mate in the medical center, or for her to pass out in fear when they come face-to-face.
Dero has three days to convince Tarihn that they’re soul mates, or he’ll have to return her to her home and erase her memory. The thought of living without her for even a moment is too much for him to bear, and he’ll do everything in his power to ensure that she knows he wants to spend the rest of his life making her happy. Will she give him a chance to prove that they’re meant to be together, or will she want to go back to her own people?
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