I must have been stuck in my thoughts too long because I didn't notice Orpheus walk over to me until he lifted my chin to look at him. "You don't want me?" Those sad and confused puppy dog eyes could melt the northern ice caps.
I couldn't think of a reason to say no to this man. His eyes swallowed all my sense of reason like quicksand. I knew I should be fighting it but they just pulled in the more I tried to voice my worries. "I want you but…" I didn't finish the sentence due to the lips now pressed to my own. God could he kiss. I placed my hands against his chest as I melted into his kiss. The world around me disappeared as the kiss deepened. It was not till he grabbed my butt and pulled me against him that I remembered he was naked and we had onlookers.
I pulled away panting. "I think we should stop." I took another breath to steady myself. I looked down, my face heated. "I doubt anyone wants to see us and our PDA," I pointed to my Dad. Jack had vanished during the makeout session because he was nowhere to be seen. While Orpheus looked confused my Dad just laughed.
"This is actually normal dear. We don't hide our affections for our mates." Dad to the rescue again with his explanations. "It is quite normal for females to show off their connection with mates. The more personal stuff is kept indoor though."
I hope he means sex because I really don't want to see people rutting in the streets. "So by personal, you mean..?"
Orpheus leaned in and nuzzled my neck."By personal he means mating. Only those mated to a female can be present for that." My body tingled all over as his warm breath caressed my skin.
Okay, so no rutting in the streets but I still hadn't finished my sentence from earlier. "I still need to know what mating all entails." I pointed a look at Orpheus who had stopped nuzzling my neck and was just hugging me from behind now "I was trying to figure that out before I was 'interrupted'. Do I just sit at home being taken care of and making babies? I can tell you right now I want more than that." I crossed my arms over my chest in defiance. I was not someone who liked being cooped up or sitting still.
"Though making babies is part of it for all females the other differs on the female ability to shift. If you can't shift you will need to be protected. For those who can, they are active in hunting, and like Ayame can become leaders of their village." Dad started walking down the path toward Orpheus's hut. "For now don't worry too much about it. I think you should worry more about moving into here." He pushed the fur curtain aside as Orpheus slightly pushed me inside.
I turned to Dad as he and Orpheus entered. "So eager to get rid of me already? Here I thought you cared."
He let out a laugh and pulled me into a hug. "I am not getting rid of you. I am letting you're soon to be mate take care of you. Once you chose him it became his right." He pulled away and smiled. "Plus I live just a stone skip away. If he makes you mad or upset just come running to your daddy and I will beat some sense into him." I laughed with dad as Orpheus looked shocked and offended in the corner.
After Dad headed out I looked around the hut while Orpheus watched. It had one large section with a fire pit in the center. There are sacks of what look like oats and rice in the far corner. Next to them is a box of tools for preparing the meat and dishes. I moved to each of the three rooms. The back room was large as the first with a fire pit, bed, and some furs stacked in a corner. It must be the bedroom because the other rooms were smaller and empty of everything but fire pits. "What are the small rooms for?"
Orpheus smiled "Our pups of course." I had no idea what to say to that happy grin.
I still had so many questions about mates and future pups. I didn't have time to ask them though because time had got ahead of me. I needed to head to Ayame's hut for lunch before I was late. Orpheus reluctantly let me go by myself after I promised to stay in the village and not wander into the woods.
I would so wish I let him come with me.