Ice Ice Babies Read Online Free PDF Page A

that what groof means?”
    “Something like that.” Now I’m embarrassed I brought it up.
    “Did you ask him to touch you?”
    Her blunt words make me blush. “I shouldn’t have to ask after I had his kids, should I?”
    “You are tired. He is tired. Perhaps he thinks you are too tired for his cock.”
    Okay, now I really am blushing. “Maybe a girl wants to be chased a little.”
    “Why?” Now Asha looks genuinely puzzled. “If you want to mate, tell him so. Dagesh is like any other male - he will be more than happy to mate if a female asks.”
    “Yes, but…” I cast around for the right way to explain it. “Humans are different. We like to be courted. We like for our man to say sweet words and do nice things for us to show us how much he wants us.”
    “Why?” She looks confused. “You are resonance mates. Of course he wants you.”
    It occurs to me that if Asha doesn’t get why I want my man to flirt with me, it’s probably likely that Dagesh doesn’t get it, either. Maybe it’s like she says, and he’s waiting for me to roll over and say “Dick, please!” for him to get the hint. Theoretically, that should be easy enough to do…except I just had twins and I’m not feeling my sexiest.
    But I miss my mate. I miss the closeness we’ve had and the comfort of his arms. Okay, then. I’m going to have to suck it up and ask for dick. Maybe it’s time for a game plan - a sexy, low-cut tunic, doing something with my hair, even some perfume. I could make myself pretty and available and maybe he’ll get the hint. I finger my grown-out highlights. They’re hideous, but haircuts haven’t been high on my to-do list like napping and, well, napping. “Maybe I’ll do something with my hair.”
    She shrugs.
    I toy with my strands for a moment longer, and then look over at her. “I don’t suppose you’d want to watch the babies tonight for me? Just for a few hours?”
    “So you can demand cock from your mate?” Her eyes gleam with amusement.
    Man, we are really going to have to teach these sa-khui a few more delicate euphemisms. I pick up a leaf and twirl it, trying to imagine the set-up for tonight’s seduction. “Something like that, yeah.”
    Asha nods. “I will watch them. Also, you should not drink tea from that leaf.”
    I look at it more closely now. “Why?”
    “It is used for a tea that makes loose stools.” She pats Anna’s back. “A belly cleanse. Very strong.”
    I see several of the leaves mixed in with the rest of mine. “Probably a good thing you’re here, then.”
    She laughs. “Probably.”
DAGESH
    Today was an excellent hunt. My back, my bones and my muscles ache as I hike the trails back to the tribal cave. All day I have hauled dvisti into a new cache and marked it. It was a great deal of food, but there is always more to be done, and there are always more dvisti. As I dragged the last of the half-frozen carcasses to the cache, I saw another herd in the distance, heading toward the mountains. It is a large herd, and it would be smart to follow after them and trim their numbers.
    But that is for tomorrow. I could head after them tonight, but I am full of longing to see my mate and my kits. Even if they are sleeping, just seeing their faces will be enough. Every day, I must remind myself what I work for. It is for my No-rah and our little ones. It is so they smile through the long brutal season and do not cry with hunger.
    By the time I make it to my cave, I am slow with exhaustion. My No-rah has been busy - the furs are straightened and the baskets re-organized. The fire is not banked for sleep despite the late hour, but the coals are burning low, a sign that it has not been tended. Curled up in the furs is my mate, her cheek resting on her hand. I smile at the sight of her, so lovely, and then move to the kits’ baskets.
    They are…empty. Their blankets are flat, no little blue babies with yellow hair inside them.
    Raw terror clutches at my chest. Where are my girls?