The Tower of Il Serrohe (40 page)

She laughed. “Of course, where else?”

That was when the realization struck him.
This is a different valley, a different world. Their customs are different here, comparatively primitive. Ancient humans are reputed to have routinely used this position.

All right, when in the Valle Abajo, do as the natives do. It’s not as if I haven’t done it this way on occasion. Another time, I can show her the “missionary” position. Tonight, let’s do it her way.

“
Raquela, you’re a sweetheart. So, ‘of course, where else?’” They chuckled softly together and both were saying “mmm” as they proceeded.

Their hands flowed together over and under each other’s caresses, as he followed the curves, the rise and the fall of her body as she just snuggled more and more into his body.

Though Don had seen the ocean only once on a trip, he recalled that swelling followed by the glorious explosion of water and foam from the waves reaching the shore.
Oh man, whoever did this created a masterpiece with this woman!

Because he didn’t want it to be over so soon, he kept everything slow and steady. Occasionally, he stopped briefly and she patiently waited with him, holding herself perfectly still except for her excited breathing. Then, they would continue. An hour would have been wonderful, but after about twenty minutes, it was impossible for them to prolong it any longer.

This is better than anything I’ve known before. My God, what a woman! Here we go.

Moving as a single entity, he felt her adding small twists and squeezes. His arms and hands enveloped her as they merged, Don holding tight to the sweetest and most affirming woman he had ever known.

Then the universe exploded silently, not in violence but in a burst of pure love, joy, union, and worship of the beauty of nature’s way. “The Way It Is” was the most perfect state of being in that long moment. The lovers spoke no words. She moaned in a deep, resonant tone Don had never experienced before with a woman. It vibrated her entire body and complemented his “mmm.”

It still felt good to move gently, so they continued as the sensual fires settled into an afterglow. Finally, the motion ceased like a pendulum coming to rest.  And the words returned.

Thesaurus in the brain of an English instructor, what is the right word: ecstasy, rapture, trance, swoon, transport? None was adequate; less than adequate. This is entirely a feeling and sense of well being. God, how I’ve missed this, but with Bess
it was a physical release, not this bonding. And it was always followed by a mild insult, like I just didn’t have enough for her. Shut up! Get her out of your brain. Raquela is here, the one mate I’ve always sought, though I didn’t know I could find her.

“
So, I’ve pleased you, Don?”

“
Pleased? You’ve taken me to a place I never imagined.”

“
A place? I mean, how it felt.”

“
That’s what I meant, too. Sometimes the way I say things confuses you.” He stroked her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck.

“
That tickles! What are you doing?”

“
It’s kissing. We didn’t get to do that. Where I come from you kiss for a while before making love… mating. I just place my lips against your skin then pucker and smack.” He demonstrated on her neck again.

“
I like that, but I haven’t seen any of my own clan do that. We lick.”

“
Well, that sounds nice, too. But where I come from, licking comes later. Not at first.”

They slowly moved apart enough to lie side by side.  Don turned toward Raquela. Softly encircling her face with his hands, he drew their faces together. She pulled her head back. “Now what are you doing?”

“
I’m going to kiss your lips.”

“
Really?”

“
It’s nice. Let me show you.”

She laughed nervously. “Not now.” Pushing him away gently and letting her hands rest on his chest. “You’re a strange guy. But I felt something the moment I saw you. I didn’t understand what I was feeling, but it was triggered by your smell. It was so nice and inviting, it scared me. I’m afraid I didn’t treat you very nicely the first few times I saw you, but then, that’s OK,” she said playfully.

“
Really? The first time? I was so put out about coming to this valley and thinking I was going crazy, I didn’t feel that about you, though I was impressed with your looks. Guys are like that. I didn’t smell anything that I know of.”

“
Well, even though we Pirallts don’t smell as keenly as the Nohmin do, there was an aroma about you that made me take notice. And when you carried me back to the Càhbahmin, that impressed me, though I was in such pain I couldn’t think straight. After you left, I talked with Florentine. She straightened me out as only a mother can—”

“
She’s your mother?”

“
Yes, I wasn’t able to tell you that. Maybe I thought Nersite had. Anyway, she explained how it was when she first caught sight and scent of my father—he died a long time ago. She felt the same way I did about you. I think men like it when a woman isn’t impressed at first. Makes the courting more challenging. I’m afraid I didn’t give you much of a chance.”

“
I guess you didn’t. It was ‘do you want to see my wound,’ and then you offered me your butt!”

She laughed musically. “Sorry, you would have probably enjoyed the ritual more. But you did something I didn’t expect by carrying me all that way.”

“
Well, there was no other way to get you away from the Soreyes where someone could treat you. I would have done that for anyone.”

“
I know. That’s what made it special. You had no reason but the kindness of your heart. I was neither your mate nor clansman. It would have been easier to have left me.”

“
For the Soreyes to capture or kill you? Absolutely not!”

“
That’s what I mean. I could tell even in the pain and confusion, you cared because I was hurt and for no other reason. My mother helped me understand that someone like you is the kind of man I want to mate with. And, of course, she explained what I should do to bring you pleasure.”

“
And to bond me to you like epoxy! I want to know you better. I feel like we mated before we really knew each other.”

“
We know what is most important. All the rest will come with time… together.” She reached out and ran her hands up his chest, along his neck and then caressed his face and hair.

He leaned toward her again to kiss, but she laughed anxiously and put her fingers gently over his mouth. “There will be time for you to teach me about kissing. Right now, I want to be close as we go to sleep.”

She deftly turned, pressing against him invitingly. He wrapped his arms around her chest and stomach. Snuggling against each other from top to bottom, they commingled in a way words could never express, and slipped into sleep with no awareness of the transition.

sixty two

Morning light peeked through the heavy fabric covering the window near where Don and Raquela lay. Don woke abruptly, startled to feel Raquela’s warmth next to him.

So it really happened! Oh, my God! Now what?

He looked at her expectantly, wondering if she would disappear in a wisp of smoke. She didn’t. He noticed she had put back on her body suit sometime during the night.

Sighing, he rolled onto his back, rubbing his face vigorously. Watching the diffuse network of light creep its way across the ceiling with the rising sun, he began to think.

God, what a woman! That was the best lovemaking I’ve ever had. But now what? I don’t want to go down the same path with Raquela as I did with Bess: building a relationship on sex. I mean it’s good sex, but I can’t walk away from Raquela like I could some horny woman in the English Department looking for a one-night stand at the Christmas party—not that I ever had that opportunity.

This is different. Raquela’s a sweet girl. I’m pretty sure she’s a lot younger than me, not having done this before. But that’s not the problem. What if we don’t get along? What if it gets mixed up in this business of the Soreye threat to the Valle and whatever the clans want from me?

We’re like fellow employees and that can spell disaster. Why couldn’t I control myself? Was my attraction based on more than hormones? If I hadn’t been dumped by Bess, would I have jumped into bed with Raquela? I might have played it cool without ruining a future chance, but instead I got horny and took what was offered—by a young woman who had no experience.

Smart move, Dick Tracy!

What if she slaps the shit out of me as soon as she sees my ugly face this morning? Or, what if she’s all lovey-dovey and wants to start a family? After all she called it mating, not screwing.

And what kind of mate would I make? I’m still reeling from losing my wife and home. And I haven’t had a beer in
days
! That’s probably the problem; I couldn’t have a beer, so I took the next best thrill available. Well, no. Making love with her is
much better
than beer.

But, that’s beside the point. What do I—or maybe we,
do now? I hope I can get through this Soreye thing today before we start making plans.

This is crazy! For all I know, this is just delirium: a hallucination caused by grief, shock, and beer withdrawal. Why get upset? If it’s real, we’ll work it out. She may be young but she’s no pushover. Plus, she seems wise beyond her years. In fact, she and her mother, Florentine, already talked about this.

I was putty in her hands. The typical male ready to accept favors from a pretty girl before thinking! Dammit! Why couldn’t I think with my brain instead of my prick?

At that moment in his reverie, he saw her eyes opening. She looked at him without surprise, her expression revealing her thoughts: what a lusty stag he had been. Her first scent of him may have been confusing, but it had proven right. He watched her frown as she saw consternation on his face. She was probably wondering what he was thinking.

Raquela ran a finger along his upper arm. He turned toward her fully.

“
What’s the matter, Don?”

He didn’t have enough breath to answer. Forcing a smile he shook his head. “Oh nothing… just thinking about the big meeting today. I hope we can come up with a plan… to deal with the Soreyes.”

“
Plan? Oh yes, you of the Rio Grande like to
plan
. My ancestors, Pia and Pita, made a point of that in the stories they told of Teresa. We don’t understand the idea, but at least we did
plan
to gather the clans here and…”

He took a deep breath.
S
he bought it. Let’s not talk about last night. Stay on the Soreyes’ situation.

“
OK,” he said, “I’ll try to approach it in the ‘here and now.’ It’s hard for me not to plan. It’s what my kind do, but you are different. Different culture. There are some people in my world who don’t think in terms of time: past, present, future. So I kind of get it. Maybe we—you and me—need to go over how we’re going to present this… get everyone organized for an attack or approach.”

Don pondered. “Maybe we can talk to the Soreyes and make them see—”

“
We’ve already tried that,” Raquela said. “Teresa tried. It took the storm’s destruction of their Tower to stop them. If only Nersite and Niddle-ai’s effort could have worked.”

“
Yes, I didn’t hear the end of that story yet. What happened?”

She shook her head, smiling. “That’s better told by Nersite, the master storyteller.”

“
Maybe there’s a lesson there, even though they failed. Back in my world, failure is often necessary before success is possible.”

She cocked her head, trying to understand such a puzzle. “You say strange things, Don of the Rio Grande Valley, but you know how to please a girl on a cool night.” She laughed.

Don could feel himself blushing.
Amazing, the effect this woman has on me.
“Well, let’s not go into that now. We have work to do.”

She pouted. “Couldn’t we do a little something before we get up?”

Oh Lord, she wants a do it the morning after?

What’s this?
  Don felt his desire start to grow.

“
Sweetheart, I’d love to, but really. Let’s not over-do it.”

She smiled, trying to look disappointed, but he saw a determined young woman accepting a challenge. “I might not always feel this way, so don’t take too long to return to my bed.”

Flashing back a smile, he got up quickly, put on his tunic, and went outside to find water for washing up.

Nersite was coming down the narrow street.

“
Don, there you are. The Taurimin have prepared a giant breakfast for everyone. Come on! Where’s Raquela?”

She emerged from the hut looking like the cat that had cornered a herd of mice.