"Who doesn't?" Devi says brightly.
By the end of the day, one nautilus on the shore is successfully diverted to an alternate path. There is much rejoicing by the males who worked to dig the new trench all day, and lots of backslapping with pride. Valmir is practically beaming as he struts back to camp for dinner. "Did you see?" he asks me, his arm going around my waist. "We got it to change directions. Tomorrow we're doing another."
"You did amazing," I reassure him, pleased when Corvak walks past and gives him a friendly slap on the shoulder. It's a quiet acknowledgment that maybe Valmir is finding his place amongst the group other than "designated tribe asshole." I'mso happy for him. "You must be exhausted. Come sit with me. I saved you a seat."
Moving near the center of the group near the fire, I park Valmir on a seat in the midst of things. Part of me expects him to protest, but Bek and Elly immediately move on the other side and he relaxes. He and Bek get along well. They both have short tempers when it comes to idiots, and I like Elly. She's sweet and shy and they have the most adorable daughter.
Since Valmir has been working on digging a trench, I grab bowls of food for both of us and thank O'jek, who oversees the cooking tonight. The soup smells like it's full of herbs and makes my mouth water. I thank him and move back to Valmir's side, and he looks up at me in surprise when I hand him the food. "I should be getting that for you."
"You were holding our seats," I tell him. "It's fine."
I sit next to him and lean over him, draping myself against his shoulder. He looks surprised and pleased at my possessiveness, and his tail curls around my hips. I kiss his cheek, his whiskers brushing my skin. I like that we're together, in front of everyone, as we should be.
As we eat, the conversation turns toward what the men accomplished today. Liz and Raahosh join our small group at dinner and want to know the details of what digging the trenches entailed and how long it took.
"There are more in the water that will beach tomorrow. Bring Gren in to work," Raahosh says, his scarred face hard and unyielding. "He's strong. U'dron will help, too. Anyone that's able-bodied and isn't needed for hunting can take a shovel. We can split your group up and re-route any of the snails we need to."
"Ashtar?" Valmir asks. "The big dragon can do more than we can."
"He probably could, but he flew out to Croatoan earlier."Raahosh gets to his feet. "You can handle it. You, Bek, and Corvak are in charge."
Liz points at Valmir and Bek. "Hear that, you two? You're in charge." She points at her eyes and then at them again. Then she turns and follows her mate, her voice trailing after them. "God, I love it when you're so leader-y, babe. Makes me hot."
I stifle a laugh and fish a shrimplike creature out of my soup. It still has a head and I know that's my pussycat's favorite bite. I hold it up to Valmir. "You want?"
He eats from my hand, his lips brushing over my fingertips. "Now you're feeding me like your pet."
"Play your cards right and I'll cuddle you between my boobs like him, too."
Valmir's tail swats my hip. He skewers a chunk of root on his eating utensil and offers it to me. "No eyeballs on this."
"You know me so well already." I nibble it from his utensil.
"I know you better than anyone," he says, and his eyes are hot with meaning. It makes my belly flutter with arousal, and I can't stop smiling.
"Oh my god, feeding each other. That's sickeningly cute already. Resonance always knows what it's doing," Penny comments as she passes by. She gives me a pat on the shoulder, leaning in. "Can I leave Brenna with you guys for a moment? I need to grab a shawl because it's chilly out here."
She doesn't wait to get an answer, just parks her daughter in front of us and hurries off.
The little girl stares at us, her wispy blonde hair pulled into two tiny pigtails. Her dress looks like something out of the Flintstones, and she gives us a shy smile as she stands near the fire.
"Come sit with us," I tell Brenna, straightening and patting my leg.
She moves forward, but instead of sitting with me, shemoves to Valmir's side and leans against his knee. "Your tail is pwetty."
"Of course it is, little friend." He leans in close to her, dropping his voice to a confessional tone. "I'm the handsomest male on this beach. Don't tell Jason."
Brenna giggles and continues to lean against Valmir's leg. She notices his bowl and puts one sandy, sticky finger into the dish and grabs a chunk of food.
"Help yourself," Valmir says in a wry voice, lowering the bowl so she can eat more. "I was done anyhow."
I bite back a laugh and hand my utensil to my mate. "Here you go, beautiful. We can share."
His tail swats my hip again, even as he grins at me. Brenna giggles, the bowl in her hands practically tipping, and Valmir has to rescue it before she makes a mess. "Why don't I hold it while you eat?" He tells the little girl. "Just consider me your table."
My heart is full ofalohaas I watch him tend to the little girl and he talks with Bek about plans for tomorrow. Maybe he didn't know how to be part of the group before, but I'll make sure he is from this point on.
There's hope for my cranky pussycat yet.