Barbarian's Tease (Ice Planet Barbarians, #15)

by Ruby Dixon

“I’m not going to go all Elly and not bathe for months if that’s what you’re asking.”

I like clean hair far too much to ever go that far.

Because I am not that girl. And I can hold a grudge for-motherfucking-ever.

Brooke loops her arms around my neck, one hand knotting in my mane. She leans in even closer to whisper in my ear— Only to bite my earlobe.

“Your cunt has a dark mane,” I tell her, and then reach out to brush my fingers over one bouncy, pink-tipped teat. “But you are not dark here.”

“I also said ‘pull my hair’ and ‘fuck me, you nasty thing’ and stuff like that. What I’m trying to say is that I wasn’t exactly myself. And we probably could have pretended to be mates just by, you know, holding hands and stuff.” I drop my voice to a whisper and glance at the door again, as if expecting orange aliens to be peeping at us even now. “You put your hand on my cock and bit me.” He looks indignant.

There is no one that can resonate to Brooke. I am relieved, even though I am also angry at myself for being so possessive.

But I make sure Harlow, Farli, and Liz all look fierce with intricate braids. A woman that feels pretty is a powerful woman, after all.

Sometimes it’s good to talk to another woman about your problems instead of your man. Your man is going to want to fix it. Another woman will listen sympathetically while you bitch and will take your side, no matter how wrong or crazy your side may be.

“I will keep you safe, Buh-brukh.” I elbow him. “You know my name, dickface.” “And you know mine. It is not dickface.” I sigh heavily. “Don’t be a dickface and I won’t call you one.”

“I think the biggest thing I’ve ever killed is a double meat bacon burger. I totally slaughtered that mofo. And now I’m wanting a burger.”

“Was it fierce?” He glances over at me. “It gave me fierce heartburn, but it was worth it. Also, you are hard to tease.”

After a moment, a slow, almost hesitant smile crosses his face, making his sulky features inhumanly beautiful.

“Of course I am jealous,” I bite out, my tail flicking. “You smile at other males but never at me. You chatter and touch their hair, and ignore me. You touch their arms, but you hate my touch. You give your happy thoughts freely to others, and there are none for me. I want all of it. I want everything you have. I want your tears, your touches, your smiles, your frowns. I want it all, and I do not wish to share. I want to put you in my furs and devour you whole.

“I do not want you resonating to them,” I say fiercely. “I do not want any male near you. I want you as mine and only mine.” My voice lowers to a growl as I meet her eyes. “Mine, Brooke. Mine and only mine.”

I remember car trips with my friends back after I graduated from high school, when we’d fill up the tank and just drive and see where it led us.

“I come here when my heart is sad,” Taushen says softly. “And somehow, this place makes my spirit glad once more. That I can see such a place and touch it. That I can live where such a thing can exist, and then, perhaps, I think everything is not so bad.”

“No resonance. This one was with me when I woke up.” And she rubs her belly again. “As for the father…I don’t know who—or what—he was.” Oh no.

She’s short and round, with brown pigtails and dimpled cheeks, like she’s just stepped off of Gilligan’s Island and into, well, Gilligan’s Iceberg.

Ashtar is the big, friendly guy with golden, scaly skin and whirling eyes that change colors despite his khui.