Mari's Mistake (Icehome, #10)

by Ruby Dixon

"So…you have five tribes from the islands? And all are living on the beach with you?" I hear Zennek ask. "Three clans," T'chai corrects, and his voice is liquid chocolate, smooth and rich and sends a shiver right down my spine and makes me tingle. "But you said there were five clans,” Zennek frowns, extending his fingers to count. "Horns, arms…fangs…? What am I forgetting?" "I am Tall Horn," T'chai says, and I can hear the note of pride in his voice as he speaks. "There is Strong Arm and Shadow Cat, as well." "Ah," says the other, turning to Zennek and gesturing at his jaw. "The fur." "And then there was Long Tail, but they did not survive the death of the Great Smoking Mountain," T'chai continues. "That is all of the clans." "You said there was an outcast clan?" My mate huffs with amusement. "That is not a real clan. No one counts them. And it does not matter, because they are all dead as well." I take another step forward and my boot scrapes on the flagstones. T'chai twitches with alertness, and he glances over his shoulder. The sight of that, of his eyes heavy-lidded as he casts a look over his shoulder, does something to me. A hot curl of need flares through my body, and it's like my pussy becomes instantly wet at the sight of the fan of his dark lashes and the beauty of his full mouth. My heart throbs again. And again. Then it's pulsing and pounding in my ears, so loud that it makes me pause. I put a hand over my chest, because I know what this is. Sure enough, my khu...