I watched the fall of the expression on Ruth's face when she heard about her father, a darkness of sorrow overspreading her features. And I wanted to say something--to comfort her--but I hadn't time, and Ada went on, as gently but emphatically as before.
"Ruth, your father's spirit must be very happy now," she said, pulling Ruth into a soft embrace. "Because you've found a man... who loves and dotes on you."
Ruth nodded and hugged Ada to her even more tightly, burying her face in her shoulder, and her body shook a little. "Mother..." said she, mumbling, yet laden with feeling.
Then suddenly she drew in, her black eyes big and bright with the unshed tears. "Mother, last night... what was it... I recall I began-- "Her breath was hard, And flushed her cheeks in crimson as she fought to speak.
"Oh, my ancestors... I... I peed on Dexter..." She lost her voice, her hands wove together in her lap, and her whole body was bracing itself to a repulsion. "I'm so sorry, Dexter. I do not know, what happened to me... I just... I lost control..." A drop of tears would run on her cheek, and her lower lip shook. "Please don't be angry... I didn't mean to—"
I didn't let her finish. I withdrew her in my arms in a single movement, my hand behind her head where I drew her against my chest. "Why would I be angry?" I grunted, and I had a gravelly and yet kind voice.
"And I'm not angry, Ruth. Not even close." I tilted her face upwards compelling her to look at me. The fear in her eyes gutted me. I liked it, I said, and wiped her tears away with my thumb. "More than liked it, actually."
In her tears-filled eyes Ruth searched mine, stuttering in her breath as though she could not quite believe me. "Really?" she said, in a very low tone.
I nodded, and my hold on her was tightening a little. It is squirting, I said, and my voice went down to a lower, darker pitch of intimacy. "When a woman is so overcome with pleasure, when she is too happy, too satisfied, then she leaks like that. It's not piss, Ruth. It's something else entirely. I call it Squirting." I followed up the curve of her cheek with my fingers and my voice still dropped. It is evidence of my goodness of feeling you.
She took a gasp and then her face flushed as she digested what I said. "Did you like it when you squirted?" I questioned, in a low rumbling voice, my other hand slipping down to make a possessive touch on her waist.
Ruth nodded slowly, her gaze flickering away before returning to mine, shame and arousal warring in her expression. "Yeah..." she admitted, her voice trembling.
"I felt... this strange, deep itch inside my pussy. Like something I needed to scratch, but only your hard cock could reach it." She bit her lip, her fingers twisting in the fabric of my loincloth.
"And then... it just happened. I thought I was peeing, but it felt... different. Like my whole body was letting go. And after... I felt so good, so light... like I could float away. Then I just... fell asleep." Ada suddenly let out a soft, knowing chuckle, shaking her head as she reached out to squeeze Ruth's hand.
"Ruth, you silly girl," she said, though her voice was warm with affection. "You can't just let go like that without letting Dexter drop his seed inside you first." Her tone turned playful yet firm, the way a mother scolds a child she adores.
" If you want to get pregnant. You need that seed planted deep if you're going to give me a grandson one day."
Ruth's eyes darted to me, then down to my cock, her expression turning serious. "Last night... I did," she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction. Kerry, who had been listening with a small, amused smile, finally spoke up.
"No, little one," she said, her tone gentle but unyielding. "When you squirted, the force of it pushed Dexter's cock right out of you. He didn't get to release his seed inside you at all." Ruth's face fell, her shoulders slumping as guilt crashed over her.
"Dexter..." she whispered, her voice trembling with remorse. "I'm so sorry. I failed you. I didn't fulfill my duty as your woman..." She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, her hands clutching at my arms like she was afraid I'd pull away. I cupped her face in both hands, my thumbs brushing her cheeks as I forced her to meet my gaze. "You didn't fail me, Ruth," I said, my voice firm.
"And you're not just my woman because you can take my seed. You're mine because I chose you." I leaned in closer, my breath warm against her lips. "But if you're offering to let me try again... who am I to refuse?"
Ruth's expression shifted, her spine straightening as determination flickered in her eyes. "I will take your seed," she vowed, her voice suddenly serious, almost fierce. "And I'll give birth to a strong son for you. I promise."
I was unable to resist taunting her, and a smile on my lips. "I want a dozen."
The eyes of Ruth were opened in disbelief, her mouth opened a little. "A dozen?!" she repeated, and her voice was squeaking with disbelief.
Ada and Kerry started laughing, Ada holding her stomach, wiping tears of amusement off. Oh, Dexter, you'll have to work very hard to get that many, you see, said Ada, who was giggling.
Kerry grinned and her hand was on the shoulder of Ruth as she shook her head. I believe Ruth will grow up in several years before she is ready to have twelve of your children, Dexter.
Ruth, who was still working the point, glared up at me with awe and horror. "D-dozen..." she hesitated, and then a smile overspread her face and her lips turned down into a timid smile. "I'll try my best."
Ada then rose, and reached her arms up over her head, and then pulled at the leaf skirt, tying it round her waist, and stuck new leaves over her nipples. Then enough, I see, on grandchildren, and dozens of babies, she thought, but her eyes were glittering with pleasure. "We need to bathe. Much too early the river will be silent.
Kerry did the same, stood up and smoothed her leaf skirt. Ruth tried to get up too, but she cringed pushing herself to her legs, her thighs shivering a little.
The steps of Kerry and Ada were less prudent, but more nimble than normal, and there was some slight stiffness in their movements, which was a seep of pain between their legs.
I also wore my leaf skirt, and then I reached out, my hand settling on Ruth's back, my fingers brushing against the curve of her asscheeks. A notification flashed in my vision—100 points—as Ada's eyes flicked to my hand, her lips quirking in amusement. I shifted my touch slightly, my fingers grazing the other cheek, earning another 100 points.
A little, involuntary gasp of surprise came out of Ruth, and she tensed her body to my touch. "Aah Hmmm..." she said, blushing much more warmly, however, not with shame.
The early morning air was cool on our skin, and we got out of the hut. It was early, the sun was just beginning to come up, but the eastward sky was lightening, the first rays of daylight beginning to color the horizon with the pale yellow of pink and gold.
I went out and saw that the whole tribe was already roused--men, women, and children getting out of their huts as the first rays of daylight fell upon the earth.
I thought it at that time: their lives were like the sun. They woke as it rose and gave in to sleep as soon as it descended behind the horizon.
But my mind was elsewhere. I looked around with my eyes and tried to find Mitt, Tusk, and Ryan. Not here. I suppose they had to go out hunting again.
At this moment, I realized that Kina was coming my way, with a purpose, long legs bearing her toward us. "Dexter..." she called, and her voice was bright as her eyes flitted to and fro between me and Ruth.
She paused, with her arms crossed in front of her chest, and looked us over. "My father told me that you and Ruth are... now together." Her eyes were keen, evaluative, and she had a trace of teasing in her voice.
I took Ruth even nearer, and my arm around her waist clutched her in a possessive way. Yes, sister, I added steadily. "Ruth is my woman now."
The smile of Kina broadened, and her face was filled with real warmth when she looked at Ruth. "Congratulations, Ruth!" she said and stretched out to squeeze the arm of her sister. However, next she changed her expression and her eyes became serious as she stared at me.
"Dexter," she said, almost warningly. "It is not even a whole day since you were here. And already hast thou possessed our Ruth." She walked up and her eyes slightly narrowed. "She's precious to us. To me. So you see, I myself can not permit you to beat her. I will not forgive you in case you do."
Her eyes then became gentle, and she looked again toward Ruth, but her voice was close. "Tell me whether my brother bullies you or not," she said, softer and yet with an edge. "I will beat him up."
Ruth shook her head at once and came nearer to my side, in an effort to take refuge in my chest. "No, Kina..."
"Dexter is good to me. He loves me. Takes care of me." Her head went back, her dark eyes looking up at me, and her expression was full of a love which seemed to be pondering at my ribs. "You know my circumstances, about how I have labored. But now... I'm happy. Because I'm Dexter's woman."
Kina smiled to herself, though her smile faded almost instantly, and then she uttered a low, mocking laugh. "Oh, Ruth, you're getting on the side of your man now?" It was not an accusation she made in her voice, only a form of joking, the sort of thing brothers and sisters do to each other, poking at each other's tender spots.
Then, her curiosity shifted. "Where are you guys going?" Yes, said she, looking back and forth.
Ruth didn't hesitate. To bathe, she said, in a light-minded but detached tone. "We're dirty from last night."
Kina smiled and nodded her head. Come on, Ruth, come on, she said, already drawing near. "I'll also take a bath. Many days have passed since I was last washed." She had her arms above her head, as though she were saying the word with them, and her costume of a leaf-dress made a slight movement by the motion.
I froze.
Many days?
I looked at Kina, and then at the tribe. The road leading to the stream was almost deserted--we and some stragglers only, and the moaning of the woods.
There was no one apparently on his way to the water. There was no one walking along laughing, no children running before their parents, splashing. Just... silence.
I had a look around, and my eyes wandered over the huts and the people who were still hovering about them. The elders were sitting outside, and their skin was dusted by sweat and dirt, and their clothes, which were scanty, were stained with the dirt of everyday life.
The women at the fires were smeared and their hands turned brown. The children who were playing in the dirt were covered in it as their little bodies were streaked with mud and ash.
I felt a shiver of understanding.
They don't bathe daily.
Of course they didn't.
There was no water and soap, and a day-in, day-out world. This was survival. This was tribal life. Cleanliness was not a need, but a luxury. A rare one, at that.
I sighed, and my brain was going round. How often do they wash, then? Once a week? Once a month? Not till the smell is too much, or the dirt is so much that it begins to itch?
Kina didn't seem bothered by it. Neither did Ruth, Ada, or Kerry. To them, this was normal.
But to me?
I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching at my sides.
This was going to take some getting used to.
Kina's expression wavered, her sternness melting as she saw the sincerity in Ruth's eyes. But then, as if unable to resist, she reached out and took Ruth's hand, pulling her gently forward—"Come with me..."—only for Ruth to let out a sharp, pained gasp.
"Hmm—aaah... Kina..." Her legs clenched together, her face contorting as the sudden movement sent a jolt of discomfort through her.
I reacted instantly, my hand shooting out to grip Kina's shoulder. "Sister," I said, my voice sharp with warning. "Ruth is still hurt. You have to be careful with her."
Kina froze, her eyes flicking between Ruth's pained expression and my protective stance. Then, her gaze locked onto mine, her brows lifting in realization—and accusation. "And whose fault is it," she said, her voice laced with mock sternness, though there was a hint of amusement beneath it, "that she's hurt in the first place?" She crossed her arms, her head tilting slightly as she waited for my answer.
I didn't flinch. "Mine," I admitted, my voice unapologetic. "And I'll make sure she's taken care of."
Kina looked at me for a long time and sighed, shaking her head. You better, she said to herself, but her mouth was twitching. Or I will see my threat through.
Ruth, still bowing against me, made a little, weary laugh at me, her body slightly shaken by the residual aches. Kina, stop scaring him, she said, and her voice was weak with relief, as though she had been holding her breath till that point.
Kina at last yielded, and her stern face relaxed as she leaned forward to stroke the hair of Ruth with affection. Fine, fine, she said, but her eyes were still as in the warning light as they shifted back up at me.
"But I'm watching you, Dexter." Her voice was bright, verging on mockery, though the threat was evident. She was not merely protecting Ruth; she was asserting her right to protect Ruth.
Then, abruptly changing the tone of her voice, Kina turned to Ruth. "Now, come on, Ruth. Let's go." She put Ruth by the hand and pulled her toward her. Tell me all my brother did, I said, and her voice went down to the conspiratorial hiss as they passed in front of me.
I saw them off, with Kina, his protective arm around the shoulders of Ruth, their heads bent together when Ruth was talking, in covert, animated tones.