Ice Ice Babies Read online

  “I want to, but—“

  “No buts,” she chides me. “We are not going to starve because you miss one day of hunting.”

  I grunt. Maybe she is right. Maybe I will tell Bek to get off his arrogant backside and go hunt in my stead and I will stand at the front of the cave with my spear. No-rah can keep me company there. We shall see. I stroke her strange, shorter hair back from her face. “You know this is only for a short time, my No-rah. There will be long days on end in the brutal season in which we can spend all day in our furs together.”

  “I know.” She gives me a slow smile. “I know we have to prepare for winter, and that there’s a lot of work now so we’re safe later. But for now, you need a day of rest, and I need my mate at my side. We can take it one day at a time.”

  I nod slowly. “One day, then.” Maybe she is right. I do like the thought of spending a day lounging, my mate and daughters at my side. We will nap and play, and then I will return to hunting to make sure my family is safe and fed.

  But tonight? Tonight is ours. I look over at my No-rah’s flushed face and the need to claim her stirs once more. I slide a hand to her backside and grip it, and then my fingers stroke between her legs, finding her damp, slick core. She gasps when I stroke a finger inside her and her arms tighten around my neck. “Again already?”

  “Making up for lost time,” I tell her, and then neither of us speaks again for a long while.

  Author’s Note

  Some of you might be surprised to see another short story before the next full-length book. I am definitely working on BARBARIAN’S TOUCH but (as I’ve complained about on Facebook), it wasn’t flowing. I’d write a page, delete it, switch characters, and try again. Round peg, meet square hole.

  So I consulted my character list and thought I might do a bit of a writing exercise with another pair. Immediately, Nora & Dagesh popped into my head. I can only imagine how difficult it is to have twins, and add that into the grueling environment of the ice planet? I can imagine that a new mom (times two) would struggle. I also wanted to delve a bit more into Asha’s story, because there are always two sides to everything. How would it feel if you were special, and then one day…suddenly not?

  The story flowed like water and I hope you enjoyed it. Even better, we’re now rolling on BARBARIAN’S TOUCH. Yay!

  Also, a special thank you to Marlena Maier for the name suggestion for Ariana and Zolaya’s baby!

  The People of Ice Planet Barbarians

  As of the end of ICE ICE BABIES

  (suggested pronunciations in parenthesis)

  AT THE MAIN TRIBAL CAVE

  CAVE 1

  Vektal (Vehk-tall) - The chief of the sa-khui. Mated to Georgie.

  Georgie – Human woman (and unofficial leader of the human females). Has taken on a dual-leadership role with her mate.

  Talie (Tah-lee) – Their baby daughter.

  CAVE 2

  Maylak (May-lack) – Tribe Healer. Mated to Kashrem and currently pregnant with child.

  Kashrem (Cash-rehm) - Her mate, also a leather-worker.

  Esha (Esh-uh) – Their young daughter.

  CAVE 3

  Sevvah (Sev-uh) – Tribe elder, mother to Aehako, Rokan, and Sessah

  Oshen (Aw-shen) – Tribe elder, her mate

  Sessah – (Ses-uh) - Their youngest son

  Rokan – (Row-can) – Their oldest son. Adult male hunter.

  CAVE 4

  Warrek (War-ehk) – Tribal hunter.

  Eklan (Ehk-lan) – His father. Elder.

  CAVE 5

  Ereven (Air-uh-ven) Hunter, mated to Claire

  Claire – mated to Ereven, currently pregnant

  CAVE 6

  Liz – Raahosh’s mate and huntress. Currently pregnant for a second time.

  Raahosh (Rah-hosh) – Her mate. A hunter and brother to Rukh.

  Raashel (Rah-shel) – Their daughter.

  CAVE 7

  Stacy – Mated to Pashov. Mother to Pacy, a baby boy.

  Pashov (Pah-showv) – son of Kemli and Borran, brother to Farli and Salukh. Mate of Stacy, father to Pacy.

  Pacy – Their infant son.

  CAVE 8

  Nora – Mate to Dagesh, mother to twins Anna and Elsa.

  Dagesh (Dah-zzhesh) (the g sound is swallowed) – Her mate. A hunter.

  Anna & Elsa – Their infant twin daughters.

  CAVE 9

  Harlow – Mate to Rukh. ‘Mechanic’ to the Elders’ Cave. Spends 75% of her time there with her family.

  Rukh (Rookh) – Former exile and loner. Original name Maarukh. (Mah-rookh). Brother to Raahosh. Mate to Harlow.

  Rukhar (Roo-car) – Their infant son.

  CAVE 10

  Megan – Mate to Cashol. Mother to newborn Holvek.

  Cashol – (Cash-awl) – Mate to Megan. Hunter. Father to newborn Holvek.

  Holvek – (Haul-vehk) – Wee blue baby boy!

  CAVE 11

  Marlene (Mar-lenn) – Human mate to Zennek. Has unnamed child. French.

  Zennek – (Zehn-eck) – Mate to Marlene. Has unnamed child.

  CAVE 12

  Ariana – Human female. Mate to Zolaya. Mother to Analay.

  Zolaya (Zoh-lay-uh) – Hunter and mate to Ariana. Father to Analay.

  Analay – (Ah-nuh-lay) – Their infant son.

  CAVE 13

  Tiffany – Human female. Mated to Salukh and newly pregnant.

  Salukh - Salukh (Sah-luke) – Hunter. Son of Kemli and Borran, brother to Farli, Pashov and Dagesh.

  CAVE 14

  Aehako – (Eye-ha-koh) – Acting leader of the South cave. Mate to Kira, father to Kae. Son of Sevvah and Oshen, brother to Rokan and Sessah.

  Kira – Human woman, mate to Aehako, mother of Kae. Was the first to be abducted by aliens and wore an ear-translator for a long time.

  Kae (Ki –rhymes with ‘fly’) – Their newborn daughter.

  CAVE 15

  Kemli – (Kemm-lee) Female elder, mother to Salukh, Pashov and Farli

  Borran – (Bore-awn) Her mate, elder

  Farli – (Far-lee) Their teenage daughter. Her brothers are Salukh and Pashov. She has a pet dvisti named Chahm-pee (Chompy).

  CAVE 16

  Drayan (Dry-ann) – Elder.

  Drenol (Dree-nowl) – Elder.

  CAVE 17

  Vadren (Vaw-dren) – Elder.

  Vaza (Vaw-zhuh) – Widower and elder. Loves to creep on the ladies.

  CAVE 18

  Asha (Ah-shuh) – Mated to Hemalo. No living child.

  Hemalo (Hee-mah-lo) – Mated to Asha.

  CAVE 19

  Bek – (BEHK) – Hunter.

  Hassen (Hass-en) – Hunter.

  Harrec (Hair-ek) – Hunter.

  Taushen (Tow –rhymes with cow- shen) – Hunter.

  CAVE 20

  Josie – Human woman. Mated to Haeden and newly pregnant.

  Haeden (Hi-den) – Hunter. Previously resonated to Zalah but she died (along with his khui) in the khui-sickness before resonance could be completed. Now mated to Josie.

  The Ice Planet Barbarians Series

  Are you all caught up on Ice Planet Barbarians? Need a refresher? Click through to borrow or buy and get caught up (or add to your keeper shelf)!

  Ice Planet Barbarians – Georgie’s Story

  Barbarian Alien – Liz’s Story

  Barbarian Lover – Kira’s Story

  Barbarian Mine – Harlow’s Story

  Ice Planet Holiday – Claire’s Story

  Barbarian’s Prize – Tiffany’s Story

  Barbarian’s Mate – Josie’s Story

  Having the Barbarian’s Baby – Megan’s Story

  Ice Ice Babies - You just read it!

  Want More?

  For more information about upcoming books in the Ice Planet Barbarians, Bear Bites, or any other books by Ruby Dixon, like me on Facebook or subscribe to my new release newsletter.

  Thanks for reading!

  <3 Ruby

  Boring Copyright St
uff

  Copyright © 2016 by Ruby Dixon

  This book is a work of fiction. I know, I know. Imagine that a book about big blue aliens is fiction, but it is. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental and would be pretty darn nifty.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. And stuff.