The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 37

A.N.
To anyone that's read this: I hope you enjoyed it.
Avatar and anything associated is not mine. Only the OCs.

It’s the day before he departs for Awa’atlu and he finds his beloved in their secret place around twilight. “I thought I’d find you here.” He sits down next to her on the bank of the plunge pool, sticking his feet in the cool water. He circles an arm around her shoulders when she leans into his side, entwining his tail with hers.

He sees the small content smile that lifts her plump lips and his heart quivers with a bittersweet happiness. He buries his nose in her hair drinking in the floral scents of her favorite oil. She reciprocates with a neck kiss.

“I’m going to miss you desperately,” she states.

“Same yawne.”

A beat of silent sadness passes but she breaks it. She lifts her head to look at him. “But it's only three weeks.”

“Yeah,” he nods, “it’ll pass before we know it.”  The smile she gives is heartwarming.

“And we’ll be together again.” She reassures.

He nods trying to be strong when really all he wants to do is scream. But that won't fix anything only serve to make her even more distraught. “Right.”

They share a kiss that quickly increases in passion.

He lays on their mat, his mate semi atop him their kuru still connected. “You know,” she starts, “Ha’ew says he talked to a traveler once.”

He hums lazily, body still buzzing from lovemaking. He rubs circular patterns near the small of her back.

“And the traveler said that the Metkayina women are very beautiful.”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Maybe so but I’m sure none of them will compare to you my seze.”

She straddles him, leaning down until her naked body is flush against his.  “Good answer.” She smirks.

He grins. “I know.” 

She levels him with a seductive look, desire spiking through their tsaheylu. She joins their mouth and he smiles into the kiss at the groan that leaves her when his hands drop beneath her waistline. He draws away grinning up at her. “People are going to hear my seze.” 

She tuts at him playfully. “You're one to talk.” He squints, the memory rising in clarity. He only hums in response before placing a large hand on her cheek. He pulls her in for another kiss smoothly switching their positions.

The morning of his father’s “death” he wakes early. He turns over to face his beloved, smiling softly at her. His heart, despite the situation, beats embers into his core as he watches her sleep. Eywa she is so beautiful. He reaches out, placing a hand on her cheek. Eywa how he was going to miss this woman. They hadn't been parted for more than hours since their mating and now he would have to go weeks without her warmth, her smile, her everything. Living without her for these few weeks was going to be so hard.

He draws her into his arms, drinking in her wonderful scent.  “I'm going to miss you too,” she says voice groggy and muffled.  He looks down, falling into the amber eyes gazing up at him.

He strokes her dark auburn braids gently before pressing a deep kiss to her mouth. They lay that way for some time, languishing in each other's arms.

Later he stands making sure he has everything thing he's supposed to have packed when his mate hugs him from behind, laying her head on his shoulder. “I have something for you.” She walks to one of their baskets and returns holding a sleeping cloak. It’s a deep red color and woven with intricate complimentary patterns of orange and yellow shades.