The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 224: Let’s do it

"I hope you can feel the cubs move and how happy I am right now... As a mother to be,"

I went silent, watching the fire cackle silently, how the wood turned into a pretty dangerous ember and fell onto the pile of ash underneath.

We’d need to change the pile of ash soon so the fire can burn hotter.

Since the day Damar went into hibernation—I don’t know how many days it’s been, but it’s been long, I know that thanks to how big my belly has gotten—we never let the fire go out.

I watched Fenric’s back, how his muscles ripped and contorted together thickly as he hacked at the log, sweat rolling down his back.

I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes.

We’ve had sex a couple of times. Sometimes I initiate it and other times, either of the two would initiate it.

I remembered how awkward they felt about it just the night after Damar entered hibernation.

I was just starting to drift off, my mind fuzzy with a little panic as to what I was going to do if I ended up going into labor without a foolproof plan, when I felt a hand.

It was large and hot, sliding tentatively under the blanket to rest against my hip. I didn’t need to open my eyes to know it was Fenric. His palm felt like a brand against my skin, and I could hear his heartbeat speed up.

But then, the weight of the blanket shifted to my other side.

Another hand reached out, searching for my waist in the dark, only to bump directly into Fenric’s knuckles.

A low, sharp grumble vibrated through the air.

"Ugh, what are you doing?" Noah’s voice was a jagged whisper.

"I should be asking you that," Fenric hissed back. I felt his grip on my hip tighten, pulling me just a fraction closer to him. "What are you doing?"

I closed my eyes, wanting to pretend I was asleep, but I knew if I pretended too long, they would break out into an intense struggle.

I opened my eyes and found them having a silent, intense staring competition right over my stomach. In the dim glow of the embers, they looked like two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar—except the cookies were... well, me.

I let out a small, tired huff of a laugh and rolled onto my back, looking up at the ceiling of the cave.

"You know," I whispered, my voice lingering with a bit of mischief and they flinched. "If you guys are aroused, you could just say so. You don’t have to play tug-of-war with my waist."

Their eyes landed on me and they began to act like that wasn’t their intention.

I sat up and looked at them.

"What’s causing you to hesitate?" I asked, but before I even hit a response, my eyes landed on Damar’s frame and I felt a pang of guilt.

Did they feel like doing this while Damar was hibernating would feel like we were having fun without him?

I threw my face aside. There was nothing to be done about it.

I couldn’t dwell on that. It’s not like he’s dead, we’re not mourning and our bodies have needs too.

The best we can do is try to keep our voice down a bit so it doesn’t seem we’re rubbing it on his face.

"Let’s do it," I said, looking intently at them.

The silence that followed was heavy. Fenric looked away, his face turning a shade of red that was visible even in the dark, while Noah just rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncharacteristically sheepish.

"What? You don’t want to?"

I was sure they were horny, that’s why... I looked down at their waist levels and scoffed at the confirmation.

"Are you holding back because of Damar?" I asked but Fenric shook his head.

"It’s just..." Fenric started, his voice turning low. "Your body is so warm."

And was there a problem with that?

"And it’s so cold," Noah added, a slow, wicked grin finally breaking through his embarrassment. "We’re just trying to keep ourselves from getting too greedy for your warmth,"

Ah, so that’s it.

They were worried about being too rough with me. That was the simplest way to put their worries.

I reached out, taking both of their hands and resting them right on the curve of my belly.

"Well, I understand but I don’t believe you’ll be too rough with me. It is freezing," I murmured, feeling the heat of their palms seeping into me. "There’s nothing like a little action to get the chill out of the bones. So stop glaring at each other and help me get warm."

The hesitation vanished instantly. Fenric leaned over, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered something I couldn’t quite catch but definitely felt, while Noah shifted closer, his hand sliding up to cup my cheek.

That was the first hot night we had, and it sure knew how to burn up the cold in our blood.

After that, we did it a few times, but since my belly grew this big, we haven’t had that much action, but we did kiss a lot, like the warmth of my lips was what they needed to start the day with.

We talked a lot too. I don’t remember what we talked about, but we did, and spent our nights looking at the glow of the fire through the ceiling of the cave.

I closed my eyes again.

"I tried the soup again," I continued with a small, wry smile, looking at my hand over my belly.

My breasts felt tender and swollen, and the skin of my belly was shinny... I think I might end up with stretch marks if I’m not careful. But I shouldn’t worry too much since Damar has a way with herbs.

"It’s still just salty meat water. I’d give anything for a piece of fruit that isn’t dried into a rock, or maybe a bit of spice, maybe onion and pepper. But don’t worry, the cubs are eating it like it’s a feast." I stroked my belly. "I’m craving bread too, but I can’t talk about it since we don’t know how to get it or even make it. We’re in the middle of nowhere," I huffed, my eyes growing heavy. "I’d also like to soak in a hot bath since I feel so heavy but I can’t dream of it. I want so many things that this world can’t provide for me with ease." My eyes drifted and I whispered even more solemnly. "Sometimes, I miss my old world, not my life but the advanced world itself."

The heat of the fire and the steady thwack of Fenric’s hatchet acted like a lullaby, luring me to sleep. I leaned my head against the cool, smooth surface of my husband’s scales, my own blanket slipping slightly as I drifted off.

The winter was long... When would the long winter be over?

I didn’t even feel the moment I was lifted.

I only felt the transition from the hard floor to the soft, deep nest of furs, and the familiar, cedar-scented warmth of Fenric’s chest as he tucked me in.

"She’s out," Noah whispered, his voice coming from somewhere near my feet as he adjusted the blankets.

"Let her sleep," Fenric murmured, his heartbeat a steady drum against my ear. "She’s been talking to him for quite a while. She looks like she doesn’t tire but she’s in a very vulnerable state where she can’t lift her body as she wants anymore."

"Her belly is so much bigger now," Noah said, looking at my belly. "She should be due in a few weeks."

Fenric narrowed his eyes as the thought of my delivery date drawing near scared him.

"What do we do if it comes while we’re here?" Fenric asked and then Noah turned his head.

"I’ll take care of that."

Whatever he meant, he was probably serious about it.