When it felt as if every last drop had been milked from his rod, he relaxed his taut body against the cushions. Iduna's inner muscles eased, letting him slip from her. His skin there looked red from the heat and the friction. He felt pleasantly abused.
"Collapsing mine shaft," he muttered.
Berego laughed. "And none are better at it than Iduna! You're a hardy miner, lad! I've known full- blooded dwarf warriors who couldn't have outlasted you!"
Iduna brushed back her fall of rich brown hair. "But I suppose you think you could."
"Now, Iduna, you know Kepla wouldn't approve ..." Berego protested weakly, his coal-black eyes hungrily sweeping over her figure.
"Kepla is his wife," the brunette human explained to Rick. "She's not from here, and doesn't mind Berego cavorting with human girls because she doesn't consider them competition."
"Who's in competition?" Rick shrugged, somewhat strengthlessly. He felt like an empty wineskin, drained, limp, and exhausted. "We're all here to honor Dorian, not outdo each other."
"Well-said," Iduna remarked, turning as if by accident to better display herself to Berego.
"And Kepla isn't here," the brunette murmured quietly.
"Ah, Reghar, you made us of strong stuff," Berego said, "but not strong enough to resist such temptation!" He glanced at Rick. "Trade you?"
Rick looked at the brunette, who darted her pink tongue over her full lips. She had lips like Lisann, he thought, and that stirred a variety of emotions in him. "Introduce me first?"
"Relah, this is --" Berego looked to Iduna for help.
"Rick," she supplied.
"This is Rick. Rick, this is Relah, sister of my brother's co-mate."
"Pleased to meet you," he said, and meant it. She was petite, slender, almost elfin in appearance although clearly human. Her black hair was cut short, and was very straight and shiny. Her eyes were large and brown. She was wearing nothing but a skirt tied sarong-like around her slim hips, leaving her small but sweet breasts exposed.
"So, is it a trade?"
"Berego drives a hard bargain," Iduna said slyly.
"It's fine with me, if Relah doesn't mind." Rick gave her his best smile and she immediately disentangled herself from Berego's arm and crawled over to him.
"That's that, then." Berego reached for Iduna. "Let's see if your fire needs stoking! Ah, the coals are still glowing!"
"I'll need a few minutes," Rick apologized as Relah stretched out beside him.
"Take all the time you want. It's a festival. We have the entire night." She kissed him open- mouthed, a flirty kiss that got his blood moving a little less sluggishly. "And watch ... Berego's been wanting Iduna for years. Now that he's finally got his chance, it ought to be something!"
He watched, one hand idly caressing the girl's slim body. She was right, it was something to behold. Berego, playing the hammer to Iduna's anvil, had the rhythm of a blacksmith. Each hard pounding thrust was counterpointed by a second, less-powerful one. Rick could almost hear the clanging of metal, could almost feel the ground shake.
He tore his attention away from the dwarves to search for Natalia, and saw her still with Jesse, although the two of them seemed in a brief lull. Her head was pillowed on his leg, her lips curved in a contented smile, lashes a smudge on her fair cheek as she rested. Jesse's hand lay upon her hair, fingers combing through it. A third man, a handsome stranger with a wiry build and chestnut-colored hair, was curled behind Natalia, his arm draped over her hip.
To his surprise, Rick also saw Taren, his fully-dressed form unmissable in the room of mostly- unclad bodies. He was exchanging friendly kisses with a few girls, keeping their playful hands at bay.
