Smitten

SMITTEN Chapter 4

Coopah's crew finished another rope, just as long as the first. If I tied them together, that would give us around 55 feet to work with. I could start to bring up more of the pig iron weights.

Ghorza got more swimming lessons, but she was still a long way from being able to dive, or to help me salvage items from the sandy bottom. I wasn't sure, at this stage, if she would

ever

be able to dive with me.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the lessons: there were plenty of opportunities to hold her in my arms as I supported her in the water. There was also quite a bit of unnecessary touching - not all of it above the surface.

I wanted to take Ghorza back to the stream, but I was worried about precedence. Ushug had waited longer, and her lingering looks as I came out of the sea, naked, left me in no doubt that she was interested in a rematch.

Shaghar wasn't jealous, or possessive. She knew all of the females I'd been with - and how they might react if they felt slighted.

- "You can say no, Smit, if you are tired. But if you say no to one, and go with another ..."

- "That would be unwise?"

- "Unfair. It could also be dangerous."

I understood that. But Shaghar helped me to realize that

all

of the Red Knees knew virtually everything about my sexual encounters. Who, when ... and even what.

"Ditgurat had you first." she said. That was considered quite correct. Rank has its privileges, and no one had an issue with the chieftain getting the first crack at the newcomer.

"Then Umog." She'd tried to rape me - and failed. Our second encounter was more ... successful. Umog felt entitled, because she'd found me on the beach. Ditgurat had encouraged me to go along, because - as I learned later - Umog was one of her supporters, who needed to be kept happy.

"Whenever you lie with Ditgurat, Umog will expect to be next. She will be angry if you go with anyone else before her."

- "Does Umog want to be chieftain?" I asked.

- "No. She has no support. But she wants ... respect."

- "And what do you want, Shaghar?"

- "For my aunt to rule. For my cousin to succeed her." Then she smiled. "And to bathe with you again."

- "I want those things, too."

- "Mmm ... I was the first that you invited into the stream. That gave me honour. I was third, but also first, because you used your mouth for me. Even Umog cannot argue with that."

- "So, in a way, you're first? Because that's how I see you."

- "Yes." she said, with a soft smile. "But you must not say so in front of others. Not out loud, Smit. Ditgurat first, then Umog, and

then

me."

- "But everyone must know that I prefer you, Shaghar."

- "There is a difference between knowing a thing, and having to hear it, in front of others. Ushug and Ghorza are my friends - there is no reason to make them envious. Ditgurat and Lagakh do not mind, but that does not mean that they want it said to their face. And Umog is ..."

- "Dangerous."

- "Yes. And unpredictable. Never prod the badger. How would you feel if a female told everyone that she preferred another male to you? Or two other males?"

Shaghar had little understanding of human society (at least, how it functioned in Portoa), but I was willing to concede her point.

The lessons she taught me were reinforced the very next day. The rain came down in sheets, mixed with hail. It was uncomfortable to be outside, even under the shelter of the trees. I was quite glad when Ditgurat summoned me to her cave.

Lagakh and Coopah were also there. I didn't know if this was to be a technical discussion, or a family gathering of sorts. It turned out to be both.

We talked about the salvage operation, and the progress of the new cave they were digging out as a site for my forge. Ropes, charcoal production, more assistants for Coopah and me.

It was Lagakh who suggested apprentices. She'd obviously listened when Coopah and I talked, and stored interesting items away for future use.

- "A half-orc may balk at being asked to 'assist'." she said. "But to learn the craft, so that they may one day take over - that is different."

I could only agree with her. I suspected that Ushug and Ghorza considered themselves more my guards than my 'helpers'. I still wasn't sure if they were primarily protecting me from harm, or making sure that I didn't escape.

- "Bula, for me." said Coopah. "She's clever, and good with her hands." It was no surprise that he'd named a female. Despite all of the band's history, male orcs and half-orcs saw themselves primarily (if not exclusively) as warriors. That was the way of their ancestors, and it was good enough for them.

But there simply weren't enough Red Knees to keep raiding for plunder. Also, the world around them had changed: the last three major raiding parties had all disappeared.

Ditgurat would have liked to change their attitudes. The majority of the males would hunt, but gardening, for example, was beneath them. Coopering or woodwork didn't interest them, either. Smithing might have - but they would probably refuse to learn it from a 'shara'.

- "Bula. Agreed." said Ditgurat. "An' for Smit?"

I would have liked to suggest Shaghar, even if her aunt would have immediately vetoed that idea. She would've been right, too: I would get absolutely no work done if Shaghar was there to distract and tempt me.

Ushug had the upper body strength, but I doubted that she had the aptitude. She wasn't particularly quick or clever, nor did she show much curiosity. Umog, too, had the strength, but she would never take direction from me, and I would prefer not to have to spend a moment longer than necessary in her company.

Ghorza wanted to learn how to swim; that might be a sign of interest in learning new things, or it might be that she simply wanted to get physically closer to me. Her physique, though, was the complete opposite of what one usually looked for in a smith. Ghorza would make a great assistant - but not an apprentice or eventual successor.

Then I had a strange idea. It was an image, really - though I would hesitate to call it a vision.

- "Snak." I said.

- "Snak?" said Ditgurat.

- "Is she not ... too small?" said Lagakh.

- "Yes. But she's curious and willing. Did you see her helping with the charcoal mound?"

- "She made mud, Smit."

- "She pitched in and helped." I said. "I wager she learned more than anyone else about the whole process. She'll take instruction from me, and she's not too proud to get her hands dirty. If she grows up too small, she'd still be able to pass on whatever she learns to someone else."

Mother and daughter seemed unconvinced. Coopah kept his mouth shut.

"At the very least, I could teach her to make charcoal."

That did nothing to tip the balance.

I sighed. "It's just ... I had an image - like a picture in my mind. I could 'see' Snak working with me in the forge."

Ditgurat and Lagakh looked at each other, and then back at me.

- "Why did you not say so at once?" said the chieftain.

My little vision was good enough for them. If the Gods wanted to send me messages, far be it from them to interfere or object. Snak would be my apprentice.

- "You may still need a helper - an assistant." said Lagakh. "I will think on it."

With our technical matters covered, Ditgurat turned to family issues.

- "Ogash wants to fuck you."

- "Oh."

What else could I say? What

does

one say when a mother (who is the chieftain) tells you that her daughter wants to have sex with you?

- "Do you want her, Smit?" asked Lagakh. "You

do

have a say in the matter."

I thought of Ogash's large, bright eyes, and big soft body - especially her large ass.

- "No." I said. She was wilful, and spoiled. I didn't like her at first sight, and suspected that she wasn't going to grow on me in the near future. "Wait, though - is this like Umog? Will she try to kill me if I say no?"

Ditgurat shook her head. Lagakh tried to explain.

- "If you turn her down, Ogash will be angry. She may do something mean, or spiteful. If you

do

fuck her, she will want to be the first, to show everyone that you want her most. And if you do not grant her that, then ... she may do something mean or spiteful."

Damned either way. Ogash wasn't stupid, but she was completely self-centred, petty and vengeful. I really didn't need any further complications.

- "There may be another option." said Coopah. "You could ... make her wait."

His daughter and granddaughter both seemed surprised to hear him make this sort of suggestion.

"Tell her that you need time to make a decision. And when she does something spiteful - which she will - you can tell her that you were

going

to have sex with her, but now you've changed your mind. Or that you have to think it over, from the beginning."

Lagakh laughed out loud. "That is perfect! It will drive her mad!"

- "Or teach her a lesson." said Coopah. "That's the real purpose."

- "How d'you know this will work?" asked Ditgurat.

- "Because ... I've done it before." he said.

- "Wit' who?"

Coopah hesitated for a moment. Then he spoke a name. "Dulug."

- "Huh." grunted Ditgurat.

It was only later that I learned that Dulug was her mother.

After that conversation, Ditgurat shooed her father and daughter out of the cave.

- "I wan' a bath." she said, once they were gone.

We walked through the cold rain, down to the stream. I didn't tell her that she could have washed with a bucket of rain water; if the Red Knees believed that a bath in the stream was a necessary prelude to oral sex, then that was all for the better.

There wasn't much play in the water. We washed, and then ran back to her cave, where I helped to dry her off.

For whatever reason, Ditgurat was more relaxed, or more passive, this time. She might have been tired. Or perhaps she trusted me more, now, and saw less need to be on her guard. But she also seemed more willing to let me take the lead.

I stroked her ears, and even gently nibbled on them - it wasn't a major erogenous zone for her. She did like having her neck kissed, though. I lifted and caressed her heavy breasts, and played with her nipples.

She sighed, deeply, when I finally went down on her. Ditgurat lay back, eyes half-closed, and let me do my best for her.

I was most surprised after she came. I had crawled up beside her. I fully expected her to push me onto my back, and climb aboard. Instead, the chieftain spread her legs, and pulled me on top of her.

Had she been talking to Shaghar? Or had Lagakh related what she'd seen?

I used my fingers as well as my cock, and let my lips and tongue roam over her nipples, before deciding that she liked it even better when I kissed and sucked on her neck. It was Ditgurat's turn to be surprised, when I brought her to a second orgasm in this position.

***

Umog had to be next. She was ... the price I had to pay, I suppose.

Well, there was no reason not to make the best of it. I washed her in the stream, and began fingering her. She expected an orgasm that way, and she wasn't coming out of the water until she'd got it.

I wondered if she had any sensitive areas, like Shaghar or Ditgurat. If she did, I could possibly use them to bring her off more quickly. Or, with a little luck, she might see it as a kindness, and maybe - just maybe - tone down her attitude just a little bit. A more mellow Umog would be a major improvement.

With two fingers inside her, I reached up with my free hand to stroke her ear. Her reaction was not at all what I'd expected. With one hand, Umog shoved me - hard. As I struggled to keep my balance, she swung her arm and cuffed me on the side of the head.

I slipped and fell, landing on my back with a tremendous splash.

I sat in the water, somewhat stunned - Umog hadn't pulled her punch at all. My ear was ringing.

With a grunt, I got to my feet, and climbed out of the stream.

- "Where you go?" she demanded.

- "We're done." I said. I collected my clothing, and began to walk away.

- "I'm not finished!"

- "

I

am. You can finish without me." I continued walking.

Of course she couldn't leave it there. Umog came out the stream, gathered her clothes and weapons, and followed me.

I'd taken to sleeping in the half-finished cave where the forge would be set up. It was dry, out of the rain, and semi-private. Umog followed me inside.

- "You mus' finish." she said.

- "No, I don't."

- "I make you finish."

- "You tried that once before. Remember? You can beat me up, but you can't force me to have sex with you."

- "Why you do this?"

There was something odd in her voice. She was frustrated, and angry ... but also confused. I wondered if this was one of those moments old Coopah had been talking about? Was it an opportunity to teach Umog a lesson? Or would I simply infuriate her until she broke my ribs and knocked me out again?

Was it worth the risk?

Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

- "Why did you hit me?"

- "Why you touch my ear?" she snapped back.

- "Because I thought that you might like it."

- "

What?"

- "One female I've been with likes to have her ears caressed, and licked. Another enjoys having her neck and throat kissed." There was no way that I was going to use Shaghar's and Ditgurat's names. "I was trying to discover what

you

like, so that I could do it for you."

Now Umog was even more confused.

- "

Why?"

- "I was trying to please you." I said. "Humans often try to make their partner feel good."

It was too much for Umog to process. She knew that I didn't like her; why would I want to please her? Yet she couldn't think of another reason why I would want to touch her ear.

On top of that, she was still monstrously horny. It's not only males who can't think straight when their sap is rising.

- "Come back - to the stream." she said, a little huskily.

- "You're clean enough." I said. "We can finish you here."

I stepped in front of her, and took hold of her hips. Then I dipped my head, to kiss and lick her nipple. Finally, I dropped to my knees.

I trailed kisses across her lower stomach, even as I spread her labia with my fingers. Umog leaned back against the cave wall, as I lowered my head to her pussy.

There was no need to be gentle, or patient - Umog didn't really understand or appreciate gentle anyway. She'd certainly never been eaten while standing up before; the sheer novelty of the situation had to be working for her. I pressed that advantage, and plundered her pussy with fingers and tongue, and little bites.

She couldn't help grasping at my hair, but at least she didn't try to pull it out of my scalp. Now we're getting somewhere, I thought. I redoubled my efforts.

Umog sagged against the wall as she came, her thighs trembling on either side of my face. I grabbed a handful of her muscular ass, to steady her so that she wouldn't fall.

She surprised me, then. Umog helped me rise to my feet, and then turned around. She bent over slightly, bracing herself against the wall, and presented her backside to me.

This was

not

something I'd ever expected to see - but I didn't hesitate. I positioned my erection between and under her taut ass cheeks, and slid it along her wet nether lips.

Umog had no patience, either: she reached down, and tucked the head of my cock inside herself. With that invitation, I pushed until I was fully embedded. Then I withdrew almost all of the way, before sliding my full length back into her humid channel.

That was enough patience on my part. Umog was wet, and she was ready. I began to fuck her from behind, in a series of deep lunges. After a dozen of those, I began to hammer her with shorter, faster thrusts, pounding her muscular ass with my pelvis. I would probably be sporting bruises after tonight, but it was entirely worth it.

I wasn't totally out of control, though; it was important that Umog enjoy this experience. Again, I was certain that it was something new for her - all the more reason to have her remember it fondly. I reached around to rub her clit as I slammed into her, over and over again.

It was a close-run thing, but Umog grunted and came again, just moments before I let loose a torrent of semen, flooding her insides.

She slept in my cave, that night, close by me.

***

Shaghar was a treat, my reward for having survived another encounter with Umog. Everything with her was so easy, so enjoyable. She'd chewed on wild mint, so that I would kiss her, and invade her mouth with my tongue (and allow her to do the same to me).

She let me explore every inch of her body, searching for more sensitive zones. She was also delighted when I introduced to a new position, or a new experience. I went down on her while sitting flat on my ass between her legs. I caressed her ears as she sucked my cock.

In between orgasms, we lay close together, talking softly and gently touching. I couldn't get enough of her beautiful face and her exceptional eyes. Shaghar liked to stroke my cheek and prod the corners of my mouth until I smiled.

I was more than smitten with her. I'd never experienced this before. I completely understood monogamy - I know ... easy to say when you're having sex with six partners. But I really only wanted Shaghar (though I might have pined a bit for Ghorza).

I wanted to have sex with her all of the time, and I liked being with her when we weren't having sex.

Ushug was fun. Uncomplicated. She was willing to let me lead, trusting that the eventual destination would be to her liking.

I never quite got used to the size of her powerful thighs, her waist, and her enormous breasts. She was big; I

knew

that. Then we would be naked together, in the stream, and I would be surprised all over again.

Ghorza was more of a mystery. I was fond of her, but I found it difficult to explain why. We had few conversations; she simply didn't speak all that often. She wasn't exactly pretty, though I would have said that I liked her looks - especially her face, and her incredible body.

I was easily and instantly aroused when I was with Ghorza, and always seemed to find the energy to fuck her a second time.

My encounters with Lagakh were something to look forward, as well. She didn't change her mind; she wouldn't go beyond oral sex, for fear of pregnancy. But the chieftain's daughter always included her cousin in our trysts.

After bringing Lagakh to orgasm with my fingers and tongue, I could do the same for Shaghar. Most often, Lagakh would simply watch us, but sometimes she would find a way to participate, with her hands, or - on one memorable occasion, with her breasts.

Once I'd been with all six of them, I was free to do as I liked - which was to spend more time alone with Shaghar. She would insist that I rest, from time to time, because Ditgurat would be calling on me again, to start the whole cycle over again.

Ditgurat took to asking for me every 10th or 11th day.

That was the rhythm of my nights. During the day, I continued to go to the beach, building up a stockpile of iron ingots and pig iron. But I also made charcoal almost every second day, so that when I was ready, I could work in the forge without interruption.

Coopah also claimed some of my time. He did the lion's share of work in building a functional bellows for me, and had some excellent suggestions for how to contain the fire in the forge.

He also helped me build a bloomery, a chimney-like furnace made of heat-resistant clay and earth, with a core of stones. A pipe at the bottom would let us force air inside with the bellows. This would allow me to smelt the iron, to produce wrought iron and even steel.

Snak was happy to help with the clay and earth. She also ran about locating suitable stones. Once the bloomery was built, Ushug took over the bellows. She had the strength and the stamina. Slagip and Ghorza would spell her, from time to time, but Ushug was quite proud of her ability to work the bellows for long periods of time.