It feels like she is about to pull the hair out by the roots, but I don’t complain. This is not easy on her.
“I have to tell you that saying to grip him harder with my legs isn’t really helping me much,” she continues. “Do you really have any idea how much that shit hurts after less than ten minutes? And don’t get me started about my abused abs. I’m already hurting in places I never imagined hurting. No one said riding was going to hurt, I might remind you,” she retorts, giving the goblin a particularly dirty look.
“That’s why you want to tighten your core muscles and keep your legs tight around him,” Grimsal explains again.
“That’s what I’m trying to say. I am, and it’s just not working. I don’t get what I’m doing wrong,” she groans.
Perhaps we should stop for today, I suggest to her gently. You did well.
Her amused snort that follows is unexpected, as is the hand that gently rubs my neck in a fond manner. “You really are a big softy. You’d just let me quit now, even though of the last hour we’ve only actually walked twenty of those minutes, and that’s after a near disaster when I attempted to mount you without help.”
We found you a log. It is not your fault that you are not very tall, I remind her, not wishing my mate to speak unkindly about herself.
Her smile widens, and the chuckle that falls from her lips makes my tail flag with happiness even as my chest swells proudly at being able to make my female laugh. I want more of those sounds from my mate, even if it seems to disgust our goblin companion. His eyes narrow on me suspiciously.
“I may not be able to hear you, but I know what you are doing,” he grumbles as he points at me accusingly. “If you spoil her and continue to cater to her like you have been, what happens if there’s an emergency and we need to escape quickly? She needs to learn how to ride without being coddled.”
In answer, I put my head down and mime goring with my horn that sets off another peal of laughter from Steph, this one hard enough that it makes her breasts jiggle in a delightful way. Her fingers stroke through my mane, and her body vibrates with amusement even as she shakes her head at me.
“As sweet as that is, I think me learning to ride is probably better than you skewering everyone who comes near us. It’s messy and dangerous—and just no. I like the idea of being able to escape quickly. That’s a far better idea to go with.” She sighs and frowns down at the ground. “Really, I’m mostly complaining for stress relief. It makes me feel better just to get it off my chest how much I hate all of this… but I’m not ready to give up. Okay?”
I give her a skeptical look but toss my head in the affirmative.
Okay. A little longer. But you will tell me when you are too tired and sore to go on further.
“I’ll let you know when I’m absolutely at my limit,” she agrees.
“I know you’re afraid. Just don’t stiffen up,” Grimsal advises. “That will jostle you more and make you more afraid and sore.”
Steph takes a deep breath and nods as she tightens her hands painfully in my mane.
“Okay. Just gotta relax, hold on, and move with Eliph.”
“I can ride double with you again if you…”
“No!” she barks out. “It’s fine. That is something I don’t want to get into the habit of. No offense, but I would really rather not have you or anyone else squished up behind me. I’ll get this. I swear I will.” The last she mutters softly to herself as she swallows thickly.
I worry, but I do not contradict her. If she is certain then I will not press, although I think that Grimsal’s insistence is too hard on her. It is something I will have to have words with him about later.
His reproachful look, however, reminds me just how limited my time is. One way or another, I need to have her at the Heart of Wells before the end of three lunar cycles. Even if she accepts me, it will do me little good in the middle of nowhere when our mating bonds must be formalized by Beforal. As much as I want to give my mate all the time she needs to