Isha was amused at all the new attention she received as wife of the prince. It was sweet revenge for all the humiliation she had suffered when her cubs were born. Still she turned away the respectful titles thrust on her, insisting with a disarming laugh that she was not a “Mistress Isha” or a “My Lady.” With a casual nod, she would say, “I’m just plain old Isha.”
Her husband smiled. “Plain old Isha, eh?”
She padded over and flopped down next to him. “And what’s wrong with plain old Isha?”
“Oh, nothing! It fits you, actually...” He rolled over and absorbed himself in watching the stars overhead, hiding a sly smile behind a paw.
She shoved him in the ribs. “It fits me?”
He nodded. “Dependable, predictable.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Is that a challenge, big boy?”
He chuckled. “So is that the constellation of N’ga and Sufa, or Mano and Minshasa?”
Isha rolled over and put her paws on his chest, pinning him to the ground. “Who cares! Are you going to just watch the stars or soar to them?" She rubbed her face against his and kissed him.
"Isha!" he stammered. He pawed her face, running his pads softly over her mouth. She parted her lips and softly mouthed his paw, then lay her face against his chest, listening to his pounding heart, nuzzling his mane and drinking in his masculine fragrance.
Mabatu wrapped his arms about her and grunted with pleasure. "I forgot how good you felt next to me. I’ve missed you so much--every day, every minute, every second. On the long lonely nights I would dream about the soft curves of your beautiful golden body....” He looked at her apprehensively. “Nip me--am I asleep?”
She opened her jaws and gently embraced his throat, drawing her soft pink tongue along his throbbing pulse. Kneading his chest and face with her gentle paws, she purred, “There. Are you awake now, honey tree?”
“What a nip!" he said, trembling. "I want you, Isha! I've waited for you so long! So VERY long! I want to make love to you!”
Her purring took on a deeper rumble. She rose and with sensual grace slinked alluringly into the tall grass, glancing backward over her shapely shoulder. "Follow me."