by Aline Ash
My eyes widen in horror as I see Marissa stumble backward and go down hard. Without hesitation, I race toward her and watch as Vu’ka circles the rock quickly. I cry out, knowing I will never get there in time. That I will have to watch as the Gargolian tears her apart.
But as Vu’ka comes around to where Marissa is, I realize it had been a feint. Marissa moves with the swift litheness of a Tabiean, for the moment the Gargolian rounds the boulder, Marissa rises up, the points of the chyto shooting outward and piercing Vu’ka in the chest. Marissa lets out a cry as she drives the point of the chyto further into the Garolian’s body.
She pushes with such ferocity, the points of the chyto burst through Vu’ka’s backside. I watch, fascinated, as a bubble, thick and dark, falls out of her mouth as her body goes limp. The shukya falls from her hand and clatters to the dirt. A moment later, Vu’ka falls backward and lands hard on her back, the chyto standing straight out of her chest as if had simply grown out of her.
The crowd falls silent, disbelief washing over everybody. No one would have ever believed Marissa would survive, let alone win this fight. Myself included, I am ashamed to admit. But as I see her there, standing over the body of one of Gerra’s most lethal prisoners, I can’t help but feel a flush of pride that she had done it. She’d actually beaten Vu’ka without much help from me.
The bell chimes loudly, and a moment later, Administrator X’yr speaks. “Congratulations to the Beast and the human for winning round one of this battle,” he declares, though it’s hard to miss the disdain and disbelief in his voice.
I wince, feeling the sting of at least a dozen slices in my flesh. There are no serious wounds, but the Gargolian had taken his pound of flesh from me. T’myr had been a great fighter and a worthy adversary. All I want to do is go back to my cell to wash, eat, and sleep.
“Now, it is time for round two,” X’yr announces mercilessly. “And our viewers wish to see the human engage with the Beast. The winner will receive fifty thousand astrat, to be used as you see fit.”
I stare at the Administration booth, where I know X’yr is hiding behind the dark glass, feeling all of the disbelief the crowd had as they watched Marissa kill Vu’ka. I cut a glance at the board and see it reset to show both me and Marissa, slated to battle to the death at the whim of the viewers.
I turn my gaze to Marissa and find her looking back up at me, eyes wide, tears making them shimmer. She knows as well as I do that she would not survive the engagement.
I sigh and run a hand over the back of my head. I know I should do as the audience commands. It is not as if I can leave, or do nothing. They’ll execute me for disobedience, and someone else would take Marissa’s life anyway. One way or another, they will have the blood their people demand. Without me being here to protect her, it won’t be done fast and without suffering, I know this much. I cannot continue risking the safety of my tribe for her as well. As much affection as I may feel for her, I simply cannot.
Would the more merciful thing be to end her suffering before it even begins? Might it not be a kindness to put an end to her, somebody who has shown her affection, then leave her to the Gargolians?
As I stare into her eyes, though, my good sense and better reasons flee. The mere thought of killing her leaves me feeling hollowed out and empty. I know killing this female is not something I can ever forgive myself for.
“I need you to trust me,” I say softly. “Can you do that?”
She nods.
“Good. There may be a way out of this yet.”
I step forward and motion for one of the hover-cams to lower an audio device. It complies after production gives it the go ahead.
“Is this really what you wish?” I demand. “To see me slaughter the human?”
The crowd roars, and as the board flashes, I see an uptick in my astrat. The viewers would love to see me kill Marissa. Cold, cruel guntas.
“It is a fight that would be over in a matter of moments,” I intone. “Where is the satisfaction in that? I propose something that will be a far more interesting spectacle for you to see.”
I look around, and the crowd is going crazy. They want to see blood, because that’s what they always want. But I notice that my astrat have stopped going upward. The viewers are at least interested in my proposal. And ultimately, this is what Gerr’a exists for, the entertainment of the viewers.
“I wish to put on a show for you,” I press. “I will allow you to watch as I tame my pet. As I claim her and make her mine. I guarantee it is not something any of you watching has ever seen before.”
The crowd continues to call for blood, and for a moment, my astrat on the board don’t move. But then they begin flooding in, the amount rising faster than I can keep up with. Apparently, they do want a show, just not the show they were expecting.
“Very well,” X’yr’s voice echoes around the arena. “The viewers overwhelmingly wish to see your proposed spectacle. I suggest you make it a good show.”
The bell sounds, and I take Marissa by the hand possessively, leading her out of the arena so we can clean ourselves and prepare.
“You must trust me,” I tell her as we pass through the door and head for the showers. “You must obey me.”
She opens her mouth to reply but hesitates. I can see the fear on her face, but there is something else. Something I cannot identify. But I need her to listen and obey me, and I don’t have long to convince her.
“If you do not obey me and the viewers are not pleased with the show we are about to put on, they will call for us to fight to the death again,” I urge her. “It is necessary for you to obey if you want to survive.”
She thinks about it for a moment then gives me a slow nod. “Okay, Kon” she says quietly. “I trust you.”
Chapter Eleven
Marissa
After leaving the arena, we are escorted to a large chamber where we are permitted to shower before our next “performance.” The water flows down from a fixture in the ceiling, looking more like a waterfall than a shower, and steam billows around, thick and moist.
“I’m tired,” I complain. “And my body hurts.”
Kon looks at me. If he’s tired or hurting, he doesn’t show it. I can see crimson blood flowing from several shallow cuts, but he bears it with his usual stoicism. He reaches out and takes hold of my tunic. Too tired to argue, I simply raise my hands and let him take it off of me. He tosses it to the side and then takes his breeches off, throwing them atop mine.
My cheeks flush with heat, and I move my hands to cover myself. I’m still pretty self-conscious about my body. Kon though, does not suffer from a case of modesty and stands there in all his glory without a trace of shame or embarrassment in his eyes.
Involuntarily, my eyes roam all of the hard angles and planes of his body. He is massive, his taut, corded muscles seem somehow softened by the soft velvety fur that covers him. And as my eyes wander lower, I feel them bulging in surprise as I see his cock for the first time. It is longer and thicker than anything I could ever imagine. It’s lined with ridges that circle the shaft, and I feel the warmth inside of me grow as I think about how those ridges will feel sliding along my inner walls. If I had to describe Kon’s cock in one word, it would be intimidating.
“Come,” he says.
I let him guide me into the shower chamber. The warm, humid air seeps into my muscles, and I can feel them begin to loosen slightly. Kon walks me over and lets me stand beneath the falling water. I let it rain down on me, sluicing away the dirt, sweat, and blood that covers me.
The splash of the falling water echoes around the rock walls of the cavern. It’s a pleasant sound as I stand beneath it and let the warm water soothe my many aches and pains. Tipping my head back, I run my hands through my hair and feel the first semblance of normalcy I’ve felt in what feels like forever. After everything I’ve gone through since being taken, this shower feels absolutely luxurious.
“You did well in the arena.”
Kon’s voic
e is deep and gruff as it cuts into my thoughts. He emerges from a thick cloud of steam, looking down at me with a small smile on his lips. The water glistens on his dark purple skin, clinging to his muscles, and my breath catches in my throat as I admire his hard, toned body. Realizing that I’m leering at him, I turn my face away, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“I had a little help out there,” I admit. “If not for you, I think she would have split me open.”
“Nonsense. You held your own against her, and very few can say that,” he replies. “But the show is not over.”
“I know,” I say quietly.
Ever since he said he wanted to tame me for the amusement of the masses, my head has been spinning. I don’t know what he means by that, and there is part of me that’s afraid. But as I think back to the public spanking he gave me, I would be lying if I said there wasn’t some small piece of me that’s excited by the prospect of it.
“You will need to trust me, Marissa,” he says.
“I do trust you.”
“Good. Then we may get through this yet.”
I look up at him and wish I could channel a fraction of the confidence I see in his face. Kon looms over me, his body warm and hard as he presses me against the wall, pinning me between his strong body and the rough hewn stone. The craggy rock bites into my skin, and I draw in a sharp breath. His eyes linger on my body, and he licks his lips, desire flashing across his face.
But instead of kissing me as I thought he would do, he raises a cloth that’s coated in a thick, foaming gel that’s canary yellow. I inhale the scent, and it reminds me of something citrusy. Never taking his eyes off of me, Kon begins to scrub my body. He runs the cloth down my arms softly and yet firmly. It still surprises me that for being so large, his touch can be so gentle.
He runs the cloth over my shoulders and down my chest, washing my skin with care. Biting my bottom lip, I look down and see his cock. I watch as it swings between his legs, so thick and long, and imagine myself taking it into my hands, wondering what it would feel like to have him fully sheathed in me.
Kon reaches out and runs his hands through my hair. The smoldering look of desire in his eyes makes me flush, and I feel the warmth building up within me. I’ve never had a man look at me the way he does, and although I know I shouldn’t, I can’t stop myself from growing hot and wet.
After he washes my legs and feet, the fire burning between my thighs is unbearable. And as he gently turns me around and starts to wash my back, I become aware of his cock, now rigid, pressing against my ass. He doesn’t try to hide it, and when I turn my head to look at him, I see no shame in his eyes. All I see is that look of pure desire crossing his features.
I hear the cloth drop to the floor, and then I feel his large, powerful, yet strangely gentle hands on my body. He slides them up my belly, and when his fingers brush my stiff nipples, I shudder. Kon takes my nipple between his thumb and forefinger and gives it a firm squeeze. A low moan passes my lips, and I close my eyes, leaning my head against the stone wall in front of me as I revel in how that slight pinch of pain makes the rush of pleasure coursing through me all the more vibrant.
He pinches me again and cups my other breast with his hand, kneading it gently at first. The feel of his hands on me sends a bright white burst of electricity straight through me that centers in my pussy. Kon slides his hands lower, trailing his fingers down my stomach leaving furrows of fire in their wake.
Having his hands on my body makes me shudder. It makes me crave him. And it makes me bolder than I ever thought I could be. Reaching behind me, I grab hold of his stiff cock, somewhat surprised that my hand can’t fully reach around its girth. My whole body vibrates with desire as I stroke my hand up and down his enormous shaft, from base to head and then back again. The raised ridges that encircle his staff tickle my palm.
Kon groans softly as I jerk his cock, a deep rumble that starts in his chest and reverberates through my entire body deliciously. I let go momentarily as I turn around then take him into my hand once more, squeezing him as tight as I can. As I stroke him, he grows even harder in my fist, and I see a soft blue nimbus around him that makes him look almost ethereal.
“You’re glowing,” I whisper.
“All Tabiaens do when we are aroused.”
I smile at the confirmation of my earlier thought as I continue stroking him with one hand. I trace the ridges on his cock with the fingertips of my other hand, drawing a soft, almost purring sound from his throat. Kon pushes me back against the stone wall, warm from the shower’s heat. He presses himself close to me, the length of his rigid stalk pressing hard into my body. I bite my bottom lip and whimper, my body awash in electric sensations, and I am dripping wet. I’ve never wanted to feel a man inside me more.
Kon slides his hands down my body, stopping for a moment to squeeze my nipple and caress my breast with one hand while the other roves further. His eyes never leave mine as he leans closer to my other breast, his tongue flicks across my nipple. I shudder at the feel of his tongue. It’s hot and coarse. Rough. Almost like a cat’s tongue. As he swirls it around my nipple, it sets my every single nerve on fire. While squeezing one breast and slowly licking the other, Kon slips his hand between my thighs. As his soft as velvet finger slides along the wet, swollen lips of my pussy, I press my head back against the wall and feel the smile cross my face automatically. He parts my folds with his fingertips, and when he pushes it deep into my molten core, I cry out.
My voice echoes around the stone chamber as he pumps his finger into me, and a choked scream passes my lips when he slides a second one in, filling me up completely. His fingers are thick, and he stretches me open as he fingers me firmly and yet somehow gently at the same time. As he drives his fingers into me, his gaze is fixed on mine. He stares at me carefully, as if studying me. Watching my reactions closely.
I groan loudly as he pushes his fingers deeper into me, a pinch of pain somehow magnifying the pleasure. I grow even wetter as his fingers reach deep into me, and I feel my climax building. My pulse races and my breath quickens as Kon continues to drive his fingers into me, harder and faster.
I grip his biceps, digging my nails into his skin as he continues to pound his fingers deep into my pussy. Threads of pleasure course through me, lighting me up in ways that are entirely new to me. Ways I never knew I could be lit up inside. He keeps thrusting his fingers deep into my slit, and he is quickly bringing me to the precipice of pleasure.
I’m just about there, just about to topple over the edge of ecstasy, when Kon abruptly withdraws his fingers. I gasp as I feel my body swiftly withdrawing from that brink and my feelings of frustration rise. I need to come. I need that physical release. I watch as Kon puts his fingers into his mouth, tasting me, and I feel the insides of my thighs growing even slicker.
Kon falls to his knees before me, a curious yet intense fire burning in his otherwise cold blue eyes. He puts my leg up on his shoulder then runs his hands up my thighs and squeezes my ass, seeming to enjoy the softness of it. He gives me a light slap, making me jump and moan, and I hear the sound of his soft laughter. He sets his finger down my spine, to the cleft of my ass, and moves lower still.
I gasp, and my eyes grow wide, as he drives his finger into my ass. He stretches me open, and I cry out. The pain is intense, and yet it too sends a rush of pleasure surging through me that’s new and strange to me.
At the same time, he leans forward and slides his rough tongue along the slick lips of my pussy. As he laps at my lips and then my clit, it sends sparks of sensation flowing through me that have me panting wildly. Kon gently nips my clit, and I reach down and dig my nails into his shoulders.
His breath is warm and moist against my opening, and as he slides his tongue into me, the scream that bursts from my throat drowns out the sound of the falling water. My body is alight with sensation, almost too much, as he pumps his finger into my ass and fucks me roughly with his tongue.
Frenzied pleasure rocks my enti
re body and I tremble wildly. Kon’s tongue and finger continue to create those white-hot sensations, and another wave of intense sensation flows through my core. It feels so incredible and makes me feel sensual. It makes me feel like someone else—powerful and yet weak at the same time.
There are a million reasons I should stop this, but I don’t want to. After what we have been through in the arena today, after him showing mercy when he was punishing me yesterday, after him treating my wounds so gently afterward, I feel that I can trust Kon. He makes me feel safe and protected, and I know deep in my bones that he would never hurt me.
“Oh God!” I scream out as he thrusts his finger even deeper into my ass at the same time he plunges his tongue into me. “Yes, please. More.”
A low growl rumbles out of his throat that vibrates my pussy, driving me to the brink of ecstasy. He keeps licking and lapping at my pussy, gently nipping my clit as he fingers my ass with fervor. I never thought I would enjoy this. And yet there is something about Kon that makes me want to do things I once thought unthinkable. My almost primal attraction to him, as crazy as it may be, makes me want to push my own boundaries.
With one final nip of my clit that coincides with a hard thrust of his finger, I explode. My entire body shudders wildly, and I grip the back of his head, pulling him deeper between my legs. I grind myself down on his face, covering him with my juices as moans, long and lusty, are ripped from my throat.
As my orgasm subsides, Kon gets to his feet, his eyes alight, licking his lips as if he’s just savored the most delicious nectar ever created. He steps forward and leans closer to me. He inhales deeply, and I hear a small, satisfied sigh escape his lips as he leans close to my ear.
“Your arousal is delicious,” he says huskily.
His breath is warm, and his words ring in my ear and vibrate along my skin. His thick cock presses against my belly.