Taming Ryock

by Sara Page

  Nodding towards our path back to the ship, I say, “Lead the way, my fierce fish-clubber. We still have plenty of daylight left to come back for a good cleaning.”

  Nodding her head, Isla grabs the line for the fish and holds it away from her body as she begins to walk in front of me. Her delicious ass sways to and fro as she walks with her one arm outstretched.

  Looking over her shoulder, she grins at me. “You really do enjoy walking behind me, don’t you?”

  “Of course. It’s good to look at what’s mine and dream of impregnating you.”

  Her stumble as she stops to turn her head in shock is worth the growl she gives. “Who said you own me? Maybe I own you.

  “But of course, my dear one. I already know what’s in your heart.”

  She blushes deeply before turning back to the path and walking on towards our skiff.

  We’ve decided to call the skiff home for now as it will provide us with relative safety from the elements and predators for the time being.

  It’s interesting, though, that she didn’t happen to mention anything about me impregnating her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Isla

  “That was delicious,” I moan as I lean back against my pack with a hand on my full tummy.

  Ryock used this heating pad thing that was in our survival gear to cook the fish he caught. I’m not usually a fan of fish, but real food, fresh food at that, is a welcome change over all that tasteless mush we had to exist on in the Crima’s lab.

  With sunlight on my skin and fresh air in my lungs, I start to slip into a food coma.

  “Come,” Ryock says, and with my eyes still closed I sense him standing. His shadow looming over me.

  Peeking one eye open, I whine, “Do I have to?”

  Reaching down, Ryock grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. “Yes, little one. We should bathe while we still have sunlight.”

  I sigh and nod my head, seeing the wisdom of it. We have food, water, and shelter. Now all that is left is to bathe ourselves so we don’t stink up the ship tonight.

  I grab my pack and shoulder it while Ryock uses the little heating pad to incinerate the leftover guts and bones from the fish into ashes. Once he’s done, we stash all the gear we’re not taking with us in the ship and head off.

  The walk back to the waterfall is quiet and tranquil. We could talk, we could take this time to learn more about each other, but right now I think we’re both content just listening to the sounds of the jungle.

  Bugs buzz and birds sing. Every so often I catch a glimpse of bright feathers, or one of the flying creatures that looks like a cross between a squirrel and monkey.

  So far we haven’t seen any predators. No big cats, snakes, or dinosaurs for that matter.

  It could be that there aren’t any around, but with all the bugs and birds, it’s more likely that they’re staying away for now.

  Once we reach the shore of the pool, Ryock drops his pack and strips out of his pants. I just kind of stand back, with my jaw hanging open, as he undresses.

  My eyes are still glued to the perfectly rounded muscles of his ass when he casts a look over his shoulder.

  “Are you coming?” he asks, his eyes glittering.

  Cheeks blazing, I snap my jaw shut and nod my head.

  He chuckles and steps into the water.

  I can’t seem to take my eyes off of him. Watching as the water rises up his thick, muscled legs. Up the back of his hard thighs. Only when his backside is completely submerged, do I feel like I can move again.

  As I drop my pack and start to strip off my own clothes, I have to wonder what’s gotten into me.

  I’ve been ogling Ryock like he’s a juicy piece of meat ever since we crashed.

  Back home on Earth, I was never one of those girls that was boy-crazy. Boys chased me, and usually I could care less about them. My dating life pretty much consisted of one-night stands and short, unfulfilling flings. I enjoyed my independence too much to let myself get caught up in anyone.

  And maybe, if I’m being completely honest with myself, after losing my parents in a car accident when I was just a teenager, I was too afraid.

  Too afraid to be vulnerable. Too afraid to develop feelings for someone and lose them.

  Too afraid to go through that kind of pain again.

  Yet with Ryock I just can’t seem to help it.

  Pulling my shirt over my head, I can still feel the echo of the pain I felt when I thought I had to give him up and walk away from him.

  In just a few short days, he’s managed to get under my skin.

  A part of me wants to be angry about it. Angry that I’ve come to care about him, to rely on him. Angry that I fear being separated from him.

  But I can’t.

  In the back of my mind, I know there’s something more going on here. Something more than just pure animal attraction.

  But whatever it is, the damage has already been done, so why fight it?

  “The water’s warm,” Ryock purrs, turning to face me.

  I start to push my pants down and stop to admire the drops of water glistening on his hard chest.

  He grins and begins to drift back, sinking deeper into the water. That grin is like a lure, tugging at me, urging me to join him.

  I shove my pants all the way down and take a step towards the river before I remember why we’re here.

  We’re here to get clean and the soap is in my pack.

  Turning, I squat down and dig out one of the small clear bottles provided in our survival kit. When I straighten and turn to face Ryock again, his golden eyes are blazing with heat.

  Looks like I’m not the only one affected by this thing between us.

  His eyes remain locked on me as I enter the water, growing in intensity with each step I take towards him.

  “It is warm,” I nearly groan as the water laps at my legs.

  The pool of water is almost as warm as a bath.

  I wade in deeper and shiver as the water rises up to envelope me. After the hell we’ve been through, this is heaven. Pure heaven.

  I start to close my eyes in bliss. I could stay here forever with the sun beaming down on me and the warm, crystal clear waters flowing gently around my body. No worries about the past, the present, or the future.

  “Isla,” Ryock purrs huskily and my eyes pop open as the water ripples around me.

  He starts to reach for me, and I don’t know why I do it but I decide to splash him in the face for interrupting my moment.

  The look of shock on his face as the splash of water hits him is almost comical.

  Yeah, I so didn’t mean to do that and I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.

  I hold my breath and drift back, wondering if he’s going to be angry or not…

  He blinks away the water and the corners of his lips pull up in a grin.

  I laugh, relieved that he’s not angry, and as he reaches for me again, I splash him again.

  He makes a blubbering sound this time and shakes his head, shaking the water off. I half expect him to splash me back, but he doesn’t.

  Instead his eyes narrow at me and he asks, “So you want to play, my star?”

  He takes a big, ominous step towards me.

  Uh oh, I’m so going to get it now.

  I back away slowly, keeping my eyes trained on him.

  Fighting back my own grin, I say innocently, “Play? You had something on your face. I was just trying to help you out…”

  Ryock gives me a look that says he totally doesn’t believe me. “Is that so?” His big hands reach out for me and his eyes drop. “Then come here, little one. You have something on your chest... Let me help you.”

  I make the mistake of looking down, following his line of sight. Yeah, I’m topless and he’s totally checking out my breasts.

  I glance up just in time to see him making a lunge for me.

  I squeal and scramble backward, my feet slipping and sliding against the smooth bottom of the pool as I just
barely avoid his reach.

  In an effort to stave him off, I decide wisely to splash him a couple more times in the face.

  Ryock growls, shakes his head, and lunges for me again.

  I jump back, but my feet slip too much on the smooth bottom, failing to find purchase.

  Ryock’s hands wrap around my upper arms just as my feet slip out from under me. He drags me up before my head sinks below the surface.

  Pulling me close, he grins and blinks away the fat drops of water clinging to lashes as he says, “I win.”

  If I had a mouthful of water, I’d totally spit it in his face.

  Unfortunately, I don’t.

  So I pout instead.

  Ryock tips his head back and laughs, and begins to drag me over to one of the many large rocks jutting out of the water.

  “You can’t win if we’re not playing a game,” I complain.

  Yeah, I’m a sore loser, so sue me.

  “If you weren’t playing,” Ryock says as he sets me on the rock. “What were you doing?”

  The rock is smooth, most likely from having years of water running over it, and the surface is deliciously warm from sitting all day in the sun.

  I lower my lashes and give him a coy look. “I was only trying to help you get clean…”

  “Ah,” Ryock says, his grin sharpening.

  He plucks the little clear bottle I’m still clutching from my hand and pops it open. He sniffs the bottle and then squeezes some of the gel-like contents into his palm. “Then you must allow me to return the favor.”

  I squirm on top of the rock and squeeze my thighs together. “That really won’t be necessary…”

  Suddenly, I’m feeling a little shy. I’ve been ogling and drooling over Ryock all day, yet the thought of him touching me is a little terrifying.

  Now that I’ve come to accept that I have feelings for him, deep feelings, all these things between us have so much more meaning to me.

  “I insist,” Ryock fairly purrs.

  I shake my head and reach out, snatching the bottle from his hand. “No, no, no…” I continue to protest. “You’re still dirty. Let me finish what I’ve started.”

  Ryock’s brows pull down and he regards me through narrowed eyes.

  I ignore his suspicious look and squeeze the soap into my hand. Setting the bottle down, I rub my hands together, spreading the soap across both palms.

  “Come closer,” I tell him as I shift up onto my knees.

  Still watching me as if he doesn’t quite trust me, Ryock begins to bend down. His movements are slow and purposeful, as if he expects me to suddenly attack him or something.

  I suppose I deserve his mistrust after my little game, but I’m quite serious about washing him first. Just the thought of having his big hands all over my body is a little too overwhelming right now. Washing him first will give me a chance to get my shit together.

  I mean, I’ve already blurted out that I loved him when I thought we were crashing…

  Embarrassing myself once is enough for the day, thank you very much.

  Ryock bends down enough for me to stretch up and reach his shoulders. This close, examining his body in comparison to mine, really drives home just how truly massive he is.

  His shoulders alone are three times as broad as mine.

  I choose his shoulders as my starting point. Starting close to his neck, I gently place my palms on his skin. His skin is warm beneath my palms, almost as warm as the rock I’m kneeling on.

  I cup my hands and stroke my hands out. The breadth of his shoulders stretches nearly to the end of my reach. Seriously, I’m straining here.

  Lingering at the meaty swells that connect to his arms, I stretch up even more and dig in my fingers, massaging him as I work up some good suds.

  Ryock begins to purr and I glance up to see his lids lowering.

  I massage him for a good couple of minutes, enjoying all the tingly, soothing sensations his purr creates inside me, before I run my hands back to his neck.

  Ryock’s eyes close completely as I wrap my fingers around his thick, corded neck and work my way up.

  I scratch behind his ears and scrape my nails against his nape. His head dips and his body slumps further down, his purr growing louder and deeper.

  I slide my hands back down the back of his neck, and he jerks, startled, as I pull away.

  His eyes flash open, so hot and bright, I’m seeing spots.

  “Why did you stop?” he growls.

  I smile at him and pick up the bottle beside me. “Need more soap.”

  In fact, given how massive he is, the big guy will probably take up the entire bottle.

  Ryock makes a deep sound of displeasure and he watches me closely as I squirt more soap into my palm. Once again, I spread the soap across both palms and reach up.

  This time I decide to start with his chest. I place both hands flat against him, above each bulging pec, and then drag them slowly down.

  His nipples harden as my soapy palms glide over them and his chest rises as he sucks in and holds a deep breath.

  Dragging my hands down him, I can’t help but feel like I’m running my hands over pure, barely contained power. There’s not a spot on him that’s soft. His entire body is covered in hard, defined muscles packed over a massive frame.

  “Isla,” he says in warning, that breath he was holding in purring out of him as my fingers near his waist.

  I smile innocently at him and drag my hands down his hipbones before I pull away.

  “Something wrong, big guy?”

  I reach down to grab the bottle again but he grabs my hand, stopping me.

  “My turn,” he purrs.

  I shake my head and shake his hand off. “I’m not done.”

  Ryock’s face hardens but his hand drops away. That’s another thing I love about him. He could totally overpower me and force me to do things his way, but he doesn’t. If anything, he’s incredibly gentle, as if he’s afraid of breaking me.

  He makes me feel all girly and delicate.

  I squeeze some more soap into my palms and work my hands up his sides. He stiffens even though I know he’s not ticklish.

  Can he somehow tell what I plan on doing?

  I drag my hands back down to his waist then lean forward, sliding them behind him. My face is nearly pressed against his chest as I push my hands down and quickly grab two big handfuls of his ass.

  “Isla!” He jerks forward in surprise.

  I giggle and give his ass a hard squeeze. I’ve been wanting to grab it all day.

  Gently, he pushes at my shoulders, but now that I have his juicy flesh in my hands I really don’t want to let go.

  “Let go of me, woman,” he growls, but his eyes are anything but angry. No, they’re blazing with ardor.

  I give his ass one last parting squeeze and feel the muscles flex before I let go with a sigh of disappointment.

  Leaning back, I reach for the bottle again, but he snatches it up before I get my hand on it.

  “My turn,” he says firmly, leaving no room for argument.

  With a pout, I lean back and cross my arms over my chest.

  I watch him squeeze a big glob of soap into his palm, nearly crushing the bottle in the process.

  My heart starts to race as he sets the bottle down and rubs his hands together just like I did.

  He begins to reach for me and I hold my breath, wondering where he’s going to touch me first.

  “Uncross your arms,” he orders.

  I’m slow to obey, feeling anxious again, and he loses patience with me. Grabbing my arms with his big soapy hands, he spreads them open.

  “Gorgeous,” he murmurs as his eyes sear over my body.

  The most delicious thrill courses through me.

  He thinks I’m gorgeous?

  Biting my lip, I watch him intently as he looks at me like he doesn’t know where to start first.

  He hesitates for a moment then he just slaps both of his big soapy hands against my bre
asts.

  I can’t help myself, I tip my head back and laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” he asks, his brows furrowing together in confusion.

  I shake my head and say, “Just like a man… going straight for the boobs.”

  “Boobs?” he repeats in that slow way that means he doesn’t completely understand the meaning.

  His fingers tighten around me and my laughter dies away.

  I clear my throat and try not to croak as I explain. “Yes, boobs. Those things you’ve got your big hands on.”

  His eyes light up and he grins. “I very much like your… boobs.”

  Yeah, I can tell, big guy.

  He squeezes, molding my breasts in his hands, and goes on. “They’re soft and… squishy.”

  God help me, the way his hands are working me, I can’t even be mad that he just called my boobs squishy.

  His hands slide all over me, slick with soap and water, and I start to arch my back as my breasts begin to feel incredibly heavy and achy.

  “I think… I think they’re clean now,” I say weakly as my bones start to turn to liquid and he shows no sign of stopping.

  Ryock shakes his head and gives my breasts one last firm squeeze. My nipples tighten and tingle as he compresses them with his palms.

  I have to bite my lip and swallow back a moan to keep from crying out.

  Then he pulls away and I’m left with two heavy, achy breasts that miss his attention.

  I watch, too aware of the pulse pounding in my veins, as Ryock bends down, cupping his hands and filling them with water.

  Straightening, he uses the water cupped in his hands to rinse my soapy breasts off. I watch, transfixed, as the foamy little bubbles flow away.

  He starts to bend down again and I figure he’s getting more water, but then his mouth comes down on my right breast.

  I nearly jump off the rock. “Ryock!”

  His hot mouth completely covers my nipple and he purrs as he gently suckles.

  “Oh my god, what are you doing?” I gasp as all the blood in my body seems to rush to that one spot.

  “Mmmm,” he purrs, creating all these delicious little vibrations with his mouth.