I’m ruined for Earth guys, damn him.
“Your face.”
Jape’s thick voice came through darkness. Velia hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes. She opened them.
No confusion on his face now. Naked lust, yes, plenty of that. But also a rapt awe that should have been reserved for gorgeous artwork or an amazing strain of music. Velia stilled and noticed he had frozen too. She wondered at the expression. No one had ever looked at her as Jape did.
“What?” she asked.
“You seem—I don’t know. Like people do when they’ve had a vision of All-Spirit. But more intense, as if you’re on your own world.” Jape’s gaze remained riveted on her face. “I can’t describe it.”
“Is it okay? ’Cause I feel good.”
“You are beautiful.”
All the breath left her. Velia wanted to refute Jape. A part of her insisted he was pretending or merely caught up in the throes of getting laid.
There was no lie in his face, though. No sense he was voicing random tokens of desire. He meant it. Whatever he saw in her at that moment, he found her beautiful. It rocked something within Velia.
As distracted her mind had become, her body knew what to do. Her ass arched, moving to let Jape slide outward, stoking the passion that leapt high. Her movement broke Jape’s immobility. Hands and tails tightened, explored, awakening new channels of bliss that raced through her.
She’d adjusted to his girth, and only rapture was to be found as she rose and fell over him. Velia varied the pace, eager to enthrall Jape as he did her. She ground against him in small circles, took short and quick strokes, then released him almost to the crown and reclaimed him with slow and sensual languor. Through it all, he moved beneath, his hands and tails playing over her, eliciting excitement in places Velia hadn’t imagined might be erogenous. Her pussy squeezed him without her conscious command.
“I want to make you come,” Jape whispered. “Let me make that happen for you.”
“Yes.” Velia’s mind swam with euphoria as her flesh rioted with eagerness. Her pussy clenched on his girth, tiny bursts of exhilaration a promise of the final explosion.
The pressure against her interior hotspot grew, the friction rubbing against it headier than before. Was he making himself bigger? The sensation stole the control she had, and she rode him harder, unable to resist claiming more. Meanwhile, a naughty tail rubbed her clit as Jape squeezed her breasts.
Pleasure was coalescing, drawing into a pinpoint, gathering for detonation. Velia pounded against Jape, seeking that final spark that would ignite it all.
Please, please, please, come on...
Flicker. Flash. A great billowing sensation, starting from her pussy and swiftly engulfing her. Yes! Shockwaves pulsing, toe-curling throbs, everything alight. Yes, yes. Forever, yes.
Velia was swept up, whipped into the air, whirled about. She landed on a cloud, a great weight on her. Jape. He was on top of her, beating their sexes together as he kissed her, as arms and tails tangled about her. No, not kissing. Devouring. He was a rabid beast fucking and feeding on her, igniting a new flashpoint, kindling another explosion.
Velia screamed into his mouth as she erupted again. She fell into heaving dissolution.
When she emerged from the violent pleasure, the last fading pulses ebbing and leaving her weak, she discovered she was on top of Jape again. She rose and fell with his gasping breaths, splayed over him as if she’d fallen from the sky. He twitched inside her and groaned.
Shit. Holy fuck.
All her worries about sex with a man she didn’t care about, who wouldn’t listen to her, who drove her crazy—ridiculous. Sex for sex’s sake was a good thing after all. At least it was with Jape.
Maybe he was a bigot when it came to Earthlings. Misogynistic when he dealt with women. Perhaps she’d made a mistake that would lead him to treating her like dirt in the aftermath.
But right now? With her sated body blanketing his, his arms wrapped around her and holding her tight against him, still tingling with the greatest orgasm she’d ever had?
It felt so damned good.
That’s it. That’s the answer to all my problems with Stripes. If all we ever do is have sex, we’ll get along fine.
Velia was too wasted to chuckle at her amusing insight. Glowing with temporary contentment, she drifted into a doze, Jape still clutching her like a teddy bear.
Chapter Thirteen
Singing. Distant voices raised in raucous celebration.
Before she opened her eyes, Velia remembered an Irish-style pub she’d visited on occasion while in college. She’d preferred the bar to the hectic clubs most of her peers frequented. The bartender, an actual Irishman named O’Sullivan, had led many a song when the mood was particularly cheerful. The middle-aged, working-class patrons were friendly, but they never bothered Velia as they played darts and chess. Once, a few drunken frat brothers came in and harassed her, and the tough older men and a couple of equally tough women had unceremoniously shown them the door. She’d loved that bar.
Velia woke with a smile to find the room in shadow and bathed in bluish light. She was still draped over Jape, whose stripes almost glowed in the gleam from Cadi. He stroked her hair.
Outside, the song ended, followed by laughter. Then silence descended, broken only by the deep bass thud of Jape’s dual hearts and his soft breathing.
Velia raised her head. His silver eyes glinted at her. She flushed. “Hey, Stripes. Sorry I nodded out on you.”
“That’s all right.” He sounded hesitant. Upset? It was impossible to tell in the dim light. But what would he be upset about?
He had sex with the enemy. The Earthling he doesn’t want around. Velia bit back a sigh. He didn’t share in her determination that there would be no regrets from their tryst.
Real life had returned. Fun time was over.
She rolled off him, pretending the loss of contact was no loss at all. To dispel the awkward silence between them, she observed, “It sounds as if someone is having a party.”
“The erawots is rowdy tonight. My guess is that someone harvested some excellent broadleaf to share. It’s the season for it.” Relief colored his voice. Jape was glad she wasn’t talking about what had happened between them.
If he’s determined to put it behind us, fine. Velia refused to acknowledge the hurt that rose. Just sex. Just an incredible but purely physical romp. Nothing to get emotional about, remember?
Keeping that in mind, she asked, “That’s the big bonfire gathering I saw before, isn’t it? Can we go?”
Jape was silent for a few seconds. Velia was sure he’d refuse to let her out when he sat up. “Why not? Poor Snim hasn’t been able to get anyone to drink his nasty ale since Anneliese went to Yitrow.”
Velia had no idea what he was talking about. She didn’t care. Jape was letting her go out, allowing her to check out the Risnarish version of fun.
She wandered about the dome, finding her clothes in the myriad places Jape had tossed them. He helped her search, though he didn’t speak. When Velia glanced toward him, he jerked his gaze away, caught watching her. He appeared uneasy, which made her feel the same.
To fill the oppressive silence, Velia chattered. “I’ll try not to embarrass you—you are coming along, aren’t you? Not making me go stag, right? I have no idea how a Risnarish party rolls, especially when an alien crashes it.” She laughed nervously. “Truth be told, I wouldn’t know how to act at a party on Earth, either. I haven’t been invited to any since being assigned to Noname.”
Jape didn’t respond. As she finished dressing, he went to the kitchen and fetched a couple of cups. Still quiet and casting quick, sidelong glances at her, he led her out into the strong light of Cadi.
The glow of the bonfire made it easy to find the erawots. Velia could have done so without Jape’s long stride to guide
her through the maze of domes and gardens. No longer singing, the Risnarish—all men—grouped in knots of four or five around it, their expressions merry. Velia wasn’t surprised to see no women in the crowd. Retav had explained the separate societies of men and women on Risnar, though she found it hard to imagine. She searched for her elder friend and Arga among the striped faces, but she didn’t spy either.
The hum of speech rose and fell, punctuated by raucous amusement. Pitchers were passed along, filling cups. Most of the men spoke around something they chewed. As she and Jape neared, one rolled what appeared to be a huge oak leaf and stuck it in his jaw.
Alien chewing tobacco. Yuck. She had a vision of them spitting into the fire like old cowboys.
The group of four she and Jape neared turned at the pair’s approach. Startled glances greeted Velia, and the erawots went silent at once.
A second later, calls rang out, “Another one!”
“Hi, Earthling.”
“Bring out your barrel, Snim!”
“It’s official. We’re being invaded.”
The last comment was greeted by laughter. At the same time, another sound rose in the midst of the merriment, a low grumble of muttering. Stormy glares were cast in her direction. A man threw a platter down on the ground and left. He was followed by half a dozen more.
One of the angry-looking fellows passed by Jape. He muttered in a low voice to the golden Risnarish as he tried to storm by.
Jape grabbed his arm and snarled, “Mind your own business. I’m head enforcer and don’t need to be reminded of my duty to Cas.”
He jerked his grip from the other man. Still glowering, Jape edged between the tan-and-white man and Velia, a muscled, protective wall. After a moment of staring at the looming Jape, the other Risnarish stomped off.
I guess Stripes is the only person allowed to mess with me. His to harass, his to protect. The thought twisted Velia’s stomach. In the loud silence that followed, she said, “I should go. I don’t wish to cause a problem.”
Before Jape could answer her, someone standing close by guffawed. “Please, don’t leave. You’re the solution to our greatest difficulty. Snim hasn’t had anyone here to drink his brew in some weeks, so he’s trying to get us to!”
The uncomfortable spell broke as merriment filled the air again. It got even louder when Jape raised the cups he’d brought.
He called out, “This is Velia, everyone. Snim, let’s dwindle your supply—and hopefully keep you from making more. She won’t be with us for long.”
A beaming green-and-white man hurried over with one of the earthenware pitchers that were scattered about. “Welcome, Velia! Don’t let the unsophisticated mislead you. This was my guardian’s guardian’s recipe, and he was the wisest man Cas ever knew!”
As the rest groaned and jeered at Snim’s claim, Velia peered doubtfully at the orange-gold liquid he poured into the cup Jape held out. She wasn’t sure she wanted whatever they were intent on her drinking.
Yet their reaction at her arrival made her think there were those who shared Jape’s attitude against Earthlings. If Velia refused, would sentiment turn against her?
Jape’s anticipatory grin as he handed her the brimming cup, a far cry from the troubled expression he’d worn after they’d had sex—and preferable to the threat he’d shown the man who’d whispered to him—decided her. Steeling herself for the worst, Velia accepted the cup, holding her breath as she tried a cautious sip of its contents.
She held it in her mouth for a moment and swallowed. Looked at the rapt faces, then at the beleaguered Snim, who appeared to be holding his breath, as well.
“Can I convince you to go back to Earth with me, sweetheart? I’ll let you brew for me all day long.” She took a healthy swallow of the amazing stuff, the smoothest beer she’d ever drunk. The fruity notes were a nice touch.
Roars of laughter greeted her approval. Snim put his palm over his chest, his ears fluttering as he gazed at her with exaggerated devotion. When Velia bowed to him, the hilarity grew. Maybe they didn’t recognize that particular gesture, but they understood the meaning. Even Jape joined in the hilarity, his booming voice wonderful as he claimed Snim’s pitcher and set it on a log that others motioned her to sit on.
He’s stunning when he’s happy. I wish he’d laugh...or at least smile more often.
Velia settled with her cup and pitcher, hoping she’d won friends after all. Jape sat next to her, close enough that they brushed up against each other when they shifted. Thinking of what they’d shared earlier, his nearness made her tingle.
As the men regained their composure, they began to ask her questions. “Are you a warrior like Anneliese? Do you know her?”
“No, I’m an engineer. I haven’t met your friend Anneliese, but she sounds pretty terrific.”
“You should see her fight. Never met the like of her.”
“An engineer? You design things? Build?”
Velia nodded. “I’m crazy about machines. And apparently, ale no one else wants.” She raised her cup in salute, setting off more laughter.
For the next hour, she asked and answered questions, careful to steer the conversation from the subjects that might have given the Risnarish pause. Having dealt with Jape’s accusations and heard Retav’s account of being a lab subject, she showed sympathy with their struggle against the Monsuda. They seemed content with what she said.
Jape surprised her by deflecting the more probing questions. “It’s a delicate situation when it comes to who on Earth is aware of what,” became a familiar refrain from the enforcer. “We’re considering each step before we take it.”
Little by little, the men returned to their immediate concerns, discussing crops and raw materials that their guilds needed. When Velia no longer had to field inquiries, she listened in on those conversations, curious what life for the people was about.
Some talked of concerns that a particular old-growth forest was dying, having been flooded by rising sea levels. Wildfires were raging out of control in another area. Rainfall had stopped in some places, was too much in others. Violent storms had erupted in the oceans, destroying an entire island chain.
Velia thought of the video Arga had showed her, proof that the Monsuda had been stripping Risnar of its resources and causing major climate change with their activities.
Velia was distracted as a dog cantered into the circle. A dog with orange eyes and dark fur turned reddish by the fire. Wait—not a dog. It was a Bonch, maybe the one she’d seen trotting around the night before. A sentient creature that could talk.
Its plumed tail wagged when it sighted her. It trotted toward her.
“Um, Jape?” Velia didn’t have time to ask him how to greet the creature before it stopped before her. Wearing a doggy grin that would have been more pleasant without the many sharp teeth featured in it, it sat on its haunches.
“Hi, Efno.” Jape put his hand to his hearts, sloshing his cup of brew. “Velia, this is Efno. He’s the leader of the Cas tribe of the Bonch. And the best field worker on the whole planet. If it grows from the ground, Efno is an expert on it.”
Efno tilted his head to the side. “Joyful to make your acquaintance, Velia.”
Her mouth dropped open. His words had not come from the earpiece translator. “You spoke English.” Slurred, because of his long muzzle, but perfectly understandable English.
“Meeting Anneliese showed me our worlds’ fortunes may be one. Good to be ready. And a Bonch must stay smart. Learn new things to keep young in mind.”
Jape had said the Bonch were sentient, but Velia hadn’t taken it to mean they were as intelligent as Efno seemed to be. This was no pooch to be treated like a lesser species. “I’m pleased to meet you, Efno. You’re the first of your kind I have encountered.”
“Most of my tribe stays to Cas border. A few help on the farms.”
Jape ad
ded, “It’s a great partnership we have with the Bonch people.” His mood was sedate. He acted relaxed for a change. Velia wondered if it had to do with the ale he drank.
She spoke with Efno at length, learning about the peaceful and industrious Bonch. An increasingly mellow Jape interjected every now and then. Trays of food came their way, and Velia enjoyed herself eating, drinking, and conversing with Efno and the Risnarish.
It was the kind of social gathering she preferred. There were no frantic attempts to bond with others. None of the somehow desperate fight for gaiety Velia had perceived among her peers in college. On the other side of the spectrum, no one isolated themselves from the real world with texting and social media.
Connection. Community. Camaraderie. The three Cs of real life. Velia giggled. “Oops, shorry,” she said to Efno. “I washn’t laughing at you. Just a stray thought. Oh, should I say ‘stray’ to a Bonch? That’s not very PC of me.”
“You’ve had enough ale,” Jape said in his new quiet voice. “You’re making no sense. The translator can’t figure out half your words.”
Efno’s doggy smile stretched wide. “She will sleep well tonight. And you, Jape. You do not relax for many weeks.”
“He should be relaxed. He’s had drinks and wild eshracurkular activities.” Velia snickered when the translator asked her to define eshracurkular. “Extra-cur-ric-u-lar, darn it. Efno speaks English better than your system.”
“And you, at the moment.” Jape snorted. “Put the pitcher down, Velia. You’re done for the night.”
Efno chuffed his version of laughter. “I leave you pups to fun. Enjoy this visit, Velia. I hope Risnarish and Bonch show best qualities for your stay here.”
“Thank you, Efno. I hope I shee you again.” She watched bemused as Efno trotted off. With a twin. And then a triplet.
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