by Rena Marks
Niki and Lucie leave. They are intelligent women. I’d forgotten that my cave is a shared cave with other hunter males. It wouldn’t do to bring my dying mate there.
After a while, Niki enters the cave. “Aschero? We’re ready.”
I nod, and stand. Every muscle in my body screams. It has been three days of sitting on the hard floor near Miranda. I stretch, and then stoop to pick up my precious mate.
She feels light as a feather. I cuddle her tenderly against my chest and follow Niki to our new cave.
Niki and Lucie have moved a few of the storage baskets up against a wall. The furs have been mostly moved from the storage cave, but several have been made into a nest for me and Miranda. It is piled higher than most nests.
Several glow-rocks have been placed on a small rock ledge for a constant stream of light. A fire has been lit, and a kettle of broth has been placed on it to warm. I imagine it is to feed us both, as a ladle of fish bones has been inserted next to it. The fish-bone ladle will catch the meat and vegetables so that I may just spoon broth into Miranda and eat the thicker chunks myself.
Should she awaken.
There’s also a skin of fresh drinking water hanging, and a basin of water to wash with has been placed on the larger ledge next to the glow rocks.
“You just come get any one of us if you need anything. Someone to watch her while you take a break. Or someone to visit with you.”
I nod, and Niki looks satisfied. Then she disappears, closing the curtain behind her.
I take a small bone bowl of broth and a spoon and move to Miranda’s side, hoping against hope she will awaken this time.
* * * * *
MIRANDA:
I’m hot, and toss and turn. It feels like someone sponges me off. Then, feeling better, I fall back to sleep.
My new friend Aschero slipped into my furs last night. The cave is large, and there are two dozen people squeezed in there as we travel to his village. He just held me while we slept. It was actually kind of nice.
My mind stirs. For a brief moment, a red flag hits. Didn’t we just arrive at his village? No that can’t be. I must have dreamed we arrived at his village, because we are still traveling.
I awaken fully as he leaves the furs, and then a bit of light floods the cave as he moves the boulder from the entrance. He hangs a curtain of fur over it to block the barely rising sun and slips out.
I follow him.
He looks pleased to see me when he turns to see who has sneaked from the sleeping cave.
“Hi, big guy,” I smile, and then yawn. “I need to pee.”
He looks confused. I sigh, and then mimic squatting.
His face clears and he grunts, then shows me to a safe tree and tears me a leaf to use. He stands there, watching. I blink.
“Go away.”
He doesn’t understand and stands there watching me anyway.
“Shoo,” I say, and motion with my hands for him to turn. He shrugs and turns, but then whips it out and pees himself.
Uh, really? Is there no modesty on this planet?
But he’s peeing a river, so I take the moment to squat and pee, too, hoping against hope that I’ll finish before him and can wipe and stand before he decides to turn around and watch.
Geez.
Lady luck is on my side. He’s still whistling as he finishes up and tucks his junk back under his loincloth. I scramble to wipe and stand, tossing my leaf onto the ground, where I watch it open and swallow.
He turns and holds out his hand.
Eww. He peed with that hand. But, technically, so did I, so I place my hand into his anyway.
He points out a dead carcass on the ground and mutters something.
“Grish’ll.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about, but the ground swallows the kill. It must be one of the night predators, the entire reason why we lock ourselves in caves come nightfall. I’d like to study the creature, but dammit if it wasn’t swallowed whole already. Maybe we’ll see more.
It’s still early, the sun isn’t even out fully. It’s more of a glow, a hint of morning.
Aschero takes me to the edge of a clear, bubbly stream. He bends to take off his moccasins, and points to my sandals.
“Are you kidding me? There’s no sun out to warm the water. It’s got to be cold as hell.”
But he strips off his loincloth and my mouth goes dry.
His blue dick slowly hardens as I glance at it. I quickly look away.
He smiles and moves into the water, gesturing for me to come.
Grumbling like a shrew, I fling off my paper-thin gown and gingerly step in.
“What the—” My eyes widen. The water’s freaking warm. Warm. “That doesn’t make sense,” I tell him. But nothing on this strange planet does.
Just when I sink underwater, enjoying the warmth, Aschero mutters something.
“Huh?” I say.
He repeats it, and then to my surprise, gets out of the water. I’m not getting out yet. He can do whatever he wants.
But he comes right back in, this time with the lemony leaf that we usually dry off with. He takes my hand, lifts my arm and begins scrubbing my pit.
Okaaay.
To my surprise, a light foaming starts. It’s faint, but at least I’ll smell lemony today.
I didn’t intend for this to turn sexy, but we’re both naked. And he’s luscious and rubbing big hands over my breasts and abdomen. So I take the leaf from him and begin to scrub at his skin. I move to his back and wash it. He shudders, and I know it’s not from cold. No, he’s getting aroused. Or he’s still aroused. I imagine there’s a big blue hard-on under the water.
I wonder how far I can take this.
I’m running my hands over every inch of him. I rub at his backside, and it’s firm and beautiful. I wouldn’t mind licking it. I stifle a giggle, wondering what he’d do.
Ohmigod. I can’t believe I never thought of this. He can’t understand a word I say. I can say anything I want.
“You’re really sexy, you know. And quite frankly, you’ve been clean a long time,” I tell him as I run my hands down one incredibly muscular arm. “But I’m just using it as an excuse to touch your sexiness. And soon, I’m going to be really naughty and clean your dick.”
“Eh?” he says in a thick voice. He doesn’t understand a word, and is probably wondering why I even speak.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. I smooth my hands over his broad shoulders. Good grief these guys are larger than life. They’re all around seven feet tall and none of them have an ounce of fat. They’re solid, sexy muscle.
I reach under the water and use the wet leaf as a washcloth to wash his heavy balls.
His breath hisses.
“Meeranda,” he murmurs.
I smile innocently, but the husky sound of his voice makes my nipples tighten.
I walk around him, and drag the washcloth up through the crack of his tight, muscular ass. He holds still as can be, and then I’m in front of him again.
Now I lose the washcloth and reach for his dick.
His eyes close and he throws his head back as if he’s in ecstasy. I continue to “wash” his cock.
It’s hard as a rock right now, and I can’t see it under the water, but it feels…odd. It reminds me of a hose, because it’s encased in some type of beaded rings. The rings shift under my hands and from his groans, it’s feeling pretty damn good.
I wouldn’t mind licking the giant blue cock.
But now isn’t the time, nor the place. We’re lucky we have some alone time and that’s about it.
Then his big hand reaches out and grabs mine. His eyes open and the blue color is more vibrant as he stares into my face. His eye color has changed as he gets closer to orgasm. He moves my hand up and down his dick, frantically, teaching me how to make him come.
Then there’s a groan and he stills, bucking against my hand.
“That’s pretty sexy,” I tell him. “Know what else is? I’m so wet from w
atching you that I can feel it, right through the water. I can feel how soaked my pussy is, how my lips are sliding together.”
As if he understands me, he lets go of my hand and then I feel big fingers move to my pussy. He dips between my folds and finds the slick juice I was just mentioning.
He mutters something in his language and then the nasty man brings his finger up out of the water to taste my juices.
Lust slams through me as he sucks it clean.
His hand comes back down under the water and this time finds my clit. He immediately starts to circle it with the pad of his thumb. His middle finger hooks into me, dipping into my sheath at the same time.
I moan and cling to him, my knees weak at his touch. Holy cow, is this how good it felt for him? This is magical, hot, naughty, sneaky sex.
“God, yes,” I mutter. “That’s so good. Your finger is huge, and it fills my pussy.” I thrust my hips down on his finger for emphasis.
Then I wrap my legs around his hips and ride him. The lips of my pussy spread open, allowing him full access to my core.
A low groan rises in his throat as he continues the soft, slow touches. I shudder against him and then I’m writhing, circling my hips against his hand under the water.
This is so sexy, I almost can’t stand it.
And then I literally can’t stand it, and I come, the entire world exploding behind my eyes and I cry out, quivering onto his finger.
He groans and pulls me tight against him, pressing kisses to the side of my head as I bury my head into his neck. He’s murmuring in his language and while I can’t understand a word, it sounds lyrical and comforting. Almost like a song.
ASCHERO:
I continue to sing the song of my people to Miranda. Her thrashing stills when I sing, and I’m sure she can hear the comforting notes. I sponge her off again, running the piece of fur down over her breasts, across the middle of her abdomen and to the pleasurable little pussy that she has allowed me access to.
Since the Stargazer aliens had visited, they gave our women several grooming products. The fur that had covered her pussy is no more. It is a pleasant surprise, and I wonder if she had shaved this surprise for me.
Perhaps I will never know.
I drape her cape back over her naked body, now that she is cleaned and calm.
Next I will try to awaken her.
“Miranda.” I shake her gently. “Miranda, my love. Awaken, please.”
She looks like she is trying to flutter her eyelashes, and I am encouraged. I shake her harder.
I pull her up to a sitting position, propping folded furs behind her back.
Slowly, so slowly, she opens her eyes. She is awake! But even now, her eyelids look heavy and her eyes lose focus.
“You must drink something,” I tell her. “You will dehydrate if you do not get something in you.”
I bring an aglaia fruit to her lips. The trees are frozen right now, but this one has been inside the warmth of the caves for a few hours and the liquid is melted again. I have poked the vein of a sharhysk into it, so she may draw the liquid up through it.
“Please, take a drink.”
She sucks and swallows.
I feel like rejoicing, even though one swallow is all she can manage before tiring again. I move the fruit to the side and grab a spoon of broth.
“Open your lips,” I tell her. It is more imperative to get nutrition into her than to discuss matters with her right now. Such as the fact that she is now mated.
She takes a bit of broth.
“We do not know how long you will feel the effects of the herb,” I tell her. “I will care for you until it leaves your system.”
I do not tell her how dire the situation is.
“I’m dreaming,” she says, and her voice is slurred.
“No, this is not a dream. This right here, this room, is reality. The rest of the time is your dreams.”
“No,” she says. “We don’t have a cave together. Must be a dream. This can’t be the reality.”
Then her eyelids flutter closed and she is down for the count again.
Frustrated, I set aside the bowl and let her sleep.
There is a rattle at the entrance to our cave and, tired now, I call out to enter. Jillian moves to my side. “How is she?”
“She just fell asleep again,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “But she took a drink of aglaia and a sip of broth.”
“Why don’t you take a break?” she asks. “Miranda will be fine and sleep for a bit. Go get in the pool, or grab something to eat.”
“No, I cannot leave her.”
She places her small hand on my arm. “Aschero, she will be fine for a few minutes. Take care of yourself so you may continue to care for her. She will appreciate it.”
I nod. The small human is right.
I stumble to the eating area of the cave. Rayhaan has just left the line that surrounds the table of food, and brings me his full plate.
“Take this,” he says. “I can get more.”
“Thank you,” I say, and sit at a lone table, grateful that he has saved me some time. I eat quickly, before he has even gotten another plate. I leave my empty plate stacked in the center of the table, where I hope someone will take care of it for me.
I turn to leave the room and Cio blocks my path.
“Move,” I snarl. The last thing I have patience for is the one who vies for my mate’s attentions.
“I hear you have mated Miranda,” he says, his voice loud. “How dare you? She is unconscious and unable to accept. You know how the humans want their choice.”
“They had a choice,” I sneer. “I had the permission of Drakar and Niki. The human leader.”
“You tricked her,” he accuses. “Niki would not have given permission if she knew of Miranda’s interest in me. Wait until Miranda wakes and rejects you once she finds out what you’ve done!”
My fist connects with his jaw. All around us there is shouting as our fists fly. Another satisfying crunch and his nose breaks, blood flowing. I feel no sympathy, instead I use this moment to take out every frustration I ever had that Miranda looked his way. I wonder if he kissed her, and if he touched her body the way I do. The rage burns hotter and my fists fly faster. Then, the crew of hunters I work with pulls us apart before I kill him.
“That is enough,” Rayhaan snarls, and he has Cio up against the wall. “He has a sick mate to tend to. I do not want you around him. He has enough to deal with.” He releases Cio. “Go now. I will be in your cave shortly to speak with you.”
Rayhaan turns to me. I wipe the smear of blood from my own nose, nod at him, and head back to Miranda.
I can hear Jillian talking before I enter my cave. “And after Lucie and Rayhaan’s wedding, we all dipped into the Midnight Margaritas again. I think that may have been how you ended up with the wrong tea,” she said. “You’ve been out for three days now. But I’m sure you’ll awaken soon, and we’ll sit and laugh about it. You can tell me all about your nasty nightmares and we’ll decide you’ve had enough for an entire year and should have pleasant dreams from here on out.”
I enter the cave.
Jillian gasps. “What happened to you?”
“Cio.” I rub my chin ruefully. The anger has dissipated now. My mellow disposition has returned.
“Oh, crap. He’s just jealous, Aschero. Don’t pay him any mind.”
I head to the washing basin and wash my bloody hands and face.
“The only reason Miranda had anything to do with him is she was afraid to get too attached to you.”
I turn to her. Her reasoning baffles me.
“She had a boyfriend on Earth. So when she met you, she was gun-shy, so to speak. She thought she wouldn’t care for you as greatly if she tried to interest herself in Cio, too. It didn’t work. She loves you, I know it.”
Jillian rises from the nest. “Let me know if you need any more help.”
She leaves the cave and I am left to ponder her words.
Chapter Three
MIRANDA:
Aschero takes me back to the cave where the others are starting to spread outside. He’s got a definite swagger now that there’s been a bit of fooling around in the creek.
“Hey, girl, where’ve you been?” Jezebel asks.
“I was up early and bathed in a creek,” I told her. “What are we doing now?”
“Preparing to leave. Gathering the aglaia fruits. A few people have gone out to gather supplies and repair a couple of sandals on some of the girls. Someone is gathering the toothbrushes so we can brush.”
I nod, deliberately ignoring Aschero. I don’t want him to get too attached. But suddenly he’s there. Everywhere I turn.
Okay, to be fair, he was there before. I just seem to notice it more now that we’ve had mutual orgasms. So this time, I spend time with other hunters instead. Aschero tries to get me off into corners by myself, but baby, been there, done that.
I didn’t expect to want it again. For that reason alone, I’m stubborn.
The walk across the hot, dry land is exhausting, even as we keep ourselves hydrated with aglaia fruits. I’m so tired, I don’t even want to push Aschero away. He stays by my side, watching me with his gorgeous blue eyes.
One by one, the hunters give us piggy-back rides. When Aschero stops me and indicates he’ll carry me, I don’t protest. He gets down to his knees, and I wrap myself around his back. He never even pauses, just stands as easily as if I’m not there.
The show of strength is impressive, and a bit soothing for my strange new world. In another lifetime, I wouldn’t mind being his.
I sigh, and ever-so-lightly, skim my lips against the side of his neck. He’s slightly salty, and totally masculine. He points out a tree, and I’m assuming he’s reminding me that it’s the poisonous one. Then he points out a tiny creature that hops along the ground. I gasp. It’s got a ton of legs. It looks like a deformed spider crossed with a rabbit, but it’s probably normal here. As I watch, one of the hunters grabs his bone knife and throws it at the creature. He strides over to it and picks it up.
Lunch.
Aschero continues walking without pause. It’s a fact of life here.