by Lynnea Lee
The monster roared, shaking its head violently. Vore flew off and landed in the leaf litter. He rolled to his feet. The beast’s tail whipped around, catching Holden, and flung him against a tree. He got back up but looked dazed.
Deciding that the two Tallean males were more work than it wanted to deal with, the monster cast around for better prey. It spotted the two smaller but softer morsels clinging to the tree. Undulating its coils, it half-slithered and half-whomped towards them.
“Fuck!” Angie’s word mirrored Lettie’s own thoughts. “We need to get higher. That thing is huge!”
Keeping one hand on the trunk for stability, Angie reached up and over to the next branch. She managed to hook an elbow over it and pull herself up. Lettie tried to do the same. However, being shorter, she was able to touch the branch but not hook her elbow around. Being short sucked!
“Oh shit!” Lettie realized that she had overextended and was unable to fully push herself back onto the first branch. “I’m stuck!”
The monster squealed with glee, realizing her predicament. It sped towards them.
“Oh shit, oh shit! I can’t push myself back, and I’m slipping.”
Don’t look down, don’t look down. Lettie looked down. “Aw, fuck!” The forest floor was a long way down. And the monster was closing in.
The beast whomped up and lunged.
Lettie screamed. She sucked in her gut and tried to pike her belly out of the way as gleaming teeth passed just inches below her torso. But the movement changed the position of her feet, and she felt herself slip a little more.
“My feet are slipping. I’m going to see if I can push off the bottom branch and grab the top one before I slip.”
Angie moved over to the side to give her space.
Just as Lettie jumped, the beast attacked again. This time, it went for the branch Lettie was standing on, realizing that it was a better target. The monster was no dummy. The branch broke just as Lettie leaped. Heart pumping and adrenaline surging, Lettie grabbed onto the branch above and wrapped both arms around it, her legs dangling. Angie gripped Lettie’s forearm, trying to help her stay up.
A deafening roar cut through the chaos as Vore rushed in.
Rage burned through Vore as the coilbeast lunged for his female. He roared in anger as his cheek creases unfolded, allowing him to open his jaw incredibly wide. His fangs descended from their half-retracted position. Strength and violence coursed through him, and he reveled in the primal feeling. He charged in, promising mayhem to the beast that tried to hurt his female.
Vore tackled the coilbeast, grabbing hold of the hard scales that protected its body. With one hand, he tore at the scales, trying to get to the soft flesh beneath. The other hand dug into the open wound Holden had left in its side. But the beast ignored the pain, intent on the tasty smelling female dangling now within reach.
The monster lunged again, and Lettie’s scream stabbed into Vore’s chest. The beast’s teeth barely missed Lettie’s foot as it snapped shut. Kicking hard at the monster, Lettie drove her foot into the monster’s eye. The beast yelped, but was too slow, or maybe too stubborn, to move away. Seeing the opportunity, Lettie drove her foot down again, smashing it into the foul creature’s other eye. The beast bellowed, and this time it moved away.
Now that the creature’s baleful attention was off of his female, Vore was delighted for the fight. He could finally test himself against the dreaded coilbeast. While the beast had been distracted by Lettie’s sumptuous form, Vore had cleared out a decent patch of scales. He took a giant bite and tore out a chunk of flesh and spat it out. The beast screamed, finally forced to contend with the Tallean male again. It bucked its body. The scales Vore was holding on to ripped from their anchor, sending him flying off.
Without missing a beat, Vore dove back in. He aimed a clawed foot at the monster’s face. He slashed at it, but the monster, now protective of his eyes, avoided the sharp talons by ducking its head. So Vore, upon finishing his kick, punched the ugly face in the snoot instead. The creature winced. It didn’t enjoy having its face smashed in.
The monster whipped his body around, its tail curved widely in the air. The tail hit the branch Lettie had just gotten up onto with Angie’s help. The branch shook violently, and both females came tumbling down into the leaf litter.
Distracted by Lettie’s falling body, Vore froze for just a fraction of a second. But it was enough for the beast to wrap its coils around Vore’s body. It squeezed, hard. Vore struggled to breathe. The creature, tasting victory, opened its maw, ready to bite Vore’s head off.
But Holden, having had a moment to collect himself, was prepared to battle again. He jumped on the beast, knocking its head to the side just as it bit down. Its teeth snapped on nothing. Taking a trick from Vore’s notebook, Holden grabbed its snout and held its mouth closed. He kicked at the monster’s coils with his feet, scoring slash after slash with his talons.
With the monster’s attention on its new adversary, it loosened its coils enough for Vore to break free.
Vore nodded to Holden. “I’m going for the head with my claws.”
“On three,” Holden agreed. “One, two, three!”
Holden released the snout and ducked away as Vore’s deadly claw arced through the air. A deadly digit found its mark and sunk deep into the creature’s eye, penetrating into its reptilian brain. Vore yanked his talon out. It dripped with blood and ichor.
The monster fell to the ground, twitching as it died.
With the danger gone, both males turned towards the two human females. They were fine. The deep leaf litter had cushioned their fall.
At the sight of Lettie, Vore felt the arousal hit him. The need for sexual release was a natural reaction in his species after a fight, if an appropriate female was present. Violence triggered a primal memory from the times when fighting was the only way for a Tallean male to win and claim a mate. Some females were known to provoke males into fights, just to experience the wild sex after with the winner of the brawl.
The need for release seized his control at the sight of the Lettie getting up from the forest floor. Torn loose from its usual bun at the nape of her neck, Lettie’s hair flowed like a dark silk curtain around her slender shoulders.
She stared back at him, fear apparent in her eyes. She had clearly never seen a Tallean male in the throes of sexual excitement after a fight.
Next to Vore, Holden stalked towards Angie, jaws still unhinged, and looking like the predator he was. But Angie was not afraid. She ran towards Holden, embracing him despite his fearsome countenance.
Angie spoke to Lettie in hurried words. “They usually want to fuck after a fight. It’s an instinctual thing for them. Get ready for some mind-blowing sex. Like angry fucking, but without the anger.”
Lettie gaped at her, panic showing in her eyes. “You can’t be serious!”
But Angie and Holden were already lost in the throes of passion. Holden tore her clothes off, eager to get to the prize under the wrapping. Lifting her against his body, Holden held her in place with one arm and freed his straining cock from his pants with the other. Angie wrapped her legs around him, and he thrust in her, unaware or uncaring of their audience.
Vore prowled towards Lettie and was delighted when she backed away. He loved a good chase. He licked his lips, and a grin spread on his face.
“Run, little Lettie,” he growled. “Give me a good chase, and I’ll reward you. You won’t even remember your name when I’m done with you.”
Behind him, Angie’s shrill scream rang loud through the trees. The smell of sex was overwhelming. Holden grunted as he continued to piston into her.
Vore needed Lettie now!
Eyes locked on the couple fucking just a few feet away, Lettie froze. The scent rolling off her, fear mingling with sexual excitement, was intoxicating. Vore took a deep breath. His cock strained against the front of his pants. He tore the piece of clothing off, preferring to be unrestra
ined. Her attention back on him, Lettie gasped at the sight of him.
“The only word you will remember is my name because you’ll be screaming it again and again. You better run, my little Lettie.”
Vore snapped his teeth at her, and that did it. She turned and ran, scrambling through the underbrush of the forest. The chase was on!
Lettie’s heart beat wildly in her chest as she flew through the forest on suddenly deft feet. She never knew she could run so fast. Part of her was terrified, but another part wanted to be caught. She saw a patch of thicker underbrush ahead and aimed for it, hoping her smaller frame would give her an advantage.
But arms wrapped around her belly, and her body lifted off the ground. She shrieked as she found herself running on air. Vore turned her around, set her on her feet, and then pushed her just enough to topple her over. She landed on her ass on the soft forest floor.
Vore looked terrifying. His canines were still fully descended. Lettie never knew their fangs could do that. Blood from the slain beast stained his face, reminding her of the huge chunk Vore had bitten off of it. He dropped down onto his hands and knees and crawled towards her. His movement graceful and slinky like a practiced predator.
Grabbing her clothes, he tore them off violently. Lettie was too shocked to scream. Even though his violent actions and intimidating look scared her, Lettie felt a rush of wetness drench her core. She was turned on big time despite her fear. Or, maybe it was because of it.
Down to her bra and panties, Lettie shuffled back, trying to get away one more time. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him; she did. She wanted nothing more than to give herself to the sexy, terrifying beast in front of her. But this was Vore. The player. No matter how hot and sexy he was, no matter how much she wanted him, it didn’t change the fact that Vore had a reputation of a rake, a playboy.
Suppose another female was here instead of Lettie, would he react the same? Would he promise dirty things while telling her to run? Would he rip another woman’s clothes off as well? The intrusive thoughts turned her off and made her sick to her stomach. They hadn’t even done it yet, and already Lettie felt disgusted at the thought of Vore giving another woman his attention. How much worse would it be to watch him pick up another woman once they were back in civilization? Maybe he would finish what he started with that lady he was talking up when they had first met at the computer lab. She wanted to throw up just thinking about it.
Again, as he had last night, Vore must have felt her change in mood. Because even with the adrenaline and lust showing through his eyes, he stopped himself, barely. He gripped her chin in his shaking hands, as he had that day at the computer lab and forced her to look at him.
“Fuck,” he swore. Then he pushed off of her and fled.
He left. Lettie wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. It was evident that he needed her. She should be glad he didn’t push her for more, but the truth was, she was disappointed. Lettie didn’t know what to feel. Dazed, confused and mostly naked, Lettie sat alone on the ground and cried.
CHAPTER SIX
Vore wanted to hide in the woods forever and never return to society. The look of pure disgust on Lettie’s face was a stab in his heart. It had happened twice already in as many days. Each time, Lettie would react so positively to him, the scent of her lust and need driving him to distraction. Then it would change, turning to sadness and then disgust. He did not understand it. Did she find him so repulsive?
He punched the trunk of the nearest tree, angry at himself.
His whole life had been one sexual conquest after another. Every female used him to temporarily slake their loneliness, and he had done the same back. But none of them meant anything to him.
Vore thought of the day they had met, and put a hand to his chest. He would forever remember her standing in that cubicle with her hands on her hips, lecturing him as if he was nothing but a young male causing mischief. He had tried to intimidate her by towering over her tiny form. And while it had worked, she had scented of fear, it had also backfired, because her lust surged through harder, driving him crazy. And since then, he had thought of no other female.
She had called him something that day. A name that was not his own. And when she had said that name, he had seen a hint of the same disgust he saw just now on her face. What was the name again? Canova? Casova? Casanova! What did it mean?
He circled back, intent on asking Angie if the name had any significance. Lost in the pain of his rejection, Vore hadn’t noticed that he had traveled far from the camp. He found Angie washing up in the shallows of the river with Holden keeping watch. Lettie was nowhere to be seen.
Angie saw him and rounded on him immediately.
“What did you do?” she whispered angrily. That must mean Lettie might be in earshot. “She was just sitting there upset, and she won’t tell me why. You were supposed to help her like men again, not make things worse!”
Vore looked down at his feet. “I, I don’t know. I don’t understand why her scent changes. I didn’t do anything. I left when it happened.”
Angie looked confused. “Scent change?”
Vore scrubbed a hand through his hair. “She smells like lust when we start, but it changes to sadness or disgust.”
Angie blew out a breath. “Well, at least I know it can’t be your technique.”
“Who is Casanova?” Vore asked. He needed to know.
Angie narrowed her eyes. “Where did you hear that?”
“Lettie called me that when we first met. I didn’t think it was a compliment.”
“It’s not,” Angie agreed. “At least not to her. Casanova was a man in Earth’s history that was famous for being a womanizer. He loved them and left them. He was unable to be faithful. Definitely, not the type of man Lettie is looking for.”
“Fuck. My reputation precedes me.”
Angie looked serious. “Maybe Lettie is right. I wanted her to start dating again and thought something casual with you might help. But perhaps I’m wrong. I don’t want her hurt. Maybe it’s best if you don’t—”
Vore growled, cutting her off. “I don’t know if she is my mate. But I know I want to have the chance to find out.”
Angie’s eyes softened. A motion from Holden caught her attention. “I think Lettie’s heading this way.”
Vore nodded. “Thank you.”
He slunk back into the trees. But instead of leaving, he sat down in the shadows just out of sight from the river. Lettie was looking for a mate but had already ruled him out due to his reputation alone. The overwhelming bitter scent of disgust must be from whenever she remembered his reputation. Seducing Lettie just got a lot harder. He had a lot to think about.
Lettie waved back to Angie, who was washing up naked by the river. She thought that after watching her friend get freaky with the big Tallean guard, seeing her naked would be nothing. But she still felt a bit uncomfortable. Lettie understood that sexual openness was part of the Tallean culture. She decided that since she planned on living in Reka 5, she needed to get used to it pronto.
Running her fingers through the tangled mass of her hair, still sticky from the berry juice, she decided she needed a bath. She picked her way down the rocky slope to the water’s edge. She took her clothes off but covered her breasts and crotch as she waded in. The water was cool, a welcome change to the hot, sweaty day.
“You’ll get used to being comfortable with your body,” Angie assured her. “I was hesitant at first, too. But a few visits to the bathhouse took care of that.”
“Maybe when we get back, I’ll finally have the courage to go with you.” Lettie hoped it was true. It sounded fun, and she was sick of being held back by her fears.
“Why are you so self-conscious anyway?” Angie asked. “You don’t seem particularly religious or conservative. And you have a great body. You should show it off!”
“I know my body is probably acceptable,” Lettie admitted. She decided to be honest, as she had
lived with these insecurities for too long, and they needed to be dealt with. “But I’m an inverted triangle. I have big man-shoulders and no ass to speak of. On Earth, I was very strict with what I ate because I would put on weight on my arms and upper back. None of it went to my hips or butt. And today’s beauty standards are all about having a big booty.” She paused, not sure if Angie wanted to hear her issues.
But Angie looked interested. “Stand here,” she said, moving Lettie over to a deeper part of the river. “Duck down, and I’ll wash your hair.”
Lettie closed her eyes. It was helpful to have a friend to confide in. “I told you my ex was a cheater; we were together for six years. He cheated on me for all six of them. In the end, he blamed me. He said my tits were nice enough, but, sometimes he needed ‘more cushion for the pushin’ were his words. He said I looked like a boy from behind.”
“That’s fucking bullshit!” Angie sounded genuinely enraged. “There is nothing wrong with your ass!”
She grabbed Lettie’s arm, marched her to shallower water, and turned her around, intent on taking a good look at her assets.
“Nothing! It’s cute! Sure, it’s not a ba donk-a-donk flying in your face, but it’s perky and round. You’ve got enough cushion, hun! Don’t you listen to that rat bastard! He just cheated because he’s a cheater.”
Lettie smiled at Angie’s rage, wishing she had known the woman during her bad break up.
“Oh, I know. You know how I told you before that I’ve sworn off men? Well, I think I’m ready to try dating again.”
“Hey, that’s great. What made you change your mind?” Angie tilted Lettie’s head back to rinse out her hair.
“When I was stuck on the rust bucket of a ship with Mia, I realized that life is short. If I want to find someone to spend my life with, I better start looking now.”
“Good for you! I was worried about you, Lettie. I don’t want to see a friend lonely because of some asshole. You’ll be popular here with the Tallean males.”
