by Sara Page
Perhaps this is the course now. This little one seems to be a part of what I was destined for.
Looking down now at the female in my arms, I see her big bright eyes opening up to look at me.
My tongue is hanging halfway out as I was preparing to resume my grooming.
Well, damn.
Chapter Four
Isla
My warm dreams pull me under and I welcome them. I welcome the escape.
Inside myself, I’m safe. Inside, I don’t have to face giant bugs or blue lizards who want to eat me and fuck me.
If I could remain here, I would, for the rest of eternity.
But something wet, something warm, drags across my face.
I try to ignore it at first, sinking deep into the dark ocean of my dreams. But it’s persistent, the wet thing. It drags across my nose, my chin, and my cheeks.
My fingers tingle, wanting to slap it away. I don’t want to wake up. God, I don’t want to wake up, but the warm, wet thing touching me won’t go away.
There’s a tug on my scalp and gradually I become more and more aware of my body. Someone is touching me, exploring me. I know I should be worried. I should be piss-my-pants afraid after what I just went through, but for some reason I’m not.
I’m just annoyed.
Annoyed that whoever is touching me is disturbing my sleep.
I try to move away from the things touching me, but the effort alone brings me closer and closer to the surface of my dream.
Gradually, I realize I’m sitting on something warm, something hairy, with two strong arms wrapped around me.
I squirm, fighting off consciousness, but now the ocean is out of reach.
Opening my eyes, I look up to find the huge hairy guy leaning down towards me. His mouth is open and his long, red tongue is hanging out.
I swear to god it looks like he’s about to lick me…
“What the hell?” I blurt out and pull away.
He freezes in place and stares at me wide-eyed. We just stare at each other for a long moment, both us in shock, before I scramble off his lap and get to my feet.
“Were you licking me?!” I ask incredulously and wipe a hand down my face.
He pulls his tongue back into his mouth and his eyes dart away.
“Oh my god, you were totally licking me!” I cry.
My entire face is damp, and though it’s not totally covered in slobber, it totally grosses me out.
I open my mouth again, ready to lay into him for taking advantage of me while I was sleeping, but he still won’t meet my eyes. He sits on the floor, his huge body hunched over as if he’s trying to make himself smaller.
I hesitate, taken aback by his reaction. He was the one licking me, but now I somehow feel like an ass for getting upset about it…
Shaking my head, I snap my mouth shut and take a good long look at him. In my panic with the lizard man, I saw him through the glass but I didn’t really process what I was seeing. He’s big, yes. He’s at least three times as wide as me, and taller by a good three feet.
There’s hair covering most of his body, a beautiful copper-colored hair, but he’s not as hairy as say a Big Foot or a Yeti. No, the hair is sparse in places, such as his face, shoulders, and hands, and thicker in other places, mostly on his arms, chest, legs, flanks, and groin.
I find myself staring a little too long at his groin. He’s huge there too, which shouldn’t be surprising… but is. I’m no prude. I’ve seen my fair share of cocks in my life… and this guy could probably give a horse a run for its money.
Damn. There’s no way something that big would fit inside of me…
My cheeks flame with heat and I tear my eyes away. I don’t even want to know where that thought just came from. This crazy situation is probably starting to make me a little crazy.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I turn away and look around the cage.
The medical table I saw earlier is still there, but the crumbled body of the green bug is gone. Beside the medical table there are several flat screens that are probably monitors and what looks like a keyboard. The buttons and symbols on it are strange. No doubt it’s configured for some weird alien language.
I look to the glass that’s still splattered with the bug’s green brains and do a double-take.
When my eyes finally process what I’m seeing through the goo, I quickly look away. That blue lizard man is still there and it looks like they gave him someone new to fuck and eat.
“Oh, crap,” I choke out and turn away.
My stomach twists in revulsion and my entire body starts to shake.
The big hairy guy says something I don’t understand. His voice is deep, deeper than anything I’ve ever heard before, and kind of reminds me of thunder rolling through a valley.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to push the gruesome scene I just witnessed out of my head, but the horrific thing will probably be forever burned into my brain.
The blue lizard man had a smaller, clearly female, blue body pushed up against the glass and he was thrusting aggressively into her from behind…
The hairy guy says something again, but I’m too focused on not completely losing my shit to respond.
This is so messed up. So messed up. This entire situation is something straight out of a horror movie.
Tears flood my eyes and I can’t decide if I want to sob or gag.
What’s happening to that girl is what almost happened to me…
Arms come around me and I’m pulled against a big, warm body. I jerk in surprise and my first instinct is to fight, but the arms tighten, trapping me with their strength.
My cheek is forced up against a hard chest and it begins to rumble with a purr that I find surprisingly comforting.
Once I realize he doesn’t mean me any harm, it doesn’t take long for the fight to go out of me. I sag against him, letting myself be weak, and use him for support.
He continues to purr and lifts me up, off my feet, carrying me back to the corner. Gently, carefully, as if he’s afraid of hurting me, he lowers himself down and sits.
Settling me on top of his lap, he continues to cradle me close, his purr growing even deeper. I don’t know why, especially given our current situation, but I feel incredibly safe in his arms. I just know he’ll protect me.
“I want to go home…” I sniffle and complain. I want to go back to my boring life, to my boring job, to my boring classes, where I didn’t have to worry about weird alien creatures wanting to hurt me.
I feel his hot breath against the top of my head and then he starts to nuzzle me. His nose pushes through my hair, then his smooth cheek rubs against my cheek.
It’s so very sweet and yet so very disarming. Why is he being so nice to me?
I try hard to get my emotions back under control, especially because I know crying about the whole situation certainly isn’t going to change anything.
He continues to rub his cheek against my cheek, purring soothingly.
I start to pull back a little and his arms tighten as if he doesn’t want to let me go. Peeking up, my eyes meet his eyes and through the blur of my tears they appear to be even more dazzling.
“Can you help her like you helped me?” I ask.
He just stares at me, clearly not understanding.
I squirm a bit more, trying to wiggle out of his arms. Finally, with a look of reluctance, he releases me.
Leaning back, I point towards the goo-splattered glass without looking. “Can you help her?” I repeat.
He follows my arm and his face tightens with anger. His lips begin to pull back from his teeth and he growls, flashing his big, white fangs.
My heart jumps into my throat and his face immediately softens with regret at the look of fear on my face.
He purrs in apology and tries to pull me closer, but I stiffen and continue to resist him.
“My, what big teeth you have,” I breathe out while leaning away.
That little display of anger just reminded
me of the danger I’m in. I let myself get too comfortable with him and I shouldn’t be so at ease. He’s not only a complete stranger, but he’s also an entirely different species. I don’t know what his temperament is or if his kind is prone to anger or violence.
If I piss him off, there will be nothing or no one to stop him from hurting me…
He makes a sound that could be a whine and grabs up my hand. His hand is so much bigger than mine, and I’m painfully aware that if he wanted to he could easily crush it.
My lungs freeze and I just can’t seem to pull air into them as he lifts my hand and brings it up to his face. He presses my hand against his cheek, purring and rubbing his cheek back and forth on it, his eyes full of apology.
I shift uncomfortably on his lap, wanting to quickly forgive him, but still feeling incredibly uneasy given our size difference.
Noting my reluctance, I recognize determination as it flashes in his eyes. Before I realize what he’s up to, he’s opening his mouth and forcing my fingers into it.
“No, stop!” I cry but all he does is push the tips of my fingers up against his fangs.
My pulse is beating erratically now and I’m seriously starting to panic. Does he mean to bite me? What is he doing?
I try to pull my hand away but it’s impossible to free myself given his grip. Staring into my eyes, he rubs the tips of my fingers against the smooth surface of his fangs then his tongue snakes out, the rough, grainy texture running along them.
A zap hits me in the chest and travels down my spine to wreak havoc on my core. I gasp, finally able to pull air into my lungs.
What the hell was that?
Slowly, torturously, he pulls my fingers out of his mouth, all the while that lovely tongue of his continues to lick them.
Zap after zap hits me. Shocking me. Confusing me.
He says something, his voice smooth and rumbling, then he shoves my fingers back into his mouth and begins to suckle on them.
“Oh my god,” I moan and squirm on his lap.
I become very aware of his warm, hairy thighs pressing into mine, and then with a start, I realize I’m totally naked.
How the hell did I not realize that?
I can feel every pull of his mouth, every lick of his tongue, as if he was doing it to my clit.
His eyes lock on mine, holding mine, full of something. A promise? A declaration?
“Okay… okay… I get it. You’re not going to hurt me,” I groan and squirm some more.
If he doesn’t stop, I’m totally going to embarrass myself on his lap.
His lips curve around my fingers as if he’s smiling and then his lashes flutter before his eyes close.
With his own groan, he suckles hard and finally allows me to pull my hand free from his grip.
I slide my fingers out of his mouth and his eyes pop open. He stares at my now very wet fingers with a look of loss.
Unsure what to do, I drop my hand to my lap and try to process my reaction to him.
That was intense. Like, stupidly intense. And all he did was lick and suck a little on my fingers…
A flare of heat slices through me and I can’t stop myself from wondering what it would feel like if he were to lick and suck on something else…
Argh, what is wrong with me?
I mentally groan and berate myself. I’ve just gone through the most traumatic experience of my life, and I’m getting all hot and bothered over this alien.
And he is an alien, I have no doubt about that. All these strange creatures, and this even stranger place, there can be no other explanation for it. Somehow, I must have been abducted. I was grabbed though I have no memory of it. I’m pretty sure I’ve just joined the ranks of the many thousands of people that have been disappearing off of Earth ever since we made first contact with life outside our solar system…
At that depressing thought, my shoulders slump forward. I have no freaking clue how I’m going to get myself out of this. Once people disappear from Earth, they never come back. I should know. My sister works for the very bureau that investigates missing people.
Shit. Lexi.
Does she know what happened to me? Does she even know I’m missing yet?
Maybe she’s already looking for me… But how will she even find me? It’s not like the people of Earth are able to travel the cosmos yet.
Am I stuck here forever?
Mr. Big and Hairy makes a throaty noise and bumps his fingers against my chin, pulling my attention back to him.
Without looking into each other’s eyes, we have no other way to communicate, and no other way to determine what the other is thinking.
“I don’t even know your name…” I say, frowning thoughtfully.
He frowns as well.
“I’m Isla,” I say, pointing to myself and hoping he gets the gist of what I’m saying.
“Isla,” I repeat when he just stares at me, drawing it out with extra emphasis.
“Izzzz…Izz…rraahh,” he rumbles and points at me.
I smile and bob my head up and down. “That’s close enough.” I point at him. “What’s your name?”
He grabs my hand and for a second I’m afraid he’s going to shove my fingers in his mouth again. But thankfully, my fear turns out to be unfounded. He presses my palm flat against his chest, right over the spot where his heart is.
I can feel his heart pounding, his pulse beating a heavy, steady rhythm against my skin.
When he rumbles out his name it sounds like he’s saying ‘Rye-rock’ so that’s what I repeat.
He frowns and shakes his head then repeats it for me. “Ry...ahhh…kkk,” he drawls out like I did for him.
I think about what he said and try my best to decipher it.
“Rye-ock?” I repeat hesitantly, afraid I’m smudging it up again.
He grins this great big beautiful grin and I squeak as he pulls me closer, hugging me tight against him.
“Izrah,” he rumbles, his chest vibrating wonderfully against my cheek.
“Is..la,” I laugh. The way he says my name it almost sounds like Scooby-Doo is trying to say it and it’s a little hilarious.
His face scrunches up. “Izzz…lllaahhh…” he says very slowly and deliberately.
“Yes!” I beam up at him. “You got it!”
“Izlah,” he repeats and his arms squeeze around me as if he’s trying to hug me even closer to him.
“Rye-ock,” I say, and I swear I feel his pulse quicken so I say it again. “Ryock.”
He gazes down at me, his eyes so bright and hot they remind me of molten lava.
“Izlah naro,” he says firmly, and I have no idea what he’s saying so I just blink up at him in confusion.
“Naro,” he repeats. “Izlah naro,” he fairly growls, and I shiver at the way he’s saying that strange word.
I don’t know what it means but something inside me recognizes the power in it.
His head starts to come down, his eyes blazing like two brilliant suns, and I just know he’s going to kiss me….
But then there’s a disturbance in the air and his head snaps back up at the last moment. His lips pull back, baring his fangs, and a vicious growl pours from his mouth.
I hear the chittering before I even see them.
Deflating, I follow Ryock’s glare and look to the door.
Yep. Shit. The bugs are back, and they’re holding those long metal rods in their hands.
Chapter Five
Ryock
The damn bugs. All over the universe, and I’m willing to bet even in different universes, there are bugs. I would truly love to find one damn universe where they weren’t so sentient and so maddeningly abundant. By the very laws of the universe, they should be exterminated with extreme prejudice.
The Crima should be at the top of the damnable list.
The shock wands the bugs are wielding are zapping at Izlah and me. From the high frequency they are whizzing at, it’s not to knock us unconscious but to get our asses moving.
Slowly standing up, I pull the small girl behind me. I doubt they mean to come in and take her from me so quickly, but if they try it… I’m not going to make it easy for them.
We’ll see how they like losing limbs that don’t grow back.
Hell, I might even take off the male’s small smocks and see if they can reproduce without a bug cock.
“What do you want?” I ask in a growl.
Izlah is standing behind me and I can feel her fingers on my back as she tries to peek out from the side. She doesn’t need to speak for me to understand she’s deeply worried. Her trembling fingers give it away.
The guards slowly part as a much taller and thinner bug appears from behind them, walking into my cage.
“You’ve caused us much trouble, why?” it asks.
I think it’s a female Crima, but I can’t really be positive unless I remove its clothing. These damn things all look alike to me.
And I don’t really have a response for my actions save that I felt a deep calling inside of myself. A calling to have what is mine. Can these bastards understand that? Can they understand my race on that level?
They study my kind and have subjugated us for long enough that we are known to them. But the studying of our physical bodies has only been happening for a short time. Like all the other members of the Tribunal, they have decided that a little experimentation on the less advanced races will aid them in discovering whatever it is they are searching for.
“I wanted her.”
“We can see that.” The bug points to the mess still on the wall. “But why did you destroy one of my staff to get your way?”
“I wanted her,” I repeat.
My race has never been at the top of the food chain. We came too late to the party when we achieved the ability to travel outside of our own solar system. The Tribunal had long been set in place when we met other civilizations. Us bowing down to the Crima wasn’t our first choice. We fought against the oppression for almost two centuries, but when the losses began to mount up, our Queen sought peace.
