“I need it.”
I wanted it too. Hell, I needed it. “Fine, but we’re bringing soap because it can work as lube. I will not fuck you dry.”
He grinned against me, pushing me onto my back and covering me. His lips found mine. The kiss was soft and unhurried, not leading anywhere, but my dick perked up.
All it needed was a smile, and it was raring to go. I’d never desired someone like I did him. It felt odd, yet nice. “And,” I said, breaking away, “we are thoroughly checking the area for danger before we fuck.”
“Alright.”
I rubbed his cheeks with my thumbs, and he nuzzled my forehead like a needy cat, making me smile. He was so fucking cute. I hooked my legs around him to lock him against my body. “And I need a promise.”
“Anything.”
“If it hurts or is uncomfortable, you will tell me and we’ll stop.”
Serlotminden frowned.
“I knew it.” I rolled on top of him, changing our position so I was sitting on him. “You were going to stay quiet.”
“I want you.”
“And I don’t want to fucking hurt you. Sex is not worth it unless we are both enjoying it. Besides, penetrative sex is not everything, Mindy. We are perfect as we are right now.”
A warm smile stretched over his lips. “I will tell you, and we will stop. I promise.”
When his fingers trailed down my naked chest, following the trail of hair, I took a sharp inhale. He palmed my hardening shaft through my pants, and I groaned. Fuck. I ground my dick against him, chasing the friction.
“That’s it, Mate. Take your pleasure. I want to see it.”
I licked my lips. “If you want to go on a date today, you need to stop.”
He kissed my neck. “Let’s go, then.”
We both got fully dressed before stepping into the chilly cabin. Pookie didn’t even look up from her nest. She was curled into a tight ball, legs pressing into her body, asleep. Serlotminden slung his arms around my waist and he rested his chin on my shoulder. I’d never known someone as physically affectionate as him before, but I didn’t mind. He only released me to grab the blaster, in case we came across trouble.
The air was nippy as usual, but I swore it was growing warmer. Winter was probably ending. I was ready for less snow and cold.
Serlotminden snagged me, swinging me around until I faced him. I pressed my lips against his, wrapping my arms around his neck to keep him close. I was so happy. It was stupid. It was unbelievable. It was undeserved, probably, maybe, I honestly didn’t know. But god dammit, I was.
He escaped, racing away from me. His tail wiggled in anticipation.
“You’re ridiculous.”
My words didn’t dampen his smile as he crouched, eyebrows lifting.
I held up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t you fucking dare.”
With a growl, he launched at me, and I darted in the opposite direction. My pulse pounded in my ears. Anticipation flooded me. The first few times we’d done this, I’d panicked, but Mindy wasn’t attacking, he was playing. This time promised to end in sex, and I was excited for it.
Running faster, legs burning, I bolted in the direction of the shuttle.
“Bartholomew,” he screamed; the true terror in Serlotminden’s voice made me freeze. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him rushing toward me, blaster drawn. Time seemed to slow as I looked forward.
A massive alien was flying straight at me. They had a humanoid appearance, huge sprawling wings, talons for feet, and were covered in black feathers. The owner of the nests.
I was locked in place as the alien flew toward me, talons spread wide. My heart pounded as they got closer and closer. I ordered myself to move, to fall to the ground, to do something, anything, but my knees were locked and I was stuck in place. Helplessness clouded my thoughts, making everything around me feel like a dream. Impossibly slow, the alien flew toward me, promising death, and with that promise the ghosts that haunted me screamed and a metallic thud of a bolt echoed in my thoughts.
Something smashed into my back, knocking the air from my lungs and me out of that clouded, dream space, and I crashed into the snow. The weight crushing me disappeared as a shriek rent the air, making my hair stand on end.
