Page 14 of Hoof It

Fourteen

Chapter 13

Darcy

R ather than say anything, Zu brings one of his hands up to my face and gently wipes both sides of my nose. His hand dips below the water for a few seconds.

I blush a bit, then bring his face the rest of the way down to mine. I kiss him slowly and thoroughly before pulling away. My voice is still full of emotion when I say, “Thank you.”

Zu’s arms pull me tightly against him for a brief moment before he steps back from me and crouches down so that we’re eye level. “I will always take care of you, little mate. Your health and happiness matter more to me than my own.”

Refusing to cry at his sweetness any more, I nod once. “We should probably get out soon. My skin is going to start pruning if I stay in the water much longer.” My stomach must agree with me, because it rumbles and cramps. I flinch slightly and my hand automatically moves to my belly.

“It also seems that you need to eat.” Zu takes my hand and leads me out of the water. He stands off to the side patiently as I put my dry clothes on my wet body. Before I’m able to take a step forward, he picks me up bridal style and carries me back down the walkway. I’m not sure where we’re heading, but I don’t recognize the paintings on these walls so I know that we aren’t headed to the living area. I look around when he stops and see a room full of baskets. He gently places my feet on the cold floor and I squat down to inspect the basket closest to us.

It’s full of berries. I move to another, and this one is full of various squash. Looking inside a third, I see apples of multiple colors. I stand back up and face Zu. “You weren’t joking when you said that you have a room full of food. Do you grow all of this, or does it all come from wild trees and bushes?”

“Most of it is wild. The squash I grow each summer. I found one that some humans had left unfinished and discarded years back, and I pulled the seeds and planted them in a sunny spot near the cave entrance. I’ve had squash ever since. Same with the pumpkins and potatoes. The berries and other fruit though, are all native to this forest.”

“Wow. Just when I think you can’t possibly surprise me any further, you do. You’re truly incredible.” I reach my arms up and he picks me up. I plant a kiss on each of his cheeks, then his lips before he puts me back down. I shiver when my feet hit the cold ground for the second time. My hair is still dripping and leaving a small puddle on the floor.

I pull the hair tie off my wrist and quickly pull my hair up into a high ponytail. Zu watches me silently. He waits until I’m satisfied with my hair before speaking.

“Would you like to pick what you want to eat? Or do you want me to choose?”

“What if we both pick something?”

“I like that idea.”

I move towards the pumpkins. As I reach in to pick one, I have a thought. “What if we grab enough to take with us to my campsite and eat with Lexi and Frankie? Would that be okay?”

I turn towards Zu as I wait for his answer. He straightens from the tall basket he was bent over digging through. He’s silent for a long moment, and I worry I may have offended him. His eyebrows furrow together.

“You wish to leave me already?” Jimazu looks ready to cry. I rush towards him and bring my hands to his chest in an attempt to comfort him.

“No, not at all. I’m nowhere near ready to leave your side. I just thought that since they’re already supposed to come here at some point this afternoon, we could beat them and show up with food. I think I want to tell them I’m not ready to leave you yet, and I want to stay here with you longer. If you don’t mind me being here, that is.”

His face morphs into pure joy as my words register. He picks me up and spins me around before kissing every inch of my face. I giggle and return his affection before he puts me back on my feet. He kisses the top of my head, then turns back towards the baskets of fruits he was digging through. I stand for a moment and just watch him.

Finally satisfied with his finds, he stands to his full height and sees that I only have two pumpkins near my feet. I laugh and go back to the basket and pull out two more. He holds his fruits out to me, and I take them along with my small pumpkins as he picks me back up and carries me back out to the living area.

He sets me down beside the bed, and I drop my armful of fresh food onto the furs. My leggings appear in front of me, hanging off his fingertips. I quirk an eyebrow at him. “Usually my partner tries to get me out of my clothes. Not back into them.”

Startled, Zu looks at me and squints. “Little mate, the day I would prefer to see you fully clothed, is the day that I need to be put down. I would prefer if you were always as naked as I am. But I did not think that you want to go through the forest in just your shirt and panties.”

His hand has moved to the back of my head and grips my ponytail, ensuring that I’m paying attention to his words. I inhale a sharp breath as his hand tightens around my hair. My panties dampen. A look of panic starts to fill his eyes, but then his nostrils flare as he takes in the scent of my obvious arousal. He quickly realizes that I enjoy the feeling of my hair being pulled and he gives it another small tug. I groan and whimper in need.

“The sooner we leave to see your friends, the sooner we can return. Which means the sooner I can spend the rest of the day pleasuring you in any way you desire, little mate.” His free hand takes hold of one of my breasts and squeezes just enough not to hurt before he pinches my nipple.

“Fucking hell, Zu,” I groan out as my head falls backwards. “You can’t say that, then immediately tease me after.”

A sound that I think may be a chuckle leaves his lips. He bends down and kisses me once before standing and once again picking up my leggings. I take them from his fingertips and quickly pull them up my legs. He holds me steady as I shove my feet into the openings.

After adjusting the seams along my legs, I turn in a slow circle hoping to spot my socks. I see them halfway under the bed. Before I can drop down to grab them, Zu bends forward and reaches for them. Seeing his ass up in the air, I decide to give it a small slap. He stands abruptly, his eyes narrowed on me.

“Why did you slap my hind-end, little mate?” He reaches back and rubs the offended ass cheek.

“It was right there near my face. Ass slapping is a sign of affection.” I shrug one shoulder and his eyes narrow more.

“Just you wait. I will return the favor when you don’t expect it.”

I laugh. “Looking forward to it.” I wink at him as he holds my socks out for me. Before I’m able to take them, he steps into my space and holds my socks above his head. I have to lean my head all the way back to even see them. There’s no way I can jump up and reach them. He’s far too tall, and I’m too short. He sees the moment I realize this.

“You’ve been awfully playful today, little mate. I just thought that perhaps it was my turn.” He actually smirks at me. I don’t think he realizes how…sexy he is right now. Or all the time, if I’m being honest with myself. His inexperience, both sexually and with humans in general only add to it too.

“I’m not usually so playful. I feel relaxed and comfortable with you. It makes it easy to be goofy. You make it easy to be goofy. Plus, it gives me another reason to touch you.”

His arms fall and his eyes mist over. He holds my socks out for me, and I take them from him. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I lift my feet and put my socks on. My shoes show up on the ground in front of me. I look up at Zu and he’s now squatting down a foot or two away from me. He takes my face in his hands.

“Darcy, I don’t know the human words for what I feel for you. Just know that you mean everything to me. You are my everything. I want you to always feel like you can touch me. You don’t need a reason or excuse. My body is yours to do with as you wish, remember? You will never hear me complain about your hands or lips or any other part of you being on any part of me.”

He takes my hands and brings them to his chest before continuing. “My heart beats for you. No longer is it mine. My heart is yours, and you are my heart, little mate.”

I’m pretty sure I swoon, and my heart feels full. He has such a sweet way with words without even trying. It’s just how he is.

If I’m honest with myself, I already feel deeply for Jimazu. It’s unexpected, and I know that it’s likely because of the mate bond. But I find that I don’t mind my feelings for him. It’s definitely too early to say that I love him. It’s only been a day since we met face to face. But I’ve read enough romance books to know that according to fiction, what I’m feeling is normal. Realizing that I haven’t spoken and I’ve been lost in my thoughts, I move my hands from his chest to hold his face.

“I know what you mean, and how you’re feeling. I’m feeling pretty similarly, so you aren’t alone in that. I adore you, Jimazu.”

His hands grab my hips and pull me onto his knees. “And I adore you, little mate.” He kisses me. We take our time, exploring one another’s mouths as if it’s the first time.

I eventually break our kiss, and both of our chests are lightly heaving. I lean my forehead against his for a moment while I catch my breath and slow my heart rate.

He lifts my chin and places a soft kiss onto my lips before indicating that I should get off his knees. I shift back onto the bed and he stands up. He disappears towards the entrance briefly before returning, a basket in hand. He holds it out and I place all of the fruits inside of it. Zu then holds up my backpack. He helps me slip it on and watches as I clip the chest buckle. He turns and squats down in front of me and turns his head towards me.

“Climb on my back and I’ll carry you. Unless you’d rather walk.”

Not needing to be told twice, I wrap my arms loosely around his neck before he stands. I bring my legs around his waist and lock my ankles together. He picks up the basket of food and starts towards the cave entrance. His hand hovers near the goat mask hanging on a jagged rock, and seemingly decides against grabbing it.

I lean my chin onto his shoulder. “I must say, I’m becoming a fan of our size differences, Zu.”

He shifts the basket and quickly gives my leg a squeeze. “I am too, little mate.”

We’re silent for a few minutes, and my mind wanders as I take in the sights of the forest from this height. Zu always has to lean down or pick me up to kiss me, unless we’re laying down. It has me curious as to how sex between us would really work. His height could be an advantage in missionary. But a disadvantage when I’m riding him. I also wonder whether we’d be able to fuck with me on my hands and knees. I’d love to try sixty-nine at least once with him, just to see whether or not we’re able to. Especially since his dick is so long and thick.

The more I think about sex with Zu, the more turned on I become. It doesn’t take long before my panties are soaked. I shift uncomfortably on Zu’s back. He stops mid-step and grips my leg.

“Little mate, I’m not sure what you’re thinking about so hard back there, but I can smell how aroused you are.”

I cautiously bring a hand up to his horn and stroke it as I remember how I held onto them earlier while grinding on his lap.

“Darcy…” His voice has dropped several octaves. His grip on my leg tightens before he drops the basket to the ground. He releases my leg then reaches back and pulls me around his body so that we’re face to face.

He leans in and attacks my lips. Our kiss is all teeth and tongue. It’s full of desperation and longing. I can taste how badly he wants me. His hand finds my clit through my clothing and begins rubbing in urgent circles. I can feel us moving and seconds later a tree scrapes my back.

His kisses become more fevered. He pulls away long enough to say, “I need you to come, little mate. I cannot until you do.”

Before he can resume kissing me, I pull my head away. “Fingers inside me, please, Zu.”

His lips return to mine as his hand finds the top of my leggings. Seconds later, his palm rubs against my clit. His fingers slip inside of me. From this angle, he hits my g-spot. “Right there. Don’t stop.”

He rubs the spot with his fingers over and over, his palm moving against my clit the entire time. I reach up and stroke both of his horns. “Come with me, my beast.”

I kiss and nip the spot right behind his ear as his teeth bite into my shoulder. Just as my orgasm hits, his mouth slams down onto mine. He swallows my moans and his body shudders against me. Our kiss slows and he pulls his hand out of my leggings. Just like earlier, he brings his hand to his mouth and licks each finger clean.

I can’t help but to bite my lip as I watch him clean his hand. I hear a small groan come from him. He kisses me again, and I can taste myself on his lips.

“You are my favorite flavor, little mate.”

I grin at him. “Just wait until you taste me directly from the source instead of from your fingers.”

His head tilts to the side. “What do you mean?”

My grin widens, “You liked when I had your cock in my mouth, right?” Zu nods. “You can do something similar to me. My clit isn’t only for touching. You can lick and suck on it as well.”

His eyes grow wide at the thought. I glance down between us and see that his cock is fully extended and rock hard. I look back up and notice him staring at me. His voice drops again. “I very much look forward to tasting you. Perhaps I’ll do so after we return to the cave.”

He gently places me onto my feet and I adjust my leggings again. My panties are pretty much ruined at this point, and my leggings aren’t far behind. I check that my ponytail doesn’t need adjusted, then stand and watch Zu as he adjusts himself. A quick glance backwards tells me that his cum is covering the tree back right below where I just was. I look back at him and give him a once over to make sure that there isn’t any in his fur.

He seems to have the same idea because he’s bent over and running his fingers through it. He doesn’t seem to find any so he stands upright and looks at me. We step towards each other at the same time, having the same thought. He picks me up and my legs go around his waist. He kisses me softly. You can’t tell that just twenty-four hours prior he hadn’t ever kissed.

We break apart and he smiles. “I adore you, little mate.”

I brush a piece of hair away from his eyes. “And I adore you, my beast.”

He laughs silently and shakes his head at me. “I should probably be upset that you keep calling me a beast. But since ‘my’ comes before it, I’m not. I don’t mind what you call me, so long as you keep calling me yours.”

He shifts so that he can spin me back onto his back. That move is easily the hottest thing any man has ever done to me. I nuzzle my face into his neck and breathe him in. Something about him speaks to me on a primal level. I’ve never been so attracted to the way a man smells.