Page 5

Jeff

Lying in the pile of blankets we’ve made into a bed in the treehouse, Willa snuggles into my side as we stare up at the sky. The ever-present sister planet glows above, casting a bright blue light across the forest. It’s brighter than the moon ever was on Earth, making it feel as if there’s a light on somewhere. The moons float silently above, watching over both planets and us. I’ve never asked Vahru if that planet has a name, life, or anything valuable worth venturing over for. I’m sure his people have at some point, considering their capabilities.

It seems like a majorly missed opportunity if they haven’t. I mean, venturing to that planet is much like us getting to the moon. It’s close, easily available with basic equipment. Considering that the Nyanine cities are much more advanced than humans, they should have no problem getting there and back. I’ll just have to make a mental note to ask, I guess. It hasn’t exactly been top priority in my mind lately.

There’s just too much going on around here for me to sit around wondering about things I can’t look into right now. The threat from someone much higher on this planet is growing, Kari’s panicking as she tries to gather information, but the warnings from the Guardians so far have left us with an ominous feeling. I have no idea how things are going to go in the near future, but I’m growing wary of the constant threat of danger. I’m ready to settle down and enjoy life for once. I finally have all I wanted for that kind of life.

A small hand glides along my chest, smoothing out my shirt, before cupping my chin and turning my head. “Must your mind always run at full speed through a tangled forest? Come back to me.” Her voice is soft, quiet, as she implores me. Green eyes glow like emeralds under the stars as she gazes up at me, her eyes darting around, taking in every inch of my face. She looks at me like that a lot, like she feels the need to memorize every detail before I disappear from her life as if I was never here. I don’t understand why she feels that way, as if I’ll leave or disappear, but I wish I could take that away.

“I’m sorry, I was honestly trying to clear it, not think for once. There’s so much going on, Kari’s all in a tizzy over this divide and struggling to find valuable information. When I think about her struggles, it causes this sinking feeling in my gut like something ominous is headed our way. Something feels off, I just can’t put my finger on it.” My gaze goes back to the skies as I talk, letting my mind leak freely from my lips for her ears alone. Willa is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given by the universe. She’s my lover, my confidante, my best friend. Everything I could have ever asked for in a mate.

“Really? I feel the exact opposite. The village feels safer than ever with your efforts to organize the hunters as security teams, too. The Sautii have been such a huge help with food and clothing and even building new cabins for the kids, and the kids are thriving here. So many of them are coming out of their shells, Jeff. They’re laughing, talking; they’re happy. Things are better than ever!” She smiles at me as she props herself up on her elbow, her long black hair hanging like a curtain behind her shoulder. Braids along her scalp keep it out of her eyes, and I reach up and run my fingers through it.

One of the best things about Willa is her steady positivity. She’s never down, angry, or anything but joyful. She’s the brightest person in the village. “You know I love your positive outlook, I always do, but I mean what I feel, Willa.” I cup her cheek, looking into her eyes as hers droop, her cheek sinking into my palm. “I just can’t explain this feeling, I don’t know what it is, but whatever is going on out in the world, it’s about to come crashing through our door, and I don’t feel prepared. If I lost you….”

“Hey, that won’t happen. I’ll fight through death to get back to you, you know that. Nothing is going to tear us apart. Not if I have my way.” Her words are stern, filled with determination, and I grin.

“You’d kill the grim reaper himself for me, wouldn’t you?” I chuckle, letting my thumb run over her plump bottom lip.

“I don’t know who that is, but I’ll fight anyone for you. Tooth and nail. You’re my mate, my everything. This mark proves it.” She brushes my shirt aside, exposing the golden mark on my right shoulder, as she leans down and presses kisses along it to my sternum.

The sensation it sends through my body is indescribable. There’s tingles along the bond itself as she touches it, but this radiant heat spreads through my limbs, warming me in the sweetest way. As her lips brush my sternum, the very tip of the mark that swirls across my skin, this bolt of pure pleasure ignites in my chest before racing straight through me to my groin. A moan slips from me, unbidden, as she rises and grins at me, her face close enough to mine that our noses nearly touch.

My left hand slides through her hair, and I watch as it slips between my fingers, falling to the blankets below us. “I love you, Kitten, more than anything.” My words are quiet, and she nods, her lips parting to return the sentiment, but I cut her off, finishing my thought. “I’m not trying to tell you these things because I want to scare you or worry you. I’d rather you know that I feel something, whether it’s coming or not, and be prepared. If things take a turn for the worse, I want you to be mentally prepared to handle it like the hunter queen I know you can be, okay?”

She wets her lips, my eyes tracking the movement as she swallows thickly before nodding. “I understand. We’re in this together, okay? Whatever happens, we stick together.”

“Of course.”

We stare at each other for several breaths as the tense moment settles over us before gently slipping away, our worries now out in the open and no longer burdening our hearts so deeply. A wry grin slowly tilts her lips as she eyes me, and I squirm, knowing that look. She’s got something in her head, I’m the target, and I’m not sure if I’m about to be tortured or rewarded.

“Why are you making the crazy face? Do I need to start running?” My eyebrow rises as I sit up on my elbows, attempting to back away from her.

She giggles, her head tilting back as her face scrunches comically, her body shaking mine, and I can’t help but smile at the sound. I love her laugh.

“I was just thinking about how you called me a hunter queen.”

And here we go. She lays out what I said for examination but doesn’t tell me what the results are, leaving me to wonder which direction this is going to go. I’m either going to be ridiculed and regret saying it or she’s going to like it. Either way, I’m going to regret saying this, aren’t I? I sigh, rolling my head away from her. “What about it?” The words are sullen, nearly a groan of displeasure that has her giggling. Fuck me. I hate when women do this, overanalyze things said that don’t have such a deep meaning.

“If that’s how you feel about me, and you feel the need to run, maybe you should. I don’t think I’d mind a fun game of chase through the woods. Catching you will be the best part.” She winks, biting the air, and I sigh heavily. That causes her to laugh a full belly laugh, her body falling across mine, shaking me. I run my tongue along my teeth, trying unsuccessfully to suppress my smile. She’s always a constant surprise. You can’t ever predict what she’s going to say.

“You’re incorrigible. Will I ever say anything that doesn’t turn you on?” My words make her laugh even harder, and I realize I’m a doomed man. There’s nothing I can do. She will forever be like this, stuck in the honeymoon phase, always reading into everything with a sexual lens, and I’m just going to have to keep up with her. I sigh again, and she sits up, wiping at her eyes.

“No, you’re doomed. But it’s your fault anyway!” Her voice turns accusatory as she gives me a pointed look, her eyes wide. My brows draw in confusion as I stare back at her.

“My fault!? Wha… how?”

“You’re too sexy, it’s really not fair.” She shakes her head, shrugging, and I laugh at her.

“You’re ridiculous. I’m not going to roll in mud and dung to keep you at bay, so learn some self-control, Kitten,” I tease her, nudging her with my shoulder as I grin.

She giggles, her body hunching as she tries to cover her mouth. Her tail flicks behind her, hitting my shin, and I know my words don’t sink in. She’ll never learn, not with me. “I don’t think mud and dung could keep me away. You can’t do anything to repel me.” She says the words through continuous giggles, falling into full blown laughter at the end.

I lift my arms simply to let them fall in a huff of agitation. Of course, I don’t really feel all that upset about it, but it’s fun to mess with her. What she’s failed to notice is my body’s reaction to her earlier actions. My pants haven’t loosened throughout this entire conversation. Inside, I know I’ll give her as much as she wants from me, all of it, I don’t care. I’ll find a way to keep up because she’s absolutely worth it, and if she wants an entire litter of kids, then so be it. I’ll give her whatever she wants. But that doesn’t mean I won’t put up a fight to make her work for it a bit.

“Oh, come on, Captain,” she purrs the nickname, rubbing a hand along my chest, purposely sliding her fingers along the mark. Another bolt of pleasure rushes through me, and I close my eyes, biting my tongue to hold back the sounds of it. “Deny it all you want, you know you love my appetite for you. Besides, I keep things fun, right?” She grins, her tongue between her teeth.

Throwing my arms around her, I spin us and pin her beneath me, making it very clear how she affects me. She gasps as I settle between her legs, a predatory grin on my face. “Perhaps it is I who should be chasing you through the woods. We both know who the real hunter is in this relationship.”

She lets out a surprised laugh, her arms sliding over my shoulders to pull me down as she rises to meet me. “Whatever you want, Captain. As long as you give me what I need when you catch me.” Her lips press to mine, and we both know the answer to that question. I couldn’t deny her the pleasure of me if I wanted to. She’s just as much my addiction as I am hers.

My left hand slides down her leg as it wraps around my waist, taking her skirt with it. When I reach her hip and realize there is no material beneath the skirt, I rip my lips from hers to glare at her. “I thought we discussed this several times, Kitten. If someone else sees what’s mine…. Do I need to start punishing you accordingly?”

Her eyes widen as she stares up at me, her chin dipping in a slow nod. I chuckle, not at all surprised by her answer. Of course, she’s baiting me. This is exactly what she wants.

“You do this on purpose, don’t you? You naughty, naughty kitty.” Leaning down, I give her a bruising kiss, one that steals the breath from her as she moans and claws at me. In other parts of my life, I have a slight hatred of being the leader. The pressure is a lot, being in control means you have everyone else’s lives on your shoulders, you’re responsible for so much. But with Willa, being responsible for her pleasure, her happiness, it’s the lightest burden I’ve ever carried. Being her captain will always be easy.

Pulling back, I sit up on my knees and scoot back out of her reach. “On hands and knees, Kitten. You’ve got three seconds.”

Her green eyes widen as she slowly rolls over, lifting her ass into the air, tail raised, until she settles on hands and knees. She looks over her shoulder at me, her face impassive as she waits for my next command. I swallow, my hands clenching on my thighs as I stare at her. The question in my mind is how to punish her. Nothing I do will truly be a punishment, but there’s got to be something that will torture her as much as pleasure her.

Leaning forward, I gently peel her skirt down her thighs, exposing her to me. She stays still, for once, behaving. I slide my hand along her tail from base to tip, watching as she shivers, her elbows nearly buckling under her. Both my hands slide up the backs of her thighs, slowly, until I reach her ass, rolling it and caressing it in my palms before giving each cheek a rough smack. She gasps, her purple skin darkening with my hand prints, and instead of soothing her, I leave it to sting. She’s already dripping for me, and I’ve barely even gotten started.

Finally having decided on her punishment, I slide two fingers through her essence and gently glide them inside her, her drawn out moan matching my pace. I’m slow, methodical, as I curl my fingers against the perfect spot inside, watching her back bow and hunch to help me out as she seeks her pleasure. Grabbing her tail in my other hand, I wrap it around my wrist, pulling slightly.

Her moan reaches a higher pitch, telling me she’s close, and I keep going at the same pace, dragging her toward the edge slowly. As her walls begin to clench around my fingers, I pull back, sliding through her folds instead. She sighs, her head dropping forward, and I grin. Playing her clit the way I know she likes, I push until she’s close before pulling back, chuckling as she huffs in agitation. I continue this torture in one more cycle before I step back and stand.

“Turn around, and let’s put that sassy mouth to good use,” I growl the words, knowing how much it will affect her, and she crumbles. She manages to turn herself around, her hands trembling as she unties the shorts and lets them fall around my ankles. I watch with my head tilted slightly to the side, my gaze stern. She looks up at me, eyes wide, before taking a deep breath and leaning closer.

Her hands press against her thighs as she holds herself up, using only her mouth to pleasure me. At first, I fight myself, holding back every sound that wants to burst from my lips, but this is part of her torture. She hates when I hold back, when she can’t tell if I’m enjoying it or not, which makes her work harder to give me what I need. I let my fingers trail along her braids, rubbing across her tiny horns, and she moans around me.

“Do you think you’ve learned your lesson, Kitten? If not, you better get ready to swallow.” I groan, fisting the loose hair at the back of her head. She nods against me, but I hold her close, refusing to let her pull back. “I don’t know, I’m not sure you have. Fuck.”

She whines, gagging as she pushes deeper. That’s when I notice her wandering hand sliding up her thigh. If she thinks she can take care of herself without my noticing, she’s got another punishment coming. Using the hair in my fist, I pull her back from me, quickly sliding my hand around her throat as I push her back into the blankets, my body hovering over her. With my other hand, I snatch her wrist and pin it above her.

“No one but me touches that, not even you. Understood?” My voice is hoarse, deeper and more growl than I’ve ever used before, but she’s brought out a part of me I didn’t know existed.

“Yes, Captain.” Her words are soft, her eyes pleading with me to give her what she wants.

“That’s my good girl.”

Her eyes roll as I sink into her slowly, giving us both what we want. Rising, I toss my shirt aside before ripping hers from her body. The shredded pieces get thrown to either side of the treehouse as she gasps. “Don’t even, you’ll make more, you always do. You have more clothes than any one person needs.”

She giggles, which turns into a moan as I slide my teeth along her neck, teasing her as I slowly slide in and out of her, torturing us both. Despite how close I know we both are, I’m not ready to end it just yet.

“Captain, please!” She claws at my back, her nails scratching the skin but not enough to break it, just enough to sting.

I suck air through my teeth, hissing, barely containing myself as it is. Her hips tilt, taking me deeper, and my resolve shatters. I fuck her like she wants, hard, fast, no mercy. Her screams ring out in the silent forest, but I couldn’t care less who hears. Let everyone know just how well she’s cared for.

She comes multiple times, the wet smacking sounds of our skin echoing in the small space, until I can’t hold back a second more. A chorus of yeses spew from her as I empty myself into her, her hands pulling at me as if she can take me any further. I finally relax, my body dropping beside her as we both pant for breath.

“If you EVER attempt to get off without me again… so help me, Jeff,” she pants, her head turning to look at me.

I burst into laughter, and she follows suit shortly after, giving up on her stern look. It doesn’t suit her anyway, she’s not a stern or angry person. She curls into my side, letting her leg slide over mine as we relax.

“I could never, Kitten. We’re in this together, always.” I kiss her forehead, and she hums in approval. My gaze lifts to the sky once more, memorizing the view before my eyes close as I sigh, relaxing into the blankets below me. The last thing I remember before falling into sleep is smiling at the small snores coming from Willa on my shoulder.