Chapter Three

Chapter 3

SOFIA AWOKE TO A distinct pressure at her backside, a brawny arm wrapped around her waist. A moment of panic before she remembered where she was, on Olara 8, in bed with her new husband.

Braax nuzzled her cheek as she blinked her eyes open, her back flush to his powerful chest.

“Good morning, my sweet wife.”

“Good morning,” she murmured, still half asleep as she felt his hard cock slip between her bare thighs.

The brush of his erection against her made her core ache with need, though she had just woken up. She smiled, warmth building quickly as he rutted into her, and not just from the physical stimulation. The way her new husband desired her so wholeheartedly was quite a surprise, but a pleasant one.

Even if this was just a mutually beneficial arrangement, it was nice to feel wanted.

Sofia swallowed the knot threatening to form in her throat, unwilling to think longer about the emotions threatening to burst through.

“How long have you been awake?”

“A long time,” he purred. “I have been waiting for you.”

He whimpered as he thrust between her thighs and she let out a low moan, already needy with arousal.

His voice was deep and husky, prickling the sensitive skin of her neck as he whispered in her ear.

“Do you want my cock, wife?”

Just the words sent an electric bolt up her spine and she tried to focus, take stock of her parts. Sore from last night, yes, but nothing unbearable. And at the moment, need outweighed any chance of pain, so she gave him her answer.

“Yes.”

The single word was like a spark to a fuse, Braax adjusting her so that her back arched as she lay on her side.

Without further preamble, there was a pressure at her entrance, a pinch of pain as he entered her. Not with his cock, but a thick finger, claws thankfully retracted.

Sofia whimpered as her husband worked the digit inside of her, stretching her muscles slowly.

“Remember to breathe, sweet Sofia. I need you to relax before I can fuck you,” he murmured, bringing her back to herself.

She let out a sigh, trying to focus on the deep breathing techniques she learned in physical therapy. It was easy to get too eager—to push herself too much—which would only cause more issues in the future. Endo had taught her to clench and tighten her muscles, trying to protect herself from the flares of pain, but she knew she needed to let go .

Her muscles calmed as he added a second finger, kneading her interior with tender strokes.

“Good girl, Sofia. So good for me.”

Another whisper in her ear that sent a jolt up her spine, a smile pulling at her lips as the embers ignited at the apex of her thighs.

Suddenly his fingers were gone, quickly replaced by the tip of his cock prodding at her slit. She squirmed against him, not caring how needy she looked, but his strong arms held her fast to the bed. With a grunt, he began pushing his way in, her cunt slick with arousal.

Braax growled, holding himself halfway inside, letting her muscles stretch. Finally, he plunged all the way in, the sudden intrusion taking her breath away though he had prepared her well. He gave her a moment to get settled, moaning as she fully sheathed his great length, her muscles trembling with eagerness.

“ Good girl . You listen so well.”

Sofia whimpered and with a smooth motion, he tipped her onto her stomach, his cock never leaving her as he started to thrust. Her thighs pressed together as he kneaded her ass, rocking her into the bed with each plunge.

“Oh, I could get used to this, my beautiful wife. Giving you pleasure, using your body. My perfect little human.”

Every word made her chest clench with emotion, but she forced it away, focusing on her breathing and the sensation of his cock penetrating her. Not the feelings his sweet praise stirred.

Braax drew back, gripping her hips and fucking her in earnest, his weight grinding her clit into the firm mattress.

She swore her eyes were crossing as the ridges rubbed against her, hitting the right spot over and over again until she felt the surge of an orgasm rip through her.

“Yes, cum on my cock, sweet Sofia,” he cooed in her ear as he continued to plunge his way deeper inside.

She grunted with each thrust, mirroring his own deep growls, her body shaking as she came apart around him. Her muscles continued to throb with aftershocks of pleasure as he let out a roar, his seed spilling into her.

Claws pricked her hips as he thrust, though this time he stopped himself before he continued on too long. Sofia gasped in a breath, her lungs empty as he settled on top of her.

After a few moments, he pulled out and rolled her onto her back, pressing his snout against her lips. She had no time to react as he made his way down her body, massaging her arms, her stomach.

Instead of protesting, she fluttered her eyes shut, drinking in every drop of attention and pleasure. He paused at her thighs, kneading the tight muscles with delicate precision.

Suddenly, she felt a wetness at her entrance and her eyes shot open to Braax, lapping up his own seed from her dripping cunt.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Cleaning you up, my dear.”

A simple answer, but still her eyes widened at the sight of him drinking from her. His eyes closed with apparent pleasure, humming muffled moans as he scooped his cum out of her with a curled tongue. The tingling of numbness had already set in, a strange sensation as he cleaned between her legs.

He retracted his tongue and moved his attention to her inner thighs, lapping up any seed that had leaked out. When he was satisfied with his handiwork, he sat up on his knees, grinning.

A thought came as she eyed his cock, no longer erect, but still unsheathed and dripping with wetness.

“Do you want me to clean you as well?”

Braax laughed and shook his head.

“No, wife, you do not need to do that.”

Sofia pushed herself up to a seated position, then gave him a shy smile.

“I would like to.”

“My little human, I would enjoy nothing more than to feel your tongue cleaning my cock, but I fear I will need to take you again if that happens.”

That certainly gave her pause, the familiar cramping in her lower stomach telling her she’d had enough for the time being. Even if she wanted another round, her endometriosis sure didn’t, though the thought of him taking her made her head spin with possibilities. Still, his healing jizz might work on her aching cunt, but it didn’t seem to penetrate deep enough to deal with her pelvic floor issues, so further activities were out of the question.

For now.

“Yeah, I don’t think I can handle anymore…” she trailed off, but Braax just moved to her, kissing her on the cheek before getting out of the bed.

He looked suddenly shy, shuffling his feet as he clasped his hands behind him. His cock was… gone, retreated into its sheath.

“I will leave you to get ready. I did not give you much time to unpack last night. Please put your things wherever there is space. This is our home now.”

Our home. A sweet sentiment, especially when she’d been unceremoniously kicked out of her last one.

Braax left her alone, shutting the door behind him as she got her bearings. Sofia had been focused on other things last night when he brought her to his bedroom.

Their bedroom.

The bed was mussed, and she swiftly made it, fluffing pillows and straightening silky sheets that they had tousled about during the night… and morning.

The gray walls were bare, minimal furniture decorating the rest of the space. What appeared to be a dresser stood in the corner, and she figured she could put her clothes in there.

She stumbled to the bathroom, just as she had in the middle of the night, and jumped into the shower. It took her an embarrassingly long amount of time to figure out how to turn the thing on, but when she finally did, the heated jets of water soothed her aching muscles.

Nice and clean, Sofia dug through her suitcase for a simple ice blue tank top and black pants. She wasn’t sure if it was rude to wear clothes on Olara 8, but she just couldn’t imagine walking around nude with Braax breathing down her neck.

A sweet smell enveloped her as she cautiously opened the door. She found him in the kitchen, preparing some sort of food as she walked up to him.

“What are you making?” she asked, unable to stop the grin from spreading across her face.

He winked at her.

“Pancakes. I read they are an Earth delicacy.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, a pleasant flush burning her cheeks. Her husband furrowed his brow, a frown replacing his sweet grin. Oh, no, that’s not what she meant. She walked up to him, placing a hand on his cheek.

“Thank you, Braax. I love pancakes.”

When his smile returned, her heart fluttered, and he gestured towards the table near a window. Sofia took a seat, glancing at the beautiful day beyond. The suns shone in, casting dappled light in the cozy kitchen.

He placed a plate in front of her, piled high with steaming pancakes, his draconic face beaming with pride.

There didn’t appear to be any utensils—or butter or syrup—so she picked one up and took a bite as he watched her expectantly. A knot formed in her throat, partly from the dryness of the pancakes, but mostly because of the sweet gesture. Somehow, he was so eager to please her, in more ways than one .

When had Greyson ever made her breakfast?

Alright, she really needed to stop thinking of her ex-husband every time Braax did something nice for her. This wasn’t about him, not anymore.

“They’re really good,” she said after she finally swallowed the lump of pancake.

Honestly, not bad for a first try.

He grinned, brushing a tendril of hair behind her ear as she took another bite.

“I wanted to make you something before I leave for work.”

Work? Somehow, it hadn’t crossed her mind that her new husband would have to leave. Of course, he had a job.

“What do you do?” Sofia asked in between bites, as he sat down across from her.

“I am an architect. I designed this home, actually.”

Though the light had been low when they’d arrived last night, she recalled the sleek cabin nestled into the forest, reflective walls almost camouflaging the home. Solar leaves resembling the dense foliage of the surrounding trees adorned the roof, likely providing the energy to keep the systems running.

The sleek grays and minimal furniture surprised her, but the sweet touches were all Braax. Another vase with a single long-stemmed pink flower, a small chrome sculpture of a Hileth on the coffee table, a bookshelf filled with modern tomes.

“Well, it’s beautiful.”

“I am so glad you think so. I hope that you will be happy here.”

Sofia hoped so as well, though after less than a day, she was already feeling at home. More so than she had in a long time. His warm presence and vigorous fucking made him quite memorable, intriguing.

Wistful thoughts of her new husband bending her over the kitchen table were interrupted by his deep voice.

“I have something else for you.”

Of course, her mind turned right back to that big dick of his, but instead he led her to another room in the house, opening the door to a beautiful, sunlit studio.

A large window overlooking the quiet forest drenched the small space in sunlight. The scent was fresh, floral, the window cracked slightly to let the warm air in.

“I have procured some items for you. Paints, canvases, brushes, an easel… I know you are a painter, from the profile the agency sent. But if there is anything else you need, I can get it. Whatever will make you happy while I am gone.”

Well, Sofia really hadn’t thought about that. Somehow, she’d had no expectations of what her life would look like on Olara 8.

If she were being honest, she’d been in a bit of a daze for a while, numbness replacing the devastation that infertility and the divorce had wreaked on her life. As if a glowing cloud were in her chest, protecting her from the uncontrollable emotions that would surely crush her.

“Thank you, Braax. I appreciate it.”

The studio was beautiful, tubes of paint laid out on a long table, a blank canvas already settled on the chrome easel. A palette and a vast array of brushes, plus a mountain of glass jars, took up the rest of the space.

It had been some time since she last painted, the divorce and mating agency taking up most of her energy the past few months. She had stocked her console full of holovideos and novels, a lifetime’s worth of material to get through. But maybe some painting would be nice, as well.

“I will be back later. I am sorry I must leave you, but please, make yourself comfortable.”

Braax pulled her flush to his chest and Sofia breathed in his scent, a strange prickle of emotion choking her up.

With a nuzzle of her cheek, he released her.

“I will see you soon.”

Her new husband was gone, and here she was, in his— their —house, unsure what to do.