Chapter 10

Brexl

I had hoped to get my shaft back under control by the time Taylor returned to the fire, but instead it seemed to only grow larger the more I stood in her presence. I was constantly aroused by her. All she had to do was lightly touch my arm, and my unruly cock would rise uncomfortably in my pants.

I would not leave Taylor alone for long, but I did desperately need some relief. Seeing Taylor completely naked was a sight I would never forget. She was more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined. Her small breasts, the flare of her hips, the curve of her back, everything worked together to form the most beautiful female to ever walk this planet.

My fingers itched to touch her soft skin every time she was near. I had wanted nothing more than to join her in the ocean waters, but I did not trust myself. The way she looked at me as if I were attractive and not broken and scarred made me weak in the knees, and I knew if I had stripped naked to clean myself beside her in the water, I’d end up begging to press my lips to hers as I saw the other hunters do with their hu-man mates. This was a new hu-man custom that none of the mated males seemed to object to.

I made it to the stream that ran parallel to the ocean and threw my clothes to the ground. Once naked, I waded into the cold water up to my waist. I had hoped that the cold water would help draw the lust from my body, but instead my shaft remained as hot and hard as ever. Probably because I was still picturing Taylor naked. I don’t know that I ever stopped picturing her that way. From the moment I saw her in the water, that image had remained planted in the back of my mind, unmoving, and unwilling to drift into the realm of memory.

I splashed some water on my face and chest before succumbing to the demands of my body.

Taking myself in hand, I circled the base of my cock with my fist. I grunted as the first rough tug reverberated through my entire body. I spread the pre-cum seeping from the tip of my cock down the rest of my shaft before stroking myself again.

I did not waste any time with slow strokes to draw out my pleasure. This would be a quick release. I needed to get back to Taylor before any danger could come her way.

Taylor. Goddess help me, but even thinking her name caused me to stiffen even further. She was perfectly stubborn, strong-willed, smart, and kind.

Taylor’s kindness was like an illness that I could not escape. I could feel it working its way through my body, affecting every organ, every vein.

I grew weaker with each smile, with every kind word, and soon enough, my will to resist her would be reduced to ash.

I combined the quick movements of my fist with thoughts of Taylor’s lush body naked in the ocean. It did not take long for me to spill my seed, and to collapse into the water, panting and feeling wrung out.

I waited for my breaths even out and my heart to slow down. Friends. We were only friends. She did not want me, and I was not worthy of her. Soon we’d be back in the mountain. She’d return to her shared cavern, and I’d find some rest in my private cave. Our lives would go on, separately as they should.

I quickly washed and dressed, and prayed for the strength to keep my body in check, because goddess knew my heart was already gone.

I returned to find Taylor turning the meat over the coals, and the water skins I said I’d refill by her feet.

Mot! Was I that distracted that I forgot the one item that would make my lie believable? My grandmother would always tease me that I was a terrible lair, and she was right.

I pretended not to notice and hoped Taylor wouldn’t mention it.

“How was the river?” she asked as she sat back down on the sand.

“Refreshing.” The word came out harsher than I liked.

“How about your gash? I can check on it, if you’d like.”

She started to get up when I assured her I was fine.

“I checked it earlier,” I lied. I was sure I’d lose all control if Taylor were to be pressed so close to me, as she always was when she checked my wound. She was a gift that I didn’t deserve, and I needed to remember that.

“Okay,” she smiled as she turned the meat again.

We ate our meal and spent the afternoon catching and cooking the sea bugs that Taylor called crabs. They didn’t provide much meat, but they were easy prey and easy to cook.

When the sun began to set, we turned in for the night. Tomorrow we’d finally head home.

“Good night, Brexl.” Taylor sighed as I covered us both with the blanket.

It still irritated me that she and I were laying equally close to the entrance.

“I would prefer to sleep closer to the entra-”

“Don’t you dare,” Taylor squeezed my arm under the blanket as a warning.

“I’m feeling much better,” I countered.

“Feeling better? Yes. Fully healed? No. You’re staying put.”

I let out a deep resigned sigh, making Taylor laugh.

“Look, someone’s got to take care of you, and it’s obviously not going to be you,” she quipped.

“I can take care of myself,” I pouted.

This made her laugh again. I loved the sound of it. Her laugh was a loud burst of joy, strong and forceful, just like her.

The cave fell silent once again until all that we could hear was the crackle of the fire and the crash of the waves outside.

“I’m going to miss this.” Taylor surprised me with her comment.

“You are?”

“Yeah, the mountain is nice, and I like being around everybody, but it’s nice to get away sometimes too, you know?

You guys can get away as often as you’d like. You’re literally built to survive on this planet. Us humans, not so much. The best we can do is hang out in the clearing, and that isn’t exactly private.”

“I can take you on as many trips as you’d like after we get back,” I assured her.

“There’s a set of caves that overlook a river not too far from the mountain. I think you’d like the view.”

“That sounds nice.” Taylor turned to face me. “Thank you, Brexl, for everything.”

My voice caught in my throat. What had I done that was so special? It was no great effort to keep Taylor safe or to stay by her side.

“You don’t need to thank me,” I replied in a whisper, not trusting my voice.

“Well, I’m thankful all the same.”

Her response brought a smile to my face. She was so wonderfully stubborn.

“Goodnight, Taylor.”

“Goodnight, Brexl.”

And with that we drifted off to sleep.

Mother?!

Brexl.

I could hear a female voice call for me. Every time she spoke, her voice got louder as if I were getting closer, and yet I could never reach her.

Branches slapped my face and vines tangled around my ankles. I was a child again, small and weak.

Brexl.

There it was again, but the voice was coming from a different direction. I turned and tripped over a log. No, wait, it wasn’t a log. It was a jagwa! No, no, no!

I started to run, but the jagwa was faster than me. It was closing the distance between us.

NO!

A pleasant light pressure settled on my chest. I stopped running and the jagwa stopped chasing me.

This was a dream, just a dream.

My eyes fly open, but I did not move. Waves. I could hear the sound of waves. That’s right, we’re at the beach.

I looked down and saw Taylor sleeping on my chest much like she did the night before.

I gently wrapped my arms around her and let the warmth of her body seep into my chest, my veins, my soul.

I fell back asleep, but this time there was no dark forest or twisted vines. There was only Taylor, and I was no longer alone.