6. Taylor

Chapter 6

Taylor

I wake up the next morning and my mouth tastes like dry sandpaper. Ugh. I rub at my eyes. The time difference between Gravian and Tarvos must be getting to me.

A cleaning bot rolls past and I squeak with surprise. It's black, shiny and kind of cute. There was one just like it yesterday when I first arrived at the ranch.

It beeps pleasantly.

“Good morning,” I grumble, and sit up and rub my face. Then I look down, confused, because I slept in my clothes. I’m still dressed in a pink tube top and a dark pencil skirt. My shoes are off, but I don’t remember taking them off myself. How did this happen?

“Oh no, I didn’t…” All the embarrassing memories from last night come flooding back. Did I take shots of alcohol with my boss last night? I did. I so did. Jeez. I plop back down on the pillow with my hand on my forehead.

I remember everything I said and did last night in the library with Sten and him lifting me in his arms. He started to carry me upstairs, but that's where my memories end.

Now I've screamed and fainted in front of Sten Sandstone and then got completely drunk and overshared all in the same day.

I sit up again and throw my legs over the side of the bed which is a bit too tall for me. I slide off the side to stand barefoot on the cold stone floor. Then I march over to the bathroom to do my business. Afterwards I wash my hands in the sink and stare at myself in the mirror. At least I still look good, in a wild, messed up way.

Part of me thinks last night was a lot of fun. He listened to my lengthy apology and we had a bit of a drinking contest. We talked a lot when he gave me the extensive tour of his family’s library. It was enjoyable spending time with a relaxed Sten Sandstone acting in what I assume was his normal personality.

And I loved, loved visiting his private library and receiving what I consider the VIP tour. It was an amazing space with a stone fireplace, ebony wood chairs and leather couches. And there were row upon rows of ancient print books. It was like the most fantastical library, something out of a vid show or a book I'd read.

Usually, I'm always in modern buildings around lab equipment. I do get to go to the source, touch and share ancient texts. But usually, if we've been called it's usually after a natural disaster happened, and we're there to try and recover artifacts. I am not the person who gets to go to any of the fancy dinners off planet. We do have fundraisers but again, they're at the main building, modern, a little bit cold. And when I grew up on New Earth was a giant ghetto until we were rescued by the Xylans and then helped with nation building by the Gravians. Everyone was very quick to demolish old, dilapidated buildings and build new and modern.

Whenever we go off planet, I always stay with the other staff in some mobile unit or cram into shared quarters on a transport ship.

This means I’m always in awe of old buildings and the ancient text that I restore. Old dwellings that are still livable and being used by present occupants who repair and care for what they have for future generations is something I find special.

The uncomfortable clothes from last night that I slept in are removed and I put everything, including the underwear, into the wall unit.

The bathroom is small but spectacular and it looks brand new. Behind the door, on a peg, is a white bathrobe. I put it on, worrying at first it will be too small, but it’s almost too big. I tie the robe around my waist, walk into the closet to get my slippers, and then I return to the bedroom.

I feel like a princess while on this mission, getting a room to myself in a mansion on a paradise planet. Yes, all the inhabitants look like Satan, but I’m getting over that part quickly.

The cleaning bot is busy vacuuming up the floor. I glance at my tablet, which is still on my nightstand. I pick it up and see some messages from the Head Librarian wanting an update.

Nothing from Sten. Well, this could be because we haven’t exchanged contact info. The whole time I spent with him yesterday and last night, not once did we make sure that we could directly get in touch with each other. And we have a lot of work to do today.

Ooh, there’s a drink service on the table by the window. I sit down and see a whole tray set up with Traq. There are mugs and lots of choices for additions. The bot started the fire again, so there’s a crackling fireplace and the curtains to the windows are now all open.

“Thank you,” I tell the bot.

It beeps pleasantly while making my bed for me.

It's still dark outside, but the suns are trying to rise, causing the sky to streak a dark purple, allowing me to see the outline of the mountain range. This pleases me, because I'm a morning person. I usually like to be up before the sun on any planet that I'm on.

I spend time making my hot Traq exactly as I like and start feeling much better. “Okay, time to get going.” Then I tap on my tablet, getting my mind ready for the day.

Afterwards, I decide to use the cleansing unit again, only because it's so high tech it takes minutes. The robe goes back on the peg and I get in the unit and I'm done in minutes. There are so many other options, but I do the quick and fast blow, which dries my skin and moisturizes it perfectly. Luckily there’s a universal preset on the cleansing unit for hair, so I choose a sleek blowout again.

Finally, I step out and use the mouth cleanser. Then I pause to apply a light amount of makeup. The weather is again gorgeous today. There are more tube tops available to me than the one I chose last night for the dress. I go ahead and I put on another one.

Whose tops are these?

Are they for company, or does Sten have a girlfriend? I look around. Is this where his girlfriend usually stays? I frown. This idea bothers me more than I'd like to admit.

I get dressed in dark green hiking pants and a pale green top. I put on my boots and my outside gear. Then I do another turn in front of the full-length mirror, letting me see my thick thighs and waist and that persistent roll in my back that refuses to go away. But on the other hand, I think I still look cute, which today seems more important than ever considering I’ll most likely spend the day with the mysterious and sexy Sten Sandstone. I want to look for him.

That Hyrrokin is sexier than ever after that amazing lecture in his private library. I’m still swooning over his knowledge of ancient Hyrrokin literature and historical reference material.

But he is still my boss and this is a short-term job and then I’m gone.

Focus. Focus.

I load my small backpack with my tablet and a few other supplies and I bring a light jacket, just in case I get chilly this morning. My stomach growls and I open my door, ready to go downstairs to look for food.

Outside, in the hallway, I pause. Should I knock on his door? Yes, I’ve got many questions I’d like to ask, plus it would be great to see him again. But I decide against that form of intrusion. Maybe I can find something to eat on my own in the kitchen. And I do know that he said there is a storage shed somewhere that holds my supplies.

Ambient lights are on as I make my way down the ornate staircase, touching all the wood carvings. In the entry hall I stop to stare at the fantastical tapestries which show flame throwing armies clashing against each other for world dominance.

The formal dining hall is dark and empty. Not a speck of food to be found.

I seriously consider returning to the library for another stroll down the bookcases, but then my stomach growls again and I look harder for the kitchen.

A nearby door is wide open, leading to a charming, smaller dining room with many windows and a small table that looks like it can seat about five or six people. There is, of course, a stone fireplace, because they seem to be everywhere in this house and this one is lit with an inviting, crackling fire.

Roda appears with a greeting, and I’m proud of myself because this time I do not let out a squeak of fear.

“Good morning,” I ask. “Is this the dining room?”

“This is the small morning room next to the kitchen where breakfast is served each morning. The door behind me leads to the kitchen. I'm surprised Sten didn't give you a tour yesterday of the downstairs. He always gives the tour,” she mutters. “I don't know what's wrong with him.”

“I know don't either,” I respond with a wide smile.

“Eat,” she snorts, pointing at an impressive display of food on a sideboard.

“Oh my gosh,” I rush over and stare at the display. A few dishes are lit on fire and there is a stack of meat sticks that is enough to feed an army. “That looks wonderful. This isn’t all for me, right?”

“Well, Sten already ate. Whatever you don't finish eventually Tilden and a few of the others will eat. Don't worry, I'll box it and send it to them.”

“How many more Hyrrokin work here on the ranch?” I ask as I start to plate my food, trying to choose items that are safe to pick up and soft enough for my smaller teeth. “I know this really is a working ranch, and I saw barns and cattle from a distance, but I haven't met anyone yet.”

“Oh, you’re in for a treat. This is biggest ranch on this side of the planet. And now that Rake and Thorn have newer sections, it’s even bigger than before. The Sandstones are the biggest landowners on Tarvos second only to the Royal Government and the ancient royal preserves.”

I blink with surprise. “And how long have you worked here with them?”

She laughs. “I was born and raised on this ranch. My grandparents and my parents worked here. I was born in a cabin in the back. I’ve lived here my whole life. I remember when all of the Sandstone brothers were just babies.”

I smile because suddenly I imagine Sten as a baby, which sounds delightful. “I bet Sten was a cute baby.”

“He was.”

I sit down to start eating.

Roda leaves and then returns with another plate of food to set down.

“All this meat is tender and flavorful,” I tell her. “It’s probably the best meat I’ve ever had.”

“Our meat comes from our own ranch. Most of this food is local. None of this,” she says with pride waving toward the table filled with dishes, “was made with a food dispenser. It's all organic.”

“Really? Even the bread?”

“The grain was ground here into a flour, and then I baked it myself in the kitchen.”

“What a treat. I live in high-tech housing on Gravian and work in an office building and all I ever eat is from food dispensers. Real food grown planetside is a rare treat and kind of expensive where I’m from. Thank you for this. You're amazing.”

She smiles, white smoke wafting from her nostrils. “You're not too bad either, human. You'll do.” And she walks away.

While I eat, I tap on my tablet and answer some messages. I'm about to send a long explanation about how I behaved improperly when I first arrived, but I don't hit send and wait. I should probably look at it one more time before I send it out.

Finally, I finish my breakfast. Roda reenters and I ask her where Sten is at this time of day.

She looks around. “Well, he ate a long time ago. Sten is usually the first awake and he likes to go out for a ride and check on the grounds before anyone else. Then he returns and gets dressed for the day and goes back out again to work with Tilden. After lunch he’ll usually end up in his office here at the main house.”

“Well, I need to talk to him which is difficult because I don't…” I point at my tablet. “I don't have any way to contact him directly. Could you please let him know when you see him that I'm going to go out to and find the shed he was talking about. You wouldn't happen to have any idea where that is?”

Roda shakes her head. “There are many sheds on the property, but I'm thinking it might be one in the back of the house, behind the formal garden. There is a pathway out there that eventually leads toward a series of guest cabins as well as a remote shed. Good luck, human. I'll let him know where you went.”

I shrug on my backpack that holds a few supplies and a light jacket that may or may not be necessary and leave the small dining room. My hair is in a ponytail now and it really does feel strange to be walking around with so much skin exposed in this tube top. Normally I hate my upper arms because they are too thick and I never wear anything sleeveless. But even Roda was wearing a tube top on Tarvos. I’m certain this is because it’s basically a paradise. I checked the weather again and its again utter perfection, not too hot or cold with a light breeze.

The hallways and front rooms are again quiet. Nothing but the distant beep of a bot or the chime of a wall clock, which seems a little sad. This really is a house meant to be filled by a large family. And I feel jealous of that future family because this would be a wonderful place to live.

I walk out the back doors of a charming living area and find a garden with a fire pit. On the back edge of this open space there is a path leading into dense vegetation, in the general direction that Roda gestured, so I go that way.

I end up following a trail and smile at the colorful birds overhead and the winged insects buzzing past that I hope are harmless. Meanwhile, the suns are rising and the sky overhead is streaked with glorious pink and orange clouds. Birds chirp, and I inhale the crisp, perfumed air.

I should march directly to the shed, because I need to set up my equipment and get started but I hear a soothing, gentle noise that sounds very much like a bubbling waterfall. Intrigued, I take a secondary path to check out this natural wonder. And this is when I stumble upon an outdoor shower.

I had no idea.

Water runs over red skin and I'm rooted in my spot. Someone is using this shower. I should yell out words of apology or slink away hoping this being doesn’t even notice me. Something. Except I do none of those things and instead stand and stare quietly because I'm in awe.

At first glance, it's a Hyrrokin I need to avoid because I’m invading this being’s privacy. I’m starting to get a visual of someone’s private parts and realize this is a naked male. And then I see his face and its Sten.

Sten is naked.

Maybe I’m stuck because I knew all along this was Sten Sandstone? And it’s already been established that my brain and hormones do not work correctly when I’m near this male.

That is obviously when I should leave in order to respect his privacy and lack of consent for anyone seeing him naked in this moment, except I don't. My eyes travel downwards, because I need to see all this glorious male. There's his tail flashing, there's his chest and then I see the rest of him.

He turns to face me, and water is sluicing down his magnificent chest and between his thick muscular legs.

I get an epic view of his cock at rest.

I blink, twice, three times.

My whole body immediately heats up. I’m not a virgin, but I’ve also never experienced sex that was so good I wanted to go back for more. There was a short-term Gravian boyfriend whom I thought might be the one for a minute there, but that was also disappointing. None of my boyfriends knew the importance of the clitoris. Sad.

And none of them were hung like Sten Sandstone.

I swallow, rooted in place, still staring at his thick, long, red cock. It’s very similar to a human or Gravian male’s, but bigger than either and the skin color is as red as the rest of his muscular body.

“Taylor, what are you doing?” a deep voice gently questions.