Chapter 10

Julie

Not this time?Why did I say that? A ‘no thank you' would have sufficed. Maybe it was a subconscious part of me that answered his question. Whether I was ready to admit it consciously or not, I kind of hoped there would be a day Orsu and I could bathe together.

A sensual shiver went up my spine as I thought about Orsu's big hands touching me as he lathered soap over my skin.

Thoughts of our hallway encounter drifted through my mind and I remembered how warm he felt on top of me.

He had caged me in so thoroughly that I felt surrounded by his sexy bulk. His heated gaze filled me with a warmth that went all the way to my toes, and if we had laid there a second longer I might have asked him to kiss me.

I…I wanted him. I didn't just like Orsu, I was craving him. This was insane. I'd never craved anyone before. I had never longed to feel anyone's body pressed against mine as I did for Orsu.

What was even crazier was the insistent throbbing I felt between my legs that had started when he fell on top of me and hadn't let up since. I thought if I ignored it my horniness would subside, but it hadn't.

Fuck it. I was alone and naked in this bathing chamber, I might as well take care of it myself.

I slid my hand between my thighs and gave my clit a slow tentative touch. I nearly whimpered at how good that one graze of my finger felt. I'd never been so horny in all my life. Hopefully that meant this wouldn't take long. I had no idea how much time I had left before someone else would come knocking on the door.

With my middle finger and pointer finger pressed together, I started a steady rhythm of circles around my sensitive flesh until my legs were shaking.

Thoughts of Orsu and his broad chest, big hands and ever-present smile flooded my mind. I remembered how nice it felt to have my body pressed against his as I slept and I tried to imagine what it would feel like to have nothing between us. No clothes, no shoes, no blankets, nothing but his skin against mine, his hand on my breast and the other on my clit.

I imagined it was his hand touching me instead of mine, and I let his words from earlier ring though my head, good girl.

That was all I needed. My orgasm came hard and fast and I gasped with surprise at the intense spasms of pleasure that radiated throughout my entire body. I gripped the edge of the pool to steady myself and catch my breath. I slumped back into the water with a sigh of relief.

With my arousal finally sated, I finished my bath and headed to dinner. All the women were sitting together listening to one of the elder's stories so I grabbed a floor cushion and joined them.

I sat next to Kayla, ate my meal and did my best not to think about the big blue bear shifter sitting not ten feet away from me or how I'd just pleasured myself to thoughts of him in the bath.

I spared a glance back at him to catch him watching me. He wasn't even bashful about it. He smiled and waved and I tentatively waved back before turning my attention forward again. Maybe he'd try to talk to me after dinner. I'd like that.

But it wasn't meant to be. After dinner Ashley looped her arm through mine and led me to our sleeping chamber. It was late and us women had started a tradition we called bonnet and brag where we'd don our bonnets and brag about our accomplishments of the day no matter how small.

Some of the women were having a harder time adjusting to Valo Prime than others and it helped to focus on the positives instead of the negatives.

Our bonnet and brag sessions always ended with the day"s gossip of who got caught flirting with whom and peals of laughter that rang throughout the cavern. It was nice. We had quickly become a tight knit group and I felt grateful for every woman here.

Eventually the talking stopped, the candles were blown out, and I was left laying on my furs holding the sewing needle Orsu had given me and wishing it was his hand I was holding instead.

With a sigh, I set the needle down and closed my eyes and prayed for sleep to take me. It did not. One worry after another drifted through my mind, keeping me awake and making me more aggravated by the minute. This is pointless. After a while, I gave up and decided I needed some fresh air.

The ridge wasn't hard to find and thankfully there were still some lit candles lining the hallway.

Light from the two moons flooded the stairwell leading up to the ledge, making the stones themselves look like they were glowing. I closed my eyes as I turned the corner and let the fresh air blow across my face. The scent of jasmine and pine filled my nose along with a few other fragrances that didn't exist on Earth. I loved the smell of Valo Prime.

"Julie?" A familiar voice floated through the air and I opened my eyes to see Orsu sitting alone, his blue skin and white horns shimmering under the moonlight.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know anyone was out here." I turned to leave when I felt a warm hand wrap around my middle, stopping me in my tracks.

"Please stay," he whispered.

"Okay," I whispered back. I didn't want to disturb him if he wanted to be alone, but I was happy he wanted me here.

"Trouble sleeping?" he asked as we sat down together.

"Yeah," I laughed. "How'd you guess?"

Orsu laughed at my joke and brushed his shoulder against mine.

"Tell me your worries." He looked down at me with a soft expression filled with compassion and understanding and something else, something that stirred my soul, something that looked like love.

"I always tell you my worries. I want you to tell me yours," I replied.

"Alright," he gave me a wry smile and then his expression turned thoughtful. "I used to worry for my dekes," he began. "I worried about how we'd live to be old and gray having never known the love of a mate, but now that you're here, all I worry about is you. If you're happy, if you're safe, if you're well fed."

He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed. He had made it his personal mission to make sure I was well fed.

"I worry…" his voice took on a more serious tone. "I worry if you like bears… one bear in particular."

As he spoke his gaze locked onto mine and as if some outside force was pulling us together, the space between us grew smaller and smaller.

I dared to lean in even further as I confessed, "I like bears."

"Good," was his only reply before his lips met mine.

Orsu

With a gentle brush of my lips against Julie's my entire world faded away. Nothing else existed outside of Julie and the feel of her skin against mine.

To my utter delight she returned my kiss with one of her own. Kissing was a human tradition that I'd witnessed a few times now between Tarak and Gab-bae. It had fascinated me the first time I saw them press their lips together, and I immediately knew it was something I wanted to try with Julie.

I never could have imagined it feeling this good though. A warm tingling sensation radiated throughout my body and something feral deep inside me called out for me to claim her, to take more. It was urgent and unyielding, but I wouldn't claim her, not yet. I would take my time with Julie. I would treasure every touch she gave me.

To my delighted surprise, Julie deepened the kiss by dragging her tongue along the seam of my mouth. I let out a moan as I opened for her. Her tongue explored me and I explored her mouth in kind.

I wrapped my arms around Julie and cradled her in my lap as we kissed each other over and over again. I wanted to hold her like this for the rest of my life. I wanted to explore every inch of her soft body and I would have, but our time was cut short when the sound of footsteps interrupted our intimate moment.

I pulled away just in time to see Lumod staring wide-eyed at Julie and me. There was a female behind him but I couldn't see who it was.

"Oh, sorry, we can come back some other time." Lumod quickly turned around and walked down the stairs with whomever he'd come up here with.

Julie looked wide-eyed as well and I worried she'd be anxious about getting caught kissing me. Would she be ashamed? Tarak had said the hu-mans did not feel the same about our shifting abilities as the other dekes, but a part of me was still waiting for at least one of the females to look at me with disgust.

"I guess I better get back to bed," Julie gave me another one of her bashful smiles and I reluctantly helped her off my lap.

"Let me walk you back," I suggested.

"I'd like that," Julie replied and held out her hand, giving me all the confirmation I needed that she was not ashamed to be seen with me.

I took her hand in mine and walked her through the dark hallway to her cavern.

"I'm glad I got to see you tonight," I confessed in a hushed tone as we stood outside the door.

"I'm glad I got to see you too," her voice was light and happy.

"Bend down for me," Julie whispered and I did as she asked.

I bent over and felt her soft lips on my cheek. "Good night, Orsu."

I brushed the back of my knuckles against her cheek and lifted her chin with my finger.

"Goodnight, Julie," I whispered right before I gave her one last kiss for the night. "Sleep well."

"I will," she whispered back, squeezing my hand in hers before she released it and walked into the cavern.

It took all my strength of will to leave that doorway. I wanted to stand there until morning watching over her just in case she needed me again. When I thought I heard her heavy breathing join the chorus of snores of the sleeping females, I left. I would see Julie again tomorrow and I would simply have to wait until then.