Chapter 7

Julie

"Thank you for setting all this up," I commented as Orsu started collecting the used cups.

He looked so happy and calm. It was clear that he enjoyed cooking for his dekes. Tending to the cookfire seemed so natural for him. It was mesmerizing to watch him laugh and joke with people as he stirred one dish and served another. I longed to be as at ease as he was.

I enjoyed cooking because when my hands were moving my brain stopped spiraling. It also gave me joy to serve people good food. Food had a way of connecting people like nothing else could and I liked being a part of that. It didn't hurt that I was a talented chef, either.

I watched Orsu clean up as I sat with Kayla, Taylor, and Fatima. He caught me glancing at him a few times, as did the other women, who teased me about it, but that didn't stop me from looking. He was gentle and funny and sexy and above all he was kind. Even though we were in the same room I somehow missed him. I wanted to be closer to him.

As if he could read my thoughts, Orsu approached my table and said, "Hey Julie, I was thinking that I could go over some of my recipes with you. Maybe we have some dishes similar to your Earth foods."

"That'd actually be really great, I'd love that."

"Great!" Orsu said a little too excitedly. He coughed to cover up his enthusiasm and repeated himself in a more measured tone. "That's great."

I had to bite my lip to keep myself from laughing.

"I've already got everything set up, actually. Do you care to join me?"

I could feel the stares of the other women at the table, but I pushed those thoughts aside. Now was not a time to be shy, not when I had an opportunity to cook and spend time with Orsu.

I walked with him behind the cookfire station. It was impressive given that he didn't have any grills or appliances. What was once a small boulder was now a flat surface with a fire pit in the center and holes on each side that acted as their stove to cook things on.

There were stone shelves carved into the wall behind the cooking station that were full of supplies and spices.

"This is where I keep all the bowls," Orsu pointed out. He grabbed one of the smaller bowls and placed it on the flat surface of the cooking station that was far away from the fire underneath. Next to the bowl was a large container of grain and a wooden jug of water.

"This is the base of the breakfast porridge: water and grains. I use twice the amount of water than I do grain. Go ahead and pour some in," he encouraged.

I stood beside him and poured in the two ingredients.

"Behind us, I have a shelf of my most used spices and herbs. You can go through and sniff each one to see if there are any you'd like to add."

I did as he suggested and investigated each jar. Orsu kept a very organized and clean workstation and I appreciated that very much.

One of the jars I picked up was heavier than the rest and smelled extra sweet. "What's this?"

Orsu's hand brushed mine as he tilted the jar down so he could see what was inside. He ran deliciously hot and I loved it. The heat of his hand reminded me of how nice and warm I was when I slept on top of him. Last night I'd felt so chilly despite all the blankets I'd had.

"That is saba syrup. It comes from the saba tree."

"The syrup smells delicious." I inhaled the sweet scent again. "Do you ever drizzle it over the porridge?"

"I haven't before, but today is your day to do as you wish. My cookfire is yours. I'm just here to show you where everything is stored." Orsu grinned down at me and I couldn't help but grin back. Having him look at me like that made me feel things I hadn't felt for anyone before.

"You're very generous, Orsu. I don't want to take over your cookfire."

"Bah, you are only learning how to use my stuff, but if you wished to cook for the dekes everyday, I would be happy to step aside. I can see by the brightness in your eyes, cooking brings you great joy."

I couldn't disagree with Orsu; I did enjoy cooking and doing so put me at ease. Whenever my hands got to work preparing a meal, all my worries seemed to melt away.

"Maybe we could cook together?" My stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of us working side by side everyday.

Orsu"s face lit up with an unabashed grin. "I would like that very much."

He reached out and tucked some hair behind my ear but let his hand linger as he grazed my neck with the gentlest of touches. My heart raced and I wanted more. When our eyes locked there was an undeniable heat there. A heat I wanted to explore.

Okay, I was ready to admit it: I was falling for this bear shifter.

Orsu

"This is delicious. I would have never thought to add the spices that you did along with the syrup."

I commented and Julie beamed with pride. She truly had made an amazing dish. The power of the spices was cut with the sweet syrup in the most delicious way.

"Maybe tomorrow we can share my recipe with the dekes. You can make one bowl and I'll make the other."

It took two of my largest bowls to feed everyone now, which meant it had taken me twice as long to make breakfast this morning, but with Julie by my side, it wouldn't take long at all, and it would be twice as fun.

Again a warning sounded in the back of my mind. I should be concerned about the amount of food it was taking to feed the dekes, but I couldn't be bothered to think about that now, not when Julie was looking up at me with such joy in her eyes.

"Nothing would make me happier," I agreed and Julie's cheeks flushed red again. I was starting to grow addicted to the red blush that showed on her tan skin. I loved making her bashful. Every blush was accompanied by a smile and if I had my way, Julie would spend every moment of every day full of smiles.

"Well, if we are going to make porridge for our dekes tomorrow, then we need to gather some more grains. Would you care to join me?"

"Julie!" Gabby called out to her friend. "Drovo is teaching us how to make candles, come on!"

"Oh, that sounds useful." She looked thoughtful as she contemplated her choices. "Maybe I can join you tomorrow." Julie gave me one last smile as she grazed my arm and turned to follow Gabby out of the main cavern. The touch of her delicate fingers lingered on my skin and I wanted to call out to her. I wanted to make up any excuse to keep her near me, but I knew learning new skills would make Julie feel more at ease.

I could be patient. I could wait until tomorrow to spend time with her again.

I returned to the cookfire and gathered all my dishes and brought them outside to the small stream beside the mountain. After washing each dish, I put them away so they'd be ready for tomorrow.

I had many things to do, such as gathering berries to dry out in the sun, or seasoning meat to prepare for dinner, but instead, my feet led me to the storage cavern where Drovo was giving a demonstration on how to make candles.

"Yep, weave the fibers together and make the string as long as you'd like, we can always cut it into smaller pieces later once it's dried out,"the tree shifter instructed as the females braided small strands of fibers together that would go inside the oil to later be lit by the fire.

Julie sat next to Gabby. They compared their work and laughed over a joke I could not hear. Julie tucked her hair behind her ear, and I wished it was my hand touching her instead.

She was so beautiful with her shoulder length black hair, her tan skin, and her smile that warmed my very soul. My gaze drifted to her soft skin and my fingers ached to touch her and my cock stiffened at the idea of her laying on my body again.

Who needed a cook fire when I had Julie bringing such heat to my body?

"Do you have anything to add, Orsu?" Drovo called out.

I straightened and coughed to hide my surprise at his question. "No, I was just observing your lesson."

"Were you, now?" Drovo gave me a knowing smirk.

"You're all doing fine work." I commented, but I was really only looking at Julie and my heart sang when our eyes met.

"But I need to be going. I'll see everyone at the evening meal." I smiled at Julie and left the cavern.

Julie

"Thank you for the lesson, Drovo," Gabby complimented the tall male.

"I was happy to teach you all." He smiled at everyone but his eyes lingered on Kayla before he left.

"I think Drovo has a crush on someone." Ashley eyed Kayla as did the rest of us. It was obvious he liked her. He may have been teaching eleven of us, but his eyes rarely strayed from Kayla. He might as well have been giving her a private lesson.

"Whatever," Kayla waved a dismissive hand in the air.

"What, you don't like the dryad shifter?" Taylor asked.

"No comment," was Kayla's only reply.

"What's wrong with him?" Ashley asked.

"He's pushy, and annoying, and he claims to be good at inventing things, but he's already measured me twice for a mobility device he's working on, and both times he's come back with something that doesn't fit me at all."

"Maybe next time, you should help him be more thorough with his measurements," Hai added with a smirk.

"No thank you," Kayla shot down Hai's suggestive remark.

"You're no fun," Hai pouted.

"I'm very fun," Kayla protested. "I'm just ready for this mobility device Drovo promised me."

"What about you, Julie? I think Orsu might have a crush on you. Are you sure nothing happened in that cave between you two?" Taylor's eyes gleamed with a wicked delight.

"Nothing happened," I assured her, but I doubted anyone believed me. I could feel my cheeks heating at the memory of lying atop Orsu two nights in a row.

"Uh-huh." Hai looked doubtful.

"If Julie says nothing happened, then nothing happened," Gabby came to my rescue.

"Fine, keep your secrets," Hai sighed.

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" I asked Hai.

"Maybe," she grinned.

"And who might that be?" I continued.

"I'm not telling."

"That's not fair," Taylor replied. "You can't ask prying questions and not give any information about yourself."

"Sure I can. I never said I was going to divulge my own secrets," Hai grinned.

"I don't really want to be mated to anyone," Taylor sighed.

"You don't find anyone attractive?" Gabby asked.

"I didn't say that," Taylor laughed. "I broke off an engagement before I got abducted. I'm not exactly looking to fall in love any time soon."

"What if you luminesce to someone?" Sarah piped up.

I hadn't thought of that, and by the deep pondering looks on the others' faces, neither had they. Today was the first full day I'd had where I wasn't in survival mode. The idea that I might luminesce to someone in less than a month's time brought on a whole new wave of anxiety. What if it was someone I didn't like? What if they didn't like me? What if it wasn't Orsu? Did I like Orsu that much already, that I was contemplating luminescing to him?

"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that," Taylor groaned.

"I wouldn't mind luminescing to someone," Fatima added. "It would be nice to be connected to someone like that. Someone who would have a biological urge to treat you well." For the first time since I'd met Fatima, she looked wistful. I hoped she would find the love she was looking for.

"What was it like?" Talia asked Gabby with wide eyes and an eager expression.

"Ummm, well." Gabby swallowed hard. "It felt nice. Warm. Tingly."

"It made you horny, didn't it?" Hai interjected.

"Hai, do you have any tact?" Fatima scolded.

"No," Hai chuckled.

"What do horns have to do with luminescence?" Sarah asked with a confused look on her face.

"Oh, my sweet summer child." Kayla patted Sarah on the shoulder.

"What? Am I missing something?"

"Horny, as in aroused, turned on, feeling sexy and so on and so forth," Hai supplied.

"Oh…" Sarah looked down and started fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

"Would you want to luminesce to anyone?" Talia asked.

Sarah shook her head. "I want to choose for myself. I don't want luminescence to choose for me."

"Maybe it doesn't work like that," Gabby added. "Maybe you fall in love and then luminescence follows."

"I hope so," Sarah sighed.

After a fair amount of gossip was shared we left the cavern and went to the ridge to place our braided fibers in the sun to dry out.

"We should call this lovers lane." Kayla suggested as she assessed the ledge. "By the looks of the rumpled up furs, it seems like someone had a lot of fun out here under the stars."

I had been standing at the far end of the space next to Talia and Sarah.

"It looks like they had a wrestling match up here," Sarah whispered to Talia.

"I've heard there's some wrestling involved in sex," Talia whispered back.

"It sounds dangerous," Sarah said, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. I overheard my older sister's best friend say sex could be a lot of fun with the right partner."

"Did she say anything else about sex?"

Talia shook her head. "No, they caught me listening outside my sister's door and told me to go away."

Sarah looked truly downcast. I made a mental note to bring up with the other women the topic of explaining the birds and the bees to Sarah. It might not hurt to fact check Talia just to make sure her parents or school really taught her everything she needed to know. Fifteen was such an awkward age. It was old enough to be considered a young person well on their way to adulthood, but still young enough to not really have any of the tools needed to be an adult–or the knowledge, for that matter.

We laid out our braided cords to dry and went our separate ways until dinner.