Crave Chapter 2

I grit my teeth, the intense heat wrapping around my pod like a vengeful embrace as I slice through the planet's atmosphere. Flames dance hungrily outside my small window, painting the interior in a mesmerizing, flickering light. The hull groans and creaks in protest, a song of defiance against the blazing inferno that engulfs me. I fixate on the trembling metal panels, silently willing them to hold firm against the merciless descent.

As I break free from the scorching grip of heat, my view clears to reveal the world hurtling toward me with alarming speed. I engage the last of the nitrike gas to slow my descent, a tug-of-war between my weak upward thrust and the planet's gravity.

Relief washes over me when the terrain beneath me is no long jagged mountain peaks but a vast emerald lake that lies between. Water will be gentler on the integrity of my pod's structure than solid rock. Still, I hit the wavy surface with a jarring impact. A wall of water crashes over the hull. For a moment, there is silence. Peace. Weightlessness.

I float adrift, my escape pod bobbing rhythmically on the undulating water's embrace. Outside my viewport, the alien sky painted in shades of lavender looms threateningly, heavy storm clouds swirling ominously overhead. Seven years spent aboard Natari Space Station have deprived me of such a view.

Despite Earth's many shortcomings, nothing quite compares to the beauty of gazing at the sky. Oh, and let's not forget real food, not that artificial slop churned out by the replicator.

At first, the sky teased me with a gentle patter of raindrops drumming on the hull of my pod. The droplets, like playful whispers, but soon escalated into a relentless downpour as if the heavens had torn open, unleashing a deluge that pounded down in torrents, drowning out any other sound with its deafening roar.

The once placid current morphed into raging rapids. My pod careened wildly, somersaulting over jagged rocks and debris, the relentless rain hammering against the hull. I spun uncontrollably, my surroundings alternating between the assault of the rain above and the murky underwater world below, a dizzying dance of chaos and danger. Strapped in, I clutch the handholds inside my pod. My knuckles turning white as I stifle my screams.

The roaring of the raging water grows louder. My eyes dart around, capturing fleeting images of the impending danger as my pod is mercilessly tossed by the relentless current. A drop off looms ahead, a waterfall from which there's no escape.

My heart thunders in my chest, a primal drumbeat against my ribs, as I brace for the plunge. I remind myself that if my craft endured hurtling through the planet's atmosphere, it can withstand this.

Yet, I brace myself, a scream rising in my throat as my pod plummets over the edge into open air. I hung weightless in the void, a fleeting pause before gravity's cruel embrace yanked me downward. Then my pod splashed down into the pool below with a bone-jarring force then hit something solid with a resounding crack.

As I bob back to the surface, the air carried the intoxicating scent of rain-soaked earth and wild blooms. With each breath, I pull greedily of the air, before I'm abruptly jolted back to reality by a chilling truth— the hull of my pod has been compromised.

What began as mere droplets seeping inside escalated into a relentless pour, transforming my once safe haven into an aquatic prison as the swift current swept me downstream. My pod is filling up fast, water gushes in from an unseen crack, soaking my boots and the backs of my legs.

I have to get out. Now! Before I drown.

My fingers fumble over the hatch release, and with a sharp tug, I unleash a deluge of water. As my pod begins to submerge, I haul myself out, gasping for breath in the frigid torrent. Now, a new peril looms before me: the relentless current, eager to drag me into its watery abyss. I thrash and fight against its force, my lungs screaming for air, battling to keep myself above the surface as rain and river currents lash against my skin.

I never learned to swim. Earth's contaminated waters made it a useless skill, so I flailed about as the frigid river quickly drains my energy. Desperation drives me to paddle toward the shore, but the swift current thwarts my efforts. Each attempt to grasp onto the slick rocks along the way proves futile as they glide past me in a blur.

It's a struggle to keep my head from going under. Water splashes up my nose, washing into my open mouth as I gasp for air. I go under and fight to resurface, a relentless struggle to break free, to claw my way back for another gulp of air before being yanked down once more. I crash against sharp rocks, my body battered, scratched and torn through my uniform by their unforgiving edges.

My vision blurs with each desperate inhale, the lack of oxygen burning in my chest. Like a discarded toy in a tempest, I collide with a boulder, the back of my head cracking against the unyielding surface. I fight to remain afloat, my energy draining fast.

The raging waters engulf me, their wild embrace pulling me under. Surrendering to the primal force of the river, I close my eyes. As darkness claims me, I imagine a firm grip seizing the back of my uniform, yanking me upward from the depths.

***

My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the dim firelight dancing on the rough cave walls around me. The shadows play a haunting show, casting eerie shapes that seem to move with a life of their own. A primal scent of smoke and musk weaves through the air, wrapping me in its intoxicating embrace.

As I shift, a dull ache courses through my body, a relentless reminder of my tumultuous battle with the unforgiving waters. Nestled upon a bed of furs that are surprisingly soft and yielding beneath me, I feel their plushness like a decadent indulgence against my weary frame. The fur covering me is equally lavish, cocooning me in warmth and luxury that contrasts sharply with the harsh reality of my recent ordeal.

My gaze drifts toward a subtle clicking sound, and I stifle a gasp. In the flickering light of a central fire pit, a massive beast crouches before the flames rhythmically stirring something in a rough hewn bowl. Fine, white fur covers his muscular frame and sprouting from his head is a wealth of shiny white hair that flows down his powerful back.

Caught in profile, his face is surprisingly human, yet distinctly not. High cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and a nose reminiscent more of a regal lion than any man adds an exotic allure to his handsome features. He's naked except for the delicate veil of fur that covers his entire physique.

My heart slams against my ribs. I freeze, feigning unconsciousness while peering through slitted eyes. The beast is oblivious to my waking, focused on stirring the contents in his bowl.

He suddenly straightens, his nostrils flaring as he inhales deeply with a guttural growl. I keep my eyes mere cracks, watching as he approaches through the net of my lashes. My gaze rakes down his muscled torso, from the heavy pads of his pectorals over his chiseled abs, rippling and flexing with each step. My attention is pulled lower to the sway of a heavy sac and massive cock sheathed in a fur foreskin.

A wanton ache tightens deep within my core, sending a scorching ripple of lust coursing through me as I secretly keep my gaze on the sinuous creature beside me. Fear should dominate my senses, yet here I am, entertaining tingles of arousal for the feral beast who now squats next to me.

Movement at the back of the cave tears my attention from the sculpted physique of the handsome beast at my side. Another creature emerges from a shadowed alcove, carrying a small bucket with a coarse cloth draped over the rim. And like his counterpart, he's stacked with muscle and unclothed except for his fine layer of fur.

My inquisitive gaze drifts down between his thick thighs, lingering on the breadth of his veiled shaft and weighty sac. A forbidden desire ignites a dangerous flame of lust.

What is wrong with me?

Intimate relations with extraterrestrial beings is strictly prohibited for officers in the Quantum Alliance, bound by solemn oaths and contractual obligations. Yet, I've heard illicit whispers of daring individuals who have succumbed to their baser urges without repercussions.

I've often pondered the intoxicating thrall of yielding to the primal fervor of coupling with a beastly male. Wondered what surrendering to the wicked heat of an experience beyond human limits would feel like.

I mentally shake myself. I'm the engineering commander of Natari Space Station, not a weak-willed slut for a beast. I fight back the forbidden craving. I cannot succumb even if my body betrays my vow to the alliance.

The handsome one leans in close, his hot breath gusting over my face, following by a guttural rumble that sounds almost like speech. A sound that vibrates through me. His musky scent, wild and untamed, surrounds me, spearing a jolt of arousal between my thighs.

The second creature's calloused fingers caress my hair away from my face, his soft touch flushing me with heat. Despite the urge to lean in to his gentle stroke, I resist, feigning unconsciousness and wait with bated breath to see what it is they plan to do with me.