Episode Twenty-Four I’ll Tell You What I’ll Do

L ylah

I'm anxious, and not just because I've never ridden on a living thing before, let alone a huge horse whose gait rolls and jostles me as he strides easily into the forest. My request to be alone with Zoron was bold, but the reality is nerve-wracking.

For his part, the centaur is doing his best to make this easy for me as he gracefully picks his way through the underbrush, an arrow casually nocked in his bow.

"I may have to hurry when I see prey. Why don't you put your hands on my waist?" he asks, his voice gentle.

His lower body is covered with short hair in patterns of black and white. I guess you'd call it his coat. At his waist, that changes to golden human skin. As my hands encircle the masculine indent where horse meets man, they touch a bit of both coat and skin.

I feel awkward because I don't really know this male and I'm touching his naked body. I had sex with Hazlan when I'd known him for less time than I've known this centaur, but somehow things were never uncomfortable between me and the proudborn.

"I'm not much of a talker," the male says. "Eldar usually does the talking for both of us."

We hear something off to the right and he quickens his pace, drawing back his bow but must lose his chance at a good shot, because he loosens his hold on the string.

"I just… wanted to get to know you in private," I say as he steps over a log. I imagine he'd take it at a leap if I weren't on his back.

"Good idea. It's awkward not knowing much about you."

Somehow, his admission of his discomfort makes things more comfortable between us. It was his hint that he holds nothing against me and is happy to get to know me.

As a woman who has never had autonomy, I'm fascinated to learn about his life. It sounds idyllic. He was raised in a herd of centaurs where the children—he describes himself as a colt—were cared for not just by their parents, but by everyone in the group.

Because they lived in a large community, other species seldom attacked, especially since colts and fillies were trained to use bows and arrows from an early age.

"Between playing in sun-drenched meadows and learning to shoot arrows, we learned to read and write," he says as if it's no big thing.

"The females too?" I ask in disbelief.

"Aye?" he says, as if my question surprised him. "Eldar and I both read and write. Do all humans think all species from Down Below are barbarians?" He seems insulted.

"No! No, nothing like that. Well, the men say that to keep us scared and obedient. I just… women Up Above aren't allowed to read."

He stops walking. Just halts his forward motion and turns to look at me, his beautiful emerald eyes wide in wonder.

He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it again. Was he going to ask if I was joking? Maybe, but the serious expression on my face must have given him his answer.

"Would you like to learn?"

My palm flies to my throat as I consider his offer. At first, I'm terrified. It wasn't just an oversight that I didn't learn to read, nor was it from a lack of parental attention. It was forbidden , a punishable offense. I try to shake off my fear, considering what he and Eldar do with each other's bodies is not just forbidden Up Above, it is punishable by death.

"Yes! I'd like that very much. How generous of you to offer."

He faces forward and continues his slow progress, looking for our dinner.

Something has changed between us. Not only am I more comfortable, but I think he is, too. There's something about my hands on his skin that reminds me he's a male and he's soon to be my mate.

He wouldn't have agreed to come on this hunting trip with me if he wasn't willing to further our connection.

As he ambles forward, my hands drift lower as if it's a distracted accident. Now they're fully on his soft coat.

He has a beautiful black coat with black spots dotting his white ass. There is slightly thicker fur in the line near his waist where his horsehair changes to tanned human skin. He has long, black hair trailing partway down his back.

There's something almost hypnotic about the gentle sway of his gait as we move silently through the forest floor. It's also… sensual. My hips are splayed wide, my sensitive places rubbing against him with every step he takes.

It's freeing to be in this position. I can watch him, feel his body intimately, but since I'm behind him, I'm almost invisible to his gaze.

I cock my head, mesmerized by the rippling muscles of his back as they dance with every step he takes. The ends of his long, black hair sway rhythmically. Despite the cool air, he's worked up a sweat, creating an intriguing sheen on his skin.

Although every single human male from Up Above would call for my death if they knew where my thoughts are straying, I can't keep my mind from wondering what his cock looks like, and how having sex with him would work.

The more I try to push that thought from my mind, the farther it burrows into my thoughts. I saw dogs mating in the compound yard. The male got behind, put his forepaws on the female's hips, and pounded away.

The picture of the centaur doing that to me is repulsive.

Except he's not a dog, and he has hands instead of paws, and we're not animals. We're becoming friends.

"Zoron?"

"Hmm?"

"I…" I'm not sure how to broach the topic, but I know I can't do it without looking him in the eye. There's no point in hiding it, my scent is probably filling his nostrils. "Could you help me down for a moment?"

He's quick to comply, providing me with the crook of his arm so I can swing down. Soon I'm on the ground looking up into his face.

"The idea of… four of us in the furs together terrifies me." I blurted that out before I lost my nerve. "Three large males. So many ways…" I don't finish my thought, which was that there are so many ways they could hurt me, physically or emotionally.

I don't know what I expected from Zoron. I wasn't sure he'd even listen to what I had to say. None of the men Up Above ever bothered to do such a thing. But his face is open, his gaze never veers from mine as he waits for me to finish my thought.

"I wonder if… our first time could be alone? Here in the forest? So it's not so overwhelming?"

He gives me the smallest smile as he shyly dips his head. Then he reaches to envelop me in his arms and tuck me against him.

"You are a beautiful female," he breathes into the hair above my ear. "I love Eldar more than life itself. I've never even dreamed of having a female, but now that I've met you, I'll consider myself lucky to be your mate."

Although it feels like we're mated already because he and my new mate Eldar are a package, we're not mated yet.

"I would love to honor your request, but that would feel like cheating on Eldar. When we mate, it will be with my other mate right there, participating."

I try to stifle my shiver, but I'm sure he felt it. Eldar's stare still pierces through me every time he looks at me. Frankly, the elf scares me.

"So, no. I must turn down your generous offer of sharing yourself with me here today."

The sweet male is hugging me tightly. This doesn't feel like a rejection at all. It seems affectionate.

"I'll tell you what I will do, Lylah. I would like to kiss you."