Page 52 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
I took in my sleeves, covered in bits of clear plastic, and the dust from drilling through the walls that coated my boots. “We’re fine here.” Geo nodded when our gazes met. “No need to track this mess through your dwelling.”
Ayla’s wings fluttered in a shrug. “Suit yourselves.” She took her time looking through each of the eye-level windows while I laid down a plastic sheet on the floor, placed the tray on it, and sat.
Geo joined me. “When I asked for a ride, I didn’t mean you had to work all day. I thought you would just drop me off.” Geo’s low voice rumbled beside me. “I can com you for a lift when I’m done. Probably a couple more hours.”
His shoulder brushed mine when he leaned in to grab a slice of hiscus, sending electric sparks up my spine. A trail of red juice dripped down his chin, and I tilted toward him instinctively, wanting to clean his beard with my tongue.
“I’m going to place my nursing chair right here to take advantage of the changing light in the evenings.”
I jolted back from Geo, startled by Ayla’s voice. How had I forgotten she was here?
“The sunsets are so beautiful here on Tern, and what did you call this effect again, Geo?”
It took a moment for him to respond. “Bubbles…” He paused to suck the sticky juice off his fingers. “You know, like the spheres created when you agitate soap. On Earth, children have little wands they dip in soapy water and blow into the air.” He waved his arm through the air with a grace unexpected in a male wearing dusty coveralls. “They create a stream of bubbles that drift through the wind.” Cross-legged, elbows settled on his knees and gaze turned inward, he seemed at peace. “Then all the other children run around, popping them.” His lips tipped up in a fond expression that made me think he’d be a good father.
A sense of longing I had thought I’d left in the past filled me. I would never be a father, and nor would any partner of mine.
“That represents the idea beautifully. I especially love how they’re all different sizes.” Ayla brushed off her talons on a mat Geo had dropped by the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
“We’ll be out of your hair right away,” Geo said.
A curious expression passed over Ayla’s face as she fingered the translator behind her ear, just as I did. She adjusted a feather on her head before continuing to the kitchen.
“I like helping you, Geo.” My tail swirled around his bicep and squeezed as I picked up the thread of our last conversation. “Plus, I have no plans today. I’m all caught up at the hovery.” The nut I crunched burst with a creamy, bitter flavor, and I purred. It tasted so good.
Geo’s calloused finger caressed up and down the same section of my tail over and over again, driving me insane. Drawn in by my purr, he tipped onto his knees and crawled toward me. I gulped and his pupils dilated. I purred louder, reeling him closer.
A loud clatter in the kitchen forced us to jump apart. Shortly after, Ayla’s sing-song voice rang out. “Don’t mind me, I’m nothing but slippery feather-fingers these days.”
“Let’s get this finished.” Geo’s thick rasp vibrated over my skin, urging me to touch him. “You’re making me want…”
Whatever had been holding him back broke. Our lips met, and the tether’s connection grew thick and syrupy between us before he pulled away.
Under his breath, he muttered, “Trying to kill me.” Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to Geo anymore. I was no longer confident the tether could be broken, or even that I wanted to break it. Geo was much more than a typical alpha—he gifted sunlight to nurseries.
Just as the reds of sundown cast their warm glow through the lamar, Geo installed the last bubble window.
This would be the perfect place to raise younglings. I hugged my calf with my tail.
We barely escaped the Rowtees. They were so pleased with Geo’s generous gift that they wanted us to stay for dinner. They even invited me to join Geo at their youngling’s naming celebration.
Geo stacked the unused lamar onto my hover trailer beside his tools and secured the load before sliding onto the seat. “Keep your tail to yourself,” he grumbled as I turned to look at him over my shoulder, slotting my butt between his hips. His V-neck shirt stretched and exposed a patch of fur over skin flushed red. “Or I can’t promise I’ll be able to control myself.”
He sidled up behind me, his considerable bulk pressing against my back. My nostrils flared, inhaling as much of his summer field scent as possible. It aroused me so much that I almost tipped the hoverbike over. I’d considered offering him riding instructions, but now I wasn’t sure.
I liked him wrapped around me like this.
“Is that a threat or a promise?” I purred, and he growled, gripping my waist and pulling until his hard length notched against my ass and the base of my tail.
“Drive,” he barked, and I engaged the throttle with a press of my thumb.
The breeze did nothing to cool the hot ache radiating from my protective pouch. My tail pulsed, charged with restless energy, where we pressed together.
A shower of neon lights dotted the air as the hoverbike stirred up a swarm of winged starbugs. Constellations formed and broke around us as they buzzed by.
I wanted to ride in this haze of lust forever, but we reached the sono in a span of minutes.
Geo sat with his arms around me long after the hoverbike went silent. A few starbugs lingered around us, flashing. Despite the cold air, his body provided all the warmth I needed. It was as if the goddess Sola had reached deep into my mind and recreated my perfect moment.
