Page 94 of Folds
It's a lovely name, especially how his forked tongue slips everso slightly out of his lips, accenting the T in a way I don't think my own could.
"Okay, hey Bahtam, let's do this." I touch his hand, trying to reassure him we'll get him out of this situation.
And that might have been a mistake.
Bahtam sucks in a deep breath and grabs my wrist, pulling my chest tightly against his own before wrapping his arms around my back.
"Warm," he sighs as he presses as much of my skin against his as he can. He nuzzles his chin in the crown of my hair.
"Oh!" I yelp, struggling in vain against his strong grasp. The scales of his body are like ice pressing against my skin. I keep still, thinking of how boa constrictors only tighten their grasp when their prey struggles.
Prey…is that what I am?
"Hey, if you squeeze me any tighter, I'm not going to be able to breathe," I joke, hoping that it's not his intention.
He stills and pulls back his head, some clarity flashing behind his snakelike eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispers, grip loosening.
“Um, it's okay…but it serves the point that we need to get you upstairs—like ASAP." I slip out of his loosened arms, ducking my head under his arms and letting my hands fall into the mud.
With a squish into the soft ground, I sit back on my heels and get my gumption about me.
"I'm going to touch you again, but I need you to keep your chill, okay?"
He nods, and I gently slide my dirty hands up under his forearms. His body reacts, even though he keeps his hands to himself. I swear I can hear the shifting of his scales as the shiver runs through Bahtam.
"I'm gonna need your help, but between the two of us, we can get you upstairs…" I glance at him, his gaze is laser focused on my mouth as I speak. "Right?"
"I will try," he mutters, eyes still locked on my lips.
I shift my weight, rocking from my knees to my feet, still crouched. I shift my weight and dig my heels down, pulling Bahtan's hulking body as far as I can.
His torso slides up, the scales slipping over me like cool beads.
"Again," I mutter, scrambling my legs up to gain traction. The muscles at his hips undulate, and I pull him with all my might.
This time he moves a little easier.
There's a strange but powerful coordination in the way his belly responds to my efforts. The long, coiled length of him tightens and then releases in a smooth rippling motion. It's almost as if he's being guided instead of being dragged.
"Hey, great job!" I praise him with a nervous laugh as his weight shifts, his torso pressing firmly against my hips.
For a second, we're both snugged up a bit tighter as one of the supports above has him shimmying all the flatter.
He slides up, tail running between my legs, until we're face-to-face. His chest is now flush against mine, and through my thin tank top, I can feel how cold he truly is.
My hands are still under his arms, fingers splayed against skin that is decidedly not human. The muscles there flex under my touch, reactive and alive despite their chill.
The weight of him is distracting, especially with the strange throb that catches me off guard between my legs.
"Don't stop," he murmurs roughly.
I snap out of it. "Wasn't planning on it," I shoot back. My voice comes out a bit more off the cuff than I like.
This time, I brace a foot against the beam, tighten my grip on his body, and haul. We make our best distance yet, and even though I'm sure it's only the help of the slippery mud the closer we get to the crawlspace's opening—I'd like to imagine that it's my own fucking gumption that's gotten us here.
There's a hypnotic sound as he slithers in one sinuous slide. His scales drag softly over the wet earth that fills the tight space.
