Pheromone, page 16
part #1 of For the Love of Aliens Series
I’d make a Men in Black joke, but he wouldn’t get it. The idea makes me weirdly depressed, so I shake it off. I don’t know if there’ll be stipulations for going back to Earth, but I don’t feel comfortable giving up my memories of this place. Of this guy.
I pause in the living room as he heads out for more furs, and it strikes me suddenly how small and weird it’ll seem going back home after all of this. Not that I don’t want to go home. I do. I have the greatest family in the world, but I …
Once Big D’s hauled all the furs and hides in, all the extra plant matter, I watch from the doorway as he fills in the space around the table with fresh fern fronds, creating an even floor for the nest. He carefully selects which hides go where, putting the stiffer ones on the bottom and then layering softer and softer furs until the entire room is one big cushion of fluff. Flowers are gently sprinkled around, adding to the soft, powdery sweetness permeating the ship.
Laundry day has made the nest about a million times better.
“You’re a regular homemaker, aren’t ya?” I ask him as he squeezes past, rubbing the entire length of his black scaled body along my mostly naked form. My breath hitches, and my stomach muscles tighten. The space below my belly button aches strangely, and I put a hand over it to still the sensation. My comment seems to please him and he chuffs at me as he retrieves a new fabric scrap from his pile, standing on two feet and using both sets of his hands to hang a new door curtain. It’s a lovely soft, lavender fabric embedded with real flowers. I can only imagine where he got it from.
Probably raided another cart of Tusk Men, I think with a smirk. Those motherfuckers don’t know when to stop messing with a boss, do they?
Night is falling outside, and my stomach rumbles, reminding me that it’s time for dinner. As angry and sullen as Big D’s been, he has never once failed to feed me.
He exits the ship, snatches up the final item on the ground and returns with something big and furry in his mouth. I’d thought it was another pile of furs but, apparently, it’s a dead animal. It looks like a fluffy pig with a long tail. Oh my God, please let it taste like bacon. I would literally cut a bitch for some bacon.
My mouth waters, but I act like I’m super chill, sitting on my fur in the nook and hoping like hell I’ll get not only an invitation to dinner but one to the nest as well.
“You’re a fucking boss ass bitch of a hunter, you know that?” I tell him as he lays the carcass near the door and then goes about setting up a fire on the scorched bit of floor in the center of the room. Seeing as he likes to eat things raw, he doesn’t need those flames. Those are for me. I still don’t understand why he’d go to so much trouble to care for a random alien he found by accident, but … yay. “Even the most successful hunters on Earth—like African wild dogs—only catch their prey eighty-something percent of the time.” If I sound smart, it’s a lie. My baby brother, Nate, loves wildlife trivia almost as much as he likes video games and fantasy novels. “You never seem to go a day without a catch.”
I must be saying the right things because Big D puffs up with pride, those shadows around him whipping into a frenzy, his purple markings shimmering and pulsing with light. He spits flames onto the dry wood and up it goes. He breaks his kill down while I watch, no longer ashamed to face the reality of my food. He takes the best meat from the sides and back of the creature and pushes it over to me, leaving a smear of blood on the floor that he promptly licks up with his long tongue.
I snag a stick from the debris around my bed and spear the larger hunk of meat, holding it over the flames like I’m roasting hot dogs at my family’s favorite campground. Ugh. I miss them all, but especially Nate. Especially Jane. I exhale past the feeling. I heard her calling my name in the market. That alone is enough to fill me with hope.
Big D swallows large pieces of his kill down that massive mouth of his. He doesn’t chew. He doesn’t worry about bones. It might’ve bothered me in the past, but it doesn’t bother me anymore.
“Can I sleep in the nest tonight?” I ask him as the fire crackles and pops. He turns to me with that all-too sentient gaze of his and sweeps it across my naked body in either a warning or an invitation. Maybe both. “I’ll be a good girl,” I say, and then I thank the fucking universe that the translator is crap because certainly it won’t translate that innuendo the way it sounds in English …
His mouth splits in a grin, teeth bloodied, eyes shimmering.
He stalks over to me and shoves the headset onto my tangled hair, putting his mouth so close to my ear that when he speaks, I hear more than just the translated words in the headset. His growl tumbles through my body and grapples right onto that desire that’s resting in limbo below my belly button.
“You may.”
He leaves me there to finish my meal which I do, consuming the meat medium-rare so I don’t have to wait longer than necessary.
It’s one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in my life: it tastes like goddamn bacon.
I leave the fire burning, brush the bits of leaves and twigs from my skin, and then nonchalantly walk into the nest. Big D lies in the dead center, his back to me, tail gently swishing. He’s taut and aware, growling softly under his breath as I join him.
It takes me a few minutes to decide, but I end up settling on a pristine white fur about two feet away from him. When there’s the whole of the nest, he chooses the middle and I end up oddly close. I don’t allow myself to dwell on why that might be. I just tug another fur over me, fluff the one under my head for a pillow, and drift off to sleep without the sleeping pills I often pop back home.
My dreams are less than serene. Instead, they’re carnal, and in possession of a one, Big D aka Dragon Dude.
I have got to come up with a better name for this guy.
That’s my last conscious thought until morning.
Without any pressing engagements to fling me out of bed, I sleep late again and wake with a delicious stretch and an exaggerated yawn. Padding to the bathroom, I use the toilet, drink my fill of fresh water, and then head out to the main area of the ship to see if Dragon Dude’s around.
“Morning,” I greet, nodding at Zero’s empty screen.
“Where is the Falopex you spoke of?” she demands, but I’ve already explained about fifty times that my guess is as good as hers. “Perhaps he is never coming. The Falopex claim to be righteous keepers of moral code, but where were they when my research team was torn apart and eaten?”
I don’t know what to say to that.
“Were they … did the Aspis eat them?” I look out the front of the ship to see Big D stalking back in my direction. My skin is on fire, a too tight suit that I want to shed. I exhale and try to act casual. Not the easiest task with my tits hanging out. I crinkle my brow.
“Fuck off, human.” That’s the response I get from Zero. I ignore her. Pretty sure the years of sitting here in the forest alone have eroded her peopling skills. Or, seeing as she’s such a crabby bitch, maybe she never had any of which to speak?
Big D jumps into the ship, landing in a crouch in front of me, flickering with shadows, horns catching the light and shimmering at the tips.
“Hey.” I clasp my hands together behind my back. His eyes find my tits. There’s definitely something going on between us, but even if I were inclined to have some kinky alien sex … We’re not physically compatible. He’s … well, he’s packing.
His eyes narrow on me, like he knows the dirty thoughts behind my innocent expression.
“Female, come with me.” His tail whips out, like he might snatch me up again, but I hold out a palm.
“Sure, but let me get dressed.” He can’t understand me, fine, but he tilts his head and then follows after me into the bathroom, crouching in the doorway as I slip my bra on first, and then yank the spacesuit up my body. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it seems to have gotten even tighter. I can’t get the damn zipper up at all this time. I turn a look on Big D, and then shove the translator onto his head. “You’re feeding me so well that I’ve actually gained weight here.”
He splits a violent grin at that, snatching me up in his tail before I can grab my boots. I scramble to steal the translator back.
“Plump females are happy females.” Big D takes me to the edge of the ship and hops off, setting me down and then rising to stand on two feet. He starts walking, and I scramble to keep up. I have to take three steps for every one of his.
“Where are we going?” I ask, trying to gesture the question out with my hands. “Oh, and could you please steal a second translator? It’d be nice if we could just, you know, talk.”
He seems amused, tail twitching, chin raised, wings folded against his back. With his mouth shut, he has this pensive, contemplative look about him. It’s only when he splits that gaping maw open that he gets some sass in his expression. He doesn’t answer my question, just keeps walking.
The air is thick with humidity, wet. As I walk, condensation collects on my face, sticks my long hair to the back of my neck. I’m seriously regretting wearing the suit. Shoulda just come with him in my damn panties. There’s nobody around, right?
“This better be good, wherever we’re going,” I continue, but to be honest, I’m enjoying the walk. I’m out here with an apex predator. This is my chance to explore this place while I’ve got the chance. Who the fuck is going to bother Big D? “You were pretty cool, back at the market.” I scratch at my temple, relieved that he can’t understand the nonsense spewing from my mouth. “Cop Guy seems alright. But Moth Guy? Talk about a stalker. If he shows up, you can eat him.” I study Dragon Dude as he strolls beside me, seemingly content to let me talk without understanding a damn word of what I’m saying. “I liked the way you challenged him though, bravo. The guy needs to be brought down a few levels.”
I lock my fingers together behind my neck, studying the landscape, the trees as thin as twigs, the ones with circumferences bigger than the Empire State Building. Low clouds are building in the sky, purple and sapphire and full of rage. I catch flashes of them through small breaks in the canopy. A storm is coming in then? I’d be worried if not for Big D. Surely he knows how to navigate the storms here.
Also … I weirdly feel like if some shit went down, he’d protect me. He’s done it once, twice, thrice before.
“I’m starting to owe you a lot of favors,” I hedge, hating that I have to admit to a debt but unwilling to let it go unacknowledged. I try to hand over the translator so I can repeat myself, but he isn’t having any of it. With a sigh, I put it back on.
We come up on a stream, trickling through the woods on our left, shallow but teeming with creatures. There’s an odd white stag-like creature with a neck like a giraffe, some of those fluffy pigs snorting and whuffling through the bushes, an alien heron with legs as tall as Big D. They ignore him, as if he isn’t the biggest, baddest boss in the jungle. I’m guessing they know the truth of the situation: if he wanted to, he could hunt and kill each and every one of them.
“Running is futile, eh?” I salute the creatures, startling the alien heron. Its wings are even longer than its legs which is a feat in and of itself. I cock a brow. Now that I’ve made contact with the Cop and heard Jane’s voice, I feel like I can take some time to appreciate the scenery.
I do not think about that room or those chains, the smell or the possibilities.
Shit, now I’m starting to worry about stupid Tabbi Kat. She’s just the sort of idiot that would mouth off and end up … punched in the face by a Tusk Man and dragged by the hair? Damn it. Maybe the pretty pop star and I aren’t so different after all.
Okay, fine, I’ll tell Cop Guy about her and leave it to him. That’s it. I’m not going out of my way for a woman who forces Jane to hand-wash her Bugatti in kitten heels and a pantsuit.
A tree limb hangs heavy over the grassy area where we’re walking. Big D uses one of his wing hands to push it up and out of the way. A glossy ripe piece of fruit falls to the ground and bounces. It’s pink and white on the outside, splitting open to reveal bloodred flesh inside. Oh, and the smell? Like sugar and strawberries. I bend down to pick it up, and Big D’s tail lashes out. He snags my wrist in a tight grip to keep me from touching the thing.
I look up at him, the edge of his mouth curling up to reveal shiny teeth.
“Toxic. Bleed from the eyes.” He tugs me along with him, and I stumble. He doesn’t let me hit the ground, holding onto me until I’ve got my feet. When he uncurls his tail and draws it back, my skin feels cool and bereft in an odd way.
Eve, you’re vibing with an alien dragon.
“Thanks again for that,” I tell him, trying to get him to take the translator. He narrows his eyes but deigns to grab it in a winged hand, holding it up to his … I guess he’s got ear holes, IDK. There are no ears for me to see, just those massive horns of his. “Thank you again,” I repeat, and he makes a face at me, chucking the translator back. I catch it in my hands, jogging to keep up with his sudden speed increase.
Here and there, we pass more of those strange vents. Purple and red smoke drifts up from inside, heating the already warm air even further. When I stop to peer inside of one, Big D lets me so I figure it’s safe. I squat down and see flames dancing across an oozing dark pitch-like substance inside.
Hmm.
I look over my shoulder to find that he’s watching me. I wish he’d talk to me more. Whenever he does deign to talk, he seems like a cool guy. A cool guy? Eve, he’s an alien monster that changes size. One minute he’s as big as a bus, the next, he’s a really tall dude. I can’t figure that one out for the life of me, the shapeshifting stuff.
I stand up and off we go, detouring into the trees and over the stream. He walks right through it so I do, too. The cool water feels good on my feet, the stones smooth. Tiny purple flowers grow straight from the sandy bottom, their stems long and hairlike, making me wonder how they even stay upright.
We reemerge from the shadowy thicket to bright sunshine, and I lift a hand to shade my eyes. The suns on this planet are killer. Tabbi Kat must be in a tizzy. If anyone dares suggest she leave the house without sunscreen—only Zinc Oxide will do—she starts screaming about UV rays and premature aging. She’s twenty-one years old, by the way, and regularly gets Botox.
Why do I know so much about freakin’ Tabbi Kat?
I push aside the thought and squint through the sunshine. There are a scant few beams breaking through the clouds and yet, it’s as bright as a hot summer day back on earth.
“Oh.” I realize suddenly why Big D brought me here.
There’s a view.
Not just any view, the most magnificent view I’ve ever seen in my life.
The woods extend as far as the eye can see, broken only by a handful of downed ships. One of those ships is as big as the entire Portland airport. How the hell did that end up down here? Right. The heavy gravity. I didn’t notice it much at first, but it’s starting to get to me. My feet are swollen, and I only feel better when I lie on my back with them propped up against the wall. I even laid with my head hanging over the edge of the ship yesterday, resting there until all the blood rushed to my skull and made me dizzy.
“This is amazing,” I breathe, using both hands to shield my eyes so I can see better. There are mountains in the distance, but they’re not snow-capped. They’re black and glittery, topped with flames. Err. Right. Toto, no Kansas, blah blah. Just beyond them, I catch a glimpse of sapphire brilliance and white capped waves. An ocean? A really big lake? “How long does it take you to fly over there?” I ask, wondering if we couldn’t, like, make a beach trip or something.
I’ve lost my damn mind.
I turn to find Big D crouched beside me. He lifts up one of his wings and brings it over the top of me, shading me so that I don’t have to shade myself. I drop my arms to my sides as I stare at him. I can’t quite shake the feeling that I’m being wooed.
“Are you trying to impress me?” I ask, lifting a brow. “If so, it’s almost working.” I purse my lips. It shouldn’t work. It can’t work. I have a strong inner voice warning me that this guy doesn’t do casual sex. If … well, I don’t think we’d even fit together, but if we somehow did manage something, it wouldn’t be a hey, you’re hot, let’s have some fun sort of deal. It’d be … The guy brought me to a vista. He spruced up his nest. He hunted bacon for me. Proving my theory that the grubs and the arugula and the tasteless nuts were a slight. “This is very nice.”
I sound condescending.
He picks up on it. His eyes narrow, and that massive mouth of his ripples in annoyance. He growls at me and the translator relays his words.
“You are displeased?” It’s a genuine question. I shake my head, but I don’t know if he understands my body language enough to get it.
“No,” I respond carefully, trying to decide how to phrase this. I give him the translator, and he willingly accepts it. “You … I don’t … what do you want from me?”
I’ve never dated anyone who didn’t want something from me. Maybe that’s a ‘me’ problem and I’m picking the wrong guys, but that also means I can’t trust my own judgment. This stupid alien dragon is almost too nice. We trade the translator again.
Now he has the audacity to look confused. He stares at me, reaching up a finger and tracing it down the curving length of his horn. It seems like a mindless tick, but oh God, I wish I could touch his horns. I want to see what would happen if I gripped them in my palms and gave them a rub. I wonder what he’d do?
“Want?” he asks me, and then he licks his mouth with that sinuous tongue, and my throat goes bone-dry at the sight. “From? I want only you.”
Oh lord.
That has to be a mistranslation.
He stands up then, and he’s right there in front of me, nine-foot-whatever of shimmering black scales, purple spirals on his horns and chest and stomach. He has abs, too. Did I mention that? Beautiful abs and strong thighs, and a muscular tail. His mouth disappears into his face, leaving only those gem-like eyes and slightly flared nostrils as he breathes me in. His wings remain above us, providing welcome shade.
