Chapter 17
Haley
I wake up slowly to the scintillating smell of bacon.
Saliva fills my mouth and I smack my lips in anticipation. The scent is so familiar that for a moment or two, I think I’m back on Earth laying in my comfy childhood bed and my parents are making breakfast. They always made a big breakfast on the weekends, and then we would spend the rest of the day together doing something fun.
Then it all comes back to me in a torrent of memories. The abduction, the crash, the weird dinosaurs, Draggar, and I sit up with a start.
Draggar sits nearby cooking strips of the not-a-pig meat over the small fire. The strips sizzle and pop where they’re spread out on top of a flat rock. My stomach growls loudly in response to the smell drawing the big teal alien’s attention to me.
He chuckles and holds out one of the cooked strips of meat that he’s already plated up on one of the large leaves. I eagerly take it and bite into the juicy strip of not-bacon, groaning as the flavor explodes in my mouth.
“Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve ever ate. Seriously, you should open a restaurant or something. I’d eat there every day.” I mumble around the mouthful of not-bacon.
I expected the taste to be similar to pork since it smells so much like bacon, but it’s not. It’s gamey with a slight vinegary taste that actually adds a nice balance to the smokiness, and it’s unlike anything I’ve eaten before. The texture is a little different and almost flaky like fish. No matter, it’s delicious and probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. Or maybe I just think it’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten because it is the first real food I’ve had in a long time.
Minutes pass with Draggar continuing to cook the meat and me finishing off another strip of the definitely-not-bacon. I unashamedly lick my fingers when I finish it, and he hands me another piece from the large, round leaf he’s using as a plate.
“What is this called? What kind of animal was it?” I wave the strip of meat at Draggar.
It takes a couple of attempts to get the meaning of my words across, but eventually, his silver eyes light with understanding and he answers my question. “It is scrof. There are many of the creatures on Laedirissae, but they are usually wily to a hunter’s skill. We were fortunate to stumble upon this one.” His mouth tilts up at one corner. “Not so fortunate for him, but he will replenish our empty ration bags and supply us with the nourishment needed for our journey.”
My eyes round in surprise. That’s the most the usually quiet alien has said to me at one time. Who knew he could be so chatty? After a moment of silence while I digest his words, I clear my throat.
“There’s a similar animal on Earth called a pig, but it’s not as big.” I tilt my head at him. “Or blue. And it doesn’t have a mohawk.”
I know he can’t understand me and any conversation we have is totally one-sided, but I like talking to the big guy. His silver eyes watch me so intently when I speak that even though he doesn’t understand English, I feel like he understands me.
Better than any guy I’ve met, honestly.
We spend the next little while with me asking what stuff is called and using hand gestures to get my questions across and Draggar answering as best he can. If the eager light in his eyes is anything to go by, he seems to be just as interested in hearing the words I use for items, and he repeats them after me every time. For a few moments, the strangeness of it all fades, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a meal together and enjoying each other’s company.
When we are finished eating and I finally sit back with a pleasantly full stomach, Draggar packs away the leftover meat in more of the waxy leaves. Then he gestures me over to the scrofhide and shows me what he has been working on while I was asleep.
The hide is stretched out flat on the ground, and it looks like he used something to scrape off the greasy residue from the inside of it leaving behind a large piece of supple leather. I feel a little guilty because it is obvious that Draggar didn’t get any rest while I wiled away the afternoon napping.
I don’t know very much about surviving on what seems to be a primitive planet. Most of my time back on Earth was spent at work and at home, and that didn’t exactly give me a lot of survivalist training. I am completely out of my depths here, and I don’t like that feeling. I don’t enjoy feeling so helpless and being entirely dependent on someone else.
I make a promise to myself to start paying more attention to the things Draggar does to survive and maybe I could talk him into teaching me a few things. I don’t know if I could ever get up the nerve to kill an animal, but maybe I could start out with learning to butcher the next one.
While I want to go home, back to Earth, I’m realistic enough to admit that that doesn’t seem likely. It’s not like I’ve seen any other spaceships on this planet. I mean, Draggar is literally cooking over a fire. That doesn’t exactly scream technologically advanced. The sooner I can become self-sufficient the better off I am.
That thought leads me to remember my friends and my relaxed mood swiftly disappears.
They only had enough food to last for a few days, and it could be running out soon. They’re probably worried to death about what happened to me. And Zoe, if she really did wander off by herself.
My eyes well up with tears and they spill over to run silently down my cheeks. Draggar notices my distress. His wide mouth curves down in a frown as he moves closer and puts an arm around my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. I lean against him letting the warmth of his body soak into me.
He tilts his head and peers intently into my eyes, a questioning expression on his face. “Why do you cry, Haley?”
A sob forces its way out of me. “It’s my friends.” I throw my hand out and gesture towards the cave entrance and the jungle beyond. “I’m so worried about them. They’re all alone out there, and I really need to get back to them.”
I bury my face against Draggar’s throat on another sob. Tears pour from my eyes and wet his skin as I weep for my friends, myself, for everything that has happened the last few weeks. It’s been so overwhelming, and I’ve tried so hard to be strong and not break down. But even I have my limits and once I get started crying, it’s hard to stop.
I cry over being abducted, stolen from my home and locked up in a small cell. I cry over crashing on this planet and getting separated from my friends. I even let out a few tears over finding my ex with his side piece.
After a while my tears gradually subside, and I’m left shaken. My nose is stuffy and my eyes are swollen and gritty and I feel as if I’ve cried enough tears to fill up a swimming pool. I take a deep breath to steady myself.
Draggar’s musky, spicy scent that reminds me of a really expensive cologne invades my nostrils, and I realize we’re sitting on the furry pallet.
Well, he is. I’m sitting on his lap with his strong arms holding me pressed firmly against him and one large hand rubbing up and down over my back. His chest vibrates against my face as he hums. His deep voice soothes me with a tune that sounds almost like a lullaby and my lips tip up in a watery smile. This big, fearsome warrior is comforting me with a lullaby.
I snuggle deeper into his arms and enjoy the deep hum of his voice as one of his hands continues to move over my back. I focus on the feeling of his hand moving over me and it doesn’t take long for the comfort I felt to morph into a low burn.
Draggar adds his other hand, and they roam over my back, petting me in an obvious attempt to soothe. But it only inflames my senses more and I close my eyes as the burn continues to spread through me. I clench my thighs together as a whimper escapes my mouth, and I hear him suck in a breath, the tune he was humming trailing off.
Tilting my head back, I lock gazes with the man who still holds me pressed against him.
His silver irises have become completely engulfed with molten gold that looks as if it could scorch me and his angular face is harsh with desire. I thought his features were strange looking when I first laid eyes on him, but now, this alien who touches me so gently is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
My eyes roam over his face and down to his lips. They’re wide and supple and I can just make out the hint of indentation where the dimple appears when he smiles really big. And I wonder, not for the first time, what his lips would feel like against my own. The pull between us is too strong and I can’t resist it any longer.
Slowly, to give him time to stop me, I lean forward and softly graze my lips against his with just the barest of contact. My lips tingle at the contact and I jump.
But Draggar is completely still, almost like he is frozen in shock, and I start to pull back, wondering if I’ve made a mistake. My cheeks heat with embarrassment at the thought that I completely misread the situation. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of someone who’s not interested in me at all.
“Oh, hell. I’m so sorry. I thought. . .”
Before I can complete my sentence and pull away from him, he releases a tortured groan that rumbles through his body and he pulls me back against his chest until I’m plastered completely against him. His mouth descends and meets mine, swallowing the gasp of surprise I release.
Draggar’s kiss isn’t practiced or a duel for dominance like other men I’ve kissed before. It’s untutored and wild and passionate. Just like him. His lips move over mine, relentlessly pulling and nibbling, and heat spirals through me heading straight to my center.
His arms curl around me and I moan as he somehow presses me even closer against him. My hands glide over his skin, so much thicker than my own, up his bulging arms and over his wide shoulders before wrapping tightly around his neck. I run my tongue along the seam of his lips, begging for entry, and he eases his mouth open with a growl that makes my stomach flutter.
My tongue sweeps in, and I use the opportunity to explore him. His taste is amazing, smoky with a hint of the not-bacon we ate earlier and it only makes me hungrier for him. Our tongues tangle together and that’s when I realize his is longer than mine and rough, almost like sandpaper, with little bumps all along it. I shiver as the bumps massage against my tongue.
I wonder what his tongue would feel like against other places. I whimper at the image in my mind and sparks shoot straight down to my clit making it throb.
It’s not long before Draggar grows more confident and takes the kiss further. His hands tunnel through my hair, holding my head still so he can delve deeper. His rough tongue is an invader, plundering my mouth and it feels amazing. A shudder ripples through me and my pussy clenches in need.
After a while, he pulls his lips from mine with a groan and trails his mouth over my cheeks, my jaw, and down my throat, and I respond with an encouraging moan. He sucks and nibbles along the way, his lips dragging against my skin and his tongue leaving behind a trail of heat.
The edge of his fangs graze against my skin, sending another shudder through my body, and I respond by grabbing his head and dragging his mouth back to mine with a harsh groan. His lips are full and wide and the center of my world at this moment and I can’t get enough of them. Of him.
I move closer to Draggar sliding my legs to straddle him on either side of his hips, and that’s when I notice the hard ridge of his erection pressing against my core.
It’s long and thick and as I press down against him, I swear it grows even bigger. My eyes widen with tantalizing alarm. A small frisson of trepidation zings through me as I imagine him perched over me plunging his large cock into me. There’s no way that thing will fit inside me, but I don’t want to stop. I can feel myself grow wetter, and my hips grind against his erection.
Draggar releases a harsh groan and then it feels like my world is upended.
Before I can utter a word in protest, not that I would, he flips me over onto my back without our lips ever breaking contact. His thick, heavy body covers mine from head to toe, pressing me down into the soft fur of the pallet and I whimper in response.
It feels so good. He feels so good.
His lips unerringly move down my jaw and my throat, setting my skin aflame along the way. His rough hands coast up my sides and make their way to the neckline of my pajama top and he tugs. The thick flannel fabric holds strong and Draggar grunts in annoyance as he tugs again without any luck. I giggle and push his hands away, and a frown of disappointment crosses his face.
“It’s okay. Just give me a sec.” I assure him as I quickly unbutton the top and toss it aside to an answering groan from him as I reveal myself. I swear he’s practically drooling.
All of the snide comments from Chad about how I needed to work out more flow right out of my mind. I didn’t realize how much of an impact his criticisms had made on me, but seeing the desire that is plainly written on Draggar’s face makes me feel beautiful and amazing.
Fuck Chad and anyone else who ever made me feel bad about my body.
This alien – this man – touches me with reverence. His hands skate over my breasts, barely grazing my nipples, as he softly growls with barely restrained desire. His eyes, normally so cool, are like pools of liquid gold now as they follow the path his hands take. He looks at me like he needs me more than anything and that only inflames me even more.
With a whimper, I arch my back to press my breasts into his calloused hands before dragging his mouth back to mine to nip at his lips with my teeth. His tongue strokes against mine and I feel like he would devour me if he could, and at this moment, I’d be totally fine with that.
But as strong as the need is between us, I feel – no, I somehow know – that if I pushed Draggar away right now, he would stop. He’d be disappointed, but he would respect my wishes. I don’t know how I know that, but I do.
But stopping is the last thing on my mind right now. Instead, I run my hands down the rippling muscles of his chest, dragging my fingernails over the skin covering the ridges and edging around the tiny nubs of his nipples. That earns me a gasp and then a groan as he rocks his hips, and I pause my exploration to enjoy the press of his erection against me.
My hands resume their questing search and I slowly trace down over the ridges of his abdomen before slipping lower to the waistband of the loincloth that has titillated and teased me. I have spent entirely too much time wondering what is beneath this infuriating piece of leather, and I mean to find out.
Just as my fingers begin to reach under the waistband, Draggar suddenly grabs my hands and pins them to either side of my head with a groan and a shake of his head. He does it so quickly I don’t have a chance to react. All I can do is huff out a breath in frustration. I was so close.
“No. This time is for you.” His growled words send an arrow of heat directly to my pussy, and I can feel myself grow even wetter. I whimper as the wetness trickles down my thighs and his nostrils flare as he takes a great big gulp of air.
Draggar’s lips and tongue move down my chest, sucking and drawing on first one nipple and then the other. The roughness of his tongue and the little bumps on it send tingles shooting through me and my head tilts back on a groan.
His hands still hold mine and I squeeze tightly around them, holding on for dear life. My pussy clenches around nothing, and I moan in frustration. I want him inside me. I have never felt anything like this. This almost primal need to join with him – it almost feels as if I’m in a dream.
His mouth slowly leaves my breasts behind and I whimper in protest. I should be embarrassed at how much I want this – him – but I don’t. I can’t. This feels so right.
His hot mouth travels lower and finally reaches the fleshy curve of my stomach and I suck in a breath. Draggar looks up at me for permission as his hands release me and move to hover over the elastic waistband of my pajama pants. A wicked gleam lights his eyes and I can feel my clit throb in anticipation.
At my eager nod, his face so focused with desire changes and his thick lips tip up with a sinful grin that makes me whimper. With my assistance, his strong hands work quickly and he divests me of the thick pants, leaving me bare.
Goosebumps rise up on my arms at being completely naked in front of him, but Draggar quickly gets rid of them by spreading my thighs and eagerly moving between them. His nostrils flare as he leans over my pussy and takes a deep dragging breath. His golden eyes slide close as he releases a soft growl.
Oh, shit. He’s smelling of me. Before I can be embarrassed, his head drops a bit and his tongue licks up the inside of one thigh. My head falls back against the pallet and I lose myself in the sensation.
An alien is about to go down on me. This can’t be real.
If this is a dream, it’s the best one I’ve ever had.