Page 13 of Hooves & HeartStrings

“Yes. Sex,” I sigh. “We haven’t had sex because, well. I don’t know what to do!”

“I think it would kind of come naturally. You know where body parts go, right?”

“Oh god, Dad. No!” I say in utter horror. “I may be a virgin but I know how to have sex. I just don’t know how to have sex with a human girl without hurting her.”

“Ohhhh,” he says with a chuckle. “Had me worried there for a moment.” I roll my eyes. “Well, I’m not going to go into detail because the only experience I’ve had with a human is your mother, and I’m sure you don't want to hear all about it.”

“You would be very correct about that one,” I insist.

“The most important thing is that you acknowledge your size difference. That will stick with you through everything. Make sure you keep communication open. Always ask her how she's feeling, ask her if she wants to stop, if it’s too much.”

“Okay.” I nod, taking mental notes.

“You want to make sure she’s relaxed and feels safe. Make her ah…. feel good… a few times before any penetration.”

I could literally go a whole lifetime without hearing him say penetration again. Cringing, I keep listening. “When you finally… enter her, take it slow, touch her… ah … sensitive spots to make her feel good.”

I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling awkward.

“For the love of Pete. Give me the phone.” I can hear my mom in the background. “Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Look, what your father is trying to say is before you stick your penis in her, make her climax a few times, help loosen her up, make her body feel good. It will help her take you inside more easily. When you do enter her, make sure you play with her clit, her nipples, and add some pleasure with the stretch she’s going to get.”

“Okay, I’m done. Thanks, Mom, Dad. Bye!” I say, rushing to press end. I’m officially traumatized for the rest of my life and will never be able to look my parents in the eyes again.

But, I have to admit, their advice was helpful.

Running a hand through my hair, I pocket my phone and head out of my room. My uncle is gone again, doing what? I have no idea. That man lives an eventful life, that's for sure. But that means the house will be empty, and if our date tonight goes well, I want to bring Marley back here and be with her in every way possible. That is, if she doesn’t freak out about being my mate. I don’t want to take that next step physically before I know this can be something long term.

It would hurt me if she rejected me, but because she’s human, thankfully, she won't feel that pain. Me, however, it would take a long time for me to get over her, if I ever did. I won’t force her to do anything she’s not comfortable with.

I leave next week to head back home before the new school year starts. I’m still not sure where I’m going to be going. Going to school at Coral Springs and enrolling in their medical program, or working and learning alongside one of the best hybrid surgeons in the world?

If I was to choose the mentorship, would Marley still want to be with me, if she accepts that she's my mate? Would I even want to be away from her at all?

I can’t let myself overthink anything right now because I haven’t even been accepted to either program. My friends all applied to the school as soon as they found out about Coral Springs accepting Monsters, but I had a lot of hesitation because I didn’t know if I’d fit in with one side or the other. But my friends wore me down. I applied a few months after they did, and because there were so many applicants, I got put on a waitlist.

So now, I’m waiting to see if one of them accepts me or hell, maybe I get rejected from both, and I’m forced to stay at my current school.

Trying not to think about it and ruin my mood before seeing Marley, I push it to the back of my mind and head out of the house. She told me to meet her at work and we could hang out there for a while, play some pool, and dance a little. As long as I’m with her, I don’t care what we do.

The tiki bar is busy as usual. But this time I don’t feel so out of place as I step inside. I look around, trying to find Marley, but I don’t see her.

“Hey,” Kenna gets my attention. “Are you looking for Marley?”

“Yeah. Is she here yet?” I ask, sticking my hands in the pockets of my shorts.

“She just went outside with a few of her friends, but she said she would be back in a few if you wanted to wait for her at the bar.”

“Thanks,” I nod. Her friends. Wonderful. I don’t sit at the bar, but head back outside and look around.

A big smile covers my face when I see her a few feet away at one of the picnic tables. But it falls away as soon as I pick up their conversion.

“Come on, Marley. You’ve spent half the summer with him,” a brown-haired girl I’ve never seen before says. “It’s like you forgot who your real friends are.”

“I didn’t forget,” Marley replies. “I can hang out with other people, too.”

---