Page 6 of Guarded By the Yeti

“It’s alright.” Now I’m trying to gently push her away, but she isn’t having it. “I’ve heard about this happening. People’s hair going grey overnight after they experience tremendous stress or trauma. What you went through... It’s unspeakable. This is just your body reacting.”

She shakes her head again, climbs half on top of me, and buries her face in the crook of my neck. I can’t help letting out a deep, husky groan.

“Ysella, this isn’t appropriate,” I say. “I’m here for you, but we need to respect each other’s boundaries. I’m your bodyguard, and I’m sure your brother wouldn’t approve...”

She cuts me off by taking my face in her hands and pressing her lips to mine. I sit still. Everything inside me is screaming. This beautiful creature is all over me, showing me that she wants me. She can’t speak, but she surely knows how to express herself through body language.

I’m not an idiot, though. I understand that the mental state she’s in is pushing her to do this. She needs someone to comfort her, to tell her that she’s safe, reassure her that she’s wanted. That she’s still desirable despite all that has happened to her. I know all this, and I’m a decent guy, or so I consider myself to be. I won’t take advantage of her at her weakest and most vulnerable.

I push her away, a little more roughly than before. She looks at me, confused.

“No. We can’t do this,” I say. I’m holding her at arm’s length, when all I want is to push her down and insert myself into her trembling body. I can smell her arousal. “You’re sad, Ysella. That’s all this is. You probably can barely make sense of the tragedy that befell your family, and now you’re here, in a strange place, alone with me, a stranger. That’s what I am to you, Ysella. A stranger.”

She shakes her head and tries to jump into my arms again, but I hold her firmly. She doesn’t stand a chance against my physical strength.

“Did you sleep at all?” I ask. “You’re exhausted. I’ll make you a cup of hot tea, and it will help clear your head.”

I don’t wait for her reaction. I stand up quickly and head for the kitchen, leaving her on the sofa with my blanket. I pray that she doesn’t follow, because I need a minute to collect myself and adjust the hardness in my pants.

In the kitchen, I turn on the stove and put the kettle on. I steal a glance through the open door, and I see Ysella where I left her. She’s pulled the blanket over herself and is staring into the fire. From time to time, she smooths down her white hair. I let out a sigh of relief, turn away, and discreetly adjust the situation below my waist. I need to burst so badly. Maybe later, when she’s busy sipping her tea, I’ll sneak into the bathroom and take care of the problem. Or maybe I should go get more firewood, and the cold will fix it for me.

It’s selfish of me, I realize, to be thinking of my carnal needs when this woman is suffering in the other room. She’s my client, for fuck’s sake! I shouldn’t be thinking about her like this in the first place! I’ve never had female clients before, and for good reason. I knew to avoid situations where I’d have to spend too much time in the presence of a woman, regardless of her species. Yetis are carnal creatures. We’re filled with lust. There aren’t many Yeti females in the US, as my species prefers to stay putin the Himalayas, where we were born. We don’t like change. Everyone in my community back home thinks I’m a weirdo for emigrating.

The tea is ready, so I bring it to Ysella, my hands shaking as I carry the tray. I hope she doesn’t notice the massive bulge in my pants. I lean over the coffee table to pour her a cup, and she immediately reaches for me. I nearly jump out of my skin. She looks at me questioningly, and I realize how rude my reaction was.

“Sorry.” I clear my throat. “We need more firewood. You stay here and enjoy your tea. Stay warm.”

Would it be ridiculous to jerk off in the shed? I decide I won’t do it. It’s pathetic that I can’t restrain myself around her. I’m pathetic. I put on my boots, and before I walk out of the cabin, I make sure to grab my satellite phone.

I start walking and don’t stop until I’m sure I’m out of Ysella’s line of sight if she decides to watch me through the window. I punch in the number that I haven’t called in three months. I was so proud of myself, too. Oscar picks up on the fourth ring.

“Hello?”

“Oscar, sorry...” I realize I have no idea what time it is.

“Kaelthar? Is everything okay?”

I let out a frustrated groan. “No. You were right, Oscar. I shouldn’t have interrupted our sessions. I thought I was better, I thought I was past this, but... I need your help.”

My therapist’s voice softens. “I’m glad you called. Tell me everything, and I’ll try to help as best as I can.”

Chapter Five

Kaelthar

Oscar is a Sasquatch, or a Sassie, as everyone calls his kind. All the Yetis I know that have left the Himalayas have a Sassie sponsor, or therapist. We have trouble integrating in a society that is so different from ours, and especially the Yetis that are not mated have a harder time. Like me. Sassies understand humans, and a lot of them have hybrid families, so they’re hybrids themselves.

Oscar is half Sassie and half human. You wouldn’t be able to tell if you saw him, as he’s a beast of a monster, almost as tall as I am, covered in brown fur from head to toe, but his personality is so human that sometimes it’s even hard for me to relate to him. Decades ago, Sassies used to have the same “ailment” as Yetis: going berserk around ovulating females. They’ve conquered their nature, and that’s what Yetis strive to learn from them.

Oscar has been my therapist since I moved to the US, and three months ago, I was convinced I was fine, better than ever, and that I could deal with my issue on my own. It turns out I was wrong. Now I’m pacing in the snow, phone pressed to my ear. It’s embarrassing to admit that Ysella is making me doubt I ever made any progress.

“Slow down, Kaelthar. Stop blaming yourself. Take a deep breath, and let’s try to get to the root of the problem.”

I do as he says. I take three deep breaths and push the air out slowly. My breath turns to mist. Focusing on my surrounding helps. I ground myself in the here and now, take in the serene landscape, and tell myself that it’s okay. I’ve got this. I’m in my element. I almost lost it a few minutes ago, but instead, I called my therapist. I’m not a beast that goes insane around a woman. I’m a rational creature that can fight this and win.

“What do we know? That you don’t do well around women.”

I can hear him moving around. If I had to guess, he’s going into his kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee. Oscar is addicted to coffee. He drinks at least ten cups a day. Monsters like us need to consume extra if we want to feel the slightest effect.

---