Page 29 of Wayfinder
Pearl giggled and stabbed the point of her blade into the ajkula, just below the dorsal fin.
Seas are prevalent in many worlds, as are the creatures that inhabit the waters. I’d done my share of cleaning and gutting fish, but this creature proved difficult. The skin was tough and leathery, hard to remove with just the flick of a blade.
“It’s like skinning a catfish,” Pearl grumbled, wiping the sweat from her brow with her forearm.
“Earth has odd beasts,” I mused, using more strength than expected to rip off a strip of skin. “I have seen both a catand a fish in my Earth studies. The combination must appear strange.”
Pearled laughed, the sound tinkling along the ocean waves like a bell.
“Silly....” she began, her words halted by the buzzing of a drone overhead.
My instincts kicked in, and I bounded to my feet, positioning myself between Pearl and danger.
“Attention, human chef Pearl, and Vaktaire warrior.” The shuttle’s nasal AI voice boomed from the drone flying overhead, just out of reach. “The competition is completed. Human chef Pearl is the winner.”
“What?” Pearl jumped to her feet, hands on hips, as she glared at the drone. “How? I haven’t cooked the fish yet.”
I felt the ire rolling off her like a wave. Pearl was fierce and competitive and wanted to win as fairly as possible. Such an impressive female.
“A member of the other team was eaten by an ajkula,” the drone announced without the slightest inflection. “The rules state that for a chef to be victorious, both parties of the team must survive. Congratulations, human chef Pearl!"
The drone buzzed away, leaving Pearl and me staring at each other in shock.
“It’s over?” Pearl’s blue eyes fixated on mine, swimming in disbelief.
I smiled. “Congratulations, human chef Pearl!”
Pearl’s joyouswhoopechoed through the air as she leaped into my arms. With a carefree laugh of my own, I spun her around in a playful dance. When I finally dropped her on her feet, she didn’t step away from my embrace. Instead, she moved closer, her small soft hands cupped my face, and she pressed her mouth to mine.
The human concept of placing mouths together had always intrigued me, but I never imagined experiencing it firsthand. However, as our lips met, I knew this was the most extraordinary thing I’d ever experienced.
The sensation of her soft skin against mine, the mingling of our breath, and the electric tingle that ran through my body—each aspect of touch and feeling took my breath away.
I finally understood why humans found this act so alluring, and I couldn’t help but want more.
Her lips were soft and supple, and she tasted savory and rich, like the many delicious dishes prepared by her talented hands. A faint hint of salt lingered on her skin, reminding me of the ocean breeze that blew through her hair. I drew her closer, relishing the warmth of her body against mine. Despite seeming so small, she fit perfectly in my embrace, and her delicate hands rested gently on my biceps as we swayed in unison.
Every touch and taste sent shivers down my spine as we explored each other’s mouth. When her tongue cautiously probed at my lips, it caught me off guard, but a wave of intense need pushed away any confusion, and I parted my lips eagerly. Our tongues entwined like two dancers moving in perfect synchronicity. The sensation was dizzying, and I lost myself in the moment, consumed by her intoxicating taste.
She was human, yet she called to me like no other creature ever had. My heart ached at the thought that she could never truly be mine, not in the way that my goddess would understand and bless. Yet, even as I tried to push away the need for her and deny those feelings, a small voice inside wondered if I could ever truly let her go.
As though coming out of a daze, Pearl slowly ended the kiss. Her lips lingered on mine for a moment and her body remained close, hands resting on my chest just above where my heart pounded wildly. Her breaths came in quick gasps, and hercheeks flushed a deep pink hue. With wide blue eyes, she gazed at me, a sense of bewilderment on her face, as if she couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened between us. “What was that?” I asked, my voice gruff. I understood the concept, but the name of this particularly enjoyable activity escaped me.
“A kiss.” Pearl’s bright blue eyes narrowed for a moment, then went wide, a shocked gasp escaping her swollen lips. “You didn’t... you haven’t kissed anyone before?”
“Most species think the touching of mouths is unsanitary.” I brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “It was much different than I expected. Why did you kiss me?”
Pearl opened and closed her mouth several times, her cheeks growing pinker. She stepped out of my embrace, a deep, musky hint to her scent making the air sweeter.
“A kiss....” she began, but the word cut off with a squeak. Clearing her throat, she started again. “A kiss is a way to congratulate someone and express happiness.”
“Ahh.” I noticed the almost shy way Pearl glanced at me and the gorgeous smile that curved her full, tasty mouth.
I must find other reasons to congratulate Pearl. I liked this kissing very much.
Chapter 9 – Pearl
Heading back to the shuttle, I struggled to resist the urge to touch Jutuk. I settled for small, innocent gestures, my hand brushing against his as we walked along. My gaze couldn’t keep from giving him long, lingering looks, traveling again and again over the expanse of his gorgeous muscular body. He was like a magnet, and I was a slab of metal... hot, molten, throbbing metal. The light glinted off his hair, accentuating its deep shade of caramel. His strong jawline and piercing golden eyes left me breathless. His muscles flexed and bunched under his tan pelt as he moved, the chevrons over his shoulders rippling like primal tattoos. He was absolutely the most stunning man I’d ever seen.
