Page 2 of Fresh Flesh

2

Lurg

I stareat the plucky little human. It’s not often I see one who smiles. Her face is dotted with delightful spots of color called ‘freckles.’ Unlike most humans, her eyes are bright and not filled with despondency and fear.

“It looks as if the universe has delivered us prey after all,” Mlarx says, brimming with energy. “Should we hunt it?”

“We haven’t hunted anything since Las Vegas,” Joras says, stroking his chin as he contemplates her. “However, this one is rather scrawny. I’m not sure she could offer us much sport.”

“Then maybe we should just execute her on the spot?” Mlarx says, but oddly it doesn’t sound like his heart is in the request.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “We need to question her before we make any decisions about her fate.”

The other two nod, and the woman’s eyes narrow ever so slightly. Her smile widens, and she comes over to me.

“You’re in charge, aren’t you?” she asks, smiling prettily. My heart skips a beat as I stare into her liquid blue eyes. I’ve seen plenty of comely human women, but there’s something special about this one. Maybe it's the spark of life in her eyes, or her boldness in the way she’s behaving toward us.

“I am Lurg,” I reply. “And I am the leader of this squadron, yes.”

“Oh good,” she says with a sigh. “I’m glad to be talking to the right person.”

As she speaks, her fingers tug at the neckline of her sleeveless shirt. The tugging reveals the valley between her breasts. I find my pulse quicken further as I stare at the exposed flesh. Normally I'm not into human women, but I find this one fascinating for some reason.

Her crystal blue eyes stare up at me. I hate getting to know my food. It’s so much easier to make a meal of them when you don’t know them personally, or especially when you don’t know their name.

As if on cue, the human speaks again.

“My name is Maisie.” She bats her blue eyes at me, and stands with her hip outthrust. I take in the sight of her legs, largely exposed in her shorts. “It’s nice to meet you.”

I grimaced, struggling on the inside because of conflicting feelings. Killing intelligent beings is part of our survival strategy. Grengorans require certain nutrients that can only be found in intelligent life forms.

But here’s one standing right in front of me, making me feel things I haven’t felt in quite a while. Enticing me with her body, trying to lure me into doing something that will betray the Empire.

I’d rather turn the other way, but I have to deal with this situation.

“What are you doing out here?” I demand. I intend my harsh tone to put her on the defensive. Instead the exact opposite happens.

“Honestly? I’m starving to death,” she says with a sigh. “You don’t happen to have any food or water to share, do you? I’m willing to do whatever you say in order to get it.”

She strokes her fingers across my chest. I exchange looks with Mlarx and Joras, and they look just as confused as I am.

“Ooh,” Maisie says, kneading my chest with her spry fingers. “You’re so muscular, Lurg. I bet that you're a very good hunter. You must be quite accomplished.”

I know she’s trying to stroke my ego and get what she wants. And yet, I can’t help but feel a little bit of professional pride.

“The three of us together have hunted thousands of humans down,” I admit.

“Just like I thought. I’m among the elite of the elite,” she says, nodding to herself. Her hands send sparks and tingles shooting through my skin to the rest of my body. I squeeze the hilt of my rifle a bit tighter to resist letting go and squeezing her instead.

Maisie pushes it further, leaning her body up against my own. Her soft curves feel good against my scales. I can’t believe that she’s having such an effect on me.

“So how about it?” she asked sweetly, batting her eyes at me. “Can’t you give me some food and water? I promise I’ll be very, very appreciative…”

I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. I don’t know how much longer I can resist this temptation.

What is this human woman's game? And what will happen if I can’t figure it out?

I don’t know, but I have to do something, and soon. The longer she touches me, the more I lose my will to carry out my sacred duty.

And that can’t be allowed to happen.

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