Holding me close and thrusting hard, Marrec brings me to the edge. My tits bounce while he latches his teeth softly into where my shoulder connects to my neck, tasting me with the flick of his tongue. The vibrations of his cock rattle inside me, and his warmth consumes me. My cunt pulses around the length of him, and he groans in appreciation, fully letting go.

I’m dizzy when it all comes to a stop, breathing hard and feeling light. He holds me up, his big hand splayed against my stomach even as he stops fucking me. Warm lips plant gentle kisses around my neck and jaw while cum begins to leak down my thigh.

“My mate.” He sighs with contentment. “My lovely, precious female.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I mumble. “I’m the luckiest girl in the universe.”

“I am the lucky one.”

I have no energy left to argue.

30

Living Stones: Plants that look like little rocks, allowing them to survive the grazing periods of animals that might otherwise eat them.

Stevie

“Lovan?” I ask, knocking softly on the open door.

The big yellow Aprixian looks up from the metal in his hands, his eyes swinging toward the door—and me. “Ah, Stee-vee,” he greets. “Are you lost?”

No, but Marrec probably thinks I am. Or at least he will, if I take too long in getting back to him.

It’s the next day and we’re out in the city to get some food for the house. Using my very limited deception skills, I created a little fib to get away from my very protective mate for a few minutes. I love the heck out of the big guy, but sometimes a girl has to get away. In this case, it’s for a small surprise. At least, I hope it will be. If Lovan can help me.

Laughing a bit awkwardly, I scratch my head. “No, I came to see you,” I explain. “I wanted to, uh, hire you? Ask you for a favor? I don’t really know how this works.”

From what I understand, they don’t really do currency here. They have it, but it’s not really required for anything. Sometimes people do each other favors, or trade things they can’t readily get themselves, but mostly, anything you need can be found for free. Marrec has said that most Aprixians use their currency on other planets, so I suppose it’s a universal type of money. Literallyuniversal, in this case.

Lovan gives me a puzzled look. “You may enter,” he offers with the wave of his hand. “Unless you do not feel safe without your mate at your side. Actually, where is your Marrec?”

I step into the room with a shy smile and a protective hand on my stomach. “I told him I was going to the bathroom, erm, the facilities. So that I can talk to you. I have something I want to make him, but I don’t know if it’s possible or not. Do you think you can help?”

“A project?” he asks, newly intrigued. “Is it challenging?”

His excitement is relaxing. This might be simpler than I originally imagined. I’ve seen more than a few Aprixian males—soldiers I imagine—with mechanical body attachments. Whether they’re replacements for limbs like Marrec’s or attachments of some kind, they all seem to be especially well maintained and well, new looking. Which leads me to believe the technology is readily available to them for upgrades and modifications. So hopefully, what I’m asking for isn’t outlandish to Lovan.

Though, his thirst for a challenge could also mean that he is often bored and doesn’t have the resources for something too complicated.

“Maybe?” I clear my throat, finding the words I rehearsed to describe what I need. “Marrec sometimes worries that his arm is dangerous for me to be close to. I was thinking that maybe there’s a sleeve mechanism that could be made for it? One that is soft and will cover it, but also easily removable in case he needs access to it quickly.”

A pleased smile graces his large mouth. “This is an easy technology. It will not be challenging, but it will be new. I will make this for you. Run along to your mate now, Stee-vee. He will come looking soon.”

Stunned, I splutter. “That’s it? You know what to make? What do I owe you for it? How will you get it to me?”

He chuckles as if these are all silly questions. “You don’t notowe. And I will simply have it delivered to your home. I will need three days. Now, run along,” he repeats. “I do not wish to haveMarrec the Mightytearing apart my building in search of you.”

Still surprised, but knowing I’ve been gone for too long, I simply turn around and begin to walk out. “Thank you,” I squeak, and then rush back to the moving stairs.

Not challenging, but new,the words echo around my mind. Lovan is a genius, it seems. He didn’t offer a single follow up question to my request, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking of and just how to craft it for me. Three days is all he asked for, in fact. Three days to craft an entirely new technology, even if it isn’t a difficult one, in his words.

No payment necessary seems wrong. I know it’s not how their society is set up, but I already feel indebted to him. Maybe I can give him a science book or something? We haven’t given away the learning books yet, not knowing what to do with them until Terum returns. They’re all just sitting around in boxes, and perhaps he’d find that interesting. I doubt Lovan would find any form of human science challenging, but certainly new.

Oh! He can’t read it, can he? Perhaps that could be the challenging bit. Teaching himself to read English, or teaching a machine to do it for him. This great idea brings a big smile to my face as I get to the ground floor. I can’t wait to tell Marrec about it!

“My mate,” he says, finding me a second later at the bottom of the steps. “Are you well? I was beginning to worry.”

I flush and try to act embarrassed. “I got a little lost,” I fib. “I just wanted to find it on my own, and I did. I’m perfectly well.”