Paz saw through my lie. He put his petal-soft palm on my arm.

  “I’ll stay with you,” Paz promised. “As long as it takes for you to believe me.”

  His vow must be hollow. He only said it to trick me, to make me feel better.

  “You have no choice,” I muttered. “You’re collared.”

  Paz met my gaze unflinchingly. “It doesn’t matter. Even if you took it off, I’d stay.”

  I snorted. “You are foolish.”

  He laughed off my insult. “If you think I’m dumb, you should meet my friend Levi.”

  I didn’t give a pandar’s ass about his fellow flesh-bag friend, but talking about them clearly improved Paz’s mood, so I let it slide this time.

  I crossed my arms, leaning against the edge of the pool. “Hmph. If you want me to meet him, he must come here.”

  Paz perked up. “So, you would let my friends visit?”

  “Maybe if you keep behaving.”

  His expression brightened like the morning sun. My chest squirmed in a cottony, weird way. Why did the human’s smile bring me happiness?

  I hadn’t meant my promise about his stupid friends. Unfortunately, now I felt compelled to see it through. But not now, and not anytime soon. I wanted Paz all to myself until I had my fill—and I’d never be satisfied.

  My gaze raked over him. The water was crystal-clear, and I saw every part of his strange body. He was so squishy and breakable. I felt the fierce, hot urge to protect him from the world’s dangers.

  It was only natural, wasn’t it? He was my pet, and therefore, my responsibility.

  Without thinking too hard about it, I reached over to stroke the tuft of curly fur on his round little head. It was damp but silky. The sensation was pleasant, so I quickly fell into a rhythm.

  Paz made a humming sound and leaned against my palm. I felt the weight of his slight figure press into me, trusting I wouldn’t let him fall.

  A lick of warmth brushed my ribs. Despite being a naked weakling with no sense, the human was cute. I was glad I’d caught him in my trap.

  As I continued petting his head-fur, Paz shuffled closer until his head rested on my bicep. It weighed nothing. I could’ve lifted his entire body with a single tentacle wrapped around his waist.

  That sort of weakness usually angered me. I despised weakness of any kind. But with Paz, it dug open a well deep inside me and awakened a fiery mix of emotions. I wanted him to be safe. I wanted to protect him. And I knew that if anything or anyone threatened him, they’d face my white-hot rage.

  “Hey, what’re you so stiff for, Kur’tok?” Paz asked casually. “Relax.”

  I grunted by way of apology, then forcibly unclenched my muscles. I’d forgotten how perceptive the human could be. It was like he really cared.

  I shook off that thought. Paz was my prey. My pet. A human flesh-bag. He couldn’t care about me like that—I was crazy for even considering it.

  My hand roamed wherever it desired. It slipped down the back of Paz’s neck, making his skin shiver. My fingers were large enough to wrap around his thin throat, and strong enough to wring the life out of him—but he wasn’t scared. In any case, I would never dream of hurting him. I liked him the way he was: warm, alive, and mouthing off.

  My hand drew a path down his spine and along the plane of his back. It was smooth as the rest of him, not a patch of fur or scale in sight. The lack of feelers was the weirdest part of human anatomy. The fact that his shoulders were even visible felt obscene.

  “Mm, that feels nice,” Paz said, swaying pleasantly. “I don’t remember the last time I had a back rub.”

  My nostrils flared. I didn’t want anybody else touching Paz this way.

  “I will give them to you,” I growled. “Only me.”

  The corner of his lip curved. “I’m okay with that.”

  One hand wasn’t enough. Grunting, I picked up Paz. The human didn’t protest. He weighed as much as a wet handful of soil. I placed him between my legs so his back was easier to access.

  “You were too far away,” I grumbled.

  He cleared his throat. “We’re, uh, pretty close now, huh?”

  “It is better this way.”

  I placed both my hands on Paz’s shoulders. They disappeared beneath my giant palms. Rubbing circles with my thumbs, I massaged my pet until he moaned and melted into the touch. The whimpering sounds that spilled from his mouth made me feel hot, but the water hadn’t changed temperature. I was still convinced the human kept his special powers hidden, but as long as he didn’t use them to escape, I was fine with his secret.

  My hands dipped down to the gentle slope of his lower back. My thumbs dug in, sensing the tension there.

  Paz groaned and arched into it. “Fuck, that’s nice...”

  His praise pleased me. I never sought approval from others, yet Paz’s words were honey to my ears. There was something unique about this flesh-bag.

  It was uncharacteristic of me, but I craved more of his encouragement. I massaged him longer and deeper, smoothing my hands all over his soft body. I felt ravenous—not for food, but for his sweet reactions.

  When my palms swept over his inner thighs, he yelped.

  I stopped dead. Did my claws graze his stupidly fragile flesh by accident?

  “Did I hurt you?” I demanded.

  Paz released a shaky breath. “No, you’re good.”

  “Then why do you scream?”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t scream, you drama king. I squeaked because you’re so close to my...” Licking his lips, he trailed off.

  “Your what?” I growled. “Stop speaking half-sentences.”

  Paz tilted his head back to face me. “My cock. Your hand brushed against my dick and it felt good, okay?”

  His sassy comments both annoyed and amused me. He was a creature of paradox.

  I peered over his shoulder and grunted. “Your cock is small. I didn’t even notice it.”

  “Aww, that’s just what every man wants to hear,” Paz said in a light, sarcastic tone.

  “Well, it is,” I grouched. “Mine is a thousand times the size of yours.”

  Paz’s eyes flashed. “Oh, yeah? That better not be an exaggeration.”

  I thought I heard a hitch in his voice. Was the lecherous human excited at the thought of my cock?

  Paz’s eyes captured mine and didn’t let go. Heat fluttered in my belly. Tension coiled within me, like a serpentes poised to strike.

  His flirting was not serious. He was a soft little human who’d snap in half on my cock. It was impossible.

  Unless it wasn’t.

  Growling, I leaned closer to his ear. “Do not tempt me, human. Your breakable body can’t withstand my arousal—so don’t ignite it.”

  Paz swallowed hard. His gaze sparkled and danced.

  I expected him to heed my warning. If he was smart, he would have. But I should’ve known better than to think the human would know his place.

  “Don’t be so sure I can’t take it,” he shot back in a low voice.

  An electric current zapped my blood. I breathed hard, nostrils flaring wider. My feelers flashed deep pink and red as they lifted into the air. Paz noticed them. He knew what he’d done to me, and the irritating human grinned about it.

  His arrogance made me laugh. “You wouldn’t survive my cock, human. Just accept it.”

  Paz screwed up his face in an angry pout. “How do you know that?” he demanded. “I know two humans who took Maeleon cock—and not only did they survive, they got pregnant, too!”

  I continued to laugh. What a ridiculous story.

  “I’m not making it up,” Paz insisted, crossing his arms.

  He sounded serious, but that was impossible. I couldn’t imagine a tiny flesh-bag like him getting pregnant, especially not from my cock. It would split him in two.

  “I’m not sticking myself in you, tiny human,” I stated. “But if you need sex, I can provide pleasure to you in other ways.”

  Paz’s mouth opened, about to cut me off—until he heard that. His narrowed eyes flew open and his jaw dropped silently.

  I snorted. He was so easy to handle. To prove my intentions, I ran my hands down his slim arms in a tantalizing motion.

  “Are all humans as easily aroused as you?” I asked.

  Paz rolled his eyes, but continued to grin. “Coming from a Maeleon? That’s funny. You guys are the horniest people I’ve ever met.”

  A growl slipped through my fangs. I hated thinking about other Maeleons in close proximity to my human—especially horny ones.

  I vowed to sate Paz’s urges until he forgot the rest.

  9 / Paz

  The sudden explosive possessiveness in Kur’tok’s eyes sent a thrill down my spine. He was already controlling, but every time I mentioned other Maeleons, he spiralled into a red-flag-worthy jealousy spiral.

  Was it wrong of me to think it was kinda hot?

  Honestly, I wasn’t that worried. I felt confident I could curb his bad habits before they set in stone.

  Besides, we were alone and I was horny. I didn’t give a shit about his jealousy as long as he lavished his full attention on me. And judging by the fire in his blazing red eyes, that was exactly what he was going to do.

  In a quick jerk of motion, Kur’tok pulled me against his chest. My back pressed into his scales. My heart pitter-pattered as if a hummingbird was trapped in my ribs. I’d never been so close to a Maeleon, and especially not in this compromising, intimate position.

  As Kur’tok’s huge muscular body enclosed me, I felt both safe and incredibly aroused. I couldn’t believe the size of him. He managed to be both powerful and agile, like a grizzly bear and a racehorse had a baby, except the baby was an alien lizard.

  Kur’tok’s thick breathing rattled in his chest, making it vibrate against my back. His nose pressed passionately into my hair. Was he smelling me? I blushed.

  His hands continued to roam. The big palms sailed over my skin, leaving tiny electric jolts of pleasure in their wake. I hadn’t been touched in so long, I was sure that was part of my excitement, but there was something unique about Kur’tok. He drooled over me like a raw steak... which, technically, I was supposed to be until he decided to keep me as a pet.

  Dammit, why was it so sexy that Kur’tok originally wanted to eat me? Maybe when I got back, Jaeyoung could check my head for a concussion, but that meant admitting my weird fetish. Oh well.

  I hissed through my teeth as Kur’tok’s hand grazed my cock again. I gasped. It was hard and sensitive, no thanks to the big alien and his constant touching. But this time, Kur’tok didn’t spook and pull away. He growled louder, almost like a purr.

  “It won’t break if I touch it?” he asked.

  “Nope. Just don’t yank it off.”

  His snort of derision was hot against my cheek. “I know that.”

  The gentleness of his touch surprised me. He moved his fingers with great care and restraint, always cautious of his claws.

  Then his scaly hand touched my sensitive cock and I lost all brain capacity.

  I tossed my head back and moaned. I knew it’d feel good since Kur’tok had touched me before, but that was with his tentacles. I wasn’t prepared for how good his hand would feel. The smoothness of his tiny, interlocking palm scales felt incredible.

  As he worked my cock, fireworks flared across my skin. My heart shifted into overdrive, pounding against my ribs as sweat beaded at my temples. I rolled my head against his chest and ground my hips forward.

  “What else do you enjoy, human?” he asked gruffly in my ear.

  I shuddered. His demands about my pleasure were so hot.

  “Anything,” I admitted. “Your cock would be nice.”

  He barked out a cold laugh. “That’s not happening.”

  I pouted. I’d get it out of him one day.

  “Maybe... we can kiss,” I suggested, suddenly feeling shy about it. Kissing felt like a step back from hand jobs, but I remembered the heavenly sensation of his tongue caressing my face when he’d licked off the fruit juices. I wanted more of that.

  “What is kissing?” Kur’tok demanded. This voice was deeper and scratchier than normal. I felt smug knowing this heavy petting session turned him on.

  “It’s weird to explain. It’s easier if I show you,” I said.

  He narrowed his ruby-shard eyes. “Then show me.”

  My heart leapt into my throat as I tilted my head back. Kur’tok’s mouth was so much bigger than mine. My entire skull would fit in his maw with room to spare, and since I was apparently a freak, the idea thrilled me.

  I traced my finger along the line of his jaw. The scales there were tiny and smooth, almost soft to the touch. With some pressure, I parted his maw, revealing the sharp, intimidating rows of fangs. My heart skipped.

  Kur’tok’s brow furrowed in confusion, but he didn’t ask what I was doing. It was nice that he trusted me enough to do this.

  My lips trembled as I opened them. Every beat of my heart pulsed hard through my body. Every inch of my skin vibrated. As I leaned closer, blood roared in my ears. The moment felt stretched out, slowed down, like the two of us existed in an alternate dimension.

  I pressed my lips against Kur’tok’s mouth. He went still except for the sharp intake of breath through his nostrils. As our mouths touched, I slipped my tongue past his fangs and grazed against his own.

  A burst of arousal rippled across my skin. The wet heat was amazing.

  Kur’tok hissed a shaky breath. Did it feel as good for him as it did for me?

  I was about to pull away and ask if he liked it, but the next second, Kur’tok grabbed my arms and shoved his prehensile tongue into my mouth.

  Well, that was one way to say you enjoyed kissing.

  An instant explosion of pleasure hit me. A full-body shiver snaked down my spine. I arched my back, curling my toes. Kur’tok’s tongue was domineering and powerful. Its velvety texture explored the surface of my tongue. I happily turned weak and helpless as he kissed me. He did it with so much passion, I felt like my heart would melt and pour out from my ribs.

  But Kur’tok forgot the concept of air. He seemed to need less of it than I did, since he kissed me until I was literally breathless. No doubt he would’ve kept going if I didn’t slap his chest and give a muffled complaint.

  Kur’tok drew back with a scowl. “What?”

  I gasped, then filled my lungs. “Phew. Couldn’t breathe.”

  “Why not?” he asked impatiently. He bristled with pent-up desire, like he wanted to launch at me and kiss me until I passed out—which I wouldn’t be totally opposed to.

  “Humans breathe out of our nose and mouth,” I explained.

  Kur’tok’s tail lashed irritably. “You humans are too fragile.”

  “Sorry,” I said with a snort. “Hey, as long as you give me breaks, I’m down for whatever. Including whatever monster you’re hiding in your cloaca.”

  Kur’tok’s ears flattened as he grumbled, “How do you know about my cloaca?”

  I grinned at his cute embarrassed face. “I told you, I know a thing or two about Maeleons.”

  “Hmph.” His red eyes flickered like dancing flames. “Since you’re so aroused, I’ll present mine. But don’t expect me to put it inside you.”

  I perked up with excitement. I was seriously way too enthusiastic to see an alien dick, even if he swore not to fuck me with it. I knew I could change his mind... eventually.

  Kur’tok hauled himself to the edge of the pool and spread his muscular thighs right in front of my face. I stared in awe. Water beaded on his body, glistening like jewels against his pale red belly scales. The space between his legs was as smooth as a snake’s belly. Only a tiny ridge betrayed a secret opening.

  My heart hammered in my throat as I watched Kur’tok’s hand slide towards the ridge. A low growl hummed in the Maeleon’s chest, like a ground-thumping bass I felt in my bones. His clawed fingers formed an upside-down V around the slit’s opening.

  I licked my lips. I had a front-row seat to Eukaria’s dirtiest striptease from the world’s grumpiest alien.

  My eyes widened as the slit spread open. I was enthralled by the exotic view. In slow and sensual motions, a thick, long appendage slipped out of Kur’tok’s cloaca. It rose, swelling and growing taller, until I thought it surely couldn’t get any bigger.

  And then it kept going.

  My jaw dropped as I watched the full length of Kur’tok’s cock unfold. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was unreal. The shaft was nothing like a human erection. For one thing, it was fucking gigantic. It was probably the length of my whole body. Instead of skin, its surface was slick as oil, and the length of it was textured with tiny, spiky bumps.

  I gulped. Did all Maeleons have those, or was Kur’tok special?

  “That’s, um...” I cleared my throat. “Wow.”

  A huge vein pulsed on the underside of Kur’tok’s shaft, making it twitch. Arousal jolted through me.

  “Hmph.” Kur’tok grunted smugly. “Now you see why it won’t fit inside you, puny human.”

  I felt a momentary flash of frustration. That couldn’t be true. If Levi and Jaeyoung both took alien dick no problem, why couldn’t I do the same? Kur’tok couldn’t be that much bigger than Zat’tor and Linn’ar, right?

  “We’ll see about that,” I mumbled under my breath.

  I’d deal with his arrogance later. Right now, I focused on the prize before me.

  My hands trembled with excitement as I reached for Kur’tok’s cock. The second I touched his sensitive flesh, he hissed like a snake.

  “Wh-what are you doing, flesh-bag?” he demanded.

  “Touching you,” I said innocently. “Is that okay?”

  His feelers undulated, pulsing with flashes of bright pink and red. “I didn’t order you to do that.”

  “You didn’t have to. I wanted to do it.” I shrugged. “I can stop if you don’t like it.”

  “I never said that,” he snapped.

  I smirked at his petulant attitude. Looked like somebody didn’t know how to express his desires. That was just one more thing we could work on together.