Why did Furga have to say that? Things were going perfectly this evening. Destiny was opening up to us, not only talking about her issues with her dad, but telling us about her life before Sanctuary, laughing and joking with us. When she slipped her little hand around my arm and leaned against me, I felt like I could take off and fly as high as any Winged-One. When she’d nuzzled my arm with her sweet pink cheek, I could have marched into any battle and came out victorious.
And when Furga pointed out she was drunk, I could have kicked myself in the ass. Of course she was drunk. Why else would such a gorgeous creature show me such unfettered affection?
I want to toss Furga in the frozen lake, but the damage is already done. Destiny's lovely cheeks turn violently red as she excuses herself. I can’t let her leave, though. Not only because she is drunk and shouldn’t be walking home alone, but because I can’t stand to lose her presence yet. I wish I could say it’s simply chivalry volunteering to walk her home, but I am a weak male. I can’t resist touching her again, so I gently guide her out the door with a hand on her back.
My hand sinks lower, to the swell of her round behind, as we step into the hallway. I jerk it back, but my hand already felt the sweet curve of her ass and woke my cock up. Thank goodness for these bulky, shapeless jumpsuits. They do have their benefits.
Though seeing Destiny’s purple sweater, the cleavage revealed in the deep V-neck, and the Crescive Moon nestling between her luscious breasts, I begin thinking the jumpsuits may not be that great after all. Destiny’s soft voice breaks me from my thoughts.
“I’m so sorry, Khur. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. Furga did,” I answer honestly.
“I was rubbing you like an animalin heat,”she whispers the last part, her cheeks reddening again.
I can’t resist running a knuckle over the cheek closest to me as we walk side by side down the quiet hallways.
“Why do your cheeks turn red like this? It’s absolutely charming,” I ask her, ignoring the words Furga used earlier. Dhugarens joke openly about sex, hell about everything. We're a loud, abrasive race. Destiny obviously isn’t used to that, though. I’ll have to have a word with Furga about teasing my girl later.Because now that I’ve felt her tiny hand in mine, her warm cheek pressed against my arm, she is mine. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.
The only problem is, I have no idea how to do that. It is obvious to me that Dhugaren ways will not suit her. She is too soft, too sweet.
“It’s umm… I’m blushing?” she says, turning even redder. “It happens when I’m embarrassed or nervous sometimes.”
“Blushing. Do all humans do this?”
My hand drops from her cheek, but my fingers itch still to touch her.
“No, not all. Most do, I think. Don’t ask me why, though. I’m no biologist.” She chuckles softly before peeking up at me from beneath her lashes. They’re long and dark, making her brown eyes pop against her pale pink skin.
“What do Dhugarens do when they get embarrassed?”
I can’t help but chuckle at that. “We don’t get embarrassed often. If you haven’t noticed we’re rather uncouth as a species.”
“No way! I hadn’t noticed a bit.” She giggles back and for a moment we walk in comfortable silence.
“I kind of like it, though.” She whispers so quietly I almost don’t hear it.
Then she places her hand inside my own and keeps it there. We walk, hands linked, for a few more minutes before we’re in front of her apartment. As we face each other, her hand slips from mine and I want to snatch it back, never let it go. I’m not an animal, though, so instead I try to form words around the tightness in my throat.
“Thank you. For touching my hand. That was nice.”
“For… holding hands? Do Dhugarens not hold hands?” She sounds incredulous, like she can’t believe it.
“No, Dhugarens are not an affectionate people,” I say matter of factly. It is true, though it is something we are all working on changing – with our children, at least. I have hugged my niece and nephew more in the last few years on this station than my father hugged me in my entire life. Urzu meets with a mother’s group of mixed races to learn about how others parent their children. They all learn from each other. Even Furga has taken to reading to them, tucking them close to her at night and letting them pick a book to read from on the datapad. None of this would have happened on Dhugar, but we are Sanctuarycitizens now, and we are all determined to give those kids a better life. History be damned.
“I think, comparatively speaking, that humans may be more affectionate than other races. We thrive on touch. Hugs, kisses, cuddles…”
Her eyes are trained on my chest, on my mane peeking out from the top of my jumpsuit, and I desperately want to pull her into it.
“And now I’m rambling. I think I am a bit drunker than I thought. I should go.”
She turns towards her door and before I can think twice about it, I grab her shoulder, spinning her back towards me and moving with the intention of pressing her face to my mane and cuddling her right into my chest. She has other intentions, though, and as I pull her towards me I see her face is tilted up, eyes closed and lips puckered enticingly. Her expression puzzles me, but she’s already so close I simply pull her into my mane and press her face into my chest, nuzzling the top of her head softly. Her hair smells of sunshine and rain and I can’t help but inhale deeply.
It takes me a moment to realize Destiny is sputtering and flailing her arms a bit. I pull her back to gaze lovingly into her brown eyes, but they're wide and a little wild looking.
She is the reddest I’ve ever seen her as she rushes towards the apartment door, flashing her wrist over the panel before I can stop her.
“I have seriously misread this situation. I’m going to bed now. Thanks for walking me home, Khur.” She says in a rush before disappearing behind the sliding door.
