I wave to Corrina from the narrow walkway where Davix and I are offloading crates from a newly arrived ship. It has been two weeks since we began our new jobs, and Corrina often stops by after her own work so that we can eat the evening meal together. I am glad that we are still able to spend time with her. She smiles at me and waves, and it lightens something in my chest to see her smile at me. It is a strange feeling to feel such intense emotion for a female of any species, but it is one that I feel growing stronger every day. I set down a crate and watch as Corrina begins to weave her way towards me. Davix turns to see why I have stopped, and I notice a smile form on his lips when he sees Corrina.
“We will be right back,” I call to the crew chief who gives me a furry thumbs up. It has been interesting working in this crew with many other non-humans, including the black-furred humanoid with pointed ears who commands us. He is a jovial and easygoing creature, and I have enjoyed learning more about his species. But for now, my attention is on Corrina. She spins out of the way of an insectoid hurrying towards the exit, dancingsideways to avoid running into anyone else. Corrina gives me an amused grin, and I am about to call to her when a loud voice booms through the docking bay.
“Corrina, Corrina!” a deep voice shouts, and I watch as her head whips to the side. Her eyes widen in surprise, and her mouth drops open. And then I stare in disbelief as she runs in the other direction and throws her arms around a tall human man with long black hair. He sweeps her into his arms and spins her around and then kisses both her cheeks before setting her on the ground.
“Who is that?” Davix signs. He is scowling at the newcomer angrily.
“I do not know,” I reply. I narrow my eyes at the strange man as I stride purposefully in his direction. I am just a step away from he and Corrina when I realize that my claws have extended slightly. It takes effort to retract them, but then I am standing behind Corrina. This human is nearly as tall as me and almost as broad as Davix, who I feel at my back.
“You got a problem, buddy?” the strange man asks, staring at me as he pulls Corrina closer to him.
“Oh!” Corrina exclaims, wriggling out of his embrace as she turns to face me. “These are my friends,” she says, gesturing towards me. “Zann and Davix, this is Slade.”
“It is a pleasure to meet any friend of Corrina’s,” the human – Slade – says, extending his hand in a typical human greeting. I shake his hand firmly as Davix steps forward to do the same.
“Where’s Krish?” Corrina asks, glancing around for the third of our trio.
“Still onboard,” Davix signs, and Corrina nods.
“Are you guys almost done?” she asks me.
“You mean you didn’t come down here just to meet me?” Slade asks. “Baby, I’m heartbroken.” His hands slide over Corrina’s shoulders with an intimacy and familiarity that brings a growl to my lips, though fortunately Corrina doesn’t seem to notice.
“Imagine that,” she says with a laugh, wriggling out of his grasp again. “I’d have to have some vague idea of when you might decide to show up to even think about meeting you on arrival,” she says with a grin. “But no, I’m not here to see you. We’ve got dinner plans.”
Slade gives me a skeptical look. “Dinner plans?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply. “Corrina is here to see us.” Slade’s eyes widen at that, and he glances down at Corrina curiously.
“It’s a long story,” she says with a wave.
“I can’t wait to hear it. Tell me you’re going to clear some time for me, beautiful,” he murmurs, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss against her knuckles.
“Don’t I always?” she replies. “But seriously, message me at the base,” she tells him before turning to me. “We should get Krish and get moving. I’m starving.”
I nod and stride off to call for Krish as Davix steps closer to Corrina. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him press a hand to the small of her back as they walk away side by side.
“Bye, baby,” Slade calls as Corrina and Davix walk away. “I’ll see you soon.” I look back at Slade for a moment and notice the blatant way he watches Corrina’s backside as she walks away from him. Then Slade’s eyes meet mine and he gives me a mocking smile before turning away. This time, my growl is louder.
“Who is that?” Krish asks, coming to stand beside me.
“A human named Slade,” I reply sharply. “Someone that Corrina seems to know.” I do not mention that this Slade person touched and kissed Corrina the way I have seen partners interact. I will speak to Krish and Davix about it later, but for now I prefer not to think about the way Slade touched and kissed Corrina. Or what it might mean.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Krish
Ever since Davix shared his revelation about Corrina and how we are reacting to her, I have tried to ignore my body’s response for the sake of our friendship. But seeing Slade run his hands over Corrina and kiss her and look at her with hunger has awakened something within me. Anger, jealousy, but most of all longing. I find myself wondering how it would feel to press my lips to her skin the way that Slade did, to feel the full length of her body pressed against mine. We lay together in the nest often when she visits, but it is not the same as it would be to have her body fully pressed to mine or to feel her bare skin. And such thoughts have only grown in frequency and intensity.
I have felt Corrina’s small hands against my skin before. They are warm and soft and pleasant. But now I find my mind wandering to how it might feel to have her fingers trace down my stomach, to tease open my cock sheath, and wrap her hands around my length. I wonder if she would show the same curious intensity about the size and shape of me as she shows about so many other things about me. And I wonder, as I did at the lake, what it would taste like to run my tongue across her skin. Doesall of her taste like that ripe sweetness I sometimes detect in her scent? My cock sheath throbs, and I am suddenly grateful for the fact that we wear clothes all the time now so that no one could see the way my body trembles at Corrina’s proximity.
“I’m having dinner with Slade tomorrow,” Corrina says, rousing me from my thoughts. “So, I probably won’t come by after work.”
“What about after dinner?” Davix signs.
Corrina smiles, but she avoids meeting any of our eyes. “I don’t know,” she says. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Should we come with you?” Zann asks. “If he is your friend also, maybe we can all be friends.” He glances at me when I let out a low growl. I do not want to be friends with Slade, despite how reasonable Zann’s suggestion seems.
“That’s okay,” Corrina replies quickly. “He’s honestly not around all that often. Even I never know when he’s going to show up again.”
