Mathiras would absolutely laugh at me for this, too. I smile to myself as I adjust the makeshift straps on Alice's arms. Maybe it's because I know my brothers can take care of themselves whereas I feel far more protective of Alice and her fragility. "Ready to go?"
She gives me a decisive nod. "Ready as I'll ever be."
I grab my shard of glass and return it to my pocket, and then hop down from the rocks. I help Alice sit down at the edge and then turn around so she can climb onto my back without her feet touching the ground. She's on me a moment later, her arms tight around my neck, her legs clamping around my waist.
A moment later, her face is near my ear. "Just watch the horns, all right? I don't want to lose an eye."
Her breath tickles my ear and my cock hardens immediately. This is a side-effect I didn't think about—having to hike with an erection.
At least she can't see it…but I'm still disappointed she turned down my offer to help her self-soothe. I wonder how many times I'll have to offer before she'll give in? She can't hold out forever. Everyone masturbates.
And I need to stop thinking about it because I'm definitely going to have to masturbate the second I get a moment alone again…which is not helping my cock deflate.
It's going to be a long keffing day.
18
ALICE
I have to admit that riding on Kaspar's back isn't the worst way to travel. It's lazy of me, sure, but he's strong and doesn't seem to be winded in the slightest by the endless humidity that clings to everything, or the fact that he has to maneuver over tree roots the size of small children, or fallen logs the size of freaking trucks. He just clambers over everything with ease and I cling to his back, grateful that I have him.
I wouldn't have made it out of the pod without Kaspar, and I know it.
I snuggle closer to his sweaty neck, but I don't mind his sweat. In the past, I would have gagged if an alien sweated on me, but with Kaspar, it's just sweat. It's no big deal. He's been kind and cheerfully upbeat this entire time. Sure, he might have a bit of a death wish, but I guess there are worse things. I press my face against his neck. "Have I said thank you for carrying me?"
He laughs, skirting around a thorny-looking fern. "You've mentioned it once or twice."
"I figure it's worth mentioning again. I don't think I could do this." His arms lock around my legs and he begins to hike up a steep incline, and I don't worry that I'm going to fall, because Kaspar is utterly solid with each step. "I'm just letting you know I appreciate all that you've done for me."
Kaspar pats my arm with one of those big mitts of his. "It's fine. I'm glad you're here, even if you complain. I prefer having company to none."
I complain?! I'm tempted to bite the ear that's close to my lips, but I don't. I mean, I DO complain. But he didn't have to bring it up. "I take it back," I mutter, and he laughs. Which makes me smile, because I like hearing his laughter. I like that he doesn't take my bitching too seriously. "Do you know where we're going?"
He nods, and nearly takes me out with one of his horns. "I think I hear something dripping up ahead."
"Water?"
"That's the hope. Hold on." Kaspar leans in and the climb up the hill grows steeper by the moment.
I cling tighter to his back, as if that will somehow help him. It looks as if the land is elevating slowly and growing rockier as it does. Long minutes pass, and I brave a glance behind us, surprised at how far we've come and how far below the ground is behind us. My ears pop a short time later, and I know we've reached a higher elevation.
"I definitely hear something," Kaspar says, and hauls us up the last of the rocky path.
Once we make it to the top of the hill, Kaspar pauses, scanning the area. "That way."
He sets off again, and then I see it.
Water.
Trickling from a tumble of rocks against the cliffs, the water falls into a pool surrounded by lush ferns. A deep-looking stream cuts across the landscape, and it's absolutely lovely. I gasp, squeezing him. "Do you think it's safe?"
"Who knows. You wanna check it out?"
I consider this. Part of me wants to panic, because back on Earth, this would be a watering hole and predators would be nearby. I have watched a lot of nature documentaries and they all end in the same way—the helpless antelope bends down to get a drink and the lion eats his ass. Literally. But at the same time, this isn't Earth, and that water looks so, so good. "You think it's safe to drink?"