Steph's Outcast

His color ripples, as if he's about to shift into camouflage, but then he gets to his feet and crosses the cave, moving to my side. Even though it's shadowy with dusk in the cave, I can still make out that he's aroused, his cock stiffening. Oh. Is he taking my invitation as, well…an invitation?

Do I need to clear that up?

Do I want to?

He lies down next to me, stretching out his big body, and then turns to face me. He mimics my pose, tucking one arm under his head, and when his wild, unkempt hair moves to the side, I catch sight of a nub, dark and solid, lost in his hair. Oh. It's a horn. I reach out and brush my fingers over it, smiling at him. "I didn't know you had this."

Juth gazes down at my chest, and then he reaches out and caresses my breast, running his thumb over the tip.

I suck in a breath, my eyes going wide in surprise. Does he think it's open season to touch one another? Probably so, because I just reached out and grabbed at his horns without asking permission. That's my fault, I realize. I know the sa-khui don't have breasts quite like humans do, so I imagine mine are a source of fascination for him like his horns are for me. I swallow hard, trying not to let my shock show on my face, because I don't want him to think there's a problem.

If he wants to touch me and learn about humans, it's cool. I'm cool with it. Totally cool.

His thumb rubs over my nipple, back and forth, and he watches, his expression impossible to read, as my nipple hardens and grows tight under his ministrations. I'm feeling decidedly un-teacher-ish, too. His caress is sending curls of heat through my body and reminding me that although my last and longest relationship was with a woman, I really, really like men, too. And it's been a while since anyone touched me.

Juth pets my breast, teasing the nipple to a hard, aching point, and then running his fingers up and down the slope as if he can't get enough of touching me. "You are so very soft," he whispers, voice low. "Sometimes I cannot imagine such softness exists, but then I touch you, and it feels real." His fingers slide away from my breast and move down my arm, the caress of a lover, not someone just curious about human anatomy. "It makes me wonder why you hide away under all the furs, when you are so beautiful without them."

Oh.

He…thinks I'm beautiful? Me? I think the most common adjectives to describe me have always been “dependable” and “friendly” or “solid.” Never “beautiful.” I've always been fine with that, too. I'm comfortable in my skin and who I am. But my skin breaks out in fresh goosebumps when his fingers move to the curve of my hip and hot excitement ripples through me, leaving me aching and full of need as he gazes at me in wonder.

In his eyes, I really do feel beautiful. Juth looks at me as if I'm the most amazing thing he's ever seen. It's the way besotted A'tam looks at Bridget, or Bek looks at Elly. It's the way Ashtar grins down at Veronica and how U'dron watches Raven when she picks up her tambourine. It's utterly and completely addictive, too. When he traces a finger along the curve of my stomach and leans closer, I feel drunk on his attention. I could bask in this forever and never get enough.

Juth leans in, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me. Yes, yes, yes.

"Steff," he murmurs. "I can smell your arousal."

My eyes widen and I'm embarrassed. I bite my lip, wondering if I've misread the situation. Is he just trying to learn about boobs after all, then? Am I the one that's taking things to the wrong place? Oh god, how embarrassing. Looks like the first thing I'm going to be doing when he gets his translator in is apologizing. I give his chest an apologetic little pat, wishing the ground would swallow me up. I can't get up and leave to get away, either. This is horrifying. I close my eyes, take a steeling breath, and then turn onto my back, intending to roll over and face Pak, since I'm sandwiched between them as we sleep to share body heat.

Before I can, Juth grabs my hand. He tugs me toward him again, his gaze flicking down at my foot, and then he puts my hand back on his jaw. He nuzzles against my palm, his eyes full of heat, and scrapes his teeth against my skin. "Do not go. I did not say that to frighten you. I like your scent."

I rub my fingers along his jaw, touching him. I wonder if he's starved for touch. If he likes me just because I'm the only woman that's ever paid attention to him. That thought dampens my ardor a little bit, but I also remind myself that just because this is new doesn't make it him settling for me. I've quizzed Raven about her interactions with the two Outcasts over and over again, and Juth never showed sexual interest in her. She told me she felt like leverage, nothing more.