Page 13 of Gentle Giant

“Hello,” the male said in English. “I am Mastorr, one of Chief Brutus’s brothers. Welcome to the land of the Starblessed.” He glanced around me, his gaze searching. “Where is the chief?”

“I’m right here,” came a familiar otherworldly voice, the voice that had haunted my dreams for two months.

I looked to my right and gasped at the sight of Brutus. He was holding several woven baskets that were brimming with food and… jewels. No, not jewels, but gemstones. He exchanged a few words with his brother in their native tongue before Mastorr gave me a deep nod and continued on his way through the cavern, leaving me alone with Brutus. The huge Sasquatch who wanted to mate with me. For life.

Nerves assailed me at the thought. I didn’t like the idea of entering a lifelong union I wouldn’t be able to break. It was the same reason I worried so much for Candy. If she wasn’t happy with her Vaxxlian husband, she would have to stick it out.

I didn’t want to put myself in the same situation, especially considering how things had ended with Nick. I used to love him, used to trust him, only to discover he wasn’t the man I’d thought he was.

Brutus heaved the baskets higher in his arms and walked past me. “Follow me, sweet human. I have brought you gifts in honor of our impending mating union.”

Chapter 8

BRUTUS

I carriedthe baskets to the food storage room and set them on a table I’d found in the abandoned cabin. I hoped Hailey accepted the gifts. Ten freshly caught fish, rare gemstones, marinated roots, a variety of nuts, and the largest pokklam berries I could harvest from the depths of the cavern.

“Um, thanks, Brutus, but I have to confess—I don’t know how to cook a fish. Sure, I was on vacation in the middle of nowhere, but I’m not the most outdoorsy person.”

I opened my mouth, preparing to inform Hailey that she was supposed to eat the fish raw, when I recalled all the times I’d witnessed humans cooking fish over a fire. I cleared my throat and wondered if anyone in my tribe knew how to prepare and cook a fish to make it passable for human consumption, and my spirits fell a little. I wanted nothing more than to make my future mate happy, but if I couldn’t provide her with the kind of food she preferred, I worried it would be a while before she offered me the use of her mating hole.

“I have never cooked a fish before,” I admitted, “but I will try to figure out how to prepare a fish to your liking, my sweet human. Until then, I hope the other food items will be acceptable. Try one of the marinated roots.” I pushed the basket containing the roots toward her.

She gave the roots a dubious look. “What are they marinated in?”

“The juice of fermented pokklam berries.”

She lifted her eyebrows and gave me a small smile. “Why Brutus, are you trying to get me drunk?”

Drunk. I didn’t know the word, and I wished I’d spent more time studying the English language. But I didn’t want to admit my lack of knowledge, so I shook my head and said, “The roots are delicious. Please try one.”

She approached the table and pulled a tiny root from the basket. After sniffing it, she took a small bite. To my great relief, a moan escaped her, and a look of pleasure crossed her face.

“Wow,” she said. “This is really good, and it doesn’t taste very alcoholic.” She finished eating the root and then grabbed another one.

As she ate the second root, I pushed the other baskets toward her for inspection. Would she find the gifts adequate? Usually, the males of my kind gave small gifts to the females they were courting over a period of time that usually lasted no more than two moon cycles. Yet I’d brought a huge haul of gifts in hopes that it would soften her toward me more quickly. I couldn’t fathom waiting two moon cycles until she eagerly displayed her mating hole to me.

Without warning, Hailey became unsteady on her feet. She swayed back and forth and abruptly sat on the cavern floor. A dreamy look fell over her and she grinned up at me.

“You have big, big muscles, Mr. Sasquatch,” she said, “and a deliciously firm butt.”

My spirits lifted. “You like my butt?” I found her words strange, but if she was attracted to me, that must be a good sign. A sign that she would soon invite me to mate with her. My cock went rock hard and protruded from my center, a drop of my essence gleaming on the tip of my erect shaft. I beamed inwardly when she stared openly at the evidence of my arousal.

I needed her. I wanted her. Despite the savage impulses that ravaged me, I would still treat her with gentleness. I wouldn’t cause her even the slightest bit of discomfort.

She sighed and shot me a broad smile as she peered up at me from the floor. “Oh yes, Brutus, I sure do like your butt. And other parts of you, too. Your bigfoot-bod is making me very, very excited. You’re so fucking sexy I can barely stand it.” She started to unfasten the ties of the odd fluffy jacket she was wearing, and my balls tightened with anticipation, a tingling sensation sweeping up my thighs.

“You wish to take up the mating position now?” I asked, filled with hope.

She giggled. “Oh yes. Mating position, matinghole.” Another laugh. She stripped off the jacket and tried to turn onto her hands and knees, but she ended up curled on her side, her giggles increasing.

Hm. I didn’t understand her behavior. I watched, hoping she would remove the remainder of her clothing, crawl onto her hands and knees, and offered herself to me. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite happen. She tried to push her shoes off, but her movements were strange and slow, as though she were coming down with an illness that affected her mind.

“Pass me another root, would you, Mr. Sasquatch?” She laughed and turned onto her back, then cupped one of her breasts overtop her clothing.

My concern for her grew, and I didn’t pass her another root. I was starting to worry the food she’d consumed hadsomehow lowered her inhibitions. As shy and hesitant as she’d been earlier, I was shocked by her sudden change of behavior. I dragged the basket of roots behind the other baskets. Then I searched for a jug of water and brought it to her, kneeling by her side as I held her head up and placed the jug to her lips.

“I fear you are becoming ill, my sweet human,” I said. “Please drink as much water as you can. It’s infused with mint and healing herbs.”

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