Page 92 of Strays
He adjusts his position, slides one hand under her knee and lifts her leg, giving his other hand room to reach her clit. In no time, her whole body goes tense, and I feel her throat vibrate around me with the scream she can’t voice as she comes. She spasms hard, thrashing against us, and Shane’s raw scream fill the room, joining her muffled one.
A massive wave of pleasure tears through me as I release deep into her throat and my knot swells. She clamps both hands around it, squeezing tight, trembling.
“Harder,” I gasp.
She pulses her hands around my knot, mimicking the way her body does when she comes around me. It’s pure bliss. My orgasm lingers, ripping through me in waves, my hips rocking lightly against her lips and hands.
Shane groans, still deep inside. When his knot deflates, he pulls out, but she keeps sucking and massaging me. I’m still floating in pleasure, and she doesn’t stop until my knot softens.
When I pull out, Jay stands, cradles her in his arms, and carries her to the bathroom, with Shane and me close behind. He holds her under the shower while we wash her gently, rinsing away the sweat and release.
She sighs and smiles at us, dazed and soft, her sweet scent loosening every muscle in my body. We massage her thighs and arms under the water until she melts beneath our touch. Then we dry her off, and I wrap her in towels, one around her body, one around her damp hair.
Shane carries her back to the nest, and we curl around her, her scent sinking into the blankets, into us. Her breath slows, and her smile lingers as she drifts off.
We stay like that with her, letting the warmth settle, letting her presence soak into every part of us after so many days without her.
Even here in a temporary housing unit, we’re home now.
Comparative Anatomy of Aegis and Human Men
Excerpt from Emergent Divergence: The Evolutionary Path of Homo Gregalis by Dr. Steve Bureau, Ph.D. (4th ed., West Kempton Institute Press)
Unmated aegis average between 6 feet 1 inch and 6 feet 8 inches in height, with a mean stature of approximately 6 feet 4 inches. Upon successful bonding with a nyra, however, they may reach extraordinary heights, with Tier-One individuals exceeding 7 feet 3 inches.
Musculoskeletal density is significantly enhanced by the natural suppression of myostatin activity through an endogenous antagonist. In addition, a higher proportion of their muscle fibers are classified as type IIb, favoring explosive strength and rapid force generation.
The endocrine profile of aegis includes persistently elevated levels of anabolic hormones — testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor 1 — which further drive muscle accretion. Notably, unlike human men, aegis possess the capacity not only for muscular hypertrophy but also for hyperplasia. This ability to generate new muscle fibers under load translates to an absolute rather than merely relative increase in contractile strength.
Distal muscle insertion points in the skeleton are also consistently observed, providing greater leverage and mechanical efficiency during locomotion or exertion.
Skeletal morphology further distinguishes aegis physiology. Their cortical bone is markedly thicker, while the trabecular bone retains a more organized microarchitecture. Collagen matrix composition is dominated by elongated type I collagen fibers, contributing to exceptional compressive strength and resilience. These features allow aegis bones to withstand significantly higher impact forces compared to the average human skeletal framework.
One of the most striking anatomical differences is dental structure. Aegis enamel is composed primarily of fluoroapatite rather than hydroxyapatite, giving it a noticeably brighter white appearance compared to human dentition. Fluoroapatite is inherently more resistant to demineralization and dental caries, even when the diet is carbohydrate-rich. Beneath the enamel, the dentin layer contains a denser collagen matrix and enlarged dentinal tubules, effectively increasing load-bearing capacity and minimizing fracture risk under high occlusal forces.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
D.C. Wants Their Investment Back
It’s getting dark outside when Jo finally wakes up.
Despite the closeness we just got back, it still feels like unfinished business. If we don’t clear it now, I know we’ll have to dig it up again later, and I don’t want that. I want to fix it now and bury it for good.
I think she knows, because she doesn’t mention getting up, just sits on the bed between us. “I missed you,” she says.
This time, I manage to answer her properly. “We missed you too.”
The coldness that settled in my chest since the barbecue is finally gone, something light and warm taking its place. I want to pull her into my arms and make her curl up in my lap, bury my face in her hair and drown in her scent. But I can’t yet.
“I understand why you left,” I say, trying to keep the harshness out of my voice and failing. “But I can’t go through that again. If you ever need space, time — fine. We’ll deal with it. But you can’t cut us off like that.”
Her eyes start to well up, but the tears don’t fall. “I promise,” she says.
I feel Shane shift beside me, and on Jo’s other side, Jay breathes deep. I glance at both of them and see the relief I feel reflected on their faces.
The cafeteria is almost empty when we get there for dinner. Jo grabs grilled salmon with roasted vegetables and adds it to her tray, but she ends up picking from our plates like always: fries, chicken, even a piece of meatloaf. It’s familiar in the best way.
“I want you to meet them,” she says out of nowhere, like we’re mid-conversation. “My family. My grandfathers were officers too. Retired a few years ago.”
