The most glorious softness is pressed against my lap. My eyes don’t want to open, for fear that the sensation is that but of a dream. It would be the most glorious dream, but I wish for it to be real.

The noise of a small breath being released makes me stiffen, body going rigid. And I realize that I am not alone. Cracking open my eyes, I resist the urge to groan at what I see. Stee-vee has molded her body to mine, laying her back to my front. She continues to sleep softly, her body only shifting with the tiny movements of her breathing.

She smells of a sweetness I cannot describe, and she is stealing my warmth. I can feel my skin projecting heat to hers, as if instinct. Her back plastered against my chest, and her bottom planted firmly in my lap as we lie side by side…The Motherhas given me this gift. No other reasoning could possibly explain an experience of this magnitude.

My hips long to thrust forward, to stroke my cock against the female in my lap. But this hu-nim is not my mate, she is my new friend. She trusts me with her protection, and I will guard her from even myself. From my unexpected desire for her touch, and her affection. I will beat it down inside of myself until it submits. Nothing shall scare Stee-vee from me.

I am just willing my cock to soften when Ch’ta makes an appearance, pouncing atop Stee-vee’s legs. She startles awake, her head lifting to the mischievous beast at our feet.

“Sheesh, Ch’ta,” she whispers. “You scared me, youcutie pie.”

He simply vibrates his chest at her, and twirls before plopping into a ball to sleep.

As if she is just recognizing our proximity, she turns to me with big eyes. “Oh, I kind of invaded your space, didn’t I? You could have pushed me away—”

“I would never raise a hand to you, Stee-vee. It would be sooner that I cut it from my body than hurt you with it.”

Her big eyes become bigger. “Whoa, that’s intense. I just meant a little shove.”

“All the same,” I argue. “I would not.”

Little white teeth greet me in a pretty smile. “Well, that’s sweet, Marrec.” She shifts and her bottom brushes tighter against my cock. Her lips part in surprise, and my chest aches with alarm. “Oh!” She looks over her shoulder to where we are connected. “Um—”

“My apologies, I—”

She bursts out, “No, it’s okay.”

“I cannot control—”

“No need to apologize,” she interrupts, quelling some of the worry in my chest. “I’m in your bed, it’s no big deal.” She shifts on to her back, but remains close, her arm nearly touching my chest.

“I did not mean for—”

“It’s cool,” she tells me, yawning. She is relaxed enough to still be sleepy in my presence. She must truly mean her words. “S’just morning wood. I get it. Totally normal.”

“I do not know thismorningwood.”

Woodtranslates to the base of trees. Andmorningis the early time of day here. Does she think I am hiding a tree within my pants? As a sort of sunrise ritual? Do humans practice such strange acts?

She chuckles, looking nervous. “It’s just when your…” Her eyes drop to my clothed cock. “Is hard in the morning. You know, like it always is? Right?”

“This is not a regular occurrence for me,” I tell her, brows furrowed. “Hu-nim males are plagued with need as their body awakens? Whatever for?”

“Probably some science-y bullshit about unconscious desire to produce babies,” she says, shrugging. “Wait, so you’re hard because… I did that?”

I do not know what to say.

“Wow.” Her cheeks tint. “That’s a pretty big compliment. Literally.”

She does not cower from me? My racing heart slows, and I relax into the thought that I have not frightened her. This would be most displeasing, if I had.

Rem would tease her in this moment, asking her if she had just commented on the size of his cock. I am too lost for words—lost in myself that Stee-vee is so comfortable with me. It is more of a compliment than her obvious impressed expression when witnessing the not-well-hidden considerable rise of my cock.

“Oh damn! What time is it?” Her fists rub furiously at her eyes as if to shake them in her skull. “The girls are probably worried. That nap felt really long.”

“I believe we are in, how you hu-nims saya new day.”

Her eyes pop wide. “Shoot! Do you think they’re freaking out?”