When we docked at the water station, I had no idea we would be greeted with such elaborate fanfare from the Crown Prince. I’d never seen such a celebration in my entire life.

The Crown Prince was slight, just like the villagers, with fuzzy fur and webbed hands and feet. I found him utterly adorable.

“Oh, look how cute he is,” I squealed and playfully hit Kylin's arm.

“Right, simply adorable.” Kylin rolled his eyes with sarcasm, but I saw him flash a tiny hint of a subtle smile.

“Stop it,” I teased as if he were sprouting nonsense. “Look!” I shouted and stood up as I climbed off the raft. “He has a marching band and they are forming a line for us to walk through.”

“Wow,” Kylin said with surprise, as if even he didn’t expect the Dolarians to go through this degree of trouble just to greet us.

“Where is Chad?” Katie glanced around with tired eyes. Even after everything we’d been through, I felt like she was still pining over him.

She wasn’t the only one exhausted from the ordeal we went through on the sea, and I felt like my nerves were frayed, shot and on edge.

“He must not know what happened to us out there.” I glanced up at Kylin with chagrin. I didn’t know where Chad was. Perhaps he wasn’t here because he was being held captive.

“In good time, we will tell him all about it,” Kylin said with charisma as if he wanted Prince Jerren to feel the brutal blame of our near-death experiences.

I supposed that Kylin had a point. We might as well go through the motions and play along with this parade of cheering animals.

The horns played as we walked past their players, and balloons rose to the sky, dancing into the clouds to tickle them with carnival joy from down below. If we hadn’t just been through hell and back, I might have actually enjoyed myself.

“Chad?” Katie looked around, spinning and looking pathetically distraught. She wasn’t focusing on any of the festive happenings.

“We won’t find him tonight,” Kylin told her firmly as his shoulders continued to sag with fatigue.

He had a few nicks, cuts, and bruises, but they were all cosmetic and none were going to leave lasting effects or be life threatening.

“At least we aren’t terribly hurt,” I reminded him. We got out of that mess nearly unscathed, and I wasn’t about to forget that.

“Thanks to your help. You are quite the brave woman.” Kylin’s expression was warm and genuine.

“It’s the survival instinct that kicked in,” I said humbly with a shrug as if it was no big deal. At the time, my survival instinct had gone into high gear.

Kylin rubbed my shoulder and then gently squeezed. “You were absolutely incredible.”

“Geez.” I glanced around, absorbing the cheers and obvious delight coming from these little welcoming creatures. “You would think you were a soldier returning from war and had just saved the nation.” I chuckled as I absorbed the triumphant greeting we were receiving.

“Yes, well, the Dolarians always seek to find a reason to celebrate any occasion.” Kylin rolled his eyes as his temperament soured to borderline bitter. He obviously didn’t have the patience to deal with them right now.

I could understand where his plaguing resentment came from because it wasn’t like Prince Jerren had jumped up to rescue us or provide safe means of transportation back to his capital. He had accounted for most of the reason we’d had to take the water sled in the first place.

“Hello, my good friends.” Prince Jerren spoke in English to the three of us as we approached his throne.

“Hello.” I nodded my head weakly and secretly wondered why he had addressed us as good friends.

With each step I took, my sore muscles throbbed in protest. My adrenaline was plummeting fast. I knew I was going to crash hard tonight.

Kylin looked positively drained and Katie looked . . . well, the way she always did. Skittish, annoying, and like a little helpless pixie fairy.

“Welcome to the capital city of Dolaria!” Prince Jerren exclaimed and threw his stubby little furry arms in the air.

“It’s great to be here,” I said politely, knowing that Price Jerren would be the source of our comfort tonight.

“Thank you.” He smiled with pride. He wore more jewelry than I had ever seen in my entire life. Even the Queen of England back home probably didn’t own half the jewelry draped around Prince Jerren.

His diamonds, rubies, and emeralds adorning his neck shone brightly under the lights from the lanterns in the streets. They were beautiful, albeit unnecessary.

At one point, I had to look away because the glare was hurting my eyes from the flashy jewels. He was over the top, that much was certain.

“Do you think he likes to wear necklaces?” I droned with sarcasm and chuckled while Katie and Kylin laughed and snickered with me privately so that the prince wouldn’t hear our conversation.

“Just don’t tease him about it,” Kylin warned. “He likes to be the little rascal emitting the jokes.

“I can tell,” I said and continued to laugh.

Kylin looked at me as we jumped onto Prince Jerren’s carriage to return to the palace. “To be honest, I’m too exhausted from the journey to negotiate terms for Chad’s release tonight.”

I glanced at Katie a few seconds later, who sat behind us. The royal assistants for the prince had given her a blanket to wrap around herself and her eyes were closed. Thankfully, she appeared either asleep or not able to hear our conversation.

“I don’t think she will mind much.” I nodded my chin in her direction. She looked as exhausted as I felt.

Kylin’s eyes twinkled. “I’m just thankful that we made it.”

I squeezed his hand. “Me too,” I whispered with a smile. It had been a challenge getting here, but we were safe and that’s all that mattered.

We rode on in silence while we listened to Prince Jerren ramble on about the locations we were passing and the significant importance in their history each place represented.

I wasn’t paying that much attention but would smile and nod while smiling at him every so often to make it look like I was absorbed in the story. I needed a good night’s rest and sleep, then perhaps I might wake up with more ripples of curiosity about this strange moon.

After a few minutes, we arrived in front of a cute palace that was larger than I expected. “They live here?” I peered up at Kylin with intrigue.

“They accommodate their dwelling places for the Mixian people,” Kylin told me. “They are more hospitable than they let on.”

“How very kind of them.” I looked up at the marble palace steps as we approached the building.

I was grateful to have a decent-sized place to sleep tonight. Up until that point, I hadn’t even thought about the prospect of not being able to have enough room.

“I’m ready to go to bed,” I admitted with a yawn as I stretched and rubbed my aching muscles.

“After a hot shower,” Kylin added with a chuckle.

“Yes,” I said. “That’s true.” Now that he mentioned it, I was fully aware of how I remained completely soaked to the bone. I was uncomfortable and in need of a fresh pair of warm and dry clothes.

When we walked inside, Prince Jerren spun on his stubby little heels to beam at us. “Shall I provide a tour of the palace grounds?”

He was grinning from ear to ear with a wildly mischievous smile. I didn’t know if that was part of his demeanor or if he had a trick up his furry sleeve.

Kylin and I exchanged a glance. We knew that Chad was being held captive somewhere within these walls, but we were too spent from the day to care right now.

We didn’t have the strength left in us to endure a walk around the palace grounds. As much as I would have liked to have seen everything, I knew I would need a raincheck.

“I’m at maximum capacity for the day.” Kylin chuckled politely. “We had to fight off a water snake as we were drifting along.”

Prince Jerren gasped in shock. “You don’t say?”

“Yes, it was horrible,” Katie chimed behind us from the peanut gallery about our unfortunate and perilous voyage.

“I’m so sorry to hear of your treacherous travels.” The Prince shook his head and made a tsking sound with his tongue. I couldn’t tell whether he was genuinely regretful or expecting to hear of such travesties going on in the sea.

‘If it’s no trouble to you, we would like to just retire to our rooms for the night,” Kylin requested of the Crown Prince. His tone inflected that of respect yet firmness.

“Certainly.” Jerren bowed his little head. “I am happy to oblige.”

“Thank you.” I breathed a sigh of relief. The guest room bed was calling my name.

“Would you like to request anything before I have my butler show you to your rooms?” Jerren glanced expectantly between us.

“I would love some clean, dry towels,” I admitted and glanced up at Kylin to see if he would have anything else to add.

“Absolutely.” Jerren tipped his hat to me. “We have a lavish supply and would be happy to provide you with your wishes.” He spoke in a squeaky voice and used perfect English.

“I glanced at Kylin, who smiled and raised his eyebrows. “See, they aren’t so bad after all,” I whispered and jabbed him gently in the side, even though I was only teasing him.

“That’s only because you have some kind of charming spell over them,” he quipped back.

“Nonsense,” I said as we closed the doors to our bedroom behind us. “I just know how to be polite.” I had been noticing a unique bond I seemed to share with the furry creatures, but I didn’t think much of it.

“Oh, really?” Kylin grinned and began stripping off the top layer of his clothing, leaving my wandering eyes to feast on his manly, muscular chest and torso.

“You could have fooled me. I might have thought you were involved in some kind of conspiracy theory with them.” His eyes danced with the sparkle of playfulness.

“Hardly,” I said with humbleness and continued to stare at Kylin’s body. I was becoming distracted. “Wow,” I ogled.

“Do you like what you see?” He slowly creeped toward me with a wicked grin on his face.

“Very impressive.” I nodded my head with vigor and sighed with longing.

He grinned. “You know . . . you need to be rewarded for your excellent service on the boat earlier.”

“Really?” I said in my naughtiest voice. My heartbeat quickened in anticipation of his putting his hands on me.

“Yes, if you like pleasure, of course,” he added. His smile was so handsome and perfect that it made me tremble as he stared at me.

“I do see something rather tantalizing.” I pointed seductively to the rising bulge in his pants as I feasted my eyes on him with delicious hunger.

“Maybe you can play with it?” he said with adorable desire.

“I’d love to,” I said. “In the shower. I feel filthy and wet.” I had to admit that even though I was completely aroused by him in the moment, I wanted to be clean.

“I’ll make you wet,” he crooned. “In other places.” His gaze was transfixed on me and extremely naughty.

“Darling, that’s already happening.” I leaned up to kiss his face and wrapped my arms around his strong neck. He felt so warm and safe.

“Keep talking like that,” he breathed into my neck. “I want to taste you everywhere.” His voice was the prayer that I needed to have answered.

We moved our bodies in slow motion, flowing like the wind as we climbed into the shower together. I savored in the way the warm water pelted my back, giving me a massage of liquid perfection.

It was steamy, hot, and erotic. The sensation of having him standing beside me in this intimate setting made me tremble with desire.

Kylin took the soap and formed it into a lather in his hands. Once he had a decent amount of suds piled up, he moved his hands in swirling, fluid motions across my bare breasts and perky nipples.

He moved his hands all over my body, washing me tenderly as my senses went into overload. He pushed his fingers between my legs and twirled his index finger and thumb around on my clit, making my pussy throb.

I moaned out as our wet, soapy bodies slipped against each other. I pressed my breasts into his chest and sighed softly.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here with you,” I confessed with passion.

“Me either,” he agreed and took my chin to raise my head and plant a soft, juicy kiss on my cheeks.

It felt so good the way he continued to touch my pussy. He was stroking and rubbing my clit, driving me wild with desire. I knew I owed him for how he’d saved us earlier.

“You are such a strong, brave man,” I told him as I bent to my knees. I gave him a smile that let him know I was up to something.

In a kneeling position, I stared up at him as the water formed a collective mist of steam around us, embracing us like a warm fitting glove. We were two naked, wet bodies about to meld into one. It was one of the most erotic moments of my life.

He grinned in earnest enthusiasm as I began to push my mouth onto his hard, throbbing cock. I wanted to taste him and feel him in my mouth. What we were sharing together was so private and amazing that I never wanted it to end.

I curled my lips around his manhood and sucked, moving my head all the way to the end. I thrust with passion as I accomplished the deep-throat action on Kylin’s giant, pulsing purple cock.

It was a perfect cock, profoundly better than a human male cock. He was huge and filled me to capacity and with lust. He was so thick and big. I loved devouring every bit of him.

He grabbed the back of my head and gently helped me rock back and forth, but after a few minutes, he pushed me away.

“What’s the matter?” I licked my lips, ready for more and desiring to swallow all his hot seed.

“I want to fuck you first before I come,” he told me. His eyes were burning with longing and lust.

“Okay, but I want you to pull out so I can swallow it,” I begged him. I was thirsty to taste him.

“Your wish is my command.” he grinned as we stepped out of the shower and dried our glistening, wet bodies. My heart was racing in anticipation of his fucking me.

“Let me carry you to the bed,” Kylin said and swooped me up into his sturdy arms.  I felt so protected when he was holding me.

I giggled on the way and sighed with contentment as he gently placed me on the bed before him. I opened my legs, inviting him to play.

He pushed his fingers between my legs. “You are so wet,” he groaned with delight.

“I want you to fuck me now,” I told him. My voice was shaky and raspy as I tried to breathe through my desire.

“Gladly.” He smiled mischievously and pushed the tip of his throbbing cock inside me.

I gasped as he filled me, arching my back as I wrapped my legs around his waist. This was the sensation I had been craving, and now he was inside me where I could feel every ounce of pleasure imaginable.

We remained pressed against each other, desperate to make love tenderly to release all the toxic endorphins from the stressful day. I never wanted to let go of him, and I clung to him in erotic bliss.

It was working, because I was enthralled with the highest pleasure points I’d ever felt in my entire life. My body tingled. My muscles quivered. I was gasping for breath under the passion of how amazing it felt with him inside me.

“More, more,” I pleaded as he sent me to the brink of no return. I was begging him, pleading with him to fuck me harder and harder.

After a few seconds, his cock hit my G-spot in the perfect way and I erupted with the lava of desire I held within myself, as if I were a dormant volcano just waiting for the right opportunity to spew my contents.

I came all over his cock, sticky, wet, and creamy. My muscles were convulsing, and my world became blurry as I continued to come, almost violently. I was sure that the entire palace could hear my cries of ecstasy.

The pleasure was taking him over as well. He groaned and grunted as he pushed, rocked, and thrust within me with all his might.

We were sweaty, passionate, and sensually connected as he warned of his impending orgasm. I knew he was close to climax, and I couldn’t wait to feel his hot load exploding inside my mouth.

“Pull out so I can taste your cum,” I provocatively directed him right in the nick of time before he sprayed his hot load into my mouth and down my throat.

I swallowed every drop, gulping it down with glorious satisfaction

“Wow.” He collapsed beside me on the bed and panted. “You are an amazing lover.”

“You are incredible.” I stroked his abdominal muscles. We were silent for a moment, then I broke it with the words I knew Kylin was dying to hear. “I want to stay with you,” I said.

Kylin leaned up, his eyes lit with majestic joy. “Really?”

“Yes.” I nodded with a grin. “I can’t imagine life without you now.” I rubbed his back as we continued to lie naked, wrapped around each other.

We embraced for another passion-filled kiss, ignited with the flame of insatiable craving for each other. I knew I’d never get enough. Every time we had sex, I found myself craving more and more.

After a moment or two, I pulled away and grinned, my insides sparkling with a fresh idea. “I just thought of something. A way to get the mischievous joke-loving Dolarians to help us play a little prank on Chad.”

“That sounds great,” Kylin admitted with a glow of interest. He propped himself up on his elbow and gave me his full attention.

“Let’s go find Katie and see if she’ll be willing to help us record it,” I told him.

“Do you think she’ll be asleep?” he asked.

“Who cares?” I shrugged. “She owes us a lifetime of help. She can wake up for a few minutes.” I suddenly had a second wind of adrenaline and wasn’t feeling tired any longer.

“I’m ready when you are.” Kylin watched me with a mischievous smile as we got dressed. We were both relishing in the giddy afterglow of sex. Nothing could stop us now.