Willow’s soft, supple lips are firm at first. After a moment she relaxes into the kiss and gives herself over to me. I coax her lips wider and slide my tongue in her mouth, tasting her sweetness. She hesitates but I’m ready to take the lead. When she drops the fur onto the floor and wraps her arms around my neck, I know she wants this as badly as I do. Her small fingers travel from my neck to my shoulders as she explores my body, sending jolts of desire through me.

I reciprocate, letting my fingers leave her face and touch her soft skin. My cock responds, pressing hard against my pants. I want to remove her clothes and explore her entire body. Instead, I wrap my arms around her and carry her to the bed, laying her down and climbing on top of her. She’s breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling underneath me. Her breasts are ample and full, her nipples enticing me like berries to be plucked. Unable to resist any longer, I lean down and pull her nipple into my mouth through her shift.

Her body rises off the bed and a moan escapes her parted lips. My hand is reaching down to explore the warmth between her legs when suddenly there’s a growl next to me. I release her and look next to the bed to see Bear staring at me and growling.

“Go lay down, Bear,” Willow says, waving her hand toward the fire. She’s flushed, her lips plump from my kisses. All I want to do is kiss every inch of her body. But Bear doesn’t cooperate. She continues to growl at me.

“She thinks I’m hurting you,” I say as I slowly climb off the bed. I don’t know what is pounding harder right now, my heart or my cock. I walk away from Willow, toward the door and Bear quiets down. Willow sits up looking flustered.

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“It’s okay. She’s very protective of you.” We both look at Bear and she sits down in between us. “I guess I’ll be going back to my room,” I say. I stare at Willow sitting on the bed in her shift, trying to memorize every detail of her beauty for when I relieve my desires with my hand tonight. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay. See you in the morning,” she says. For a moment she looks sad and I’m not sure if I’m causing her to feel that way. I’m disappointed but I’m not going to take my chances with Bear. She would tear into me if she thought I was hurting the one she is determined to protect.

I slip out of her door and close it tightly behind me. When I walk into my room it’s cold and dark, there’s no warmth and pleasure like I felt with Willow. Frustrated, I strip out of my clothes and climb into bed. In order to be able to sleep tonight, I take my cock in my hand and think about Willow while I pleasure myself, imagining how I want to plunge my cock into her tight, wet cunt.

“Where is your head at today?” Kayne asks. We’re sitting in the council meeting, guests of the Dydrak warriors. They’re currently attending to their own business while Kayne, Amell and I wait our turn to address their council.

“What do you mean?” I say, shaking the thoughts of Willow from my mind. “I’m focused and ready.”

“Ummm. And where did you disappear to last night? You left the feast and I didn’t see you again,” Kayne says.

“I snuck out. Went to visit the villagers,” I say, leaning close and whispering so the Dydrak don’t hear me. “I thought it would be a good idea to see if I could find out some things I know the Dydrak would never tell us.”

“Hmmm, that’s not bad thinking, Raydn,” Amell says.

“Thank you, Amell,” I say while directing a smug look toward Kayne.

“And did you go on this adventure on your own?” Kayne asks, returning the smug look.

“Why is that any of your business?”

“It’s my business because I can tell you are distracted. You should have accepted an offer from one of the Dydrak women and gotten it out of your system.”

His suggestion makes me angry but before I lash out in anger, I remind myself that he doesn’t know the story behind the warriors and the women. He wasn’t in the village with me last night so he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t realize that their offers are not genuine, but rather what they feel they must do in order to stay in the keep.

“Members of the Force,” Jot’ohz says, his voice booming through the large council chamber. “It is your turn to speak. What information do you seek from this council?”

“You’re up, brother,” Kayne says.

I stand and acknowledge the council with a bow. “Thank you, Jot’ohz and all of the members of the council for welcoming us today.” I stand up straighter as the dark eyes of the Dydrak warriors hold me in their steady gaze. Diplomacy is of the utmost importance. Offending them at their own council meeting could have dire consequences and we all want to get out of here in one piece. “The Force has been searching for human females and weapon capsules that they were made to smuggle by our enemy the Atronox. We were led to believe some of the capsuled might have ended up in this region. We would be grateful for any insight or information you can provide.”

“I see,” Jot’ohz says. “The human that you brought with you is the first human we have seen.”

“We were led to believe the capsules were removed from the women as soon as they reached their destination. From there, the capsules were sold and the human females were sold as prizes to the warriors in the arena.”

“I have no knowledge of these capsules or of any weapons,” he says, quickly putting an end to our questions.

“Perhaps other members of the council know something?” Kayne asks, standing next to me. Amell stands as well while we wait for the council to ponder their responses.

“No one on the council would know anything more than I would,” Jot’ohz says. “If we learned of weapons dealings we would have discussed this at an earlier council meeting. I am sorry that we can not be more help.” I search the council looking to see if there are any members that look like it would be worth a second talk with them afterward. Expressionless faces and wide, empty eyes stare back at me. “It has been our pleasure to welcome you within the walls. Feel free to remain as long as you wish.” And with that, Jot’ohz dismisses us.

“Thank you,” I say, bowing before them. Kayne and Amell bow and then follow me out of the chamber.

“That was completely worthless,” I say once we’re further down the hallway.

“It was to be expected,” Kayne says. “Still, it gave us a lot of information.”

“True,” Amell says. “They asked no questions about this possible weapon capsule. If they had no knowledge of it, you’d think they’d want to learn more about it. Or, at least be curious about what might be in play in the galaxy.”

“Yes, they were very quick to dismiss us,” I say.

“Now the question is … what do we do next?” Amell asks.

“I say we do a little exploring,” Kayne says.

“You think we should sneak around?” I ask. “They won’t be happy if they catch us.”

“Then we won’t let them catch us. Besides, it’s a large keep and we’re not very good with directions. We get lost very easily.” Kayne says.

I let this plan roll around in my head for a few moments. It would be a complete waste to leave now when we don’t know anything more than when we came.

“Okay, you’re right. Let’s go exploring.”