“W-wait,” I stammer as the giant Zoran backs away. A few minutes ago I was still fighting him off, and now I feel like my favorite toy has been taken from me as his cock slips free from my grasp. His member is a bright orange, which contrasts beautifully with his purple skin, and I feel the urge to lick it up and down like a lollipop.

“Where are you going?”

He grabs a massive club and lifts it with a single hand.

“Stay,” he growls, his low voice echoing off the cave walls.

The Zoran walks out, slipping his loincloth around his waist, storming into the dark cave tunnel separating this cozy hole from the outside.

I take a few deep breaths to steady myself, and regain a semblance of self-control. What the hell just happened? This Zoran just appeared out of nowhere, dressed like some caveman, and all he did was grunt some words before dragging me into his cave to make me his!

I’ve never met anyone quite as forward, as forceful, as aggressive.

And I have to admit my body responded in kind.

I tried to fight him off — but that was just for show. If I’m perfectly honest with myself, I was very okay with what was happening, and that kinda frightens me. Even though his tongue has given me an earth-shaking orgasm that still has me light-headed… After all, I barely know this dude!

And yet, I feel like I’ve known him all my life. When I gaze into his sunset-colored eyes, there’s a connection, one that goes beyond the physical. I can’t explain it, but it feels like this was something like fate.

I take another deep breath, and the reality of my situation filters back in. I’m still naked, still wet, still lying on his bed with my legs open, waiting for him to return. What’s gotten into me?!

I grab the furs from his bed and wrap them around my body — he tore that gown to bits like it was made out of paper. The fur is kinda itchy, but also quite warm.

My train of thought is interrupted by a loud growl.

Turnon!

Could it be the Nezdek? Have they returned for me? Oh, why am I wasting so much time?! The girls are trapped in their pods, alien slavers are stalking us, and here I am, infatuated by the Zoran’s broad, naked chest. The moment I saw him it’s like I forgot what I was even doing here on this planet.

I rush out of the cave, stumbling through the dark tunnel. Was it a left or a right?! Turnon had me on my shoulders, and I was too disoriented to keep track.

Another loud growl reaches me, this time coming from my left. I follow the noise and the welcome glare of daylight greets me.

“Stay back!” Turnon yells at me.

The Zoran warrior is standing at the mouth of the cave, waving his club at the beasts who surround him. There are three massive tigers with giant fangs prowling about, their fierce growls making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Their giant, yellow eyes turn to me, and they bare their teeth. I push my back against the cave wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. Did they follow my scent?

The bear-dog that forced me into the cave is sitting between Turnon’s legs, growling at the intruders. Then, everything seems to happen at once. One of the tigers leaps towards me, and the bear-dog jumps up to meet him in the air.

“No!” Turnon screams, but it’s too late.

The tiger sinks his massive fangs into the animal’s neck and shakes. Blood is splattered across the floor, and the high-pitched yelp cuts through my bones. Turnon’s pet falls to the ground, whimpering and bleeding profusely.

The Zoran warrior loses it.

With a mighty roar that I feel down in my stomach he charges forward, his club raised high. His strikes are so quick I can barely register them — a purple blur is all I see.

When he stops, the tigers lie dead at his feet. He’s breathing heavily, and I suck in some air through my teeth when I see deep-red scratches down his back.

“You’re injured,” I gasp.

He turns to face me, and his orange eyes are filled with sadness. He drops his club on the ground and falls to his knees, wrapping his arms around the injured animal. He buries his face in the beast’s neck, and I see a few tears are rolling down his cheeks.

I approach slowly, keeping one eye on the jungle, but there don’t seem to be any more of the beasts lurking around. I gently place my hand on his naked shoulder, but Turnon jerks away, glaring at me in anger.

“I said stay back!”

His voice is filled with pain, and it cuts right through me. This animal, this pet obviously means the world to him, and it gave its life — for me.

Do I even deserve that?

“I’m sorry,” I say, fighting to hold back tears of my own. “I didn’t mean to…”

My apology feels weak and forced. For all I know this was his best friend, and all I can say is ‘sorry’. I feel useless.

“Can you save him?”

Turnon holds the beast tightly, until it stops breathing. It’s over. My gut feels like it’s being ripped out.

The purple Zoran stands up, wiping his face with his fingers.

“Not your fault,” he growls through a clenched jaw. “Animals attack… strange. Normally don’t venture close to cave.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “D-do you think they followed me?”

Turnon turns to me, but his eyes contain none of their earlier charm, lust or happiness. “Maybe.”

I place my hand on his arm. “Again, I’m really sorry, I never meant for this to happen…”

“That’s life,” Turnon says curtly. “Isto died fighting. I’m proud.”

We stand in silence for a moment. I don’t know what to do with myself, so I awkwardly cross my arms and wait for the Zoran to make a move.

He glances up into the sky. The clear blue is now fading into a bright pink as the twin suns are starting their descent.

“Very strange,” he muses. “Must ask Maker.”

“Maker?”

“Yes,” he nods. “Maker has answers.”

He must be referring to his tribe or something. Of course he doesn’t live alone out here. Why would he? Where would he have come from? Now that I think about it, where did he come from? Why is there a colony of Zorans on this ancient world? What are they like? Judging by his primitive outfit and weaponry, it’s not likely they have the means to send out a distress call to the Federation…

Right now I have more questions than answers, and all I’ve achieved since crash-landing here is a mind-blowing orgasm, courtesy of that imposing warrior.

“You are still bleeding,” I say when I see a small trickle of blood run down the Zoran’s back. “You should let me look at that.”

“No,” he says decisively. “I was careless. Angry. It will heal.”

He lets out a big sigh and falls quiet, and I want nothing more than to keep talking, for the silence and the guilt weigh on me like a ton of bricks.

“Do you want to bury him?”

Turnon raises his eyebrows. “Bury?”

“Yes,” I say. “You must have some kind of burial ritual, right? Some way to say goodbye?”

The warrior shakes his head. “No. Isto first friend lost.”

Wow. Talk about a punch to the gut.

“Where I’m from, we have several different ways for saying goodbye to departed friends, depending on where you’re from. There’s burial, cremation, a burial at sea…”

Turnon doesn’t look at me, and I feel like I’m rambling on. There’s nothing I can do to ease the tension, to ease the pain. I realize he’s much more than a brutish warrior. He’s got a big heart, and it’s hurting.

“I’ll help,” I blurt out. I just want to help, to do something. I feel so useless.

“Okay,” Turnon says. “You bury him. I prepare meal.”

He grabs one of the tigers by its tail and drags it into the cave, leaving me dumbfounded. I have no idea how to dig a hole without a shovel, but I don’t want to ask the Zoran for help. He just saved my life — time I did something in return.

I look for a nice patch of earth, one that will make a fine resting place. Close to the entrance to the cave is a beautiful place, in the shadow of a tall tree, with brightly colored flowers blooming around it.

I get to work, digging up the dirt with my bare hands. It’s a hard job, and soon I’m covered in a sheen of sweat, my hands black, my nails dirty… but I find the work to be strangely comforting. I pour all of my energy in it. I don’t have time to think about my situation, about my abduction, about the girls all frozen in their lockers, about the drop-dead gorgeous alien warrior I’m entrusting my life to.

I focus on my work, moving the earth with my own two hands. It’s empowering. I’m making a positive change.

When I’m done, hours have passed and the twin suns have set, and the dark sky is dotted with the small lights of distant stars. I look for any familiar constellations, but I can’t find any.

A blanket of thick darkness has covered the forest. I have forgotten how dark the night can truly be. On Earth there’s always light. From the skyscrapers, from the hovercars whizzing by, from the space station up in the sky. There’s not a place left on the surface that isn’t coated in perpetual light.

This place couldn’t be more different.

I close my eyes for a moment and let it sink in. The rustling of the grass, the chirping of nocturnal birds, the wind moving the trees, the twig breaking behind me… wait, what?

I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat — but it’s only Turnon. He’s carrying two bowls.

“Eat,” he says as he hands one to me.

“Is it the purple fruit?” I ask, excited. My stomach rumbles at the mere thought of food. I’ve been working so hard I forgot to stop for dinner — now that’s something that’s never happened before.

“No, Tuka,” he answers cryptically.

I peer into the bowl and see a meaty broth. While it doesn’t look great, the smell is delicious, and my mouth waters instantly. I gratefully accept his offer and gulp the hot stuff down. It’s spicy and flavorful.

“What’s ‘Tuka’?”

Turnon nods at one of the dead tiger-like animals. Right. It makes me feel a little queasy, but I keep it down. On Earth I get most of my food straight from the replicator — I couldn’t be farther from a dead animal in the food chain.

Everything on this planet is so… raw. Dangerous, but also real. That includes the men, I think to myself as I glance at Turnon from the corner of my eyes.

His purple skin is hard to see in the darkness, but his beautiful, orange eyes twinkle in the light of the stars. I feel a little pulse down in my clit when I inadvertently think back to what he did the moment he saw me.

Tore my clothes off and dived headfirst between my legs.

Part of me wants to continue where we left off… but there’s more pressing matters to attend to.

“Shall we?” I ask when I’m finished with the meal.

Turnon nods. Together we lift Isto’s body from the ground, lower it into the grave, and cover it up. I pluck a few flowers and place them on the pet’s final resting spot.

“Thank you, Isto, for all you’ve done,” I say. “I hardly knew you, but you gave your life for me. I will never forget that.”

The Zoran kneels down in front of the grave and draws a symbol in the dirt with his fingers.

“Nice spot,” he says. “Isto liked it here.”

He stands up and shoots me a nod.

“Thank you.”

I grab his hand and squeeze it. “You’re welcome.”

We stand together for a moment in silence. I still feel guilty, but at least Turnon likes this tribute for his fallen friend.