Jasmin part 22

JASMIN

I’m so proud of Aldrek. He hasn’t assaulted anyone yet!

He has been hanging out with friends, although I know he’d rather rip his wings off than call them that. The grouch would insist that he’s only amicable with them.

I, too, have been making friends. I miss Myra and the others that I first experienced the program with, but I’m glad to know that they’re well. This new class of girls is just as playful and excited about their matches. They seem to think I’m a veteran since I was in the program before, and things are going so well with Aldrek. But we still have so much to learn and explore.

My face heats as I remember being in his arms, in his… mouth. He had been such an animal, not that I’m complaining. The intimacy and toe-curling orgasm didn’t sate me at all. I want more. I want to go all the way with him until I can’t tell when I end, and he begins.

Knowing Aldrek, though, he will never pressure me. It’s up to me to show him how much I ache. To take care of untied ends. All the times we skimmed past temptation in his cabin but were too afraid or distracted to fall into its arms.

I’m ready. So fucking ready. I’ve had enough of being quiet and letting life toss me as it pleases. Now, I’m going to call the shots.

Once Cuero finishes her lecture, the girls run off to the dining room. I linger behind because there’s something I need to clarify with Cuero. She has been a welcoming, accepting mentor, but we have to get on the same page.

“Hi, do you have a second?”

She packs her folder and palms her hips in a way that I’ve grown to find endearing. She’s a good woman.

“Of course, doll. What can I do for you?”

“It’s about the portal. When I crossed it, the plan was to go to Crux and Myra’s home and make a plan. But I… I landed in Aldrek’s territory instead.” I glance at the door to ensure no one is nearby. I have no intention of getting Cuero in trouble. She has been through enough with all the criticism she has gotten.

“Then I saw that note you left me, saying sorry. Did you…” I lick my lips. “Did you manipulate the portal to send me to Aldrek’s territory instead of Myra’s?”

Her hands fall from her hips, and she rests them on her desk. Then, she exhales, and for the first time in my life, I see this strong woman’s face crumble. She’s… sad.

“I am so sorry, Jasmin. You’ve gone through so much and I…” She clenches her fists. “Yes, I manipulated the portal.”

I feel no anger. No bitterness. Just disappointment. I trusted Cuero. She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met– stronger than my beautiful, powerful mother. Why would she do this?

She shakes her head. “I did it for the program.”

“The program?”

“Crux and Myra are doing the best they can, but they’re helpless against the depreciation of the portal. Something is wrong with it, and it will only stabilize on Aldrek’s land. They would never try to use you to convince Aldrek. But I…”

She sighs. “I knew you two would be good for each other. I asked around. I knew Aldrek would take care of you. But if you went to Myra first, there was a chance you would change your mind and not care to meet him. And then the chance of saving the portal would be gone. I wanted both. To find you a match and save the program.”

She grits her teeth and looks away from me. I know that guilt is gnawing at her.

I walk around the table, and I embrace her. I forgive her. Of course, I do. Although she intervened in my life more than she had the right to, she meant no harm.

She wraps her arms around me, and her embrace is… homely. When was the last time my mother embraced me? I can’t remember. I can’t fucking remember the last time I felt this feeling of motherly warmth and protection. I’ve felt starved of this sense of affection for years. But Cuero… she fulfills it. The program and the girls are her babies. I’m grateful for meeting her, and she has taught me to forgive.

“It’s okay, Cuero. We will be okay.”

When we pull apart, she can’t look at me. I realize that she’s like Aldrek in a sense. Maybe that’s why she trusted him to look after me. Because just like him, she tries to be tough on the surface but is actually a softie.

“But there’s something I need to say,” I add.

She nods, still shielding her gaze.

“I won’t ask Aldrek to do this. I almost lost him when I admitted my real identity. I can’t make him feel like I’m trying to use him.”

“Yes, I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him. Hopefully, now that he has experienced the program, he sees the value in it and will want to save it.”

This is a conversation she will need to have with him. I am done hurting Aldrek. I know that if I bring this topic up, his trust might waver. He can do whatever he wants with his territory. I have no claim on it. I’m willing to do anything else to help the portal stabilize, but this is not my decision to make.

I go home, suddenly missing Aldrek’s embrace. I find him on the bed, frowning at a notebook that looks comically small in his hands.

“What are you frowning at?”

“Cuero gave us a list of idioms to study. I don’t understand why you humans speak like you’ve had brain damage. Why say ‘break a leg’ instead of ‘good luck’? Why say ‘lets bump uglies’ instead of ‘let’s have sex?’”

I laugh. “Those are only English idioms. Not every human uses them.”

His eyes widen. “So your other languages have their own sets of ridiculous sayings?”

I shrug. “Guess so.”

He mutters under his breath as he flips through the notebook. I watch him as he hulks over with his elbows on his thighs. His bicep is close to me, uncontained by the vest he wears. He’s a massive man. I would love to be under all his bulk.

He bites his lip, deeply concentrated on his studies. He doesn’t notice the way my eyes rake over his broad chest and raised scars. Even his messy hair adds to his sex appeal.

He flips the page, and my sex clenches as if he’s stroking it, too.

“Aldrek?” I whisper.

“Yes?”

“Can I borrow your notebook?”

He hands it to me, and I pick up the flute between the pages. I flip through it, not understanding the Le’vris characters. I find the translation for “bumping uglies,” and I copy it.

On a blank page, I write “do you want to bump uglies?” in foreign Le’vris lettering.

Then, I shakily return the notebook to him. His intelligent, observant eyes flicker to the notebook and then widen when he realizes what I’ve done.

I’ve just asked my dragon to fuck me.

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