Chapter 45.
Lying in Galine’s bed was like lying on a mountain of pillows. It was comfy as fuck.
Trying to figure out how to snuggle with a centaur was a little more complicated. It was not really a situation I had even put much thought into before.
Galine ended up pressed against my side, the lower half dropped off the nest somewhat as she draped an arm over me. It didn’t look like it would be comfortable, but she seemed comfortable.
She seemed quite comfortable given the hand that was not so subtly resting on my lower stomach. Now I definitely wasn’t sleeping, not with her fingers touching the skin my shirt had ridden up over.
I was suddenly glad I hadn’t worn the robe tonight. Trying to dress up with one hand has been a nightmare, but I looked a little more snazzy than showing up in my usual robe.
Then again, I was very much awake and aware right now.
“Pamela?” Galine asked sleepily.
“Yeah?” I asked, my mouth dry. It was so dark in this little back room that it made all my other senses so much more… sensitive.
“You weren’t kidding about the slime thing, were you?” She mumbled, running her palm over my swollen stomach.
“No,” I replied through a sharp inhale. “Galine,” I protested.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, pulling her hand away.
“No, it’s okay,” I muttered, “I’m just… sensitive,” I added weakly.
“Oh,” Galine replied, suddenly a little more awake. “A good sensitive?”
“Yeah,” I swallowed, my throat dry.
“Is this okay then?” She asked, gently sliding her hand back over my stomach.
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
Galine chuckled, low and delighted. “Fuck, you really are full.”
“Oh god,” I groaned, running my hand over my face to hide my blush.
“Is that good blasphemy or bad blasphemy?” Galine asked, leaning up to kiss my neck.
“G-Good, definitely good,” I whimpered slightly. I hadn’t… not expected this, but I had been far from prepared.
“You know, I didn’t want to assume,” Galine continued. “But I've never heard of someone gaining a class or such which they found truly repulsive.”
“If this is your way of asking me if I have a breeding kink, then yeah,” I snorted, a little too distracted by her lips on my skin to come up with a more eloquent response.
Galine’s eyes went wide. “That’s… alright then,” she chuckled.
“This feels really… fun!” Candy warbled slightly, sounding almost drunk.
“Candy! Pamela time,” I snapped internally, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Or peek if you must but just… at least let me pretend you're not there,” I added guiltily.
“Okay! Yay!” She chirped.
“Is Candy getting involved?” Galine asked.
“What?” I frowned.
She chuckled and didn’t stop… petting me. “I can tell when you're talking to her.”
“No, I just… Telling her to go away,” I groaned as she sucked on my throat.
Galine hummed. “Good idea. You seem quite tense," she teased.
“We’re both wearing too many clothes,” I grumbled.
“I think as we are is just fine,” she replied, slipping her hand below my waistband and through my curls. She tugged at them, making me hiss in surprise. “Can I touch you?”
“I think you’re already doing that?” I chuckled contentedly.
“Can I fuck you properly then?” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Please,” she asked pathetically, between nibbles at my neck.
“Christ,” I mumbled. “Yes, please.”
“Good,” she purred, sliding her fingers between my legs, brushing my clit.
I cursed silently, arching up into her touch. I wasn’t sure I was remotely prepared for any of this. But right now, this just felt good, and fuck, after everything, I desperately needed to feel good.
“Relax,” Galine encouraged.
And I did, like putty in her arms as she gently slid her fingers inside me. Galine trailed her other hand up my shirt, gently massaging a nipple. I was already clenching around her fingers, worked up enough from all of this that she might actually make me cum.
“Fuck,” I gasped, grinding my hips against my hand.
“Rub yourself,” she nudged, moving to play with my other breast.
I did as I was told, or tried to. I didn’t have that hand anymore. That reminder was enough to suck me out of my own body. Oh right… right…
“What's wrong?” Galine asked gently, her hands resting on me, but they were still.
I shook my head, trying to shake the cotton out of my ears. “Nothing, just… my hand. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she reassured, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
I leaned into her, feeling cold, the heat of previous moments gone. I didn’t feel like I was going to cry; I felt too… hollow for that. But the weight was back, the pressure on my soul.
“Can you sleep like this?” Galine asked, combing through my hair with her fingers as if it was something she did all the time.
I snuggled into her further. “Yeah, I think so,” I mumbled. “I’m sorry I ruined it.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” she said. “These things happen. I’m just happy you’re staying over.”
That made me smile. Galine was good at making me smile. I rested my head on her shoulder. “I’m glad to be here. This is… so much nicer than staying at the outpost.”
Galine chuckled. “I doubt that.”
“Well… maybe the stew could have used some vegetables,” I admitted. “But the company makes up for it and more,” I added with fake seriousness. “Five stars.”
“Stars?” Galine snorted.
“Ugh, we rated things with stars. I don’t know why, but five stars were always the best,” I huffed.
“Okay,” she laughed gently. “I’ll take it as a good thing then.”
“It is,” I said.
“Are you feeling better now?” Galine asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded against her shoulder. It wasn’t even a lie; she had cheered me up just like that.
“Good,” she said, pressing a kiss to my cheek as she rested a hand protectively over my stomach. “Let's get some sleep then. I unfortunately have to work tomorrow, so I can’t sleep in.”
“Sure,” I agreed easily.
Galine tugged the blanket over us as she adjusted herself. I let out a deep breath, letting my eyes close. It really wasn't so different than snuggling with a human, just without any leg contact. I didn’t have my arm to support my head; usually that bothered me, but tonight I rested my head on Galine.
I felt shockingly safe. I was so grateful to have clicked with Galine. I had desperately needed this. Someone good, someone kind, someone who could just hold me when things were hard. And things were always hard here. But Galine made me feel a little stronger. I didn’t just need stats for that.
“Good night,” I mumbled. “You’re pretty great.”
“So are you,” Galine echoed happily.
Despite my exhaustion, I didn't sleep. Unpleasant dreams were all too common recently. Stress dreams. The kind where you saw friends mauled by aliens in front of you in high school, or your teeth all fell out. The worst was the one where I lost more than an arm; it always left me waking in a panic.
I was safe in Galine’s arms, but if I slept… it was up to my own rattled psyche to determine where I went then.
I felt guilty that I just wanted to go home. But that was how I responded to discomfort; I bailed. It was easier to burn a bridge than to fix it. Yet I was stuck here, and bailing meant abandoning Galine, which would be a total dick move. And I had no idea what returning to Earth would do to Candy. It was a moot point; I couldn’t go back to Earth. I couldn’t go back to my family; I couldn’t pet Larry on my lap with a glass of wine on the couch; I couldn’t see the happy faces of my friends when I did begrudgingly go out. Had Samantha sorted out the problem with her boyfriend? Mary’s birthday had probably come and gone by now without me.
I had to stop thinking about this, for my own sanity. It would only hurt more. My life hadn’t been horrid on Earth, just… not amazing. But life wasn’t amazing here either.
Life was suffering, nothing was forever and yet we craved it all the same. Some people spent their whole lives in search of enlightenment just to avoid that very fundamental fact. Others did their best to roll with the punches, but the punches still hurt.
I nuzzled into Galine and closed my eyes. I thought of everything I had lost and took another moment to say goodbye to a piece of it. Not an Irish goodbye, but a proper thoughtful one. The things I would tell people if I could, the letters I would have left.
Holding on to Galine tight, I eventually drifted off to sleep. I may have grieved my old life, but I had plenty worth fighting for here.
We woke to the smell of smoke.