Of Another Dimension Read online

  ****

  "I don't want to ride on the back of one of those... beasts! I want a transport like the one you brought me here in. Go and grab that one!" Teila demanded.

  "We don't have one right now. Kieve and Sieren took it to the inlet. This will just have to do, your highness," Teivel ground out.

  "Hmph!" She took off into the living room.

  I stuffed my cowboy hat on my head and did up my trench coat.

  I glanced outside.

  The sky was looking dark and kind of ominous. We better hurry and get the lead out.

  I hope the closest transmitter isn't too far, I worried.

  "I still don't see why I can't just stay here," I complained.

  "I will not be left alone with that spiteful female," Teivel ground out, glaring at Teila.

  I don't blame him. She might try to pull a praying mantis and eat him while she screws him.

  I laughed at my wayward thoughts and grunted when Teivel shoved a balled up lump into my arms.

  "Do your own laundry!" I shoved the bundle back at him.

  "Put them on. You can't run around in what you're wearing."

  "And why not?!" I demanded, offended.

  "Difficult female!" he snarled.

  He opened my coat and gestured at my breasts.

  "They jiggle when you walk! You will cause problems. Distracting males as they flop about while you ride a talanax," he stated bluntly, shaking my shoulders to demonstrate his point.

  I slapped his hands away.

  "Knock it off, you titty jiggler!" I growled, tugging my coat closed.

  Flop about?!

  Ass!

  I'll make him flop about! In pain!

  He crossed his arms over his massive chest and scowled at me.

  I sniffed at him disdainfully and the corner of his mouth pulled up, but he tried to smother it, acting irritated still.

  I am not amused.

  Okay! So they do jiggle... quite a bit actually... but that is beside the point!

  Also...

  "I am not wearing her clothes," I grated out, "They wouldn't fit me anyways. Obviously."

  He looked at me impatiently.

  "They aren't hers. Go put them on."

  "No," I said stubbornly.

  "Yes."

  "No!" I stayed firm.

  He leaned down and got into my face.

  "If you do not go upstairs and put them on right now, I will drag you up there, strip you down, beat your ass and put them on you myself!" He bellowed.

  "I'd like to see you try!" I shouted.

  "Stop flirting and go put on the clothes he bought for you already!" Teila snapped. "I'm tired of waiting and you're incessant bickering is making my head ache!" she snapped at us.

  I frowned at her and unfolded the bundled up clothes.

  There were weird under things, but I could already see how they'd go and a dress made of some kind of deep red material.

  There were red pants that went under the dress, so I'm guessing it made them okay to ride a talanax in.

  They looked like they were in my size.

  "You bought these for me?" I asked him, holding the dress up to my chest.

  It's actually quite pretty.

  He flushed blue and cleared his throat.

  "They were for a situation like this. Just in case. Go put them on so we can leave."

  Teila snorted, but shut up when Teivel gave her a meaningful glance.

  "Thank you. They're pretty," I said haltingly.

  He nodded and left to go get the talanx ready, Teila stomping off to go collect her things.

  I dutifully went upstairs and tried on my new outfit.

  ****

  I kept glancing at my reflection, pleasantly surprised.

  It fit perfectly and the material was very soft and silky.

  I ran my fingers over it again, marveling at the texture.

  Huh. Who knew Teivel could shop?

  He doesn't strike me as the shopping kind of guy, but who knows, looks can be deceiving.

  Maybe he’s kinda like a chick in that regard.

  I twirled a little, smirking when it billowed out like a bell and settled around me.

  "Dressed and ready to go," I murmured to myself, smoothing the front into place.

  I stood tall and straight and marched out the door, heading for the stairs determinedly.

  Sooner we get outta here, the sooner we can ditch Teila and come back home.

  Now wouldn't that be nice.

  ****

  "I can't ride side saddle! I'll fall off!" I protested.

  "You won't. You'll be riding double with me. I won't let you fall," Teivel assured me and gripped my waist.

  "Wait!" I yelped and gripped his shoulders as he tried to hoist me up.

  He stopped mid lift, my feet dangling off the ground.

  He raised a brow in question.

  "Why can't I ride regular by myself? Why can't I have my own mount? Why do I have to ride with you?" I took a deep breath and was ready to continue, but he slung me over the back of his talanax, completely ignoring me and hopped up behind me.

  "Teivel!"

  "Teila, we are leaving now, with or without you!" Teivel barked.

  "Teivel!" I tried again.

  "Yes?" he chuckled, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  He got his talanax moving and I gripped his arm for dear life.

  "I don't like riding like this! I feel like I'm going to slip off! Let me down!" I squirmed, but he just hitched me up to his chest and wrapped his arm around me tighter.

  I feel like a little kid who was just told they have to share.

  But I want my own pony! I wanted to cry.

  Teila sat primly on her own talanax, sitting side saddle like me, and maneuvered it like a pro.

  She smirked at me as she kicked her talanax into a gallop.

  "Gloating bitch!" I hissed under my breath.

  Teivel snorted and his chest vibrated with his suppressed laughter.

  After that, we traveled for a few hours in silence while I pouted.

  "I still say I could have ridden on my own. People are already going to think I look funny. You could just tell him it's normal where I come from."

  "There were only two talanax left and I won't sit with Teila, so deal with it," Teivel snapped at me.

  "No need to snap at me!" I snapped back.

  "I don't see what is so horrible about sitting with me!"

  "Have you met yourself?" I asked incredulously.

  Teivel growled angrily and muttered something under his breath.

  The clouds churned and water started to pour down on us suddenly, big fat droplets rushing down on us from the murky sky.

  "Great. Just great," I lamented.

  We rode on for another hour, our clothes soaked to the bone, my butt beyond sore, skin starting to chafe.

  I let out a whoop of relief when I saw a house in the distance.

  "Almost there, Lil," Teivel whispered into my ear, giving my hip a comforting squeeze.

  A small cabin came into view and I glanced around, looking for the owner.

  "Gostach!" Teivel called, "We need your help, my friend!"

  "Teivel!" A big voice boomed from somewhere behind the cabin, "Come, my friend. What is it you need?"

  His voice was impossibly deep, deeper than Sieren's and I wondered what the owner to said voice looked like.

  I didn't have to wonder for long as Teivel hopped down and helped me off, his hands firmly on my waist as he set me down on my feet.

  A huge being lumbered around the corner and my jaw dropped at the sight of him.

  Teila gasped off to the side of me and I had to agree with her sentiment.

  That fella is massive.

  A milky white complexion covered a body packed with so much muscle it seemed to take him a while to get around. Yet he did it with a smooth, graceful gait that had me intrigued.

  Gostach, the being in front of me, had a thick strip of hair that we
nt from the top of his head and down to the base of his neck, trailing long and thick, the ends of his mane reaching his lower back.

  The hair itself was long and lustrous, even paler than his skin.

  He had thick peach fuzz all over his entire body and a long, opalescent spiraling horn jutting out from his forehead.

  His nose was long and widened at the end, his nostrils slightly hooked.

  Good grief, he really makes me think of a horse.

  I marveled at him, gaping at the behemoth of a unicorn man.

  "Oh, wow," I breathed in awe.

  Gostach heard me and glanced at me curiously, his jet black orbs taking me in from head to toe.

  "And what have you brought with you, Teivel?" Gostach asked his friend, a teasing note in his voice.

  "We need to use a transmitter and wait out the weather. A storm is coming." Teivel put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed, letting me know without words that he wanted me to stay put.

  No problem with that, I thought, still gaping at the unicorn man.

  Awesome he may be, but he's also extremely intimidating.

  He's even taller than Teivel!

  "Then come in, my friend." He smiled, gesturing for us to go in. "And new friends too," he chuckled, winking at me.

  I scooted a little closer to Teivel and laughed nervously, hurrying to follow him inside.

  "Come, sit!" Gostach boomed out after Teila trudged in behind me, "I have food and drink! Warm your bones and talk with me. Then you can wash and rest."

  He hurried out of the room and came back a few moments later with three warm blankets.

  I wrapped mine around me and looked up to find Gostach watching me intently.

  "Uh, thanks," I said awkwardly.

  He grinned, a wide friendly smile.

  "She speaks," he teased, laughing.

  "Yes and 'she' doesn't like to be referred to as 'she', unicorn man. My name is Lil," I grumbled.

  Gostach let out a big belly laugh and walked over to ladle soup out of a big pot into four bowls.

  He set the bowls down and motioned for us to sit.

  Teila and I sat across from each other and Teivel and Gostach took seats opposite each other.

  "What is this unicorn man you speak of, youngling?" Gostach asked conversationally.

  "Youngling? I am not a youngling," I informed him primly.

  "Oh, and how old are you, little one? Seventeen revolutions? Sixteen?" He grinned, chuckling.

  "Twenty nine," I dead panned and took a big bite of stew.

  Gostach stopped with his spoon halfway to his mouth and looked at me like he thought I was having one over on him.

  I kept chewing, studying the small tidy room.

  Let him think what he wants.

  I'm short, not a baby.

  Well, short compared to all of them.

  "And why don't you have a mate, sweet Lil?" Gostach asked curiously, his voice deeper and rougher than a moment ago.

  Okay, he's making me uncomfortable now.

  "I have a mate," I put in quickly.

  A slow smile spread across his face and he ate his bite, chewing slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  This guy makes me nervous, I thought, glancing at Teivel.

  Teivel was gripping his eating utensil tightly in his hand and his knuckles where flushed a darker red.

  "And where is he now?" He glanced at Teivel, then back at me, raising a brow at me questioningly.

  "They are busy. They went to the inlet to put the shaxnas to auction," I said stiffly.

  "An enchanting little thing like you," he purred, getting my hackles up, "I don't blame them for leaving you behind. Could be dangerous for such a pretty female."

  "Oh, yes," Teila sniped, "She's a regular charmer."

  "And who might you be, my sweet?" Gostach flirted, shifting all of his attention to Teila.

  Teila glanced at me watching them and smiled viciously.

  She turned back to Gostach and put her hand to his bare chest, running her hand over him suggestively, tittering when his eyes glittered at her hungrily.

  I wanted to grin, realizing she thought I was into Gostach and wanted to have at him now too.

  What do I need with a scary unicorn man?

  Have at him, Teila!

  He is all yours, girl!

  I relaxed when Gostach lost all interest in me and worked on wooing Teila.

  Have at her, big guy.

  "There are extra things in the wardrobe in the spare room. There is a bathing bowl in their as well. Feel free to use them, my friends. Teila can use mine," Gostach said graciously without looking away from a preening Teila.

  I finished eating quickly, ready to wash up and get warm.

  The weather raged on outside and the little house shook as thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows.

  "Looks like you are stuck here for the night, my friends," Gostach told us happily.

  Teila eyed me, waiting for my reaction.

  If she figures out I'm not interested in Gostach, she might not make a move to try and sling her hooks into the big hulking creature and he might return his focus to me.

  I shuddered at the thought.

  No way am I gonna add the hulk of unicorn men to my list of conquests.

  I looked at Gostach and smiled sweetly.

  "Thank you for your hospitality. If it's all right with you, though, I think I'll retire for the evening."

  "Would you like me to show you where everything is?" Gostach asked politely, a hint of interest lacing his tone.

  No!! I wanted to shout, I'd rather kiss a dead shaxna bum!

  "Not necessary, I think I can..." I started.

  "You can show me around," Teila purred, giving Gostach a sultry, inviting smile.

  "There is only one bed in the spare room," Gostach stated, eyes riveted to her, "someone can come share mine if they wish. It is big enough for more."

  "Teila doesn't mind sharing with you, Gostach," Teivel chimed in, slapping his friend on the back. "Now, if you'll excuse us," he started steering me towards the hall, "we need to wash up and get to bed."

  Teila spluttered and went to comment, but Gostach put his huge hand on her shoulder, staying her.

  Teivel ushered me down the hall and into a tiny room with a small bed and a bathroom off to the side.

  I eyed the bathroom as Teivel closed and locked the door behind him.

  "Don't even think about it, miquatka. I call dibs first."

  "How do you figure?" I demanded, inching my way towards the bathroom.

  "I won't be long. I'm tired and I just want to wash up and go to sleep."

  "And I'm not?" I huffed, "A gentleman would let the lady go first."

  Just a little closer, Lil, you're almost there.

  "I am not a gentlemen. I am Sodraden. A warrior. I don't make compromises," he said cockily.

  "Ohh, big speech, evil eyes, I'm shaking in my dress," I taunted, giving a fake shudder.

  We both glared at each other and glanced at the door.

  A stare down ensued.

  I fidgeted and he fidgeted, neither of us willing to break.

  It wasn’t long and I don't know who moved first, but we both made it to the bathroom at the same time, rushing over to the bathing bowl, both trying to beat the other there first, elbows and arms our weapons of choice.

  Checking him hard in the gut, I hopped in fully dressed and stuck my tongue out.

  "Ha! Beat that!" I exclaimed victoriously.

  Rubbing his sore stomach, he scowled at me.

  I smiled at him smugly.

  His eyes strayed to the dealie-ma-bob that turns on the water and I followed them, watching him.

  What is he up to?

  He grinned at me evilly and turned the water on.

  Oh, nuh-uh!

  I gripped the sides of the lip of the tub, ready to do battle with the stubborn Sodraden.

  It’s mine! I was ready to snarl.

  Water started to pour
in fast and I moved my legs around, realizing just how different this one is from the one I normally use.

  This bathing bowl is a lot smaller than the one at home, I observed while the tub filled up.

  Teivel smirked and leaned in, sidling closer to the rim.

  I did it right back, matching him tit for tat.

  How do you like that, buddy?!

  He can move.

  Like a little water will deter me.

  I was here first, I am not moving!

  "Enjoying your bath, miquatka?" Teivel asked sweetly, pulling back to stand up.

  He started undoing his pants, shoving them down his thighs to reveal a wealth of smoothly muscled red flesh.

  "You are not coming in here," I said vehemently, my grip on the tub rim turning my knuckles white.

  He said nothing, acting like he hadn't heard me.

  I refuse to cave!

  'Clomp', his boot hit the floor.

  He wouldn't.

  "You're bluffing."

  'Clomp', the other boot fell.

  "We can't both fit," I said reasonably.

  He just smiled and stepped out of his pants, pulling his shirt over his head.

  My gaze traveled down his tight, abundantly muscled chest, thick roping muscles bulging everywhere in an enticing display that I refuse to acknowledge.

  I glanced at his 'package' and flushed, quickly averting my gaze from his thick, rising erection

  A movement caught my attention and I watched as his tail uncoiled its self from around his leg.

  So that's how he hides his tail.

  "Who's bluffing now, female?" Teivel taunted.

  "No idea, evil eyes, why don't you use your tail and go fuck yourself while you wait for me to get out," I said in a syrupy sweet voice, smiling at him with all the 'cotton candy up my ass' attitude I could muster.

  Teivel's response....

  He growled at me menacingly and stalked towards me.

  Well, shit.

  Chapter 18

  "This isn't how I had planned on spending my evening," I muttered, wondering if I should 'accidentally on purpose' hit him in the testicles.

  "Me either," was my tub buddy's reply.

  "This is awkward," I complained.

  "Yes. Yes, it is," he grumbled back.