Cuddlefish - 17. Chapter 17

The short trip back to Pipolphi's village was full of chatter. The Sepida felt torn in a dozen directions. He wanted to talk nonstop to Zane, full of questions he hadn't had the vocabulary to properly voice before. Just listening to his human speaking Sepida in that big, deep voice left Pip a dreamy lavender with streaks of joyful green.

Pip was also distracted by Louie and his mate. Pipolphi trilled and chirped at how cute Louie and Lilly were, amazed at how quickly they'd bonded and how well they seemed to complement each other. Lilly had surprisingly few questions, seeming to simply accept things as they were and that things would be properly explained by Louie as they came up. The only bump seemed to be when Lilly came across Louie's big stuffed bear.

"What is this?" the Hefuan demanded. "Why does it smell of my mate this way?"

Louie's ears drooped and his head lowered as if he felt he had done something wrong. "Bear was a gift," he explained. "Helped chase the loneliness away. So, I marked it...many, many times."

Zane looked about as uncomfortable as Louie felt. His face became tinged with embarrassed pink. He never expected to end up having to hear about any of this.

"It can stay because it comforted you before I found you." Lilly sniffed regally and shook her ears. "You will only mark me, from now on. And it will be much better than Bear and you will be sure to tell me so at every available opportunity."

Louie let out a joyous bark and twirled around the Hefuan. "Absolutely," he rumbled in content. "You mean much more to me than Bear."

The human let out a groan and covered his face with his hands. On the one hand, it was great that Louie had a partner and was no longer having to "chase the loneliness away." On the other hand, everything he heard was most definitely too much information for him to handle.

"May I mark you now, my beautiful mate?" Louie then asked.

Zane desperately began to motion towards them. "I can't see that! That's a private...I refuse to…" He sputtered as he turned towards Pip. "Can they get a room or something?"

"So sweet," Pip cooed at the new couple, then realized Zane had spoken to him. "Oh, yes. Of course." He glanced at the controls. "We're very nearly home. I have a dry room that I think would be comfortable. And I can set up the doors to open for them without having to activate the sensor manually. I know Louie is a strong and free spirit and his mate deserves the same consideration." Pip pointed out the port window at a dome that looked much the same as the other domes scattered along where the sea met the sand. "Ahn, there it is. I was able to get permission earlier today to land in the vacant spot next to it. So, it's not even a walk and Louie and Lilly can get a room." Pip glanced to the pair in question, who Zane was studiously turned away from. "Though they don't seem to feel they require privacy. How romantic, they are overcome with their feelings! Be careful, Louie, the metal floor can be slippery!" There was a gentle bump as the ship touched down. "Here we are! Welcome home!"

Home was a dome not far from Pip's parents' and even closer to Tilbei's. Like most homes, it had wet and dry areas. There were three dry bedrooms, one of which had a patio-style door that led to a small green space away from the saltwater. Pip had thought he'd ask Louie and Lilly if they'd like that room. Going outside often had seemed very important to Louie back on Earth and the Hefuan would likely feel the same. Pip's bedroom was both wet and dry with a pool on one side with live coral and plants. The dry side held a soft, low bed and other furniture. There was a bathroom attached with a nice big tub that Pip had missed.

When Louie and Lilly were finally off in their own section of the house, Zane let out a breath of relief. "It's not that I'm not happy for them," he explained to Pipolphi. "And it's not like I don't want them to bond more or anything...it's just that in my culture, making love is a private matter and should only be shared between the couple in question."

"I see…I think." Pip looked thoughtful as he led Zane to their room. "But the movies… Are they not accurate?" He tried to remember a specific movie. It was difficult since they'd mostly been filtered for language. "Wasn't there one about a professor and a woman of wonder?" He frowned. "And human men with large amounts of money don't always objectify, buy, or abuse women sexually? I'm so confused…" Pip finished under his breath.

"The majority of movies are inaccurate," Zane admitted. "They are only fake stories meant to entertain. Documentaries are closer to the truth, and almost all science fiction movies are false."

"But how do you know which is which?" Pipolphi asked, walking into the bathroom and touching the activator for the tub that was more like a small pool. There was no faucet, filling from the bottom up with clean water a quarter as salty as the sea and relaxingly warm but not hot enough to make Pip drunk.

"There is usually text that is shown before or after the movie that explains whether it was based on truth or not," the man pointed out. "In general, movies help us escape the hardships of reality by distracting us with a fictional character's hardships."

"Based on a true story!" Pip squeaked, hair flattening to his head. "That's connected in my head with all kinds of things." The Sepida wrapped himself around his human as much as he was able, which really wasn't much considering how big Zane was and how big Pip wasn't. "Earth must be terrifying…all those haunted dolls and murderous ghosts…"

As Zane wrapped his arms around the petite Sepida, he shook his head. "Dolls and murderous ghosts are nothing compared to what humans tend to do to one another. Many wars and much greed," he admitted. "Though, from what I've seen with the Hunnars, greed seems to be a universal thing."

Pip nodded with a deep, sad sigh, his pink coloring reflecting his feelings on the subject. "It seems to be." He stepped into the warm soothing waters and knelt, trailing his fingers through the ripples. "Sometimes it all feels so big, too big. Like the problems are deeper than the ocean and wider than the sky and I'm just so small." He tucked his arms around himself. "But the elders teach us when we're small that everything we touch will touch other things and if the waves we send through the universe are loving and kind then it causes more change than we can see. It's subtle and soft, hard to notice."

"The big bad things are like crashing waves, tearing the land back into the sea." Pipolphi smacked the water with the flat of his hand, sending a splash out of the tub to puddle on the floor. "It's easier to notice those things. But it's the little waves that bring the sand back, the shells and stones. Eventually, those small waves bring animals and life and push back the destruction." Pip looked up at Zane with a small smile, looking more relaxed. "And then life and love win against the destruction, just a little at a time from all the people everywhere sending out their little tiny waves." He dabbled his fingers in the water, making ripples dance in widening circles from his slender fingertips.

When the tall human had first laid eyes on Pipolphi, he felt that the alien was beautiful. Quite different from him, but beautiful. Zane saw that beauty also reflected in actions. But, thanks to the translation provided by the chip, he was finally able to understand more of the depths of Pip's beauty through the petite man's thoughts and opinions. His partner was quite poetic, romantic, and wise.

Zane wasn't going to waste another minute without expressing as much. "I think it's wonderful to think of it that way," he responded as he began to discard his clothes and joined the Sepida in the water. "That a balance can still be made to help counteract the negativity. If the elders were the ones to guide you to that conclusion, then I'm grateful to them, as well." As he spoke, he moved closer and closer to Pipolphi. "I'm also quite grateful that our paths crossed...that you were able to accept me even before you could fully understand me. Thank you for giving me that chance, Pip."

"Thank me?" The Sepida let out a scoffing chirp. "I could thank you a thousand times a day and it wouldn't be enough to show my appreciation for everything you and Louie have done for me." Pipolphi pressed himself to Zane, basking in the feel of strong arms wrapping him up, making him feel safer than he'd ever felt, even with Tilbei. "If not for you, Tillly might still be trapped with the Hunnars. Sweet Jasper, too. I'd have been caught and used or sold, I have no doubt. They would have found me, eventually." Pip looked up, his wide eyes shining with the depths of his emotions. "And my life would have been a sad, empty place without your love to fill it." His cheeks darkened and his hair began to twine together. "And fill me. Because I love how you fill me up, my hearts and my body."

A slow, growing smirk formed on Zane's face. "Is that so?" The human whispered as he reached up to gently tug on one of the twining strands. "Do you also like it when I do this?" He asked as he threaded his fingers through Pip's hair and gently tugged at the base. "I read what was in the jars that Cisco gave to us. Want to try them out? The lubrication tablets?"

Pip nodded, delighting in how it pulled his hair even tighter. The slender tentacles wrapped around themselves and Zane's fingers. "I want you, Zay."

Zane didn't need any words to show just how alluring and arousing the Sepida was to him. His body just reacted. The box full of Cisco's trading goods wasn't too far away, so the tall man used his longer arms to his advantage in order to dig for that jar. "That reminds me, I never did manage to figure out exactly why you didn't want me to take you in my mouth before," Zane prompted. "I mean, you said it would make me 'over happy' and you seemed really worried about it. But, now that we can properly tell each other if anything's wrong...would you like to try?"

"The essence from me is a strong aphrodisiac," Pipolphi explained. "It could hit you hard and last for a few hours. I knew I couldn't fully explain that to you and I wouldn't put you in that position without your full consent. You'll come but you may stay hard. It could take several orgasms before you're sated." Pip looked hopefully up at his human. The idea of having the big man so turned on and wanting, needing him left Pipolphi's hair braided tight and his skin the sapphire blue of deep arousal.

The other man began nodding before Pip completed his explanation. "That's alright, I still want to try," Zane insisted. "If anything goes wrong, I can tell you now. So, may I please have a taste of you?"

Pipolphi nodded, cooing softly. "Where would you like me?"

"Right here," the human responded. "The water isn't warm enough to cause you to overheat, and that way we don't have to worry about cleaning up as much and I can carry you to bed." He added. "Unless, you prefer to do it on the bed…"

"Can we start here and then go there?" Pip looked up shyly. "When you want to, will you lift me up and carry me there? I…I like how big you are…how petite you make me feel. It turns me on and makes me feel safe and excited all at the same time."

A blush formed on the taller man's cheeks. "Yeah, that'd be amazing," he agreed, still getting used to how candid and honest the Sepida was in all the lurid details. "That reminds me, though...I offered you towels to dry yourself off after a bath. But, you always preferred to just rub your skin dry. Is that normal for you guys?"

Pip nodded. "The water comes off easily. And it's important to make sure to redistribute the oils that protect our skin. It wouldn't be good to rub it away." Pipolphi made a pained face, remembering an embarrassing rash he'd had as an adolescent from failing to properly groom himself after bathing or swimming.

"It hurts if you do?" Zane wondered aloud as he reached over to gently trail his fingers along Pip's forearm in curiosity. "I want to learn more about you…"

"I'll tell you anything. I want to know everything about you, too." The Sepida had nearly melted into the water at Zane's sweet words. He cooed and snuggled close to his human. "Our skin is tough in some ways but delicate in others. It resists trauma well. However, there is a balance of pH, natural oils, and microflora. It needs to be kept clean but without altering this balance. Otherwise the skin can develop rashes or even crack and bleed. Usually we brush ourselves daily with special brushes. I've been doing alright with just using my hands. It's nice to be home where I can groom myself properly again. It would be so embarrassing to get a rash!" Pip let out a soft, distressed chirp and clung tightly to Zane's side.

"Oh? Rashes aren't all that embarrassing to humans," Zane mused aloud. "Grooming with a brush sounds like a longer process than just your hands. But, if rashes and cracked skin is the result otherwise, I can see how it's important," his hand reached down to gently stroke and rub at the Sepida's scalp in an unconscious gesture. "If you ever need help with that, don't hesitate to ask."

There was a splash as Zane suddenly found his arms empty. He wiped the water from his eyes to find Pip climbing gracefully back into the water, holding something in his hand. The Sepida pressed it into Zane's fingers. It was an oval about the length of Pip's hand, made out of some sort of thick shell that had been smoothed of any sharp edges. On one side, it was covered in short, soft bristles.

Pip's hair was coiled so tightly it was painful, but he didn't care. Zane had offered to brush him…in the tub. A wicked thrill shivered down Pipolphi's spine. It was so naughty. Realistically, Pip knew that this was something mated couples did for each other. It certainly wasn't discussed in polite company, however. Running the damp brush over wet skin…not just using it to dry off and spread protective oils. Brushing oneself in the bath was expected, but it wasn't discussed. It was a cleansing act, private, a bit dirty. Pip was nearly panting as he looked up into the slightly startled eyes of his human.

The human's fingers ran over the bristles. The material really was quite soft. He was finally starting to understand why using a brush such as the one he held in his hand was much more efficient in distributing oils evenly. "You want to try it now, Pip?" Zane asked as he carefully ran the brush over one of the Sepida's shoulders and down a forearm. "How's this?"

Pip cooed happily. "You can press harder. It will work best if you do circles… and that feels the best. The oil comes from little spots around the joints. If you look carefully, you can see they're slightly darker than the rest of my skin. I start around a joint and work outward. While I'm in the water it'll help clean me. When I'm out of the water, it will make sure the protectant is spread evenly." The Sepida peeked up at Zane adoringly. "But you can do it however you want. I know it will feel good if you're the one doing it."

"In circles, like this?" Zane asked as he moved the brush towards Pip's back, applying more pressure. The circling motions rose to the nape of the petite man's neck. Zane held the brush carefully at an angle as he gently dragged it along the Sepida's scalp and the base of his hair strands.

Pip moaned happily, pressing his front to Zane and nuzzling as his hips rolled, rubbing his length against his human's solidly muscled thigh.

A wide smirk formed on the human's face. "I'm guessing I got it right," He mused as he set the brush aside in favor of running his hands through Pipolphi's sensitive hair. Zane had seen firsthand how tightening and loosening the strands affected the Sepida with the help of the machine that Cisco had given them earlier. So, he gave them a gentle tug at the base.

"Zay," Pip gasped breathlessly. He rubbed his throbbing cock wantonly against his human, letting out a trilling moan.

"Tell me what you like, Pip," Zane practically purred as he kissed his way down to one of the Sepida's nipple and gave it a gentle nip. "Tell me what feels good."

"When you touch me…everywhere." Pip licked his lips and moaned as his human's big hand swept down his back and gave one round cheek a squeeze. "When you pull my braids…I like it gentle, but I like it hard, too. Ah!" The Sepida gasped as Zane used his other hand to pull softly and then harder at a swirl of Pip's braids. "Mmnnn, or when you pick me up and move me around like I'm something small. That…gets me excited every time. I don't know, so many things you do make me feel good."

The taller man carefully lifted Pip until he was seated on the edge of the tub. He leaned down to claim the Sepida's lips and became lost in the exploration of his lover's mouth. When he felt the smaller man's hands and hair strands stroking him, it was a welcoming sensation...like coming home. It took Zane a good moment to pull away enough to kiss his way down Pip's torso until he found himself kneeling down in front of him.

Zane carefully took Pipolphi's member in his hand and began to stroke it. He shot a heated glance up at the Sepida with his slate eyes before he dipped down to lick a line up the underside.

"That," Pip said on a moan, his skin turning a rich sapphire, "feels very, very good." The Sepida's slender fingers ran restlessly through his lover's hair as he fought the need to thrust into the moist heat of Zane's mouth.

As the human took the shaft into his mouth, he noted the slight difference in taste. But, the very idea that it was Pip's flesh made it all the more arousing to him. He moved along the member and sucked with varying pressure. Zane hadn't been allowed to do any of this for Pip, so he did his best to bring the Sepida pleasure.

"Yeeahh, there," Pip begged as Zane sucked harder and rubbed his tongue along the underside. The Sepida trilled in pleasure, throwing a leg over his lover's shoulder. "Please, Zay… I…" Pip cried out in bliss as Zane found a sweet spot just under Pipolphi's tip and massaged it mercilessly with his tongue. Pip stiffened, his skin turning such a deep blue it was nearly black as he came hard, flooding the human's mouth with seed that was both salty and sweet.

The dark-haired man wasted no time in swallowing as much as he could. He felt a warmth as what he consumed made its way down. Zane took a deep breath as the warmth spread all over. Before he realized what he was doing, one of his hands reached back to gently slide his fingers along Pipolphi's entrance. "Pip, may I?" He whispered.

"Please, yes," the Sepida begged, writhing as he tried to push down on Zane's fingers. "I need you, Zay…"

Zane reached for one of the lubrication tablets they were given, along with the soft brush, and then lifted the Sepida into his arms as he walked them over to the bed. He stopped just in front of the bed as he carefully set the petite man down on his feet. "Let's get you brushed first," he suggested as he began to rub the brush along Pip's fingers and hands, working his way up one arm and then the next.

The human was meticulous and thorough with his movements, ensuring that he brushed along every inch of skin he could see. Though he made sure that the bristles avoided Pipolphi's more private areas, he still gave them a gentle stroke with his other hand before continuing his work. He didn't slow down until he rose back up to the back of the Sepida's neck, having carefully lifted the curled strands aside to reach it.

"Should I brush along your hair, as well, Pip?" Zane asked.

"I'll come if you do," the Sepida admitted quickly. "I want you in me when I come again."

Zane felt a thrilling shiver down his spine at the words. He, himself was more than ready to dive inside the Sepida. Though the aphrodisiac properties didn't seem to affect him as badly as Pip feared, it still affected him. He set the brush aside and once again lifted the smaller man up to deposit him onto the bed as he simultaneously slid the lubrication tablet inside Pip's entrance.

After a bit of stretching, he found himself hesitating as he pressed the tip of his shaft to the Sepida's ring. "Pip, have I ever injured you whenever we made love in the past? Have I ever been too rough?"

"Too rough?" The Sepida sounded adorable baffled. "I love it when you're rough. It feels so good and makes me so excited. Hnn, I guess maybe it stings a bit sometimes, but I like that too. And then it just feels good. And when I'm sore later it just reminds me of what we did. Sometimes I wish I could feel sore like that all the time." A shiver went through him, deeping the richness of the blue of his skin. "Really good. You've never ever damaged me. Is that what you mean?"

"Yes, that's what I meant," Zane responded breathlessly. The Sepida's elaborations bounced about in his mind, causing him to become even more aroused. He had to pull himself together before he could concentrate enough on entering his petite lover without blowing his load. "There," he whispered into a webbed ear when he sunk right to the base. "Let me know when to start moving."

"Now," Pip said immediately, pushing up to grind himself against his lover.

The taller man let out a low chuckle. That part hadn't changed. The Sepida was still as eager as ever to start. He pulled out nearly all the way and slid back in slowly. Zane kept the same agonizingly slow pace and made sure to hold Pip's hips down while he was at it.

The Sepida gasped and squirmed. It was so good but it was driving him mad. The feel of Zane filling him, holding him down…A series of soft cries left his lips. "Zay, please!"

"Please what?" Zane responded with a smirk. He heard Pip's cries before, but it was amazing to finally understand what they meant. He leaned down to gently nuzzle some of the Sepida's hair strands.

"Ahhmm," Pip moaned with a seductive trill. "Fuck me, take me. I want to feel you everywhere. I love your hands holding me down but I need you. Please, please…"

Zane lifted one of his hands so that he could thread his fingers through Pip's hair and take a good grasp of the back of his head. He then began to gradually increase the pace. Though he felt the Sepida's legs clinging tightly to him, he never wavered in his movements.

"Unh, yeah. Like that, please," Pip begged, nearly incoherent with pleasure, shoving back into every thrust. "So good. Take me, Zay! You feel so big inside me. I want it… I want it all…"

The human complied. Again and again, he drove himself into the body beneath his. He angled his thrusts and gently twisted the strands of hair between his fingers. He would give the Sepida as much pleasure as he was able to.

"Zay!" Pip keened, wrapping arms and legs around his human as much as he was able. Pipolphi writhed in Zane's arms, pushing into each thrust and rolling his hips to rub his aching length against the taut ridges of Zane's stomach. "I'm c-close! I want you… I love you so much!" Pip cried out as pleasure wracked him. His body tightened on the thick cock plunging deeply inside him. It caused Zane's tip to hit his prostate harder, deeper, and Pip felt like he was flying into pieces as he shot the proof of his enjoyment between their bodies.

"Beautiful," Zane hissed as he followed Pip into bliss. "Your stamina and voice…" He tried to explain. "Don't think I could ever get enough of you. I love you, too."

"Mmnnn. " Pip blinked up at his lover sleepily. "Love you, Zay. Until the sky swallows the sea. Love you." Pipolphi's smile was sweet and adoring. "If my essence is still working on you, wake me up in five minutes. If it's not working and you aren't too tired, wake me in ten." His blinks grew longer as his turned a deep blue-green. "I want you to come in my…" Pip gave a huge yawn and closed his eyes. "In my mouth," he finished and wriggled close to Zane. The Sepida let out a contented sigh and fell asleep.

Zane let out a low chuckle. "As you wish," he whispered as he nuzzled the top of the Sepida's head. "My beloved Buttercup."