Chapter 9: A Morning That Meant Death – Utterly Brutal
I could feel it the moment I opened my eyes. The bruises and nail marks stinging all over my body. The deep muscle ache embedded in my waist, thighs, and back. And the lonely emptiness of my two balls, utterly drained.
We'd gone at it past four in the morning. The bed was littered with used condoms. It was only after the second creampie that I remembered the hotel stocked them. I had no idea how lucky I was that there were still extras left after all that.
I barely managed to haul myself out of bed. My legs, stripped of every last shred of vitality, trembled like those of a starving patient. With that much protein leaked out, calling it malnutrition wasn't far off.
And the culprit who'd embezzled all that protein last night? She was still sleeping soundly, wrapped in the blanket. With an incredibly happy look on her face. Even snoring softly through her nose. That subtle glow drifting over her otherwise strikingly pretty features wasn't just from sucking me dry all night long.
I vaguely remembered it. After the final climax, when Esen had fallen asleep purring like a cat, I'd dragged myself up out of a sense of duty, dunked her in the bathtub, washed her off, changed her clothes, and tucked her back in. Not that either of us could've slept on those wrecked sheets as they were. Our bodies were covered in too much.
Esen, who'd been so wildly insatiable all night, now slumbered peacefully like a kitten barely two weeks old. She wasn't waking up anytime soon.
I staggered off for a shower first, threw on some clothes, and snuck her guest card to head for the hotel's outdoor mixed bath. I couldn't endure without it. Sure, Esen might freak if she woke up and found the card gone, but she'd started the trouble first. We were in the same hotel anyway—no big deal.
It was early morning in a secluded spot, so no one was around. As I sank into the water, I let out a deep sigh.
"Ahh... feels like I'll live."
The restorative effects of Cheseni's famous mineral springs seeped into every corner of my muscles, loosening them gently. My hazy, post-exhaustion mind cleared up.
Human sleep cycles are roughly ninety minutes each.
Not a quick nap, but proper sleep—people usually wake in those increments. I'd sent Esen to dreamland around four-thirty. I'd slipped out of the room at nine-twenty, leaving her asleep. Ninety minutes times four was six hours. So the earliest she'd stir was ten-thirty.
Probably.
Breakfast buffet till ten. Hotel checkout at noon. Perfect: I'd soak a bit longer, grab two plates before ten, and be back in her room with hotel breakfast by ten-thirty. Seamless—
"You thought you wouldn't get caught?"
...Yeah. Up until that exact moment, I had.
I jolted like I'd been electrocuted and scrambled out of the bath. Then, the second I spotted Esen, I dove right back in.
She appeared primly wrapped in two large towels, then snorted a laugh.
"What're you doing? No, don't even talk. We're way past playing shy after seeing everything last night."
I'd been hunching over, knees clamped around my dick, but when Esen tossed her towels aside and slipped into the bath, I gaped in shock. I tried averting my eyes, but they kept drifting back. No need to stare long—it was burned into my brain from last night, when I'd explored her with every sense.
That soft, sun-kissed skin with its clear tan lines. Those boldly assertive, teardrop breasts. Her swaying tail kept wrapping around her legs, accentuating her powerfully healthy lower body.
She'd been in my arms just last night. If not for the brutally realistic muscle pain, I might've dismissed it as a dream. But yesterday's aftermath was pounding through every inch of me—far too real for fantasy.
The mineral water's faint glow highlighted Esen's submerged curves, making them shimmer mysteriously. She grinned at my efforts to look away.
"You were so badass last night—why're you cowering now?"
"Badass?"
Esen sank in up to her shoulders, just like me, and sighed contentedly. Lingering fatigue? Or had last night been intense even for a Tigress?
"Wasn't that pretty damn good? Porter work or... after. Honestly, I thought passing out happy mid-sex was just some porter novel bullshit."
She started off bold and crude, but her voice trailed off, shrinking. Her cheeks flushed crimson as her eyes dodged mine.
"Why're you so good at fucking too? You're way too capable..."
So she had some self-awareness about the embarrassment. I thought maybe that rough talk had a hint of bravado. Even the lewd act she'd put on in bed. Those fierce tiger eyes had softened to something rabbit-like and innocent.
Was this really the girl who'd one-shot a troll to the afterlife? Back on the train, she'd seemed like some pretty mafia boss.
"You woke up earlier than I expected, though."
"Woke up 'cause I suddenly felt uneasy on instinct. Like you're the only person I know in this whole city..."
Her toes nudged my leg playfully, tickling. I flinched, half-expecting a kick. Then her legs parted enough for a glimpse between, and I whipped my head away, twice as panicked.
"My one travel buddy who speaks foreign languages—abandoning me in the hotel room and sneaking off with my room card? Felt off."
"Just for recovery. Meant to bring it back. Last night was off-script. If the party asks why you looked wrecked, what then?"
"Blame the troll hunt. Were you gonna ditch me like a lost kid? First fancy place like this—I don't even know the way out."
"Yet you found the outdoor bath just fine."
"What if a staffer on the way asks in foreign tongue who I am, if I've paid?"
"Room's paid. Front desk remembers your face."
I skipped the "learn the language then" jab. She didn't seem seriously pissed.
"True."
She grumbled, scratching her ear, then suddenly smiled.
"Still... can't forgive you yet."
Her soft gaze sharpened back to that delinquent glare. A chill ran through me.
"Forgive me for what?"
"You're so defenseless—it makes it hard to hold back."
"...No one's around, but if we get caught, we'll get kicked out—"
"Then don't get caught. Such a scaredy-cat. Checkout's basically now anyway."
I abandoned my recovery-and-retreat plan. Semi-forcibly. She wrung me out like a dog again, but mercifully satisfied with once this time. We finished before anyone showed—though my breath nearly gave out too.
——————
"Ugh, my back."
The returning train's cushions were plush. Esen propped our bags on her seat and didn't complain when I sprawled across the opposite row.
"Uh, sorry."
"For what now?"
Please not 'let's do it on the train.'
"At first, I thought you were a con artist. Tricking naive Tena to sneak into the party for some scheme. Sorry for dragging you into my mission by force, ignoring you till we got in trouble... and for doing whatever last night. Your back okay?"
"Sounds all sweet and melted, but you skipped how you roughed me up again this morning."
Recalling the bath, her face pinkened as she chuckled. Thinks it's a joke. It's not.
"Heat or not, getting caught in the mixed bath could've spread rumors. Close call—"
"Wasn't the heat."
I groaned and rolled to face her.
"Not the heat?"
"That ache was gone by then. Weird. Village elders said it takes four sturdy Tigress males days to satisfy one female. How hard did I even go?"
So I'd soloed the equivalent of four battle-race guys' worth on Esen. Days' supply in one night. Wonder how many days off my lifespan that shaved.
Indignation and regret swirled in my chest. Along with a smidge of pride. Damn, I'm good.
Esen scratched her head hard, cheeks burning as she stared out the window and muttered.
"Be mine."
"...Huh?"
"Be my porter. I'll ask Tena to assign you under me. Then we can stick together."
That beautiful, trustworthy androgynous voice uttering the world's most horrifying words. As I paled, she backpedaled.
"Not suspecting you anymore or anything. Just... having your support showed me why porters matter."
"And bonus fuck when you feel like it?"
She smirked at my weak voice.
"Can't I?"
No. Once was enough for that intense a night—unless I'm a total idiot. But my body's boldest, most adventurous part cheered for round two.
Dick doesn't care about winning. Just traveling Esen's insides again.
I nodded like she owned me, and Esen Taiga's face lit up.
"Sweet. Heh. Gotta clear my schedule then."
"...Clear what?"
I tugged the blanket higher.
"You're too dangerous as a communal porter for an all-women party. Scary porter uncle deflowering everyone—what then?"
"Watch it. Who pounced first? You dragged me to your room."
"Don't spread weird rumors if something leaks."
"Rumors?"
She jumped me using her heat as an excuse. Chilling in hindsight. I clammed up—didn't want to arm the enemy.
"Don't worry. With a guy like you, I'd never risk the backlash."
"Guy like me?"
"Porter who even charms picky Tigresses."
Her "backlash" probably meant a beating with a meat club. No winning that. I stared at the ceiling, settling back.
Esen giggled, stood, approached, and leaned down for a deep kiss. I responded like I was entranced. After dozens of practices, we were smoother. Tastier.
Yesterday? Pure bliss. Forgot everything in Esen. Party grudges. Debt anxiety.
But reality beckoned.
"...Fine. Back home, I'll wear the headband artifact nonstop. No one but you knows I'm a guy."
Her eyes widened.
"Wasn't serious—you really gonna be mine?"
No. Insurance against more like you.
I just smiled and drifted off. Last glimpse through drooping lids: Esen beaming with utter happiness.
——————
Days later. Caught again. By another party girl. Right in the middle of camp.
"...Ran? Ran? That's really your name?"
The nun spoke softly, like a gentle scolding. I couldn't muster a retort, just sweated bullets and fidgeted.
Party healer Monica stared straight at me—caught red-handed pretending to be a woman. Embarrassment, surprise... and something unknowable in her eyes.
"Liars get punished, Tan! Be honest!"
Should've bolted then. When her eyes flashed briefly purple-pink.