"I think we can dispense with these," he said, casting off his human visage. I followed suit, and we both took a few moments to stretch our wings, swish our tails and stamp our broad clawed feet, feeling the life pour back into our neglected bodies. We were the only two of our kind on Earth, and it was rare that we got an opportunity to relax into our native forms.
He sprawled himself decadently across a chaise longue. "Now... I presume that you aren't here for a social visit, so what can I do for you?" He smiled, showing a mouth full of sharp white teeth.
He was right, of course - it wasn't a social call. He wasn't exactly what I'd consider a friend. I respected him firmly for his insight, his wit, and for the subtle net of manipulation and intrigue he wove so deftly amongst the indigenous population; but I didn't actually like him. No, I was here because I had reached the limits of my endurance with this squalid, backwards, overcrowded planet and with the constrained and unfulfilling life I had to live trapped in a cumbersome, flightless human body. I longed for the wide open skies of our own world, for the feel of the wind shooting under my wings... for the soft touch of a female, for smooth grey skin rubbing against smooth grey skin, for two bodies pressed against one another in a warm embrace... for a family of my own.
"I want to go home."
He gave me a calculating look. I knew that as the leader of our little mission he, and only he, could arrange it. And he would lose little enough by it, as I had shown little promise in my vocation and he could manage quite well on his own. But as a missionary only half-way through my term, I knew that he was under no obligation to let me go, and he rarely gave anything away without a price.
"So be it," he replied after a few moments' thought, "I can have you on a ship out of here tomorrow." My heart raced and my ears twitched in agitation as I waited for him to pitch the other side of the bargain. "I ask only one small favour in return..."
"What is it?" I'd already decided that whatever he wanted, I'd do it. I was desperate.
He didn't set out his terms straight away. Instead he stepped down to the floor and looked me up and down with his intense golden eyes. "How long has it been since you were with a female?"
"You know exactly how long it's been," I snapped, irritated at the personal question.
"For me it's been much longer. Twenty years since I've even seen one." He began walking around me in a slow circle, four paws padding against the carpet, his eyes flowing hungrily over every part of my body - my neck, my wings, my back, my legs, my tail - in a way that began to make me uncomfortable. When he was directly behind me I saw him bend his long neck to glance under my tail, and his tongue flashed red around his lips as though he liked what he saw. "You know, you're a very fine looking young male."
And suddenly I understood what his terms were.
"No!" I spun to face him and took three steps backwards, heart thumping, tail curling in distress.
His eyes fixed on mine. "Just the once. Think of it as a little business transaction, and then you can be on your way. You might," he said, a thin smile of amusement breaking across his features, "even enjoy it."
"I said no. Not that. Anything but that." My head swimming, I turned away from him to escape his piercing stare.
"Twenty years," he said softly, closing the distance between us. "It's a long time, not to know the touch of a female." He stretched out his head to place it near mine; I could feel the warmth of his breath on my ear. "You haven't been here so long, but perhaps you've felt it too: the need for... sensual comforts."
I had. I yearned for the gentle touch of another wing against my own, for the wet fire of a tongue sliding sensuously along my neck... but those thoughts did not belong to him. I stayed silent and tense, closing my eyes as though by doing so I could make it all go away.
We remained frozen in tableau, each waiting for the other's will to break. After several mercilessly long seconds, he pulled away. "Very well. It's your decision. I suppose then that we are to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company for some years to come. You shall hear no more of the matter."
His words cleared my head. To remain on Earth, anchored and frustrated, or to head home to fly, to sing, to find love... He wouldn't change his price; I knew him well enough to be sure of that. Was it really such a high price to pay, for my freedom? To surrender my pride, and submit to him, for a single night?
I opened my eyes and turned to face him. Pulling myself high, I tried to affect a calm and businesslike manner but the words came out thin and cracked: "I'll do it."
***
Whilst he was gone to prepare himself I selected a comfortable spot on the thick carpet and waited, feeling small and empty. My stomach churned. It felt like a bad dream I couldn't wake up from; I knew plainly what was to happen but at a deeper level I couldn't make myself believe it. Tentatively I lifted my tail, feeling a cool breeze whisper over my exposed rear. I tried to imagine him on top of me, heaving, the feel of his manhood thrusting in and out within me...
I dropped my tail and shivered. Bad dream.
I turned when I heard the soft tread of his approach. Our people do not smother our bodies with clothes, and so there was no surprise in seeing him naked. But we males keep our private organs tucked away inside of us until needed, and so the sight of his long slender cock hanging stiffly between his hind legs made me quiver. Its pale grey shaft glistened with lubricant.