While Lokk is bathing, Sarah is carefully examining the plants along the shore. She turns her back stubbornly to the lake, which is fine with me, I don't particularly want her to ogle my friend. Lokk is quick and gets dressed quickly. I then turn to Sarah:
“It's your turn, put your clothes on this stone and bathe quickly. You're safe for the moment.”
She hesitates and looks at Lokk, embarrassed. She doesn't want to strip in his presence and, for that matter, I don't want her to either.
“Lokk, can you fly around the lake to make sure no vork is approaching, please?”
“But I'm also curious to see how she looks under her strange clothes,”he replies.
“LOKK!”I tell him.
“I’ll stay close by, if you need me, call me,” he says loudly, as he flies away.
“You'll tell me,”he adds mockingly in my mind.
Damn, Lokk! I have a feeling he hasn't finished pissing me off about Sarah. With Lokk gone, I hold Sarah's gaze as if she hasn't moved.
“Uh, could you look away?”
“No, I have to keep an eye on you to make sure you're safe,” I say in a firm tone.
She blushes and finally decides. She undoes an invisible fastener on the front of her neck and lowers a small mechanism that opens the sticky garment with a discreet noise. Then she slowly lowers this garment which clings to her skin like a second skin. Her shoulders, her chest, her marked size, appear under my avid eyes. My mouth becomes dry. The rest of my body is already reacting.
Maybe it's not such a good idea to watch her undress. I look away for a few seconds until I hear a loud splash. It didn't take her long.
I resume my surveillance and do not miss to see the birth of her breasts, much more voluminous than those almost flat of our women. She immerses herself completely for a handful of seconds and emerges with wet hair. Just as water can extinguish the most vivid flames, the water of the lake has extinguished those of her fiery hair. I am subjugated despite everything.
As she approaches the edge, shielding her chest with her hands, I look away again giving her the privacy she seems to want.
“I'm done, I'm dressed!” she informs me.
I undress in my turn while she turns again her back to the lake, resuming her surveillance of the banks. I wash myself without leaving her eyes and regularly scan the surroundings of the lake, attentive to any threat. A bird flies away with a loud cry.
Sarah turns around abruptly and her eyes meet mine. Then her gaze slowly descends, feasting on my apparent waist-deep nakedness. I have no doubt that she enjoys what she sees.
Her eyes eagerly follow the drops that fall from my wet hair to the part that is hidden from her.
My body is on fire and without leaving her blazing eyes, I slowly step out of the water, revealing the rest to her. She can no longer ignore the effect she is having on me.
Her eyes widen when she sees my proud nudity. She blushes even more and turns away abruptly, ending our visual exchange.
The fresh smell of the union that begins to envelop me cools my ardor in a breath. Shit, I'm acting like a jerk. And I wanted to keep my distance. I dress quickly and join her. I embrace her again and rush to Lokk.
***
After an hour, the trees lighten up and the bluish rocks typical of the south take the place of the redder rocks of the west.
Sarah kept looking and asking lots of questions, about our wives, our children, our longevity, about the diseases that affect us. She reminds me of a child who is curious about everything.
When we get close to the canyon, I show her:
“The Heart of the South Bastion is on this side of the mountain. Most of the dwellings are in the various lower rooms. While the other side of the canyon has almost no natural openings.”
She takes on a look of wonder as I land on the ledge in front of the main entrance.
Azarr is waiting for us there and is looking at my protegee with a curious look. I told him about our arrival on the way and already told him about Sarah. He is with his two trusted men.
“This is Sarah, a human. Sarah, this is Azarr, leader of the Southern Bastion and Zull his right-hand man.”
