With a chuckle, he leaned over and lifted her up, then effortlessly carried her into the bathing room.
She wanted to make another joke as he carried her, but she was shocked speechless by the opulence of the bathing facility.
She’d never seen anything like it. Dead center in the room was a massive tub carved from some kind of blue crystal, full of steaming water. He must’ve put something in it because a pleasant herbal scent filled the room.
Along the far walls were several other types of bathing stations, including the ultrasonic cleanser style she used on the Delight. There was even a sand bath and heat lamp. This place must be set up for foreign investors to visit and negotiate trade deals with Fielden companies, otherwise they wouldn’t have so many different types of cleaning stations.
He sat her on the edge of the large tub. “Please test the water with your hand. Now that the tub is full, the heating element can easily be manipulated to change the temperature.”
It was then that she realized her bladder was full. It took her a moment to find the elimination closet.
“I need to go over there,” she said, pointing.
He nodded, picked her up, and nudged the door lock with his elbow before carefully setting her down inside the closet.
When he reached for her pants, she batted his hands away. “I can do that. Humans need privacy, out out!”
He held up his hands and backed out with a last warning. “Don’t try to leave on your own.”
She was quick to secure the door from the inside, then use the facilities. After she was done, she pressed her hands into the sanitizing box, then had one of the wall tiles turn reflective.
She gasped at the state of her hair. Good god, was she ever going to be able to comb it out?
“I might have to shave it,” she grumbled. It wouldn’t be the first time. When she was young, no one on the ship knew how to deal with her tightly curled locks, so they’d simply kept her hair cut very short. Later, a Sumpin joined the circus with a fire act. Her mane was similar, and she’d helped Nova learn to tame her hair.
With that came affection for her unique hair instead of constant frustration.
Luckily, she had all the tools she needed in her little bag that would give her the best chance at salvaging her wild mane. It was doubtful she’d find anything like her long-tooth comb, softening oils, or gentle hair cleansers on a planet with a species that had no hair anywhere!
She must’ve spent a little too long contemplating her reflection because Miran’s worried voice called out from the other side of the door.
“Nova, are you okay?”
She tapped the door open to find Miran standing there looking worried. “You need to learn to be more patient.”
“I’ll be patient when your ankle is healed, and we’re back on Hissa,” he answered. “Are you ready to bathe now?”
She nodded and let him pick her up and carry her back to the tub. Now that she wasn’t distracted by a painful bladder, she noticed the water was opaque and milky.
“The water might not look clear, but it’s an additive to help remove sand,” he said, pointing to a display in the wall. “I readthe suggestions and also found out that you don’t need to worry about wasting water or the water getting dirty. This is a standard re-cleaner tub so the water in it is constantly going through a filter and reentering the tub clean of dirt and sand.”
“Perfect!” She reached for the bottom of her tight costume top and pulled it off over her head. Tossing it aside, she wiggled out of her pants, then eased herself backwards into the hot water with a happy purr.
“Oh, this feels good,” she moaned, shifting around a little. The tub was so long she could almost lay out completely flat.
The bottom of her hair got wet, but since she planned to wash it anyway she didn’t care.
When she finally looked up, Miran was standing there with his eyes firmly focused on his feet. It took a moment to remember that a lot of species were body shy, and her stripping down without thinking might’ve shocked him.
“You don’t have to stay,” she said. “I can take it from here.”
He took a deep breath, then spoke in a quiet voice. “I want to bathe you. I want to show you that I can care for you. That you’re not going to be used and discarded but treasured and spoiled.”
“Um, sure, I guess,” she said, unsure what he meant. Was he going to keep her company and hand her a scrub cloth?
These Hissa were an odd bunch!
“Tell me if I do anything you don’t like,” he said, although it sounded more like a demand. He looked around and must've realized there were no soaps. Fielden didn’t use them, and the hotel probably assumed visitors would bring their own cleansers.
