When he disappears a second time, I don’t panic as much.
He surfaces, holding another of the red leafed plants. “You want to wash?”
My gaze darts to the river and then the naked alien. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to be naked with him, but I don’t want to be in the river by myself either. Nor do I want to be so grimy.
I nod and take off my shoes, trying to ignore the fear that is bubbling through me. My eyes sting as I think of all the hot showers I took for granted. I never questioned where soap came from. Someone else made it and I don’t know how. Now I’m about to rub plant roots all over myself in the middle of a river and call that a wash.
I stand and take off my pants and shirt, but leave my underwear on so I can wash them while wearing them. There are no fresh underwear or clothes to put on after.
“Do you have spare clothes, or do you wear them until they fall apart?”
“Both. But they need to be stolen. We try to mend and make do because raiding is dangerous.”
If I’d known I was going to be kidnapped by aliens, I’d have packed a change of clothes, soap and deodorant. No, I wouldn’t have left the colony. I’d have stayed and gotten on with my job. I’d have lived the same life every day until the colony told me it was time to get pregnant.
And I would’ve been fine with that, wouldn’t I?
Or would I have woken up one day and realized that I was unhappy?
I don’t think I was. However I wasn’t happy either. I was existing.
I’m not sure if I can be happy living like this. If tribes have hot water and clothes they don’t have to steal, then maybe that is the best place for me. I am not brave and adventurous. I am Mia, the mousy one. The quiet one that everyone overlooks.
Except Sunif.
He noticed me when he grabbed me out of the clearing. But even he knew that I would be the one to make the deal with because I would comply.
The water bites my skin as I step in. It pushes at me as though it wants to sweep me away. I wobble as I try to find my footing. I try to peer through the ripples, and it throws my balance off more. Then Sunif’s hand is in front of me, and all I have to do is accept his help.
My gaze catches on his dick rising out of the water. “The cold didn’t help?”
“Didn’t help with what?”
“You don’t take a cold shower…bath…when…oh it doesn’t matter.” We shouldn’t be talking about mating and other associated things. I probably shouldn’t be touching him either.
I take another step, my foot sliding over something. I bite back on the yelp.
Sunif grasps my hand, and a jolt of desire runs through me. “Don’t step on the plants. They tend to be slippery.”
We don’t go as far out as he did. My skin has broken out in gooseflesh, and I shiver. Was it so bad being sweaty and grubby? I’m going to end up in the same state in another couple of days.
He crushes the roots for me and hands them over. His gaze never straying from me, as though if he drinks in the sight of my body, that will be enough. “You need to behave more like my mate when we are around others.”
“What do you mean?” I scrub my arms with the roots. They aren’t soap, but they don’t smell bad, and they do seem to be doing some kind of cleaning. As I rub, I notice that most of the root dissolves aside from a few main fibers.
“You should have wanted to be alone with me. We should be enjoying these first few days alone, doing nothing but sleeping and mating.”
I didn’t know that, but I should have guessed by the way Sabine and Edilk took a few days away. “You shouldn’t be so snappy with me. I thought everything was fine after this morning.”
Did he want more? Of course he wants more. But he won’t ask.
“Can you turn around, so you aren’t staring at me?” I do not want to be washing my pits and crotch with him staring.
“Why would I not want to watch my mate?”
“Because I’m not your mate.” My nipples are hard peaks, pressing against the fabric of my bra. I’d like to blame the cold water, but that is not entirely true. No man has ever looked at me with such a heated stare.
He presses his lips together and his big eyes narrow. “If you want to break the deal, then do so. Otherwise, behave as my mate.”
