"My apologies, oh divine scratcher of ears and other spots I can't reach. I'll go in search of food." Pugly rolled to his feet and blinked his four eyes a few times before he said, "I'll announcemy return in case you two are . . . indisposed." He snorted and trotted off into the lush fuchsia-colored forest.
Cael turned to see a broad smile on Midori's face until her eyes rested on his arm.
"Oh god. In the crazy water slide through the mountain, I'd forgotten you were hurt." She sat up and examined him. "This gash on your leg doesn't look so good, either. You must be in pain."
Cael grimaced. True, it hurt, but the cold water had numbed it somewhat. Now that he was out of the water and his body was warming up, the pain was increasing.
"You're bleeding. We need to bind those wounds."
"Use my vest. It's already torn."
He slipped off the silver vest—what was left of it. His skirmish with the vyrmm and the subsequent journey through the rapids had torn the fabric to shreds. Midori pulled off a fraying piece and used it to create a makeshift bandage for the gash on his thigh. He could only hope infection didn't set in. She tore apart the rest and created a bandage for his arm.
She held the fabric up, then paused. "You're covered in sand. If I put this on, it'll just chafe your skin. I know you're as sick of being in the water as I am, but I think we should wash you off."
"What about you? Are you injured anywhere?"
Midori looked over her arms and legs. "Just a few minor scratches. I'll be fine. Come on."
Cael nodded and stood, and they headed back into the lagoon. The water was chilly, but not nearly as cold as it had been inside the mountain. Midori scooped some up with her cupped hands and poured it over his skin.
"You're too tall for me to get it all. Do you mind sitting down?"
Cael complied and sat down in the pool. The water was still shallow, coming up only to his belly, but it gave Midori easyaccess to his torso. She washed the remaining bit of sand off his skin before she slipped the bandage around his arm and tied it.
"It's tangled a bit in the back," she said, slipping behind him and running her finger beneath the fabric. Her fingers finished adjusting the bandage and began trailing down the skin of his spine, warm and soft against his cool skin.
He turned his head to look at her, but her attention was transfixed. He could only guess she was captivated by his flesh runes. Once they became an adult, every Zyranthian had them applied each year on their birthing day, both men and women. By the time he was an elder, he'd be covered in the black and blue markings.
"Tell me about these."
Midori's finger traced the largest of the images on his back. His family seal. He'd had it altered before he boarded the slave ship, so no one would recognize the royal house.
"The markings tell the story of my life, if you know how to read them. Each year on our birthing day, we tell that year's story to historians. They use ancient tools and texts to imprint our story onto our skin. When we pass on to the next life, our story is revealed for everyone to read. Do you not have such a tradition on your planet?"
"No, not really. I mean, some people get tattoos, even cover their entire body with them, but they're not like this. They don't tell a complete history of the person underneath them."
Cael's stomach tightened at Midori's words. His story had been altered. If he hadn't manipulated the markings, they'd tell of his life as a prince in the royal palace. He'd planned on having them repaired and adjusted back to normal on his next birthing day, but now his story would include Midori as well. He couldn't wait to see how the historians would draw out her story on his flesh.
"They're beautiful. They look like horseshoes. Lucky horseshoes."
Cael's language nanites did their best to translate the idea of a horse, though he'd never seen one before.
"You consider the footwear of beasts of burden to be lucky on your planet?" he said with some doubt.
Midori laughed, and the tinkling lilt of her voice in his ear was magical. He wasn't sure what he'd said to cause her mirth, but he'd happily say it again if it caused her to laugh once more.
"Not exactly. I'm not sure where the story came from, but horseshoes are considered lucky. I guess that means I'm lucky to have you around." She trailed her fingers over his shoulder and, straddling his legs, sat down on his lap. Midori looked deep into his eyes and her face grew serious. "You've been my lucky charm since I ran into you. Thank you."
Her lips pressed against his, and instantly his cock hardened. Midori shifted her weight forward onto the length of him and pulled her lips away just for a moment to say, "There's no telling when Pugly will be back. I think we should make the most out of the time we have."
TWELVE
Midori watched with amusement as Cael's eyes widened at her forward words, as if he couldn't quite believe what she was saying. Honestly, she wasn't sure she believed she was saying them, either. Midori wasn't a prude, but she didn't consider herself to be overtly promiscuous, either. She'd only had sexual encounters within a few monogamous relationships. And even then, she had always wanted to take it slow. But now, sitting on Cael's lap, sensing his hardened erection pulsing underneath her, she was having a hard time slowing herself down.
It was true she had been immediately attracted to the big blue alien, but until they landed on this planet, she'd never even considered giving into her desires. But now that's all she wanted to do. Give in and have him touch every part of her while filling her aching core.
Cael's hand ran up her back, and his fingers tangled in her hair as he pulled her face down to his. His kiss was glorious. Lips soft but demanding, his tongue glided against hers, inviting her to explore with her own. A shiver ran from the depths of her pussy along her spine to the very top of her head. Cael slippedanother arm around her waist, pulling her in closer while his third free hand slid along her belly.
