This guy might be part of their group, but he just showed up today. I'm sure of it.
He wasn't there when they were taken, so maybe he felt differently about abducting and selling human women. Plus, he had been trustworthy so far.
Maybe . . .
"I will need to cleanse myself as well," he said, pulling Midori from her mental argument. "If my nakedness causes you discomfort, you are free to avert your eyes."
Midori nodded and turned around just as he stripped off his soiled clothing. She had done an excellent job of spilling their dinner all over him earlier in the hallway. He was covered in the gooey green gel from his thick chiseled chest down to his boot-clad feet. He put his black, skin-tight trousers and vest in the washer-dryer, and a few seconds later, the sound of splashing water filled the air.
Midori knew she shouldn't look. He had been kind enough to keep his eyes front and center for her. But then again, he didn't ask her not to look at him. He just said she could avert her eyes if seeing him naked made her uncomfortable. He seemed unfazed and indifferent about her seeing his naked body. And she really, really wanted to see it. The guy had four arms and a tail like a monkey! She knew it might be weird, but her curiosity was piqued to know what other parts of his alien anatomy might be different.
She chanced a glance over her shoulder. He was facing away from her, water streaming over the undulating muscles of his broad blue-skinned back covered in strange tattoos. Midori only intended to have a quick look, but she was fascinated by the strange image of his four arms all working to cleanse his bodyat the same time while his tail swished back and forth, just skimming the floor. Two hands washed his long black hair, while the other two hands rubbed soapy water over his chest. A mental image of those hands rubbing soapy water all over her body popped into her mind, and Midori's throat released a strange gurgling sound as she tried to shove the image away. The alien's head turned back, and he caught her staring at him.
Midori snapped her attention back to the front of the room, and heat flared through her cheeks. She couldn't believe the guard caught her peeking.
Oh god, how embarrassing.
The streaming water went on and on. While she wondered if he would ever finish, the washer-dryer signaled the clothes were done. She opened the door to retrieve the guard's clothes, and the shower stopped.
Finally!
As she stood there holding his clothes while the blower turned on behind her, Midori realized his shower probably wasn't so long. Her embarrassment at being caught as a peeping Tom just made it seem that way.
She draped his clothing over her arm, and a few moments later, the blower stopped. The alien approached, and Midori was all too aware of his huge naked body standing behind her. She heard his breathing and wondered what was taking him so long.
"I think I'll need those," he said, his deep voice rumbling over her.
Midori felt foolish as she glanced downward. She was pressing his clothes tight to her chest.
"Of course," she stammered and held out an arm with his clothes. He slid them off, and she shivered when his fingers glided across her skin.
A few seconds later, the guard said, "I am clothed now. I will return you to your dwelling."
He was quiet as they walked through the halls of the ship, but Midori didn't think it was an ominous quiet. It was just . . . comfortable. In fact, she thought he might be amenable to conversation if she could gather enough courage to ask a question.
After a few minutes, she cleared her throat and asked, "What is your name?"
His gaze turned down toward her, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a tiny smile. "I am named Cael."
"Like the plant?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Midori felt like an idiot.
Of course he isn't named after kale. Who knows if he even has any idea what that is?
His smile turned to a frown, and his brow furrowed. "You have a plant called Cael on your planet?"
"Yes. Though I'm sure it means something different in your language. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have?—"
"Is it delicious?" he asked, catching her off guard.
"I . . . um . . . some people like it."
"But not you."
"It's not my favorite. Too bitter for my liking."
He nodded as if he was weighing her words, but from the tilt of his lips, Midori could tell he was holding back a smile.
Is he laughing at me? I suppose that's better than pissing him off.
