My translator doesn’t give me a distinct interpretation, so I assume there is no equivalent to ‘sandwiches’ in my language. I’ve never heard of it before - the food here on Earth is as alien to me as I am to her. “Sandwiches,” I echo her, intrigued. “Everything you make is delicious so I’m sure I will enjoy it.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. It’s just thin sliced meats and cheese in bread. I made something similar just the other day. They’re simple and quick.”
Anything she prepares, regardless of its simplicity, has thus far proven to be delectable. So, I merely bob my head, showing my consent. I’m not at all worried about the food. Being in her company is the real reward. And I plan to absorb as much enjoyment of Leelee’s presence while I can. Her earlier words make me realize that she believes that I will probably never return to my planet. My time as an Outrider rolls before me,endless. I could secure a promotion if I found enough resources for my people. However, since I plan to never ‘discover’ a resource-rich source for my people, I will spend the rest of my life in the confines of my ship. Until such time that my people decide to decommission me.
I don’t plan to let that happen – I’ll fly my ship into a star before I return to Cryzor. So, I will soak up every moment with Leelee to carry with me for however days I have remaining. She will be the torch that lights my days and illuminates my path toward salvation. And she will never know. I can’t possibly ask her to carry this weight with me. It is my atonement – and my honor.
Seeing her move about the kitchen, I offer my assistance – any excuse to stay near. She gives me a pleased smile, which is all I need.
I follow Leelee’s lead as we assemble the sandwiches: thin slices of cold meat, cheese, and green crunchy leaves between slices of soft bread.
Despite knowing better, I strangely feel I am where I belong. I am aware that this is just a passing moment of tranquility – doomed to be over before I want it to be. However, despite my knowledge of its fleeting nature, the moment comes with a sense of peace, a sense of serenity that my life has seldom afforded.
Sitting across from Leelee, I watch her take the first bite of her sandwich. Her small, white teeth sink into the bread, creating a circular indent. She hums a soft sound of approval as she chews. Her appreciation for the simple meal kindles a warmth within me that fuels me more than any calories ever could.
I mimic her movements, taking a much larger bite of my meal. It is delectable, of course. Leelee made it sound as if it was going to be unpalatable. I take another bite, allowing theflavors to mingle on my tongue before swallowing. “Leelee, this is delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So… do you still think you’ll have the ship repaired in a week? Do you think you can fix it?”
I turn my gaze to the ceiling, trying to run calculations in my head. Finally, I shrug like I’ve seen Leelee do. “I’m not sure. I still have some parts to repair before I run another diagnostics report. I’ll know more then.”
“How long will that take?”
“I might have enough completed by dark tonight or tomorrow morning to run another ship scan. Once we’re done eating, we should take a break. I don’t want us to exhaust ourselves,” I suggest, not wanting to rush my time on this planet. Although I cannot stay forever, there is no reason to hurry.
“I’d like that. Maybe we could watch some more soccer?” Leelee pauses, looking down at herself with a slight grimace. “Well, I’d like a shower first. We…” Leelee pauses, biting her lip and looking down at her lap before turning her bright eyes back at me. Her eyes slowly trace over my features as if searching for something. She must find what she’s looking for because the look in her eyes transforms from scrutinizing to hopeful. “I thought that maybe we could shower together.”
As the image of Leelee’s suggestion fills my mind, I shudder, jamming the rest of my sandwich into my mouth. She giggles, her laugh free and unrestrained, at my eagerness to shower with her.
I’m trying to contain myself, forcing myself to sit back and wait patiently instead of drumming my fingers along the table’s surface in impatience. Leelee ignores my barely disguised eagerness and continues to enjoy her meal, giving me flirty glances from beneath her lashes that let me know that she’s aware and is enjoying my anticipation.
She notices my twitching fingers and shoots me a sly grin. “My, my, aren’t we in a hurry today, Ravok,” she teases, a familiar spark of mischief lighting up her eyes.
I lean close to my Leelee and give her my most intense stare. “I’ve been well-trained to patiently wait and stalk my prey, but you could test the endurance of a Cryzorian general, Leelee.”
Leelee drops the rest of her sandwich on her plate and stands up, her chair screeching at her sudden movement. She steps backward, away from the table, continuing to face me. She is like a prey animal keeping a predator in its sights. However, the look in Leelee’s eyes says that she doesn’t mind being my prey. After a single, endlessly long second, she reaches for the hem of her shirt. Her fists skim across her lovely thighs for a moment, drawing my attention to their shape. With a flirty look, Lee pulls the shirt up and casts it off her body, tossing it carelessly away. Her bare skin glows beneath the warm cabin light. I stare, captivated by this feminine vision.
Leelee turns and starts to walk away, each measured step seems to send electric tremors of anticipation through my body. Nearing the bathroom door, she turns back to me, her lips curling into an inviting smile that freezes me in my spot. “Are you coming, Ravok?”
Before her words even fully register, I find myself standing, almost knocking the table over in my haste. With a swift movement, I set it to rights before leaping towards her side in three long strides. Anticipation courses through me, beating relentlessly against the walls of my heart. My first instinct is to hide my eagerness, but not from my Leelee. She knows my soul. A knowing smile graces her lips as she moves into the washroom. I follow her like a mindless devotee, ready to worship at her feet.
“By Cryzor’s Might, Leelee,” I manage to say as I step into the washroom and take in the sight of her nude body.
She steps close, gliding her hands down my chest and abdomen. My muscles ripple and flex under her soft touch. My breath hitches she tugs the white sheet from around my waist, letting it flutter to the ground and revealing my arousal.
I shudder as Leelee presses her body against mine, heat radiating off her, a contrast to my cooler skin. A gasp escapes my lips as she stretches onto her toes to brush her lips to mine. Her taste, something utterly human and foreign, is intoxicating, creating a heady sensation that holds me captive.
After a few minutes of intoxicating kisses, Leelee turns, presenting me a view of her curved back, her hips, and her long, shapely legs as she turns the knobs in the shower stall. I can’t help but marvel at the sight, the roundness of her hips, the subtle curve of her spine as she tests the water’s temperature on her hands. Steam starts to rise from the water spray quickly.
Once the temperature is to her liking, she steps into the shower. She turns back to face me as the spray rains over her body.
My eyes fixate on the water droplets rolling down her skin, tracing her every curve, leaving a sheen in their wake. She can’t contain a shiver, and her nipples hardening beneath the water’s spray, right before my transfixed gaze. Her lovely skin, wet under the spray, lures me closer, a temptation I find impossible to resist.
The cascading droplets highlight the dips and arches of her form in a way that sends shudders rippling through my body. I want to trace the water’s path with my fingers, with my mouth. Everything about her body is utterly feminine. Her thighs are shapely, her backside generous, her hips flaring out from a tiny waist. I marvel at every sweep of creamy skin, every womanly swell and dip.
Leelee raises her hand and crooks two fingers at me, an unspoken command to join her under the water. As if underher spell, I step into the small shower stall, the enclosure barely containing the two of us. Her body presses against mine, transforming the small space into a positive feature.
As I watch, she grabs a small square cloth and soaps it up. The slight floral scent of the soap is familiar – I smelled it on Leelee’s skin just last night. With a grin that looks positively smug, Leelee starts to wash my body. I forget to breathe as her hands roam my muscles. As she dips the cloth into my navel, a groan leaves my mouth, resonating from the depths of my lungs.
