I gulp, forcing my anxiety down to get this Drefling inspection period over with.
“Well, let's not let that water get cold.” I turn on my heel and head for the already steaming bathroom.
I hear his heavy, padded footsteps behind me. Iquickly shuck off my gauzy blue dress and start to step into the water. His broad, furry hand stops me, nearly spanning my entire midsection. I freeze stock-still, every hair on my body standing at attention.
“No.” His voice is low as he gathers me up in his arms. He's so different from yesterday—every movement careful, almost trepidatious. He pulls me against him, one hand under my ass, the other cradling my shoulders.
I don't dare speak as he steps into the bath, but I can't stop myself from shaking.
“I-I won't hurt you, Mae. I've told you that.” As my body floats up from his grip, he turns me so my back rests against his chest. One hand settles low on my belly, claws barely pricking my skin. The other drags through my long blonde hair and lets it fall down my chest.
I hear him dispense something into his free hand, but I keep my eyes lowered, watching my breasts bob in and out of the water.
He works soap into my scalp, using his knuckles and keeping his claws curled tightly inward as he massages my hair.
“You have much less fur than females of my kind. This won't take as long as it normally would,” he murmurs near my ear.
“Why a human and not one of your own?” The words escape before I can stop them. I brace for his anger.
“Because I'm considered untouchable by my people,” he says evenly.
“Oh,” is all I manage.
“I broke certain laws to obtain what I have now and have lived too long unmated. Females where I'm from wouldn't dare bind themselves tome.” He sounds… sad.
“Lucky me—” I mutter, cutting myself off when his claws press just a bit deeper into my stomach.
“And your alternative life is so much better?” he snaps, suddenly dunking my head underwater. I inhale hot, soapy water involuntarily and choke when I resurface.
“Fu-fuck you!” I sputter.
“What's the best-case scenario for you if I left you with the Deenz? To dance for unworthy males until your body breaks and they ship you off to a slave colony? Am I so horrible that you'd rather be worked to death than live here with me?” He's yelling now, and as badly as I want to flee, I don’t dare test the sharpness of his claws.
Instead, I twist just enough to see his seething face.
“Why don't you just drown me and find someone else? You promised you wouldn't hurt me!”
His expression collapses. He pushes me away slowly. I grab the nearest ledge, coughing up the water I inhaled, sputtering onto the tile as my eyes burn. When a heavy palm settles on my shoulder, I flinch.
His hand on my body isn’t comfort.
It’s remorse—and that scares me more than anger ever could.
“I'm running out of time. I don't know how much of my mind will be left if I wait any longer. I'm—sorry.”
The wordsorrysounds foreign on his lips, and I bite back something sharp.
“Is enough of your mind left to keep your promises?” I ask.
“I hope so. Come.” He guides me back into position, rinsing the soap from my hair with careful hands. I flinch at nearly every movement anyway.
“How do you wish to proceed?” he asks.
“Are we done?”
“As part of the bathing ritual, I must cleanse all your fur.”
“Okay… so done?” I frown, confused.
