Cosmic Castaway (Cosmic Romances #3)

14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Don’t look.

It had taken everything within me not to react to Bartholomew’s gentle touch as he’d washed me. Stars above and by the Crystal’s light, when he’d scrubbed my tail, getting closer and closer to the sensitive base, I barely suppressed the urge to moan and drag him against me before rubbing all over him. I’d wanted the softness of his skin on my scales. I wanted to force my tongue between his plump lips and taste him.

I made myself take a deep breath to slow the rapid beat of my soul. I was attracted to Bartholomew. I couldn’t deny it. I could, but it was pointless because my cock had started to harden at the thought of him. Stars, when he’d taken off my trousers… If I hadn’t been injured, I might’ve tried to gather him close and request his permissions so we could fuck or at least taste each other.

How was this happening? Humans had never been of interest to me. They were too short and soft. This human was different, though. He was near my own height; he was soft, but it wasn’t the same with Bartholomew. I liked how he melted against me and how smooth his skin was against my scales. But we were friends. Nothing more.

But we could be friends who fucked, if Bartholomew was amenable. He hadn’t acted interested, but maybe if he saw me in a more attractive light, he would desire my body. I hadn’t been clean or put together before now. It would take time; that was it. Who wasn’t attracted to me? No one. Everyone liked me. After he started to be attracted to me, we’d discuss permissions and be fuck-friends.

With a smile, I grabbed the edge of the tent and pulled it back a crack to talk to him. I needed to know he was there, but more accurately, I had to confirm what I was feeling. That this whole situation hadn’t been a fluke brought on by him touching me.

My mouth dropped, and the words died in my throat. Bartholomew was shirtless. His ribs and the knobs on his spine stuck out through his skin. He slid his trousers off, and all thought fell from my mind so fast that all I did was gape. His butt was small and flat—thin like the rest of him—but he was so lovely. He cleaned his legs, which had black hair scattered over them, with a cloth and shivered in the cold. He didn’t turn around so his cock remained hidden from my sight, and I was disappointed. I wanted to see it; I wanted to see all of him. Stars, or damn as the humans said, I really wanted to.

I needed to look away. I didn’t have his permission to see him like this. I had to stop watching. It wasn’t right. My hand didn’t so much as twitch to drop the fabric, even when I tried; my tail thrashed and my cock hardened in desire. He kneeled on his shirt and bent toward the bowl of water, giving me an excellent view of his butt and his sack covered in black hair.

My breath turned harsh as I squeezed the tent, claws making holes in the flag.

He yanked on clean clothes, my clothes. They looked perfect on him, even though they were large and he had to tie the trousers up so they stayed on. Bartholomew turned toward the tent and started. My mouth opened, but nothing came out besides breathless moans filled with desperate need. I’d been caught watching, inappropriately so. I’d ignored all decency and permissions, taking what I desired. He was going to be mad, rightly so. I was furious with myself. Instinct and desire didn’t excuse what I’d done. I tried to apologize, but all that came out was a strangled groan.

Bartholomew didn’t say anything as he brushed past me and climbed inside the tent.

I tried to breathe through my arousal, but my cock was hard and obvious under the blanket; it was impossible to hide, so I didn’t bother trying. Bartholomew lay with his back to me and curled into a ball.

Guilt shredded me like a claw to the gut. “My apologies.”

Bartholomew lifted and lowered his shoulders.

I stretched to touch him, but I pulled back at the last moment. Bartholomew had consented to my touch, but he might not now. Consent could always be revoked. I wouldn’t break his trust or force myself on him when he wasn’t desiring of me. Instead of pulling him close, I stared up at the tent and scolded myself viciously.

I held my burning cheeks. Serlotminden had watched me bathe and had gotten turned on. My own dick was hard as a rock at the thought of him staring at me. I wanted to turn around and press against him, but I didn’t. I’d never been with anyone. I knew what to do, but I had no practical experience. What if I did it wrong? Or what if he wasn’t actually interested?

Both were possible, and I didn’t want to be rejected. Besides, he had a boyfriend, though they might not be exclusive or perhaps they had an open relationship.

Before I was abducted by aliens, I’d been my normal quiet self. I’d had friends, but the thought of dating and sex was something that made me squirm. Also, I’d never felt a pressing need to fuck. I liked jerking off, but my hand had been sufficient to meet my sex drive’s needs. Now, apparently that wasn’t enough. Though, actually, I hadn’t had a chance to jerk off in months. Vince and me living in close quarters made that difficult, and most of the time, I’d been too exhausted to masturbate. Here? Literally no privacy.

Mindy had changed everything. I wanted him, but I sure as hell couldn’t have him. At least, I didn’t think so.

The urge to move closer to Serlotminden and bury myself beneath the warmth of his scales flooded me, but he had someone. The current situation was driving him to his attraction. Lust, that was the reason.

And I had no idea if I liked him or not. I mean, I probably did. We definitely had a connection, but this situation was fraught with tension and problems. There was the very real chance I was latching onto him because he’d saved me and we were stuck together.

“Mindy,” I started.

“I am sorry, Bartholomew.”

“It’s fine, but in future maybe don’t look at me when I’m naked?”

“If that’s what you want.”

I frowned, peeking at him, but in the muted light of the tent, I couldn’t see his expression and he was staring directly above him. I asked, “Are drakcol comfortable with nudity?”

“Somewhat. We are not as comfortable as some species who’ve done away with clothes, but group bathing in hot springs is common enough.”

“I’ve never been to a hot spring.”

“I will take you when we go home.”

The word home shot a bolt of longing through me. We had very different ideas of where home was. “I would like that.”

“Then I promise to take you to a hot spring.” Mindy took a deep breath. “I am sorry I watched you without permission. I intended to speak to you and I don’t like when you’re out of my sight, but I should’ve closed the tent when I realized you were naked and unaware of my presence.”

“It’s fine. Add it to the permissions, I guess.”

His tail curled around my wrist, tugging me. “It’s cold.”

A smile fought my control at him repeating the same words I’d given him days ago. I shifted until I was pressed against his side. I took one deep inhale, and my eyes fluttered closed at his rich rain scent.

“You’re warm,” I said.

“Then stay beside me so you’re never cold again.”