Chapter 4
Midori's stomach lurched. The drop reminded her of riding a roller coaster and popping over a hill at high speed, where gravity meant nothing at all. The ground vanished, and the pod plunged down the mountain. She didn't even have time to scream.
The drop didn't last forever. It just felt like it until the pod slammed against something hard and they were rolling. The door must have shut from the force, because all she could see was the interior of the pod and Cael's big blue frame pressed against the side of the vessel. Two of his arms gripped against the sides while the other two crushed her against his chest. She couldn't breathe, but he was the only thing keeping her from slamming her head against the walls as they careened down the side of the mountain.
Please don't die. Not here. Not like this.
Thoughts of her sister flashed through her head. Would she ever find her way home? Would she forever wonder about Midori's fate?
The pod slammed against something hard, throwing Cael and Midori's bodies against the wall. This time, Cael's many arms just weren't enough to cushion her, and Midori's head struck the metal wall with a crack, turning everything black. The pod slowed and stopped spinning, coming to a stop.
Midori didn't want to open her eyes. The pain in her head was so intense, she wasn't sure if it or the spinning was the cause of her nausea. Bile rose in her throat, but she forced herself to keep it down. She refused to add more misery to their circumstances by throwing up in the tiny space.
"Midori, are you all right?” Cael's voice emerged from the opposite end of the escape pod.
Midori blinked and winced against the pain. How was Cael at the other end of the pod? Her feet were straddling his head, and she was lying face down on top of his torso. Somehow, their tumble down the mountain had thrown her completely upside down in the escape pod.
"I think I'm okay," she said, but moaned when she lifted her head to look around.
"Don't move yet. I'll grab the med kit, and we'll check for damage."
Midori didn't have enough energy to argue, but then she noticed her head was laying directly in his crotch, which meant Cael now had a spectacular view of her ass. Although both of her arms were wrapped around his powerful thighs in a death grip, she pulled them free and pushed herself up, hoping to get out of the embarrassing position as fast as possible. But as soon as she sat up, she banged her head against the top of the pod, immediately regretting her movement and falling back down from the pain.
"Ooof!" Cael groaned as her head landed on his crotch once more. "Please," he said, a little breathless. "Please don't move."
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her mouth full of material from his leather-like pants.
Cael groaned again, this time not from pain or surprise, but from some place deep inside. The sound of it caused a tingle to race up Midori's spine to the base of her neck and back down again, ending in a shiver between her thighs.
"Don't. Move," his voice growled.
Midori's nether regions shivered again, thinking about how close his mouth was to her. If he just slipped down her leggings, he could?—
Oh my god, I must have a concussion to be thinking about this right now. We just slid down the side of a mountain! You cannot seriously be thinking about sex.
Cael pulled a latch, and the top of the escape pod lifted back on its hinges. Frigid air blew inside, instantly raising goosebumps on Midori's bare arms. Her eyes opened, and she realized her cheek was resting right against Cael's manhood. Flames of embarrassment shot through her, but she forced herself to lie unmoving as she remembered the guttural sound of his voice growling at her to stay still. No doubt he was just as uncomfortable as she was.
"Ok. I think you can sit up now. Carefully, though."
Midori cleared her throat as she gathered her courage. The bottom of the pod was too far beneath Cael's body for her to reach, so she placed her hands on his legs and pushed her body up, knowing if she moved any farther, she'd be sitting on top of his face.
More naughty images flooded her mind but quickly evaporated as she turned her head to look out the pod. She barely saw over the rim, but the view took her breath away. Blue-hued mountains covered in lavender-colored snow surrounded them on all sides. Even now purple snow was falling, covering the dark blue fir trees growing all around.
"Oh, it's so beauti—Ow!" She moved too quickly, and her head throbbed in objection.
Cael's four hands lifted her up and—without knowing quite how he did it—he gently cradled her in his lap.
"You're hurt. Show me where."
Gone were the short grunts of yes and no she'd become accustomed to on the spaceship. This man was demanding, and his tone made it clear he was ready to take charge.
"Here." She winced as she touched a lump on the back of her head.
"It's not bleeding." His hands were gentle on her scalp as they massaged around the swollen bump, pushing her hair back and forth as he studied the wound. "Look in my eyes."
She obeyed, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze. His irises were like molten silver framed with flecks of ice blue and black, and his black eyebrows arched as she studied his face. His nose was long and thin, the complete opposite of her short, flat Japanese nose. Though his hair was black like hers, it had a deep blue sheen, and each end was tipped in silver. What would it feel like to run her fingers through it?
One of Cael's hands slid up to cradle her neck, and Midori's eyes dipped down to his lips, their blue hue a shade darker than the rest of his skin. His lips were full and looked silken to the touch.His mouth hung open as he studied her, and her attention focused on his sharp canine teeth. But it was his dark blue tongue peeking out which caused her to shudder once more as she imagined the touch of it against her skin.
"Cold?"
"Hmm?" Midori asked, bringing her attention back to his gaze.
"You're shivering."
Midori was aware of how closely she was pressed against his body. She pushed herself up, gaining a little more space, though she was still sitting on Cael's lap.
"Yes. It's cold, isn't it?" Midori closed her eyes and mentally slapped herself. Such a smooth talker you are. You sound like an idiot.
Cael slipped off his black and silver leather vest and wrapped it around Midori's shoulders. "I know it's not your size, but it should be better than nothing."
With his blue naked chest in front of her, her eyes were drawn to the intricate blue-black tattoos etched on his chest and shoulders. She couldn't quite tell what they were from this position, but her fingers itched to trace them across his torso.
Midori forced herself to look away and pulled Cael's vest closer around her body. It was as big as a dress on her slight frame, and the four arm holes were strange to say the least, but she was touched by his thoughtfulness. She wrapped the fabric around her, still warm from Cael's body, and breathed in the scent of him. He smelled of aged leather and sandalwood, both earthy and musky scents, but there was also something else. A hint of vanilla? Her nose picked up on the sweet aroma and breathed it all in, taking comfort in the familiar spices.
"I don't think you're concussed. But tell me if you become dizzy or sleepy. This should help with the pain." Cael's voice brought her out of her reverie.
He sprayed something on the back of her head, and immediate relief washed over her. With the pain managed, her thinking was more clear.
"Is it safe to climb out? Or should we stay here in case help is coming?"
Cael's arms shifted. His tail flicked back and forth, but he said nothing for several seconds. When Midori looked up at him, his face was pensive, as if he wanted to tell her something but wasn't sure he should. Or was she just imagining it?
"Midori, I'm going to do whatever I can to get you home."
Midori wasn't sure what she'd expected Cael to say, but it wasn't that. Wasn't he some sort of mobster working for a big-wig slave trader? Over her weeks on board the ship, she'd heard the guards talking. She knew someone named Lord Krissayr was expecting to collect her and the two other Earth women.
"Why would you do that?"
A look of shame covered Cael's face, and he looked away again. "Because it's the right thing to do."
"Oh . . . thank you."
Her stomach tightened. What did this mean? How could he get her back home? If he was keeping her away from this Lord Krissayr guy, then wouldn't he come looking for them both?
"First things first. We need to find some shelter. The pod's homing device should still function, despite the other interfaces being non-operational. I can't tell exactly where we are or which way we should go, but I know if we stay here, eventually someone is going to lock onto the homing beacon and come searching. It might be someone who wants to help, or it might be scavengers. Either way, it will be safer if we're not here when anyone else arrives."
"Sounds fine to me. It's pretty cramped in here anyway."
Cael slipped his arms aside, and Midori immediately regretted her words. She hadn't meant anything by them.
Cael opened a hatch hidden inside the pod and pulled out a shiny black bag. He filled it with a few things he pulled from the ship, then climbed over the side of the escape pod, shouldering his blaster.
"Here, let me help you," he said, holding his four arms out to assist her from the ship.
Midori took two of his hands in her own while he wrapped his two lower hands around her waist and helped her to the ground. The terrain was slippery, and her tennis shoes slipped on the purple-hued snow, sending her falling backward. Cael's grip was firm, and he held her fast.
"Careful there."
"I'm not used to this kind of place," she said with a shiver and mentally cringed again. Duh. You're on an alien planet.
A hint of a smile tugged on the corner of his mouth, and Cael nodded before releasing her. "Nor am I. We'll have to take care of each other, then."
Midori nodded, feeling better about herself. Maybe she didn't sound like an idiot after all.
A high-pitched howl filled the air, sending shivers up Midori's spine and making her hair stand on end.
"What was that?"
"I do not know, but I'd rather not find out by running into it. Let's get moving. Here, let me help you."
Midori was a little shocked when Cael removed her shoe from her foot, but when he grabbed a stone and rubbed it along the sole, she realized he was adding traction so she wouldn't fall again. A few seconds later, he was finished with both. Taking one of her hands in his, he began leading them down the mountainous terrain.
The snow wasn't deep under the canopy of fir trees, but the uneven ground made it difficult to walk with urgency. Cael was patient as Midori did her best to keep up with his long legs, but she was quickly exhausting her energy. The thin air wasn't making it any easier.
“I think I've found something. Look." Cael pushed aside a dark blue fir branch, revealing the entrance to a cave. "I'll go first."
He continued to hold Midori's hand but placed his body in front of hers.Holding the blaster with another hand, he rummaged through the bag.
"A-ha." He pulled out a white sphere the size of a softball and threw it in the air.
Light erupted from the orb, enveloping the room as it hovered above them. Midori's eyes traced the light, and she gazed into the recesses of the cave. Stalactites covered the ceiling, their long fingers reaching toward her. Midori shivered.
"Stay still," Cael's deep voice warned.
"Why? What is it?"
Her attention returned to the cave floor when a deafening growl echoed through the air, and two shining eyes blinked from the darkness.
Midori's breath hitched in her chest, and she froze.
The creature charged.