Chapter 6
Hold it together. Hold it together. Hold it together.
Yes, you are about to get up close and personal with the sexiest, four armed, blue alien you've ever seen, but that doesn't mean you need to lose all self-control.
A little self-control? Maybe. No. Bad idea. Hold it together.
Midori slid into the strangest expanding sleeping bag she'd ever seen and laid down next to Cael. The fabric stretched to allow space between them, but it didn't matter. Midori was intensely aware of Cael's body only a few short inches from her own. She was warmer. That much was true. In fact, now that she was inside, she was almost too warm. With the fire behind her and Cael's body in front of her, she was now in danger of sweating while she slept. She didn't relish the idea of waking up to find her clothes soaked with perspiration.
You know what you need to do. Just do it.
What if he interprets it as a suggestion I want . . . more?
What are you talking about? You DO want more.
Yeah, but I don't want him to know that. Do I?
Midori sighed and blew at the hair sticking to her sweaty brow. She hadn't been this close to a man in a long time. She wasn't sure what she wanted to happen. Nothing? Everything? What if Cael wasn't even attracted to her? Over the past two weeks, she thought she'd caught signs he had feelings for her, but what if he was just being polite? Maybe he saw her as a pet of sorts. His people were blue with four arms for crying out loud! Would he even be able to find her attractive? Did she want him to?
A pulsing throb between her legs told her yes; she very much wanted him to be as attracted to her as she was to him. But what if they weren't even compatible in that way? What if their parts didn't even match up?
But imagine what those four hands could do! Not to mention the tail.
Midori squealed and opened her eyes to see Cael looking at her questioningly.
"Sorry. I'm . . . a little out of my comfort zone. Excuse me, but I'm hot, so I'm going to just . . .”
She sat up and shimmied out of her leggings. She then shrugged off Cael's vest and her shirt. Now in only her underwear, the climate inside the sleeping bag felt much more manageable.
"Comfortable?" Cael's deep voice rumbled in his chest.
Midori sensed the vibrations in her fingers just a hair's breadth away. They itched to touch his skin and caress the texture of his flesh. Would his skin be as soft and warm as it looked?
For fuck's sake, Midori. Just try it. What's the worst that can happen?
Oh god. What if he doesn't want me to touch him?
What if he does?!
You're never going to know if you don't try.
"Midori, are you all right?"
She opened her eyes again. Why had she squeezed them shut? Because looking at him so closely is too tempting.
"I'm . . . uh . . . the ground is harder than I'm used to. It's digging into my ribs a little."
"Perhaps you'd be more comfortable if I—" His arms reached out and pulled her into an embrace, so half of her was lying on two of his arms and the other half of her body was pressed snugly against his chest. "Is this better?"
It took two tries before she found her voice. "Yes, this is better. Thank you."
With Cael holding her, the argument in her head became moot. The position she was in put her hand flat against his chest. Now that she was there, her hand had a mind of its own and began exploring the terrain of his pectoral muscles. His skin was soft and velvety like a peach, but the soft, smooth skin gave way to rough raised lines and bumps under his black tattoos. Midori had noticed all the Zyranthians on the spaceship had similar tattoos and wondered if they had any special meaning.
Cael shivered under her touch, and his tail curled around one of her legs. Midori snatched back her hand, her fingertips hovering over the curling lines of a tattoo. Had she offended him? Was he repulsed?
"I'm sorry. I should have asked first."
"No, it's fine. Your touch is very pleasant."
"I've never been this close to an alien before. Is it okay if I . . . explore?"
Was it her imagination, or did his voice grow huskier when he said "Yes"?
Other than the extra set of arms, his hulking size, and blue skin, his body seemed similar to any other man.
You should probably do a more thorough inspection and make sure of that.
Midori's fingers complied with her inner monologue and trailed over the sharp protrusion of his collarbone before exploring the corded muscles of his biceps. The whole of him was covered in muscle. Her eyes glanced up at him. He was watching her every move with the tiniest hint of a smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
Her fingers traveled down until they found the sensitive tips of his nipples. It was then she realized her own nipples were rock hard pebbles pressed against the side of his chest. Cael let out a sharp hiss through his teeth, and Midori looked up to see his eyes shut tight in intense concentration.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" she whispered.
"Hurt me? No, not at all. Zyranthian males are sensitive in that area."
"I see. Humans are, too."
Cael's eyes opened wider. "Oh really? May I explore you then? I've never been this close to a human before."
The smile on his face showed he was teasing her with her own words. She knew he wouldn't touch her unless she gave him permission. And oh, did she want to give him permission.
Midori gave a quick nod before she talked herself out of it, and Cael shifted her back to rest completely in his arms while he turned on his side.
"My turn." The deep bass of his voice rumbled through her like thunder to her core, and she shivered with anticipation.
Cael had a distinct advantage with double the amount of arms and used his two free hands to caress and explore Midori's exposed skin. One hand created a lazy trail over her belly as the other explored the valley between her breasts.
"You're so soft," Cael murmured. "Everything about you is soft and gentle to the touch. Except perhaps . . . here."
His fingers brushed over one of her own peaked nipples stiff with desire, and a moan escaped her lips.
"I notice your sensitivity matches mine. Does this please you?" he whispered in her ear, sending another wave of shivers down her spine.
Midori could do nothing more than nod. All understanding of language had completely vanished. Cael's fingers slid under the fabric of her bra and pushed it aside, gaining clearer access. Her nipples felt like diamonds beneath his touch. They were so hard; they ached as his fingers danced across the sensitive peaks.
His other hand slid down her waist and stroked her skin with the back of his knuckles. Midori wondered how far down his fingers might explore on their own, but he stopped probing when he reached the lip of her underwear. Her brain thought it was probably safer that way. The rest of her body hoped he'd continue to explore farther—preferably between her legs.
How far are you prepared to go?
As far as I can, if I'm lucky.
You know this won't end well for you. He's going to send you back home. Then he'll leave. Like everyone else has left. Are you prepared for the grief after you give your heart away?
Then I won't give my heart away. I'll be careful. Keep it tucked deep inside.
Do you honestly believe it will be that simple?
No, but I'm going to do it. And for tonight, I'm going to enjoy whatever comes.
Midori's hand rested on top of Cael's as it stroked the skin of her belly. His hand stopped moving for a second and then followed her lead as she pushed his fingers underneath the fabric of her panties.
"Feel free to explore here too," she whispered.
Cael didn't hesitate. His fingers glided underneath the fabric, his large hand covering her pelvis. When his fingers reached the soft wispy hair of her mound, he gasped.
"You grow hair here, too?"
Midori giggled, her face hot with embarrassment. "Sometimes we remove it, but I never enjoyed doing that, so I just let it grow."
"It's so soft. May I . . . may I see it?" The look on his face was so earnest and full of curiosity, it helped Midori push aside her fear.
"I suppose."
Cael's hand froze for a moment as he searched her face. "If this makes you uncomfortable, I do not need to see. I'm thoroughly pleased by just touching your beautiful body."
Midori's heart skipped a beat. "No one's ever called me beautiful before."
Confusion rippled across Cael's face and ended in a frown. "How can this possibly be? I'm not sure I believe you."
"I promise, it's the truth."
"I noticed your beauty the first moment I saw you. How is it possible others have not seen it, too? I think you must be mistaken. Perhaps they were all like me. So taken with you, they couldn't speak of their genuine desire for fear of rejection."
Midori smiled at his sweet, though inaccurate, endearment. No one had ever seen her beauty and felt too intimidated to speak. Midori didn't consider herself ugly—whatever ugly was. She'd met plenty of flawless-skinned people who instantly seemed ugly once they revealed their true selves. But she knew she wasn't breathtaking, either. She was just plain. She hadn't inherited her mother's tiny Japanese frame. Instead, she took after her father's solid build. His African-American genes mixed with her mother's Asian ones had created a girl who was too black to be Japanese and too Japanese to be black. She didn't look exotic. She looked normal. Average. Unremarkable.
But he certainly thought you were remarkable. Isn't that something?
"Your words are very sweet."
"I only speak the truth. And I'm being truthful when I say I don't want to cause you any discomfort, but I would love to see your body. All of it. If you're comfortable with that."
Midori's heart pounded like a runaway horse, but she managed to give a nod. She sat up, unhooked her bra, and pulled everything off with a few swift motions. When she laid back down, she was naked in the arms of an alien.
At first, Cael's hands were timid with his touches as he trailed his fingers along her skin. Midori sucked in her breath as tingles of pleasure and anticipation ran up her spine. She was equal parts titillated and terrified of what was to come. Her fingers itched to pull the sleeping bag tight around her body, though she wasn't the least bit cold. But Cael had asked to see her—all of her. And she'd agreed. Whether or not this was a bad idea, she was going to see it through. In fact . . .
Midori guided Cael's lower hand down between her thighs. He stroked his fingers through her curls and smiled as he inspected her.
"It's delightful."
A burst of giggles escaped her lips. She wasn't sure what she'd expected him to say, but "delightful" wasn't it.
But the words helped loosen her up, and as Cael's fingers explored further, she parted her thighs for him, less nervous now. He pressed between her folds wet with desire, and Midori's breath hitched in her throat as she sucked in air. It had been so long since she'd been touched. Her body was already frenetic with need.
One of Cael's other hands returned to her breasts, kneading the flesh and tugging on the taut peaks. Another hand traced the outline of her lips, while his fourth hand shifted underneath her and grasped a handful of her ass. Even his tail explored her body, sliding between her legs and wrapping around her calves. Together with his four hands touching, stroking, and exploring what gave her pleasure, it was enough to make her come undone.
Cael's thumb stroked her cheek and traced across her lips while another hand parted her lower lips and pressed inside her slickened channel. Midori caught his thumb with her teeth and gave it a gentle nibble just as his other thumb flashed across her clit. A low moan escaped her lips, and Midori arched into Cael's hand, riding his digits as he stroked deeper and deeper inside her depths. She couldn't take much more. It was too much. Too good. She didn't deserve to feel this good. But she did.
"Open your eyes, Midori."
She hadn't realized she'd closed them again, but she obeyed Cael's request and looked up at him in a daze.
"Does this give you pleasure?" he asked.
Midori whimpered and nodded. She was close. So close.
Cael bent down, his lips and the heat of his breath pressing against her ear as he whispered, "Do I give you pleasure, Midori?"
She was undone. Cael unmade her with his touch and his words. Midori knew she'd never be the same. Her fingers knotted in the sleeping bag as she grabbed at the fabric for leverage while waves of pleasure rolled through her. With a moan of long restrained desire, she undulated her pelvis harder and faster against Cael's hand, two of his fingers stroking deep within her. When his thumb casually stroked past her swollen clit, another tidal wave of pure bliss rolled through her. Midori cried out and grasped Cael's arm, then his back, pulling him closer. Her need to have his flesh pressing against hers was overpowering. Finally, the orgasm calmed, but Cael's fingers continued to press in and out as she rode the final waves of pleasure.
Only when she laid still did Cael slip his fingers free. Midori immediately felt their absence, as if Cael alone could fill the need within her. But that was ridiculous. She was just appreciating the moment. Once they left this planet, their paths would never cross again. She might as well enjoy it while it lasted. She had her own plans when she'd left Earth, and Cael hadn't been part of them.
But what if he could be?
Don't be ridiculous. You can't run off with a reformed alien mobster.
"It looks like you're thinking hard about something." Cael pushed aside a stray hair from her face.
Midori wanted to ask if he was also thinking about the future. Their future and if they had one. Butterflies flitted through her stomach. Funny, she wasn't nervous about getting naked in front of him, but the moment she wanted to talk about her feelings and future plans, her mouth clamped shut, and her nerves took over.
Just ask what he's thinking. At least you'll know. If he just wants this to be a good time for now, you'll know not to let your heart get involved. Just ask!
Cael's eyebrows lifted as he looked down at her with questions in his eyes. Midori's lips parted, the question on her tongue, when a snow-covered mass of hair bounded into the cave and began grunting and barking.
"Pugly! I forgot I sent you outside. Are you okay, boy?"
The pig dog skidded to a stop in front of them, turning his head from side to side as it took in the sight of Midori and Cael wrapped in each other's arms on the floor of the cave. It lifted its snout and sniffed the air.
Then in a rich baritone voice as clear as day it said, "Oh magnanimous hairless one, I've come to warn you—wait—what is that scent? Have you been partaking in coitus? Without me?"