47. Bambi
BAMBI
“You need a name, itty bitty.” Fluffing a pillow so he has a comfy place to sleep, I get my little critter settled in for the night.
He’s tucked into a little alcove just beside our bedroom door, but he’ll sleep with us sometimes too…
just not tonight, because I have plans that don’t involve little eyes observing.
Watching him make biscuits on his fluffy bed makes me smile.
At least I know how big he’s going to get.
Neera’s fully grown and the top of her head goes up to Gwen’s hip.
If I had to guess, I’d say she weighs a lot more than she looks, but she’s not so big that she must be an outside pet.
Gwen, bless her, gave me a stack of absorbent linens she uses as alien puppy pads.
She said they’re a lifesaver when you have a pet on a spaceship, or when you’re potty training one.
Thankfully, all our private rooms have doors that lead outside to individual patios abutting the forest. It means I don’t have to make the trek through the house and out the front door to take my new baby outside to potty.
Contemplating the little creature, I wrack my brain for a good name.
He’s red with black, and reminds me of the Red Island rooster I had growing up.
Snapping my fingers, he jumps at the sound and chirps at me. “I’m going to call you Rooster. What do you think?”
Scratching under his jaw makes him purr, and I take that as agreement to his new name.
“Alright, you’ve had supper, a drink, went potty, and I’ve tucked you in.
You’ve also got some chewies here since you’re still growing and teething.
Gwen says your species is extremely intelligent and learns faster than most sentient beings.
That means you need to stay right here, and if you need to potty during the night, you use this here. ”
Patting the pad, I repeat the potty command several times just like I did while he was outside earlier.
Hopefully Gwen’s right and I don’t have any surprises for me in the morning.
Giving him one last pet, he whirrs before settling in and promptly passing out.
His little chest rises and falls with each breath.
Quietly, I turn and enter our bedroom. I need a quick shower before bed, so I’m fresh and clean for what I’ve got planned. Bikar isn’t aware of it, but tonight’s the night we’re sealing our bond.
I love him, and he loves me.
We’ve been fooling around before bed—over my clothes—and he’s eagerly let me learn how his body is different than mine. I’m not scared of what he’s packing anymore, which I’m sure was his goal. Then there’s the way he touches me… it makes me tingle all over.
I want to know what all the fuss is about sex.
Bikar is still in the communal living room talking to his mam and brothers, so I’ve got some time before he gets here.
Heather left shortly after Bikar’s revelation, and told me she would comm me later for details.
Ruby and Rowan offered to take Atasha home to get her to bed at a decent hour, so Shagar could stay and continue her conversation with her sons.
I don’t have fond memories of being in stasis, and Bikar knows it. That’s why he kissed me on the cheek when I told him I was going to bed and said he would join me as soon as he could. The fact that his eyes were dull and lifeless worries me.
Bikar is anything but dull.
Hopping into the shower, I make quick work of washing my hair and body before using a neat little tool that lasers body hair off.
I have no clue how or why Heather had something like this, let alone gave me one…
but I’m glad she did. Knocking the hair off my legs, pits, and bits takes less than five minutes.
Noise in our living room announces Biker’s arrival, and I hurry to finish up.
My hair whips wildly when I push the button on the dryer.
The second I’m dry, I hit the button again, cutting the warm air off.
Now, more than ever, I’m glad that my bestie forced me to take all the lotions and potions she made for me.
Just as I finish putting on vanilla-scented body crème, Bikar walks into the bathroom, and I freeze.
We’ve been staying in the same space and sleeping together for a couple of weeks now, but I haven’t let him look at me completely naked.
I’ve been too self-conscious about my scars and how I got them.
Making a split decision, I brazen it out, channeling my inner hussy.
“Hey, sugar.”