Chapter 8
Nova
Watching Miran disappear into the bathing room made Nova laugh softly. It was probably good that he’d taken her threat seriously. She wanted to wash her hair, and that always took forever.
Looking around, she spotted her bag on the floor not far from the bed. Stretching a leg out, she slipped her toes through the strap and dragged it to her. She did a quick inventory to make sure she hadn’t lost anything, including the items in the hidden pocket at the bottom.
Relieved to find everything where it was supposed to be, she pulled out a smaller bag full of her bathing items and closed the bag back up. She tucked the bigger bag out of the way. It wasn’t that he didn’t know she had it, but she’d rather he didn’t get curious and start going through it.
Finished with that small task, she looked around the room, taking in the details she couldn’t see when they’d first arrived. When she saw the small data pad on a decorative table next to the bed, she was quick to grab it.
The thing was old and battered, but it worked. When it lit up at her touch, the screen was covered in Fielden script, but it didn’t take long to find the language preference and switch to Space Standard.
Now that she had access, she started poking around the Fielden civic system. There were maps, roller timetables, weather predictions, announcements, advertisements, and even a few requests for population migration by a company called Blessed Sand Systems.
Delight was still circling the planet, receiving visitors from the two ports able to operate despite the storm. When she looked up where the ports were, she realized they were all the way on the other side of the planet. This storm was affecting almost the entire planet!
It didn’t matter anyway. Even if she could get to those ports, she didn’t want to return to the Delight.
Eventually, she needed to find a different pleasure ship in need of performers.
The credits she had wouldn’t extend to transport, so she’d have to earn some money here before moving on from Fielden.
It would be harder to keep the guys from finding her if she had to stay on the planet, but she could spend the first few days hiding in the sand.
As she read, she found a lot of articles on how the Fielden ancestors survived on the planet before modern technology, so she was confident she could do it.
It would only require a few purchases, and she’d be able to survive in the desert for at least a week.
Current Fielden culture was encouraging young adults to experience life like “the ancestors.” That was going to make it all that much easier for her to disappear!
After some time, Miran and his two friends should give up on finding her. They couldn’t have paid so much for her that they’d waste more than a week looking for her, especially if she left some “evidence” that she’d been swallowed by a sand spider or something.
The plan unfolded in her head, so by the time Miran emerged from the bathing room, she had a framework to implement once the storm subsided.
“It’s ready,” he said, walking up to stand over her. “Can I pick you up?”
She beamed up at him for asking before touching her. She gave him a regal wave of her hand. “You may carry me.”
With a chuckle, he leaned over and lifted her up, then effortlessly carried her into the bathing room.
She wanted to make another joke as he carried her, but she was shocked speechless by the opulence of the bathing facility.
She’d never seen anything like it. Dead center in the room was a massive tub carved from some kind of blue crystal, full of steaming water. He must’ve put something in it because a pleasant herbal scent filled the room.
Along the far walls were several other types of bathing stations, including the ultrasonic cleanser style she used on the Delight.
There was even a sand bath and heat lamp.
This place must be set up for foreign investors to visit and negotiate trade deals with Fielden companies, otherwise they wouldn’t have so many different types of cleaning stations.
He sat her on the edge of the large tub. “Please test the water with your hand. Now that the tub is full, the heating element can easily be manipulated to change the temperature.”
It was then that she realized her bladder was full. It took her a moment to find the elimination closet.
“I need to go over there,” she said, pointing.
He nodded, picked her up, and nudged the door lock with his elbow before carefully setting her down inside the closet.
When he reached for her pants, she batted his hands away. “I can do that. Humans need privacy, out out!”
He held up his hands and backed out with a last warning. “Don’t try to leave on your own.”
She was quick to secure the door from the inside, then use the facilities. After she was done, she pressed her hands into the sanitizing box, then had one of the wall tiles turn reflective.
She gasped at the state of her hair. Good god, was she ever going to be able to comb it out?
“I might have to shave it,” she grumbled.
It wouldn’t be the first time. When she was young, no one on the ship knew how to deal with her tightly curled locks, so they’d simply kept her hair cut very short.
Later, a Sumpin joined the circus with a fire act.
Her mane was similar, and she’d helped Nova learn to tame her hair.
With that came affection for her unique hair instead of constant frustration.
Luckily, she had all the tools she needed in her little bag that would give her the best chance at salvaging her wild mane. It was doubtful she’d find anything like her long-tooth comb, softening oils, or gentle hair cleansers on a planet with a species that had no hair anywhere!
She must’ve spent a little too long contemplating her reflection because Miran’s worried voice called out from the other side of the door.
“Nova, are you okay?”
She tapped the door open to find Miran standing there looking worried. “You need to learn to be more patient.”
“I’ll be patient when your ankle is healed, and we’re back on Hissa,” he answered. “Are you ready to bathe now?”
She nodded and let him pick her up and carry her back to the tub. Now that she wasn’t distracted by a painful bladder, she noticed the water was opaque and milky.
“The water might not look clear, but it’s an additive to help remove sand,” he said, pointing to a display in the wall.
“I read the suggestions and also found out that you don’t need to worry about wasting water or the water getting dirty.
This is a standard re-cleaner tub so the water in it is constantly going through a filter and reentering the tub clean of dirt and sand. ”
“Perfect!” She reached for the bottom of her tight costume top and pulled it off over her head. Tossing it aside, she wiggled out of her pants, then eased herself backwards into the hot water with a happy purr.
“Oh, this feels good,” she moaned, shifting around a little. The tub was so long she could almost lay out completely flat.
The bottom of her hair got wet, but since she planned to wash it anyway she didn’t care.
When she finally looked up, Miran was standing there with his eyes firmly focused on his feet. It took a moment to remember that a lot of species were body shy, and her stripping down without thinking might’ve shocked him.
“You don’t have to stay,” she said. “I can take it from here.”
He took a deep breath, then spoke in a quiet voice. “I want to bathe you. I want to show you that I can care for you. That you’re not going to be used and discarded but treasured and spoiled.”
“Um, sure, I guess,” she said, unsure what he meant. Was he going to keep her company and hand her a scrub cloth?
These Hissa were an odd bunch!
“Tell me if I do anything you don’t like,” he said, although it sounded more like a demand. He looked around and must've realized there were no soaps. Fielden didn’t use them, and the hotel probably assumed visitors would bring their own cleansers.
Sitting up, she looked over the edge of the tub and saw where her bag had dropped when he’d first set her down on the edge of the tub.
She pointed. “My stuff is right there.”
With a look of relief, he grabbed the bag and opened it up. His relief turned to confusion. “There’s a lot of bottles in here!” he said, presenting the bag to her. “Are these all for different things?”
She giggled and pointed to a bottle on top. “This is to clean my skin. This one is to rub on my skin afterwards so I don’t dry out.”
She went through each one, and Miran listened with the type of attention usually reserved for learning about important safety procedures on a ship.
Once she was done, he pulled out the body soap and poured some on the foaming cloth provided by the hotel. Reaching into the water, he grabbed her good ankle and pulled her leg partially out of the water, sending her head under the water.
He must’ve realized what he’d done because he let go of her foot at the same time she emerged from the water, laughing and sputtering.
He cursed himself as he used a dry cloth to pat her face dry.
“Maybe don’t do that," she teased, lifting her leg up to give him access. When he said he was going to help, it seemed he meant hands-on help.
“I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful,” he said, putting a hand under her leg to support the weight but not pulling it up any further.
She watched him carefully scrub her foot and then move up her ankle. He was doing a great job of being firm but not harsh. Assured he wouldn’t scrub her skin off, she leaned her head back against the tub and closed her eyes.
She tensed when he got to her thigh, ready to tell him to stop if he tried to scrub her in intimate places. She wasn’t body shy, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be groped.
Even by a warrior that tasted as good as Miran.
She didn’t end up needing to say anything. He stopped mid-thigh and set that leg back down. After that, he picked up her injured leg with exaggerated care. She didn’t know if anyone had ever been so careful with her.
She’d never been cared for like this, not even as a child.
The Decanting clinic workers hadn’t been callous or mean, but she’d been another job to do.
She hadn't known what kind or caring touches were like until she got to the circus and Melee had basically adopted her.
Except by the time she reached the circus, she understood how to bathe and care for herself, so there was never any need for anyone to groom her in the way Miran was doing.
If she was being honest, Miran’s touch felt more than kind, it felt decadent. He didn’t try to do anything inappropriate, he was still fully dressed, even though his shirt was getting wet, and he even massaged her muscles as he cleaned.
She couldn’t help the little moan that bubbled out of her when he rubbed the bottom of her feet.
“That’s a good moan, right?” he asked. “Not a painful moan?”
“Very good,” she agreed, pressing her foot harder into his hand. “No one has ever done this for me. Now I understand why the masseurs are always busy.”
“I can do this every day if you want,” he offered.
She didn’t respond, and he went back to washing and massaging. When he finished with her legs, he moved to her arms. He even paid attention to each finger. She’d never felt so pampered!
He left her chest unwashed but had her sit up and lean forward so he could wash and rub her back. By the time he was done, she felt relaxed and sleepy.
She never wanted it to end!
“I’m going to wash your hair,” he said.
“Are you sure?” she said, opening her eyes to see him holding the correct bottle. That gave her a little more confidence. It was obvious he’d paid close attention earlier.
“If I’m incompetent, you can ask me to stop,” he said, setting the bottle down on the floor and picking up the handheld rain head hidden under the tub. Uncoiling the tubing, he turned it on with his foot.
“Can you comfortably lean your head against the edge of the tub?” he asked.
She sat up and settled herself into position. “Won’t you get water all over the floor?”
“There’s a drain,” he said, moving the shower head over her hair. “It’s expected that much of the water will be splashed out because the tub is meant for avian species.”
The size of the tub made sense now. She could easily picture an avian splashing around in here. Closing her eyes, she let Miran wet her hair. He was surprisingly good at keeping the water from going into her ears.
After her hair was saturated, he worked in the cleanser, massaging her scalp with the tips of his fingers. It felt so good she moaned again.
“I can do this regularly too,” he offered, his voice low and husky.
It was almost worth the risk to stay if she got this every day!
After he finished massaging the shampoo through her hair, he washed it out and started with the products to soften and help detangle.
He was so methodical she was sure not a single ringlet was left unconditioned.
“Should I try to comb it out now or after I’ve washed this out?” he asked.
“Good question,” she murmured. “Now is better.”
“I’ll be gentle,” he said, and she heard him searching the bag for her comb. Despite his words, she braced herself when he first moved the comb through her hair.
She shouldn’t have been surprised when he did it almost perfectly after she explained it once. He started at the tips and worked out each tangle individually, pulling hair strands apart to reduce the snarl.
“There’s still sand in your hair, even after the first rinse,” he murmured.
“I’m surprised there isn’t sand embedded in my skin,” she said with a smile. “I might be part sand now.”
“I’ll get it all out,” he promised.
When he was done, he went back to pouring water over her hair. It was disappointing that the experience was almost over, but she was also starting to get pruney and should probably get out of the tub soon.
Finished with her hair, he was fiddling with something near her head. She turned her head to say something only to find his face right in front of hers.
Her mind flashed back to the shuttle. The taste of him. The feel of his skin against her lips.
She went from sleepy to fully awake and aroused.
“Nova?” His voice was barely audible, more a whisper of sound than a word.
Her response was to press her lips to his. She wouldn’t be with him much longer. What better time to find out how good it would feel to finish what they’d started yesterday?