Chapter 10 #2
With a huff, Zahra threw on her clothing and searched out the other two women.
The light drizzle felt nice on her flushed skin.
She turned her face up to the sky and enjoyed the kisses of the rain drops.
She absolutely adored this planet. The constant drizzle calmed her war-torn soul, and the peace felt nice after so many years of close calls and watching the men and women around her die.
"There you are." Holly laughed.
Zahra spun towards the laughter.
Holly wiggled her eyebrows. “Been a bit naughty.” She laughed.
“What?” Zahra felt her cheeks heat.
"It's not that big of a garden." Vera rumbled, amusement clear in her voice as she shared a look with Holly.
“Pretty sure anyone in orbit would have heard that roar of pleasure.” Holly covered her mouth with a hand as she snorted with laughter.
Zahra placed a hand over her eyes and ducked her head. They’d heard everything, well, at least something, of what she and Khaazai had done in the gardens. "You two heard?!" Her face felt like it might melt off. Her cheeks felt like a couple of thrusters that’d been left online for too long.
Holly winked with amusement twinkling bright in her eyes.
"Umm, yeah. Kind of hard to miss." Holly broke into peals of laughter, and Zahra's cheeks heated even more as she let out a groan.
"There is no need to feel embarrassed.” Vera reached out and squeezed Zahra’s shoulder. “In our culture, sex is for all to know about. Khaazai honored your traditions when he did not take you publicly at your wedding, despite it being very… uncommon for us."
Thank the stars for that! Zahra would have died in embarrassment if General Bohler had witnessed her wedding night. Being watched was not a turn on for her. Not her kink.
"Well... he may not have taken me... but he still had some fun." Zahra coughed into a fist as she glanced away, unable to meet their eyes as she said the words. And honestly, it’d been a surprise, but a turn on. She enjoyed a little initiative on his side, since she would have never been confident enough to start anything, but she’d also never felt out of control in his presence. If she wasn’t in the mood, he’d stop.
"Oh, my stars! Are you saying he played with you in a room full of people?" Holly choked out, her eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"Played with?" Vera glanced between them. “What does this mean? What is played with?”
"It’s a phrase meaning that he brought me pleasure." Zahra explained quickly, her cheeks bright pink now.
"Ah." Vera rumbled as she inclined her head. "He did not ignore our traditions fully then." She said with a proud tone.
"I've got to know, and," Holly turned to Vera, "I mean no disrespect, but sometimes a girl has to know.'' She turned back to Zahra. "What is he packing?"
"If you want to know so badly, then I suggest you go get yourself a Khuuz’eth.
" Zahra shot back in good humor. The more they spoke about it, the less embarrassed she felt. Now she could understand how Vera felt it was so normal. If she’d been raised around more sex and nudity, she probably wouldn’t feel quite as embarrassed right now.
It appeared it was now Holly's turn to appear uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Umm, I don't know.” She waved her hands in front of her with a frown. “I think I'll stick with human men. Inter-species relationships can be tricky. Lots of cultural misunderstandings and such.”
"Thanks." Zahra laughed.
"But," Holly held out her hands to Zahra, "you and Khaazai seem to have everything figured out between you."
"Do we?" Zahra shook her head with a snort. "We barely know each other." She pursed her lips, "Even with Vera doing her best to resolve it in one day."
"Me?" Vera's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Why, Zahra, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure." Zahra rolled her eyes. “Because Khaazai bringing me here had nothing to do with any idea you may have thought of I’m certain.”
"All I want is for you to give him a chance.” Vera argued. “From what I've heard you've cloistered yourself away to work. You haven't treated this union like a true marriage." Vera eyed her straight on, challenging her to deny her words.
When Zahra turned to Holly, the other woman shrugged. "Vera's right. You haven't given him a chance to be a husband. You hid away working, leaving the rest of us to our own devices. But from what I’ve seen, you both work well together. Neither of you will overpower the other emotionally."
"Fine!" Zahra threw her hands into the air. "No more work. I swear! I won’t even look at any technology that Khaazai doesn’t hand to me.
Instead, I will invest more energy into my marriage…
even if it is a temporary arrangement." She murmured the last part, her heart revolting against the idea of leaving.
"That is all we ask, and if you still decide to leave after the year, we will respect your decision." Vera inclined her head.
"Okay. Now as much as I'm enjoying the rain, my clothes are soaked, and I'm cold.
" Zahra said as she turned and headed back to the house.
She hated that their words were true, but she also hated that she may have cheated Khaazai from a fair chance at a marriage.
He clearly aimed to win her over for the long run.
He loved her.
Zahra blinked.
He may not yet know it, and she could be wrong, but something inside her told her it was true. This proud, strong, massive Khuuz’eth was in love with her.
"Do you require anything?" Vera asked as she easily caught up to Zahra.
"No, I'm going to soak in a nice warm bath." Zahra smiled to herself as she entered the house and walked straight for her room, which also happened to be Khaazai’s room. Anticipation pulsed through her for what they might do this evening. Her body warming despite the recent orgasm.
“Then I will see you for our evening meal.” Vera called out as Zahra zoomed ahead.
____________________________
Zahra sighed for about the fiftieth time.
The Khuuz’eth knew exactly how to build a bathtub.
The thing was the same size as a hot tub that would fit fifteen humans, carved out of a stone that seemed to hold heat for ages.
There were no knobs. Instead, the water appeared to bubble up from some sort of plumbing, a constant source of rotating hot water.
Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth. She’d opened the balcony doors off the bathroom. Balcony doors on a bathroom! It was a fabulous idea. Now she could listen to the rain while heating her body back up after being out in the rain for so long.
The chill from the day had long since eased from her body, but she wasn’t sure when she would get out. She might just miss dinner and have to apologize to Vera.
“Hope you don’t mind sharing.” A deep voice growled.
Startling, Zahra straightened and opened her eyes to find Khaazai standing on the opposite side of her, gazing down with those electric blue eyes.
“Done already?” She’d figured the issues with his farmers would take a while.
“Already?” Khaazai rumbled deep inside his chest with a laugh. Then he eased his large, naked frame into the bath.
Zahra found her mouth go dry. They were both naked, and knowing how they reacted around each other, she knew it’d only be a matter of minutes until they were throwing themselves at each other.
“Do you know how long you’ve been in here?” Khaazai prowled closer, weaving his way through the water, looking leisurely, but her other senses told her a predator was on the prowl.
“I could admit that I may have dozed off a few times while in here.” Zahra said with a shrug, trying to act chill, despite her heart racing away inside her chest.
“Hmmm, then it might not surprise you to know it’s almost time to meet Holly and Vera for dinner.” He stopped an arm’s length away from her.
Zahra’s body seemed to light on fire. It was crazy how his presence could just get her going in an instant. But he didn’t make a move toward her.
“Lay back.” He instructed her.
Slowly, Zahra laid back against the wall, using an in-built ledge as a seat. Expecting him to make a sexual move, her eyes shot wide when he grabbed one of her feet. Raising it to the level of his chest, he began massaging the sole of her foot with his thumbs.
“Oh, stars, yes.” Zahra purred as her head fell back. “That feels soooo good.”
Khaazai rumbled with amusement. “I can’t pretend that I thought of this idea on my own. I may have recruited some advice from Holly.”
“Resourceful.” Zahra laughed with a smile. “No problem with that. What else did she tell you?”
“She was full of ideas.” Khaazai admitted as his strong fingers worked on her feet. “She recommended compliments, asking about your interests, taking you on some adventures. Showing you more about our world.”
“Sound like good ideas to me.” Zahra confirmed.
Khaazai switched to her other foot, and a moan escaped her mouth. “What do you like to do, Zahra?”
“Well, I like work.”
Khaazai rumbled with a laugh. “I’ve already noted how easy you can get lost in your work.”
“I also like cooking and especially eating. That might stem from years of military rations.” Zahra stuck out her tongue with disgust. “Those things are like sawdust. Very little flavor. Something to last a long time in case you get stranded in a ship or on a planet.”
“What else?”
“I enjoy training. Wouldn’t mind getting to train with those plasma spears you all wield.”
“I can make that happen.”
Zahra cracked open and eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yes. For my wife, anything is possible.” Khaazai slowly moved to her ankle.
“I wouldn’t mind learning more about other cultures, honestly.” Zahra shrugged. “I haven’t had much time to really immerse myself in other cultures, despite visiting so many planets.”
“Here’s your chance.” Khaazai coaxed her. “And my people aren’t bound to our planet. You could learn more about us and also get to travel and learn about other cultures.”