#3
The door slides open before I can respond and he steps out, his tail lowering so that it almost, but not quite, touches the white floor.
“Wow.” I follow him and immediately stop. This room is totally awesome. What looks like acres of shiny kitchen worktops and appliances all set in front of the same beautiful view. There are stools at an island and a huge soft sofa is angled toward the mountains and the setting sun.
“I studied Earth homes. I hope I have got it correct.”
“More than correct.” I run my finger over a smooth white surface. “This is the kitchen of my dreams.”
“Are you speaking the truth?”
“Yes, I really am. This is like something a billionaire would have.”
“I thought you didn’t like billionaires?”
“I don’t, but I wouldn’t mind having some of their stuff.”
“Stuff? This is their stuff?”
“It’s like a kitchen they would have.” I smile at him. “Thank you, for doing some research.”
He doesn’t smile back but tips his head and studies me. “It’s nice when you do that with your face?”
“Do what?”
“That.” He points. “Your mouth, your cheeks, your eyes, it’s a happy face, am I correct?”
“Yes, it’s a happy face. Your home…our home is beautiful and that has made me happy.”
“I thank you, that makes me warm here.” He presses his chest.
A little part of me softens for him. He’s clearly kind and thoughtful and put a lot of effort into my arrival.
So far he’s been more considerate than Jeremy ever was.
“Upstairs is what you would call a bathing room, full sanitation of course, and a bed. There are no windows there, that is for sleeping and for some months of the years Andri and Gorthin do not leave the sky, it is very bright.”
“Oh, I see.” I go the couch and sit. It’s super soft and molds to my body.
“Would you like me to remove your footwear?” He gestures to my sandals.
“Yes please.” No one has ever asked me that before so I watch, somewhat intrigued, as he stoops before me and begins to carefully unwind the straps that go halfway to my knees.
I study his horns. They are not as big as some of the other aliens I’ve seen though they are shiny and deeply ridged.
I have the urge to touch them but instead I curl my hands into fists to stop myself.
It feels like something I should have permission to do.
“You have…” He points to my painted red toenails. “A color here. I was not expecting that.”
“It’s polish,” I say. “Decorated. It won’t stay forever.”
“Oh, I see.” He resumes his task.
When my left shoe is off he takes my foot in his warm-hued palm and holds it as though absorbing the texture of my skin and my body heat. He closes his eyes. “I have waited a long time to touch a woman again.”
I don’t answer. I like his touch and the way he’s relishing the moment.
It matches my hopes for this day. As does he.
He’s tall and handsome and my curiosity is growing as to what is beneath his clothes.
I feel sure he will have seen images of Earth women naked, but none of us have ever seen a Planet Hade man in the nude. I have absolutely nothing to go on.
“I can feel your pulse,” he says, “it is quickening.”
“Yes.” I tense a little. It’s as though he knows what I am thinking. “It is.”
“It is the low oxygen, you will soon adjust.”
“Oh…I…okay.”
He holds my gaze for a moment and then sets to work on my other shoe.
I try and relax and after a minute both of my soles are on the soft cool flooring.
He sits next to me, his tail between us.
I run my attention down its length estimating it’s about twice as long as my arm.
“Can I touch it?” I ask, anticipation tightening my belly.
“What?”
“Your tail.” I point to it.
“Why?”
“I have never seen a person…an alien…with a tail. I’m curious.”
“Curious?” He raises his eyebrows at me. “About what?”
“What it feels like.”
“For me or you?”
I hesitate. “What does it feel like for you, to have a tail?”
“It’s part of me, I can’t imagine living without it.” He pauses and leans a little closer, his thick shoulder nudging mine and reminding me how small I am compared to him.
I feel a tug, a pull, it’s attraction, a spark, some kind of lust that I wasn’t expecting this soon. “What do you use if for? Why do you have it?”
“It is a killing machine.”
“A what?” My eyes widen.
“I think you heard.” He touches my cheek, his finger stroking toward my jawline. “I can kill an assailant in a few flicks if I need to.”
“Oh, I see.” I stare at it again.
“But you must never fear it.”
“Why? It sounds pretty lethal.”
“It is, when my mind is in defense mode, but now, now I am relaxed.”
“So can I…touch it?”
“If you really want to but…” He pauses and his lips almost but not quite touch mine. “You should know, it’s incredibly sensitive when I am with a woman, hypersensitive in fact, and it has been a very long time since it has had any female attention.”
I breathe in the sultry scent that comes with his breathy words. “Okay.”
“It could get overexcited.” His voice is low and husky now.
Intrigue grips me, this is not what I’d expected but I’m not complaining. “I think I’ll take the risk, Tr-Argan, and see what happens.”