Page 14 of Echoes of the Tide

Finally, he cleared his throat and asked, “Would you like some soap?”

Again, she stared. Until finally, blissfully, there were a few words. “How do you know what soap is?”

“We have a few humans in our pod. They are female like you, and they’ve both pressed on the necessity of soap.” He started sinking underneath the water for a moment before pointing out at the floor. “You should find different clothes. Like you said, they’re going to hear you coming.”

“And whose fault is that?” He heard her mutter before she moved off and pulled herself out of the water.

Her wet clothes clung to her body, and he found himself curious about the differences he could already see. Mira was strong, her body flexed with muscles even when she was sitting. Anya was a delicate little thing who looked like she could break at any moment. But Ace had tantalizing curves that she’d hidden from sight. She was soft, plush, and she looked so much more tempting than the other two.

Or perhaps that was just his own loneliness talking. Of all things, he just wanted someone to look at him the way Mira and Anya looked at their mates. It seemed... nice. More than nice to have someone who cared about their partner. Perhaps he wouldn’t be quite so solitary, then.

But he couldn’t think like that. Those thoughts were a little too serious for him, so he tossed them away and swam out of the building to find the seed pods that foamed up. When he’d brought them back to Mira for the first time, she’d squeezed his face hard and kissed his cheek. Arges had nearly beaten the scales off him, but it was worth it to see both of the women squealing with excitement.

He’d do the same for this achromo.

It didn’t take him long to find the little pods. They were abundant in the deeper waters of the ocean, because they grewbest on the sea floor. To an untrained eye, they looked like large mussels. Their shells were dark in color and frequently had little white scars made by barnacles. Once he cracked it open, there was a soft spongy interior that foamed up when it was rubbed between hands. Apparently, it was perfect for cleaning hair.

He quickly made his way back to the achromo he’d left alone. Ace could have gotten into trouble while he wasn’t there. But as he rushed past broken pieces of furniture, he was quick to find that she was right where he had left her.

The dirty, ancient clothing she’d worn was gone. Instead, now she was snuggled up in a blanket that had seen better days. Her feet were bare for his gaze, their shape still odd. Even to him. He’d seen Mira and Anya’s feet many times before, but the sight of new ones was never easy to get used to.

Her toes were smaller than either of the other two. Itty bitty toes with the tiniest claws he’d ever seen on the tips of them.

She drew her feet underneath the blanket, those brown eyes watching him yet again.

“What?” he asked.

“You were staring at my feet.”

“I know.”

“It’s rude to stare at people’s feet.”

“Why?” He tilted his head to the side, genuinely confused why that would ever be considered rude. “They are very unusual appendages for my people to see. I have only seen two pairs before yours. Some of my people have seen more, but I never watched your kind very often.”

Ace’s face screwed up in a strange expression. Her mouth pressed thin, her brows drew down, and her eyes squinted at him. Was she trying not to laugh? Or perhaps she was simply constipated.

“What?” he asked again.

“They’re just feet.”

“They are so tiny, though.” He moved a little closer and then placed the pod down on the floor beside her feet. “I did not know that they came in such a small size.”

“Well, I didn’t pick them and then affix them onto myself.” Grumbling, she grabbed the pod and turned it over in her hands. “How’s this work, then?”

He grabbed it from her hands, an idea forming in his mind. Instead of explaining anything to her, he backed away into the water. “You have to come in to get clean.”

“I am clean.”

“You are covered in saltwater and I can still smell you.” He gestured with a clawed hand, hoping the sight of those deadly weapons wouldn’t scare her off. “Come here, Ace.”

She jolted at the sound of her name. He wasn’t sure why it was so startling to her, only that it was. And in just a moment, she brushed the blanket from her shoulders and slipped into the water.

He sank underneath the surface for a brief moment, if only to look at her better. She wore very little now. Just a small scrap of fabric hiding what was between her legs and twin cups that were formed around her breasts. But he could see her so easily, so perfectly. The soft curves of her body, the way her stomach was slightly rounded. Though she was so small compared to him, there was much of her to grasp.

Perfection, he thought as he cracked the pod open. Just as he’d thought she would be.

He moved back to the surface with two halves of the pod already open. “The innards of this plant foam. One of our females said that it cleans the hair very nicely.”

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