Page 28 of Her Alien Guardian

I was so caught up in marveling at my surroundings that Sala’s words took a moment to register.

“Tessara,” she said gently, drawing my attention back to her. “Now that we’re inside the embassy, we need to follow Magisterian custom.”

I blinked at her, uncomprehending. “Custom?”

Sala nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Yes, sweet one. You and I will need to remove our gowns.”

My eyes widened in shock. “Here? But… but we’re in public!” Again I felt the very strange mixture of emotions that the lovely blue gown seemed to stimulate—I had become so used to my nakedness on theConqueror,but here on Prosperia it seemed terribly embarrassing, as if having just gained the right to wear clothing I clung to it with special fierceness.

Alpha’s deep chuckle resonated through the space. “This is Magisterian territory, little one. Our customs apply here.”

I felt my cheeks flush hot, remembering how the women aboard thePrince Hendhad almost all been nude. Somehow, the thought of stripping off my beautiful gown in this opulent setting seemed even more scandalous.

Sala turned to Alpha, her posture one of deference despite her nude state being a foregone conclusion. “My lord,” she said, her voice soft but clear, “may I have permission to undress myself and Tessara?”

Alpha nodded, reaching for the sleek handheld device at his belt. With a few taps of his large blue fingers, he seemed to make some adjustment. “There,” he said. “I’ve granted you control over both gowns.”

Sala took my hand, her touch gentle but insistent. “Come, Tessara. There’s a dressing room just off the lobby where we can disrobe.”

As she led me away, I cast a glance back over my shoulder. Gamma’s intense gaze followed us, a hint of something predatory in his eyes that made my stomach flip with a mixture of fear and excitement.

The dressing room was a marvel in itself. The walls seemed almost alive, sometimes appearing opaque and sometimes transparent.

My heart began to race at the thought that I would have to be naked in front of Gamma. The silvery walls of the dressing room reflected my flushed face back at me, multiplying my image in a dizzying array. I watched my cheeks grow redder and redder, the blush spreading down my neck to my chest.

Sala stood behind me, our eyes meeting in the shifting mirrors. With deliberate slowness, Sala reached for the neck of my gown. I held my breath, torn between the urge to stop Sala’s hand and the desire to let it continue. The moment stretched, taut as a bowstring, until Sala’s fingers finally made contact with the fabric.

There was a soft whisper of sound, barely audible over the pounding of my heart, and suddenly the gown had begun falling away. It slipped down my body like water, pooling at my feet in a puddle of satiny blue. I gasped softly at the suddenness of it, the way the air of the dressing room wafted over my newly revealed skin.

I stood, trembling slightly, acutely aware of my nudity. The mirrored walls seemed to amplify my nakedness, showing me from every angle. I could see the goosebumps rising on my arms, the way my nipples had hardened in the cool air. My eyes met Sala’s in the mirror, a question forming on my lips.

But before I could speak, Sala turned me gently, drawing me into a warm embrace. I melted into the contact, grateful for the comfort of skin against skin. Then, to my surprise, Sala’s lips found mine in a deep, passionate kiss.

The kiss was nothing like the perfunctory, often cruel kisses I had endured as a Vionian concubine. Sala’s lips were soft, insistent but not demanding. Her tongue teased at the seam of my mouth, asking rather than taking. I found myself responding eagerly, my body pressing closer to Sala’s as the kiss deepened.

When we finally parted, both of us were breathless. Sala’s arms remained around me, holding me close. Her blue eyes searched my face, a small smile playing at the corners of her kiss-swollen lips.

“Tessara,” Sala murmured, her voice husky, “tell me truthfully. Do you like Gamma?”

I felt my cheeks flush even hotter at Sala’s question. My mind raced, filled with images of Gamma—his deep blue eyes, the way his tailored clothes hugged his powerful form, the low rumble of his voice that seemed to resonate through my very being.

“I… I think I do,” I whispered, my voice barely audible even in the quiet of the dressing room. “He’s so… different from anyone I’ve ever met. But I hardly know him, and yet…”

I trailed off, unable to put into words the tangle of feelings Gamma stirred within me. Sala’s knowing smile made me duck my head, embarrassed by my fumbling attempt to express myself.

Suddenly, I felt Sala’s hand on my thigh, her touch gentle but insistent. Before I could react, her fingers had slipped between my legs, probing delicately at the entrance to my cunny. I gasped, my body tensing at the unexpected contact.

“Oh, my,” Sala breathed, her eyes widening slightly. “You certainly do like him, don’t you?”

I wanted to sink into the floor as I realized what Sala had discovered. The wetness between my thighs betrayed my body’s reaction to thoughts of Gamma, a visceral response I couldn’t deny or hide. Shame and arousal warred within me, my face burning so hot I feared I might combust.

“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, mortified beyond words. “I didn’t mean to… I don’t know why…”

Sala’s gentle laugh cut off my fumbling apology. “Don’t apologize, sweet one,” she said, her voice warm and reassuring. “It’s perfectly natural. In fact…” Her smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I’d say this bodes very well for your medical examination. I’m certain you’ll pass with flying colors.”

CHAPTER 16

Gamma

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