Page 31 of Milking His Lass

That sounds far more heavenly than it should. Pinning me to his side, carrying me like I’m nothing more than a sack to be hefted under his arm, he walks over to a moderate sized square off in the corner of the bathroom. The instant he touches the door, the glass clears.

No longer is it opaque, blending in with the surrounding walls. Craning my neck up, I find I can now see inside it. Though clearly alien, like everything else on this planet, it’s familiar enough to pass for a shower. Just with far more buttons than I’d ever use.

He sets me down and reaches in, fiddles with a few knobs, then steps back. After a moment or two, a robot voice commands us to step inside. Unease drips down my spine as I follow. It’s not the technology, exactly, but it feels far more fancy than I’m used to.

Even with my modest income, I never indulged in nice things, like a state-of-the-art shower. Most of my money went to my parents. I wanted them to be comfortable in Scotland while I wasn’t there.

And that’s when I realize my current priorities are all wrong. Instead of asking for coffee, I should be doing my best to find a way to make sure they’ll still be okay while I’m here. Of all the people this planet kidnapped, I might be one of the worst. It’s not like I’m a nobody.

People will miss me. Others will wonder. When I don’t call Mum on Sunday to chat, she’ll wonder. She’ll worry. Tears gather in my eyes as I stand there, staring at Master Antroli’s blue chest.

Will I ever see them again? These are the thoughts I didn’t let myself think of before, but now it’s all I can focus on. Even when his hot hands skim my body to smear me with what I can only assume is their version of soap, I feel no joy in his touch.

“You’re far away, little cow. What worries you?”

Again, I shake my head, unable to formulate the words. Would he even understand? Do they even have family? “Do you know your mum?”

His hands freeze, holding onto my arms for a moment before resuming his task of washing me down. “She passed several years ago. Why do you ask?”

“My mum is still very much alive.”

“I see.” His voice is tense and tight.

Glancing up, I notice the clench in his jaw. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine. How would you know without asking?”

Silence descends upon us as he turns me around and slathers some unscented goo into my hair. His fingers dig into my scalp, drawing a soft moan from my lips. He shouldn’t feel so good. None of this should feel so damned good.

“She was a kind woman,” he eventually says, his fingers never stopping. “Always treated me with fairness. Raised me to be the Icorian I am. Father was always away on intergalactic work, leaving her and me alone for weeks at a time.”

His heavy sigh tugs at my heart, and I find myself feeling for the boy who was forced to watch his family part for long swaths of time. “When I told her I wanted to be a Rancher, she wasn’t enthusiastic, but she didn’t stop me, either. I think she was worried I’d fall for an Earthling at best or catch some incurable disease at worst.”

I can’t help the chuckle slipping past my lips. Try as I might, I can’t hold it in until I’m nearly doubled over laughing. “And here you are, in a showering contraption with one. Whatever would she say?”

Turning me in his arms, he looks at me for a moment before giving me a soft smile. “I think she would have liked you. You have tenacity like her. A strength that cannot be taught, only born with.”

“Ye are a wee daft,” I tease, hot flames licking up the side of my face.

“No daft,” he murmurs, mimicking my accent with a precision that’s a touch unsettling. “Well, maybe a wee bit daft. But only for you. Always for you.”

A lump forms in my throat as I try to push him away. “You don’t even know me. You can’t claim always to a perfect stranger. Only psychopaths do that.”

He frowns for a moment, his gaze softening as if deep in thought. “I’ll make a deal with you. Give me the full earth rotation cycle. I will show you how perfect you are for me. Who knows? I might even give in to your negotiation as a show of good faith. You never did tell me what you wanted.”

“I- I can’t have it. So just forget about it.”

His lips screw up into a scowl. “I thought you said it wasn’t meat.”

“It’s not. But it’s such a longshot that I don’t even dare-”

“Dare. Try me.”

“And find out at your leisure?” Even as I say those words, a slice of pain sears through my heart.

I can’t allow myself to hope. I can’t dare to dream. Not when I’m completely at his mercy.

With a heavy sigh, he pulls away and opens his arms as wide as possible in the small space. “The worst I will do is say no. Try me.”

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