Page 20 of Xefe
Que rico! His chest is amazing.“I go by Queen Buttercup of Earth, most powerful of racers from New Angeles. But you may call me Hera.”
“Hera?” He returned to his rickety seat. “How is that related to your title?”
“It’s an Earth thing.”
“No.” He cocked his head to the side and focused on my mouth, my smile. “Your words can’t be trusted. I feel it in my chest, an irritation when you speak. Yet I need information about earthers. You won’t even give me your name?”
“I did.” When he slashed a hand down in agitation, I amended. “Okay, the queen part might be an exaggeration, but it’s close enough.”
“Perhaps I need to bring one of the others. They may be willing to swap information.”
Ooh, that one got me.Made my skin burn to think of Nieve here in my place. Thatprincesawould have him wrappedaround her slutty finger in minutes. I wanted him wrapped aroundmyslutty finger instead.
I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling even more vulnerable than when I first awoke. “My name is Hermosa Solis, but everyone calls me Hera.”
“Arr-mooos-aa. Air-mossa. Hair…no,Herrmosaaa. Yes.” He tapped his chest. “I accept this.” He backed off and sat back in his chair.
I slowly unclenched my hands and said, “I would like a shower.”
His eyes gleamed. He gave a quick chin-up motion toward the waterfall and crossed his arms. His frown deepened when I didn’t move. “Go. You have seen how it works.”
CHAPTER 10
Take a shower.In front of a killer alien.Huh.
What a conundrum. Usually, I was the first to strip down because anything worth doing was always better when my body was on display. But I was no fool. This situation placed me completely out of my element, and no matter how sexy I found him, I was at this intense warrior’s whim.
“Why do you hesitate?”
“I’m a cheap date, but even I have standards.”
“Cheap?Date?”
I sighed, uncomfortable with revealinganyfeelings of any kind. But I’d have to share if I wanted my needs met. I gritted my teeth and said, “I’m uncomfortable being naked in front of you.”
“Why?”
My brows snapped up. “You might be overcome with lust when you see my incredible body.”
“No.”
Ouch.Maybe he didn’t have sexual urges at all.No cookie, no nookie-nookie.
“You think a sack, covering your body, is protection against me?” He rumbled and grabbed his onyx staff off the rickety table. “I have seen you undressed already.”
“I would be vulnerable,” I said the words between clenched teeth, absolutely hating to admit any weakness.
Xefe looked up, and his intense eyes flashed for a moment. It somehow felt like sympathy. “You are safe here with me.”
His words felt… heavy with truth. So, I decided to believe him.For now.Not willing to resist the shower a minute longer,I pulled the filthy sack over my head and tossed it on the floor. I wish I could burn it. I walked over to the waterfall and tested the liquid on my palm.
Felt like water. Smelled like water. I wasn’t quite ready to taste it, in case they treated it with chemicals, so I took a deep breath and submerged myself under the waterfall. The basin came up to mid-shin, and it was glorious.
I could move in here. Permanently.
“Press the wall next to you, and the cleaning agent will be released.”
“Give me a few seconds more.” For the first time since the abduction, I allowed myself to feel, to focus on the joy of a lukewarm shower washing away the torture of the last few days. I could remove every last drop of Freckles from my body and, eventually, my mind.
