Page 17 of Veras
“Only the sentient aliens. None of the creatures that are natural to the planet will be destroyed.”
“In case you didn’t remember,I’mnot native here. So that includes me. And I’m not cool with it. But…” I held up my hand. “All I need right now is a shower, bath, whatever you people use to clean yourselves. Because, as you’ve pointed outmany times,I stink.” I gave him some serious side-eye over that one, which he completely missed. Or maybe it didn’t translate.
He spun around and lifted me again. “I wonder if you’ll smell any better afterward.”
I punched him on the shoulder, but this time he let out a deep laugh. But the damage was done. What if he was right? Even after the shower, I may still gross him out.
“Wait! Can the replicator make anything? Or just food?”
“Rudimentary items. Yes.”
“Do your people use soaps or shampoos for your hair and body?”
He picked up a strand of my hair. “Nothing is as soft and silky on my planet, but we used to have some alien dignitaries visit. What would you like?”
My heart beat out of my chest in excitement. Not just a shower, but I might get someproducttoo. “Just something that will get me clean and allow me to get the tangles out of my hair. I’ll also have to cut the ends.”
“Cut it?You will not!” He tightened his hold. “That would be too painful.”
“No, it’s basically dead cells.”
“Please stop sharing these horrific details about humans. So unappealing.” He strode back toward the replicator and plugged in different items. I memorized each one.
This time, I giggled, not caring if he teased or not. He tipped up the side of his mouth. “Oh, wait, now that I think about it. Hair remover!”Yes.
“You will not remove it completely. I forbid it.” He stabbed the replicator. “I don’t care if it’s made of dead things.”
“Dios mio. I wasn’t talking about—”
“I have grown attached to the death sprouting from your head. I stroked it earlier, and I’ve never felt anything so wondrous. Plus, it is the least smelly part of your body.”
I crossed my arms. So ridiculously dramatic. “It’s not for the hair on my head.”
His swirling eyes grew wider. “Between your legs? I stroked that as well, but you groaned so loud, I stopped. It… pains you?” He stared at my crotch.
Jesus!I slapped my hands over my face. Maybe that was why I was in a constant state of arousal. He’d been petting mychocha! I didn’t know how to deal with this guy. “That’s none of your business. Can you get it for me?’
He tapped his chest. “What is this emotion I feel from you? It feels warm. Too warm. Are you fevered?”
“It’s embarrassment!”
“Embarrassment? For what?”
“People don’t just go around and pat each other’s pussies. Or…” I blatantly avoided looking at his non-existentpito. “Private parts.”
“Why feel shame? There is no shame in your body.”
“Youractions embarrassed me.”
“For touching your slit? Earthers do not stroke each other there?”
“We do, I mean, yes, of course, but—When we’re familiar with the person. That’s an intimate act. Between lovers.”
“Oh, I see.” His sadness floated over and around her. “I am not this to you?”
“Stop it with your drama. I’m not to you either. We don’t know each other.”
“Fine!” He accessed a whole new holographic panel and produced soaps, and what I assumed were shampoos. Plus, a tiny laser that would zap the hair on my legs.
