Star Child

Twenty-One - Lilac Wine

Dhare stood in the stream of water letting rivulets of blood run down his body and into the drain of the shower.

It was not a satisfying shower. The cleansing space was built for humans, so he had to crouch under the head. The water pressure was too light for Dhare's taste. Most of the knots in his muscles hadn't been beaten out like he wanted but it would have to do.

After turning off the primitive shower, he toweled off, using the very small soft-cloth to dry his body. Meanwhile, he thought about Ashaki and how delectable she looked in that sparkling dress when he arrived to rescue her from two assailing men. A primal part of him wanted to rip it off her curvy little body, but he suppressed his urges...at the time.

Donning just his loincloth, he left the too-small room to locate the woman of his thoughts. He found her in the living room curled up on the couch.

The air was thick with her sour mood. He practically smelled it as he padded across the large, open communal room and sat opposite of her on the large sectional. Gently, he didn't want to break it with his heavy weight. Ashaki scooted closer; she was quick to snuggle into his side. He was relieved she was safe and beside him, unharmed. He sank into the couch; the long contours of its design made it easier to lounge then to sit.

Her lack of words was concerning. His human was typically chattier, her words both exciting him and frustrating him. However, this odd quiet from her made sense. She had been through a harrowing experience. He was lucky to arrive at her side when he did. Who knows what would've happened if he hadn't.

"They were bounty hunters. I was their target..." she whispered, twisting her body to burrow closer, one of her legs crossing his lap.

This was atypical as well. They had spent four days apart, and while recently, Ashaki had appeared interested in seducing him, aggressively so, there was a moment before landing on this planet, where she had cooled her attention. Dhare thought she had lost interest, but this action of affection...it gave him some fresh hope.

He had enjoyed her little games of testing his control. The amount of time he spent meditating away a hard-on, standing in the hallway after a quick exit, was difficult.

But now, here she was, wrapping herself around him like a delicate vine crawling a trellis. Perhaps she was interested in starting another game.

A soft purr left him as he boldly pulled Ashaki against his hip like when two Yautja on a hunt need to quietly scheme with the other. His clawed-hand lay over the curve of her waist, which may not be the normal procedure for a discussion, but he wanted to comfort her, to convince her she was not alone, and that all was well. He would remove it if she asked, but instead she made a small noise settling against his chest. They folded together and for a moment, his mind blanked in peace.

He realized he had taken too long to respond, too lost in his meandering thoughts.

"Whoever they are, they will not take you from me. That other puny male is lucky I spared his life." He softly reassured Ashaki.

Within his hold he realized she had washed the blood from her arms, his hand only finding smooth soft skin. He could feel her terrible mood settle to one of relaxation.

It satisfied him to know that she would find comfort in him.

"I should've been bothered by Carlos dying...but I wasn't. Just like with that guy I killed a few days ago. Shouldn't I at least feel guilt?" she asked, tipping her head back to look at his face. Her small hands flattened on his abdomen.

By human sensibilities, of course she'd feel guilt. Killing another was frowned upon in her species. To the Yautja, that male's death was retribution, the result of attacking a defenseless person. She had no weapon or fighting capability—not one that he had seen anyways.