CHAPTER 015
ROLEC
"Are we here?" I wasn't exactly sure where here was, but I hadn't missed the sudden change in pace either.
We'd been traveling at what seemed a decent clip, but Vexarok slowed. When he found a spot he thought suitable, we shimmied from the leaves and down the gnarled trunk. The last ten feet, he simply dropped, sending my stomach rolling yet again. Then it settled, and I found my feet planted safely on the ground.
Standing was painful after so long wrapped around Vex's back, and the afternoon heat did little to help. It had felt like hours since we'd left the cave, and I was thankful for the break. It gave me time to stretch my legs and shake out my tender muscles. Rather than doing the same, however, Vex watched me, patiently waiting.
"Not sore at all?" I inclined my head. "Seriously, how am I worse off than you?"
The answer was fairly obvious; he was used to this, and I wasn't.
As soon as I'd finished, Vexarok moved us along. While we walked, he took extra care naming nearly everything we passed; the flora and fauna alike. He pointed out an atul, which I'd nearly missed. I caught only a glimpse of it — a tiny burrowing-creature — before it scurried under and over the fallen leaves that made the jungle floor.
I diligently memorized and filed away every new word he shared with me. Or so I hoped. I was relying on the translator to hold the information more than my own brain.
Eventually, the weather began to shift, and the sky grew cloudy. Rain would be coming soon. I almost thought I could hear it in the distance, but the sound grew too loud, too quickly. I realized why an instant later, when Vex stopped in his tracks. There was a river flowing here.
I sucked in a breath. My absolute thrill at seeing running water overwhelmed my other thoughts. Vexarok approached the water, kneeling and pulling the waterskin from his hip. His other hand gripped the hem of my borrowed shirt, keeping me from wandering more than an arm's length away. After a few meaningful taps against his shoulder, he loosened his hold and looked at me with what seemed like confusion.
Having gotten his attention, I pointed at the river. "I wanna wash up."
There was a moment of hesitation before I was released. Whether or not he'd meant it that way, I took it as my go-ahead. Peeling off clothes and boots, I stole a tentative step into the stream. I was still within arms reach of Vex, casting a glance his way for any further sign that the water might be dangerous; I didn't want to get snatched by a river monster lurking in the waves. But Vex gave no indication that I should stop what I was doing. He seemed only surprised, his ears and eyebrows both lifted high.
Good, I thought. I'll make this quick.
Unsurprisingly, the water was warm. On a clear day, I imagined the sun would fall across the river, making it even warmer. I sank up to my waist, using my hands to splash water both front and back. Once thoroughly soaked, I scrubbed at my nooks and crannies; anywhere skin met skin. I knew they were breeding grounds for bacteria and therefore funk. Soap would have been much better than pure water, but I had none. I was making due with the bare minimum.
Working up the nerve to dunk my head, I sank into the river. My hands snapped up, scrubbing at my scalp and hair in a flurry, trying to loosen the dirt and oil as quickly as I could manage. The current was strong enough that I had to lean into it to stay in place.
I was only half through my breath when a heavy hand snapped my arm and I was hauled back to the surface. I spat, blowing water from my lips and rubbing it from my eyes.
Vexarok had followed me in. At a glance, I could see he no longer held the waterskin, having dropped it on the shore. He hadn't even pulled off his pants before wading in. More than that, he barked, his body writ with tension. I was stunned by the sudden twist in his expression, and flashed a puzzled look at him, then back into the water. Before I could even glance away, he drew me close to his chest and held me.
He was warm. Much warmer than the water. An involuntary shiver slipped through my bones.
"What? Did you think I was drowning?" I laughed at the thought, finding his concern both amusing and unnecessary. Mostly. I patted his arm. "I was just trying to wash my hair."
Saying that, I mimed the motion I'd done beneath the water, tousling the dripping strands and sending beads flying.
Vex stared me down, his look incredulous. Then a spark of understanding flashed, and he gave a tentative grunt. I thought that would be the end of it, but rather than letting me finish, he slid his hands up my back and to my throat. His fingers threaded through my hair, his sharp claws scraping gently across my scalp. It sent a fresh shiver down my spine.
I closed my eyes and leaned into the sensation, humming quietly as Vex started to scrub my hair clean. It took me a few moments to blink away the pleasantness and scramble together a thought. Once I had, my hands came up to still Vex's.
"It's fine," I assured him. "I'm not that useless. I can at least wash my own hair." I curled my fingers around one of his hands, urging him to drop it. Then I leaned back into the river to rinse.
Honestly, that was probably good enough.
I used Vex as an anchor as I pulled myself back up, and once I had my footing, I started to turn. But the alien held fast. His ears twitched again, his eyes seeming to plead as he suddenly dropped into the water, pants and all. Where I'd been completely submerged, the river came up to his chest, and Vex angled his head back just as I'd done. He didn't wash his hair, though. He just sat, waiting with my hand clasped in his.
"Am I supposed to return the favor now?" There was a smile on the edge of my voice, and a laugh eventually worked itself free. "Alright, since you asked so nicely."
With my free hand, I tried scrubbing at his roots with my knuckles. But I found his hair much thicker than my own.
As I worked, it dawned on me then that this was probably the most I'd ever touched him myself. Vex was always grabbing me, but I never really initiated. Except maybe when I slept, and I was trying to sap his warmth. But I couldn't really count that, considering I was unconscious for most of it.
I unfurled my fingers, combing them through his hair, using the pads of my fingers to explore a bit. I could feel Vex vibrating beneath my touch. I understood entirely. "You like having your hair played with too, huh?"
My touch wandered, sliding behind his odd ears. I gave him a few scratches there, like I might have done to a dog, and was rewarded with a purr instead.
Maybe a cat was a more apt comparison. Although I'd always been told cats hated water, so maybe not.
Vex didn't seem to mind my exploration. My wet fingers slid along his pointed ears, playing a bit with the tufts of hair at the very tips. Unlike the hair on his head, the tufts felt like a much finer fur. Were my hands dry, I could have enjoyed it more, but the tufts were immediately soaked. When I pulled my fingers away, Vex was twitching them, shaking loose what moisture he could.
Another shiver, this one spurred by the approaching rain, shook me. Vex was keen and took notice, immediately standing.
As he turned, it was impossible to miss the half-chub Vex now had. I only forced my eyes away when I noticed he'd caught me staring far too long. I turned my sights toward my clothing instead, abandoned on the shore.
I'd been wearing his shirt for several days now, along with my still muddy pants. I knew they needed to be washed. With the rain coming, I figured getting them wet now wouldn't make any difference.
Vex followed me as I moved to the bank. Reaching for the shirt, I crouched in the water. Dunked, I twisted and rubbed the material beneath the surface. Never in my life had I washed something by hand. There were always wash facilities for these sorts of things, even on the most basic of ships.
"How do you usually wash clothes?" I didn't even look up as I asked. "Do you use washboards?"
Then again, I had yet to see any sort of civilization. Vex was my only point of contact, and he seemed to live wild in the jungles. Although, his clothing was clearly stitched with thread and the cloth was probably made on some sort of loom. It had been dyed too; Vex's trousers were a faded maroon color. Unless the fabric was naturally that color. I couldn't be sure.
He pulled them off and stooped over to wash them beside me.
Despite myself, my gaze lingered again. I'd yet to get a good glimpse of him undressed. Vexarok only slept in the nude when his clothing became too soaked from afternoons spent outside. But even on those nights, the cliffside cave was usually too dark to make out details. Now, however, I had a clear view.
Like plenty of species, Vex's business was an external sort; close enough to human in appearance, though with a few notable differences. The head of his cock was a brilliant purple, much like his eyes and hair, and it tapered rather than flared. Along the full length, there were a series of alternating ridges and bumps. Then at the base, I caught a glimpse of some bulbous looking gland. This all hung heavy over a dark sac.
While I wanted to pretend it wasn't intimidating, it was the size that struck me most. Objectively, it made sense; Vex was a giant. It was proportional to the rest of him. At least for the most part.
I tore my eyes away, this time without being caught, and focused on my task. As best as I was able, I scrubbed my clothes clean, then stood and wrung them out. Of course, they were still sopping wet, but I told myself they'd at least smell better. Probably. The whole lack of soap was a disappointment, but it was better than leaving them completely unwashed.
I gave the shirt a few more squeezes before I stepped out of the river and put it back on. It was heavy and clung to my dripping skin awkwardly. The pants and socks were no better. I just hoped they wouldn't chafe.
Dressed, I stood on the riverbank, watching Vex while his back was to me. He must have sensed me because he glanced my way and then hurried through his washing. Vexarok emerged from the river after only a minute. He redressed just as quickly, the strain of his cock barely softened by the wet weight of his trousers.
He gathered his few remaining belongings, a clear sign that the river wasn't our actual destination. This had only been a minor detour.
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