its use.
Taelon did the same, surprised to find he liked the flavor of the paste. It reminded him of an herb that grew on Lasara.
Leaning over the sink, she spat out white foam. “Don’t swallow the toothpaste. Spit it out, then rinse your mouth with water when you’re done.”
He grinned.
“What?”
He spat the tasty foam in the sink. “You remind me of a kuirtu.”
“What’s that?” She resumed scrubbing her teeth.
“A small, furry animal on Lasara that is often kept as a pet. When one goes into heat, it foams at the mouth.”
She laughed, then spat more foam in the sink. “So I look like a kuirtu in heat?”
“Yes. It’s very cute.”
Shaking her head, she rinsed her mouth with water, then wiped her lips with a towel. “So are you.” She rinsed her toothbrush and set it aside.
“I’m what?”
“Cute.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “And weird. Finish brushing your teeth.”
Chuckling, he did as bidden.
As soon as he finished, she booted him out of the bathroom. “Now that your great big alien baby is parked on my bladder, I feel like I spend half the day peeing,” she muttered.
Again he found himself laughing.
Her cranky expression dissolved into a smile just before she closed the door.
She was so drekking appealing.
Striding over to the window, he peered out once more and found the parking lot empty. If there were other patrons, perhaps he could steal a vehicle and take Lisa somewhere safer. They really needed to obtain transportation of some sort. Unfortunately, both the motel clerks they’d seen rode motorcycles.
The bathroom door opened. He turned as Lisa stepped out.
Leaving the light on, she pulled the door almost closed so a little light would illuminate the room for them.
Taelon turned off the overhead light and crossed to the bed.
Lisa faced him on the other side of it and fiddled with the edge of her towel. “My clothes are still wet.”
“Mine are, too.”
“I’m thinking there’s no way this towel is going to stay around me while I sleep.”
“Do you wish to sleep without it?” he asked, willing his body not to respond to just the idea of it.
“Um…”
“I can sleep on the floor.”
“Hell no. Not with those wounds. You’ll sleep in the bed with me. I’m just… not exactly an exhibitionist.”
He hesitated. “I don’t think my translator is giving me an accurate definition of that word.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You have a translator?”
“Yes. All members of the Aldebarian Alliance do.”
She studied him curiously. “Where is it?”
He pointed to his head, just behind his ear. “Embedded in my brain.”
“I’m surprised the doctors at the base didn’t remove it.”
“Their scans failed to detect it because it isn’t metal and appears to be part of my skull when viewed with your more primitive scanning devices.”
“That’s trippy.”
“That word isn’t translating at all.”
She tilted her head to one side. “What did it tell you an exhibitionist is?”
“A street performer.”
She laughed. “When I said I’m not an exhibitionist, I meant I’m not comfortable flaunting my naked body.” She glanced down and wrinkled her nose. “Especially when it looks like this.”
“You’re shy?”
“More self-conscious than shy,” she admitted. “I’m all… out of proportion. It looks weird.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess, despite my actions earlier, I just don’t want you to see me naked.”
Surprise coursed through him. “You don’t want me to see you naked?”
Her brow furrowed. “Yeah.”
Taelon shook his head. “Lisa, you’re beautiful.” When she started to speak, he held up a hand. “I’m not saying that to put you at ease. I think you’re lovely. So much so that I’ve honestly been having a hard time keeping myself from staring at you too long.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes.” He motioned to the towel at his hips. “This doesn’t exactly hide my body’s response to you, so I’ve been trying to keep my focus from drifting lower than your pretty face. You’re beautiful, Lisa. If anyone should wish to hide his body, it’s me. I’m quite a bit thinner than I used to be.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?” She motioned to his form. “You have all that muscle.”
“I used to have more. And I’m covered with all these ghastly wounds and scars because I’m too weak to regenerate. I don’t know how you can stand to look at me or manage not to grimace when you touch me. So again, I will offer to sleep on the floor.”
She stared at him, unspeaking.
“I won’t be offended if you don’t wish to sleep with me,” he assured her. Assuming an exaggeratedly somber expression, he rested