wet, the bottoms to the set only having thin elastic at the waist.
He opened the suit, revealing a tight black top. He dropped the upper half of his suit and reached for his waist, pulling up the shirt. He had a broad chest, muscled arms, and dark skin. He also had thin fur. It was so fine, she wasn’t sure if it was even real. It could be her imagination.
She swallowed as she tried to bend a little, still staring at him, to remove her pants.
She swayed, and suddenly his hands were on her upper arms, steadying her. She closed her eyes and panic hit. Was she back in the security room? It was possible she was only dreaming that she’d been saved.
She threw herself against him, hugging his waist. Firm skin that felt hot plastered against her as she clung to him.
“Real,” she muttered. “He’s real.”
The big alien she held sighed again. “Yes, Vera. I am real. We need to finish this. Please release me.”
She clung to him tighter, pressing her face to his chest. His dark skin felt a little velvety on her cheek. She rubbed against it.
“Female,” he rasped. “You need medical attention. The doctors are waiting for us to finish in here to treat you. You wish to be well, correct?” He released her arms and used his big hand to stroke her bare back. “I’m here. Real. You’re not food. I won’t leave you. I gave my word, remember?”
“Yes.”
“Release me.”
She didn’t want to but managed to unlock her arms from around his waist. He gripped her upper arms again, forcing her to take a few steps back. She peered up at his face as he released her.
“Keep looking at me if it helps.” He turned a little, bent, and struggled to remove the lower half of his suit and the boots attached to it. He wore black tight shorts for underwear. He was a big guy. Tall. Wide. Big boned. Not human. And he didn’t disappear.
He glanced at her, reached for the waist of his shorts, then hesitated. “You are safe. Remember that, Vera. There are other humans watching us on a monitor. You’re not alone in here with me. I must remove everything. I am not initiating copulation with you.”
“Kay,” she got out. “Just hurry. My vision is going wonky again.” The spots were becoming worse and he was turning blurry.
He bent farther, yanking off the shorts. That was when her vision went out totally and everything turned black.
She yelped and stumbled toward him, blindly reaching out. She touched his hot body and grabbed hold of him around his middle. He pulled her against him. It felt like she was at his side.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m blind,” she whispered. “Don’t let me go.”
He snarled. “She’s worsening,” he called out. “Start the next procedure.”
“We need her to put space between your bodies,” a female voice called out.
Her alien, as she was starting to think of him, growled low. “Understood. Vera, trust me. Just know I’m here and I’m real.”
He suddenly pulled her away from his side and spun her.
She panicked, screamed, but he gripped her wrists from behind, pulling them away from her sides.
“Do it,” he demanded loudly.
Warm, wet spray rained down on them. She closed her eyes and whimpered. He was holding her wrists tight though. He did adjust his grip, probably to expose all of her skin. Then the spray stopped. Air blew fast and hot. A hum sounded. She opened her eyes but her vision hadn’t returned. She couldn’t see anything, but the feel of firm hands on her arms kept her from screaming again.
“I’m here,” he assured her. “Right here with you.”
“Don’t leave me!”
“I won’t.”
“The scans are clear,” the strange female voice called. “Dress.”
Vera was spun, suddenly lifted and pressed against a warm body. “Open the door now,” her alien demanded. “She needs help. Forget the clothing.”
There was a buzz and something made a creaking noise, probably the door opening. Then he was moving, cradling her against him. Vera wiggled a little, getting her hands around his neck, and clung to him. She burrowed her face against him, rubbing her cheek on that damp velvety texture stretched over solid, hot skin. The heat felt real, too.
“Over here,” a woman ordered. “Lay her down.”
“She won’t release me,” her alien warned. “She will not take it well if I let her go.”
“Just climb on it with her then.” The woman sounded closer. “Our scanners are able to differentiate you from her. What’s her name?”
“Vera Wade,”