Nodding at the woman, she closed the door.Avalore walked to the sink.Since she only needed to wash her face and brush her teeth, she could be quick about getting ready.In the mirror, she spotted the tub on the other side of the room, her mind filled with her bath yesterday.She saw how Liekki had washed her hair and combed it for her.The intense desire he stirred in her was bewildering.She’d yearned to have him kiss her and touch her in more places than her hair and feel the heat of his breath all over her skin.
Shutting her eyes, she took a deep breath to defuse the intense need for a man she didn’t know.When she smelled his potent scent again, she realized Liekki’s scent clung to her hair and skin.It didn’t help that she was still in his shirt.Her thighs quivered as she opened her eyes and set the clothing on the counter.Her knees threatened to buckle as the soft cotton material of his shirt grazed against the tips of her nipples, making things more complicated.Her mind was back in the tub and wishing Liekki rendered the same strong strokes he’d used along her scalp, over her breasts, thighs, and ass.
Avalore, you have to pull yourself together.
She’d never imagined there would be a time when she was naked in a tub with a sexy man tending to her.Nothing in her life had come close to preparing her for this situation.Even her parents, father and mother or father and stepmother, never had such intimate relationships that she’d ever witnessed.
Avalore didn’t blame them for their relationship's lacklusterness because, in the Dispatch District, people’s lives were hard.People found a small piece of joy where they could in relationships because daily, they had to work hard to have little, and the little they had was never enough.So, it didn’t leave time for long baths, and if one partner was washing, the other was tending to kids, working, or catching a few winks.
A part of her felt terrible that she’d been grumbling mentally about Liekki’s prominent place when her family was cramped in the unfit dwelling in the Dispatch.Even before escaping, she hadn’t seen them for so long being sequestered in the lab area.She couldn’t help but wonder how they were doing, if the illness had taken any of them, or if her sister was pregnant again.If so, with the man of her first two babies or a different one.
She wished there was a way to get them all beyond the Wall, especially since the lies their government had told them about what was outside the area didn’t seem true.Or at least not all the land was invaded by skinless, mutant cannibals, even if she could get her family into positions where they could live lavishly like those she’d seen eating and drinking in expensive stylish clothing with the Governor in the Consumer Providence.
Avalore shook her head.Right now, she wasn’t in any position to aid anyone.She wasn’t sure where she was and still needed to figure out if she was staying there or going.
In the meantime, she had to get clothing and gather as much intel and supplies as possible to plan to escape.Tearing her gaze away from the tub, she glanced in the mirror to check on her injuries and then turned on the faucet.
The water rushed into the sink as she marveled at how well her skin had healed.A few minor bruises were along her jaw, but her face was clear, and the swelling was gone.Her hair was a rat's nest because she hadn’t braided it before falling asleep, or rather being put to sleep by Liekki.
Leaning down, she splashed the icy cold water on her face.She wanted to fill the sink up, call Chumana in, and ask her to heat it as Liekki had done.But warm water was a luxury she’d only gotten used to when she moved into the lab.It wasn’t that the district didn’t have hot water.It came at a steep price, which was a luxury.
With the Drahks, a people who had the gift of dragon fire, she didn’t see the cold water as evidence of their lack of finances.Hell, the man had a big chunk of a precious stone he freely gave her, one that strangely brought her comfort.
Quickly, she washed her face and cleaned her teeth, ignoring the goosebumps on her skin from contact with the frigid water.The clothes came next, and she could admit she felt like a normal person instead of a lab rat.She’d lived so long only being able to wear a hospital gown and slippers.
The short-sleeve top was snug since her breasts were a bit fuller than Chumana’s, but it covered Avalore to the bottom of her ribs and only left a few inches of bare midriff.She would have appreciated underpants but Avalore wasn’t keen on wearing another woman’s.Instead of pants, which would have been way too long given the other woman’s height, Chumana had given her a cargo skirt.The pockets on the thighs weren’t big enough for Avalore to put the stone in.The only thing missing were shoes.
However, Avalore could understand because, like the length of Chumana’s legs, the woman’s feet were a bit larger than hers.
Glancing up, Avalore thought about what to do with her hair.She opened the same drawer she’d found the comb the night before and was happy that Liekki had returned it.On the counter were a couple of the same small jars as the larger ones on the side of the bathtub.She decided to use the moisturizer she’d used on her body the night before to smooth out her natural waves.
Her hair’s texture and length were like her Dominican mother’s, while her nose and lips represented her Black father.They both could be blamed for her ass and thighs that were giving the seams of the skirt a workout.
In minutes, her hair was done in a single braid over her left shoulder.Happy with her appearance and to know she hadn’t been permanently scarred by the winged honey-defenders, Avalore left the bathroom.
She paused momentarily, straightened the bed, and considered taking the stone with her.Deciding to leave it, even though it made her uneasy to be without it, Avalore wanted Liekki’s people to see her as friendly.Maybe it would make it easier for them to help her.
Her stomach growled, and Avalore was forced across the room to the open door and down the stairs.
Chumana rose from the couch as she descended.“I’m glad everything fit.Liekki told me last night your shape was similar to mine, but you were much shorter.”
If he were remotely interested in me, it would seem the man has a type.Avalore told herself she didn’t care if Liekki liked her because she wasn’t interested in him.
Shoving the thoughts aside, Avalore stood at the bottom of the stairs, her head only coming to the woman’s chin.She grinned at Chumana.“I’m grateful for the loan.I feel human again—”
The tall woman laughed.“I got you.Let’s get going.You can grab shoes at the textile building, too.The sun is rising higher now, and there should be plenty of Drahks to introduce you to.”
“I’m ready.”Avalore followed the woman out the door.When she turned to close the front door, it was as heavy as the bedroom one.
“Let me help.”Chumana reached around her and smoothly shut the door with one hand.
Avalore glanced back at the door and then at the woman with the muscular arms and toned body.“I need to work out more if I’m ever going to get myself in and out of places around here.Whoever thought stone doors were a great idea was wrong.”
“Wood and other materials burn too easily.And our dragons can be temperamental at times.”Chumana shrugged and started walking.
Avalore dashed to keep stride with the other woman’s long legs.“Dragons?”She shook her head.Just then, two big beasts flew high above them in the sky.One dove toward the ground, and the other seemed to follow in a chase only to circle the other.Then they circled each other as if dancing before launching back up toward the cloudless golden-purple sky, and the first followed.Her heart pounded in her chest with fear and amazement.“That’s going to take some getting used to.”
Chumana glanced up.“That’s Aine and Ryuji.A mated pair who are expecting.There has been a lot of that happening in the territory.”
