"Come on," Taylor whispered. She put a soft hand on Maia's shoulder, steering her toward the door of the shower. Steam had already begun to fill the room.
Maia went in first, but she stretched out a hand to hold open the door, waiting for Taylor to come inside. After a moment, Taylor stepped in to join her. At first, they both stood under the hot water in an awkward silence. Maia stared at the shower floor, her arms crossed over her chest. Eventually, Taylor grabbed a soap bar and washcloth and lathered it up.
"What are you doing?" Maia asked when Taylor approached her with the cloth.
"I was going to wash you. You looked a little out of it. Don’t ikthians ever do this for each other?"
Maia lowered her arms and allowed Taylor to run the cloth over her body in slow, careful movements. It felt surprisingly good, and some of the tightness in her chest began to ease under Taylor’s soothing touch. "Only with partners, usually," she said.
"You mean like a husband or wife?" Taylor asked, following the line of Maia’s shoulders as she washed her. She sounded genuinely curious.
Taking a deep breath, Maia closed her eyes and tried to think of an answer that would best satisfy the human. "I do not know what those terms mean. Partners are bound together, physically and emotionally, for however long they choose to be together, often until death parts one from the other. The ikthian name for it is different, but I suspect it would hold little meaning to you."
"That’s basically like a husband or wife," Taylor said. Her hands faltered. "Should I stop doing this if it’s so personal?"
Somehow, the thought of Taylor’s hands leaving her caused Maia to panic. "No!" She swallowed, a little embarrassed by her outburst as it echoed through the shower, and lowered her voice. "I mean, no. Please, do not stop. It feels…nice."
Taylor smiled down at her. "All right. But turn back around. I want to massage your back. You’ve been really tense."
"I...yes..." Maia whispered. She did not know why she suddenly craved Taylor’s touch, but the thought of being alone frightened her. Taylor reached out slowly, running her free hand across Maia’s shoulders. Her touch was surprisingly gentle, but Maia could feel the strength behind it, and it made her shiver a little under the warm water. A soft whimper escaped her lips when Taylor's hand pulled away too soon, but it was quickly replaced by the rougher texture of the washcloth.
Taylor began moving the cloth in circles, covering every inch of Maia's back in suds before the water from the showerhead washed them away. She even coaxed Maia into extending her hands, running the cloth along each arm. After diligently cleaning her back, Taylor crouched slightly to drag the cloth over her legs. Maia let out a low groan of appreciation as Taylor rubbed the stiff muscles of her calves, but as the cloth drew higher, sliding up along her thighs until it was nearly at the juncture between her legs, she held perfectly still, unsure what to do. Perhaps Taylor sensed her hesitation, because she left that area alone and ran the cloth over Maia's lower belly instead. Finally, she dropped the cloth and stood back up, returning her hands to Maia's shoulders and massaging some of the tension from them.
Maia kept still, and her eyes remained closed as Taylor's hands wandered over her body. When Taylor reached around to cup her breasts, Maia shuddered, expecting the touch to turn heated and possessive. Instead, Taylor toyed with the hard tips, teasing them between her fingers. Warm lips brushed over Maia's shoulder, a sensation separate from the water. "I want to help you feel better," Taylor murmured against her neck. Maia remained silent, unsure what to say. Taylor pulled closer, and Maia felt the hard muscles of the human’s body pressed against her back. She felt herself pulse involuntarily, her inner muscles clutching at nothing. "Will you let me?"
Maia did not say yes right away. Her head spun. Water ran down her face along with confused tears, blurring her eyesight as Taylor turned her around, propping her tenderly against the shower wall. Instinctively, Maia parted her thighs and let out a quiet, breathless, "Yes," giving Taylor all the access she needed. She had no idea why she was crying, but she desperately wanted Taylor to touch her again for reasons she could not explain.
Taylor's hand pressed in between her legs, parting her folds with two fingers. She ran the tips over the swollen ridge above her entrance, although she did not apply nearly as much pressure as any time before. Maia found herself arching into the touch, deliberately seeking more. Taylor rubbed over her with slow, teasing strokes before withdrawing her hand to caress Maia’s inner thigh. "That’s it," she murmured. "Just relax. Let me take care of you."
Maia welcomed Taylor’s touch as the human leaned in closer to her. Their bodies met, wet limbs sliding past one another. Taylor lined up the tips of her fingers to Maia’s entrance, but she hesitated, obviously waiting for permission. Finally, Maia found her voice. She wanted Taylor to make her feel something good, to replace the constant fear and sadness with pleasure. "Please. Touch me."
Taylor's caught Maia’s lips in a tender kiss, and her fingers slid forward, stretching her with a slow, deep push. Maia gasped in response to the fullness within her. She could feel every small movement Taylor's fingers made. Her hips jerked forward, and she wedged one of her own legs in between Taylor's thighs. It was so difficult to not be involved with Taylor, even when she knew their end would only lead to more tears. The human drove her insane without even trying. When they broke away from the kiss, Maia rocked her hips into Taylor's hand, encouraging her to start thrusting.
Taylor filled her again, faster this time, fingertips dragging along her inner wall. More tears streamed down Maia's face, mingling with the water droplets from the shower. Taylor kissed her cheeks, blotting them away with her lips before sliding down to the column of her throat. The hand on her hip tightened, and Taylor finally settled into a steady rhythm.
Maia turned her head, water cascading down one side of her face. Her lips parted, and she let out small, soft gasps every time she felt Taylor thrust back inside of her. It was difficult to take in air. Her chest felt heavy and light at the same time. She knew that they should not be doing this, but she could not find it in herself to care. Right now, she needed the comfort that Taylor was offering her.
"That's it," Taylor sighed beside Maia's crest, kissing along the line of her jaw and wandering down toward the dip of her throat. Maia instinctively tilted her chin back and offered the human her neck, not caring when the back of her head hit the shower wall. "You feel so good, Maia."
Maia’s face flushed, but not from the warmth of the shower. She was quickly discovering that she loved it when Taylor said her name. "Please..."
"Please?" Taylor repeated, holding Maia's hips steady.
"Please, say it again." When Taylor gave her a confused look, Maia swallowed down the knot of embarrassment in her throat. "My name."
"Maia," Taylor breathed, holding her gaze for a moment before lavishing kisses on her warm throat. "You're so ready for me," she murmured. Her fingers slid out again, and Maia let out a sob of disappointment until she felt them settle on the hard ridge of her clit instead. The new touch was even more intense than before. She tried to press forward to relieve the pressure building inside her, but Taylor moved with her. "I love how responsive you are."
"I…cannot help it." Maia bit her lower lip as Taylor continued teasing her. Her inner muscles clutched down, clasping at nothing, but once again, Taylor knew exactly what she needed. She slid back inside, replacing her fingertips with the pad of her thumb. "You…your every touch…" Maia gave up on trying to explain, and surrendered to Taylor's thrusts instead.
Taylor leaned down, and Maia shivered as blunt teeth grazed her neck. "You feel so good," she muttered between nips.
"I…Taylor, I…" Maia’s words failed her, and for a moment, she was tempted by a thought that startled her with its intensity. She wished her collar was off. She wished that she was free, and that she and Taylor were not involved in some twisted prisoner and guard relationship. She had never been with someone like this before, and it sh
amed her that her first time was outside of normal circumstances, especially with a non-ikthian. Most would not even consider touching a human, but Maia’s research proved the differences between them irrelevant. All that remained now was the regret that she and Taylor would never have a chance at a normal relationship.
"Maia? Are you all right?"
Taylor’s voice startled her, and Maia blinked. She had gotten lost in thought, something her colleagues used to tease her about relentlessly. "I…I am sorry," she said, her voice shaking a little. She looked down to see that Taylor’s hand was still buried between her legs, and the pleasant stretch of the fingers inside of her suddenly stole her attention again. "Please, do not stop. I promise to explain later, but now…" She reached up to cup the side of Taylor’s face, drawing it down closer to hers. "Now, I just need you."
Taylor pressed her cheek into Maia's hand, turning to kiss the center of her palm. The simple gesture of affection made Maia's heart swell. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, and Maia could see her own need reflected in Taylor's eyes. Even though they could have no future together, at least she was not alone in this.
Taylor began moving her hand again, and Maia felt the pounding ache center back between her legs, making her forget everything else. Every time Taylor's fingers entered her, she pushed her hips down, seeking something, anything to ease the tightness in her core. She knew what she sought, but could not find words. Instead, she clutched desperately to Taylor's back and hoped the human would know what she needed.
"Oh, Taylor, I want…" Maia’s voice was soft, tinged with embarrassment, but also alight with desire. "I want…"
"You want to come," Taylor finished the thought, cradling Maia's hip in her other hand and running her thumb just above Maia's hipbone. The touch made her clit pulse beneath Taylor's thumb.
"Please."
Taylor thrust into her one more time, harder than before, and Maia screamed. Her release tore through her, and she pulsed around Taylor's fingers, barely able to breathe. Each press, each curl inside of her was bliss. Tears leaked from her eyes as she spilled into Taylor's palm, finally releasing the pressure that had been building deep within her. She cried out again when she felt Taylor buck against her thigh, grinding down and covering it with warmth. She dug her fingernails into Taylor’s back, trying to draw her closer even though no space remained between them.
Somehow, they untangled themselves, and the pleasure faded to a satisfied, exhausted feeling. Maia slumped against the shower wall, the hot water rolling over her body. Taylor’s weight pressed on top of her, but it was comforting instead of constricting. She could feel each of the human’s deep, shuddering breaths. Slowly, Taylor’s fingers eased out of her, but she kept an arm wrapped around Maia to hold her up. "God, I didn’t think I could come that way," Taylor muttered thickly. She gave Maia’s temple a gentle kiss. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Maia said after a long moment, "I am now." And to her surprise, it was the truth.
Chapter Twenty
"Wow," Taylor muttered, placing a soft nip along the cord of muscle that ran between Maia’s neck and shoulder. Maia tensed for a moment, but relaxed into the gentle bite. Taylor let go, nuzzling into the soft crook of Maia’s throat, just above her collar. Her skin was slick from the water, and she could still feel her pulse pounding beneath the place Taylor had bitten. "That was incredible."
Maia drew in a shuddering breath and ran her hands down Taylor’s arms. "It was," she whispered back.
Taylor dipped her head and brushed her lips against Maia’s one more time. "Let’s do that more often," she said when they finally pulled apart.
Maia could not help but laugh a little. She did not know what to think of Taylor, but she had entrusted her well-being to this human. While it had not been a voluntary decision on her behalf, Taylor had proven to be her most supportive ally. Maia’s mind was still reeling from what she had just experienced. She did not know how to sort through all the things that Taylor had just given her. She lowered her foot to the shower floor and tried standing on her trembling legs. Taylor held onto her, reaching out with her free hand to shut off the water.
When Taylor moved to step out of the shower, Maia clung to her, unwilling to be parted from the one person who did not see her as a pawn. Taylor did not seem to object. She allowed Maia to huddle against her arm as she reached for a pair of towels, wrapping the first one around Maia’s shoulders before grabbing one for herself.
Skin still dripping, they headed back into the bedroom. Maia stayed pressed against Taylor's side, and when the human urged her to lie down on the bed, she pulled Taylor with her, desperately needing skin contact. For the first time in her life, she felt alone within her own mind, and it seemed almost unnatural.
"You're all right." Maia sighed as Taylor began stroking her head, and she nestled further into Taylor's embrace. She breathed deeply, trying to decide what Taylor's scent reminded her of. "So, did it feel different that time?" Taylor said, her voice sounding a little unnatural as she broke the silence between them.
"The…sex?" Maia propped herself up beside Taylor on one of the pillows.
"Yeah. I didn’t mean to pressure you, but…you just looked like you needed that."
"I did," Maia said. "I know we should not pursue this any further, but I cannot seem to help myself around you, Taylor. Not when the rest of the galaxy is against me." Despite her clear explanation, Taylor still looked worried, and Maia was far too tired to offer a better one. "I did not want to connect with you before, because I hoped it would discourage us from trying this again. Ikthians are looked down upon for conducting sexual relations with…lesser species, as the Dominion has labeled you."
For all the murmurings among the other species about ikthian promiscuity, the Dominion looked down on such unions. They did not approve of ikthians forming relationships with ‘inferior’ aliens, whether it was for sex or something more serious.
"I thought ikthians liked having sex with other species," Taylor blurted out. Then, she slapped her own forehead, unable to meet Maia's eyes. "Shit. I just put my foot in my mouth, didn't I?"
Maia frowned. Taylor's words sometimes made no sense. "Your foot is on the bed, Taylor. I am not sure I understand."
"Human figure of speech. It just means I'm an ass."
"What? How are you—"
"Never mind."
Maia watched as Taylor's hand slid slowly down her face to reveal her eyes again. "Anyway," she said, "we do mate outside our own species occasionally, but not nearly as often as everyone else thinks. The Dominion disapproves of such unions. They do not want us forming relationships with other aliens."
"I guess I can understand that." Taylor's lips twitched into a frown. "Is that why you pulled away from me in the shower? Because being with me made you feel guilty?"
Maia shook her head. "Of course not," she protested. The hurt written on Taylor's face made her chest ache. "I was simply uncomfortable. The collar just...it reminded me that we cannot have a normal relationship. I often find myself wondering how things would progress if I was not a prisoner. You know, this collar blocks things that are a normal process of ikthian relationships.
Taylor's sadness was quickly replaced with fear. She pulled away, and Maia saw her muscles tense. "You…you mean like toxins and stuff? You didn’t use them, right?"
"No, and I would never do so without informing you. It just goes against my instincts to hold them back. Millions of years ago, my people lived underwater. We used pheromones to communicate with each other, and our bodies are still designed to release them now that we have left the ocean." Maia paused as she considered how to phrase the next part. "We still broadcast our feelings this way, and during sex, it can happen without much control over our own actions, though risk to the partner is non-existent. Since you are not ikthian, you would never sense them."
"What about the toxins? Are they some kind of pheromone, too?"
"No," Maia said. "That is a separate evolutio
nary technique that we used to defend ourselves."
Taylor seemed to relax, and she shifted closer again. "Have you...have you ever used your toxins to hurt someone before?" The question clearly bothered Taylor, as if something painful lingered behind it.
Maia shook her head. "I have never done so, but I know the seekers do. Technically, it is illegal to hurt or kill someone that way, but…the Dominion does not care what ikthians do to other species. They are not considered people under our laws."
Taylor sat up and crossed her legs, breathing out an obvious sigh of relief. "So, have your ever used your pheromones for pleasure before?" she asked, some of the tension gone from her voice.
Maia blushed and shook her head. "No. I…I have not done that, either." She reached down to touch the collar around her neck. "As I said, sometimes that sort of thing happens in the course of various relationship stages for ikthians, but I have guarded my own responses to avoid being hurt by this."
"Oh." Taylor blushed as well and rubbed the back of her neck. She glanced away. "I trust you. I guess the idea just makes me a little nervous."
Maia could sense some insecurity behind Taylor’s words, but she was too cautious to probe further. She smiled instead. "I did not realize it was a sensitive issue for you, but I am grateful for your trust. Even if...even if I had not been wearing my collar, I would have talked to you about it first."
"Good." Taylor flopped back against a pillow, looking pleasantly tired. "Hey, you're smiling again. What's on your mind? I didn't say anything stupid, did I?"
Maia shook her head. "Nothing. I was just drifting off."
Taylor patted the spot next to her. "The bed’s all ready," she teased. "That is…if you want to share it with me tonight."
Even though she knew it was probably another mistake, Maia could not find it in herself to say no. She was still feeling vulnerable after her experience in the shower, and she wanted to stay close to Taylor. "I…I think would like that very much." Maia joined Taylor under the covers, snuggling back up against her side and pulling one of the human’s arms around her waist. "Thank you," she said, though for what, she was not entirely sure.
Dark Horizons Page 12