Page 18 of The Death Striker's Partner
“Yes Hannah?”
“Why do you do that?” I leaned back in his arms and nodded at his face. “Lick my nose?”
“I am scenting you.”
“Why?”
“To taste your mood and your health.”
“Oh, so you’re not licking me?”
“No.” The scales around his eyes and wide mouth curved with his smile. “Scenting is a natural part of communication. If I were to lick you, more than just the tip of my tongue would come into contact with you. That would also be considered an intimateaction.” Now it was my turn to blush. I suddenly imagined him licking the left side of my throat and cheek. “Are you ready?”
“For what?!”
“To go to the top floor.” Oblivious to my crazy mental imagery, he innocently replied. What the hell was wrong with me? I chewed on my tongue and nodded for him to proceed. He undulated once as he lifted up towards the hole in the ceiling. He twirled on the spot and it felt almost like an elevator as he brought us both up to the top tier of his home. The walls and floors were made of the same yellow stone as the last two tiers, but there was also a large rock that inclined beneath a row of red heat lamps. “Here. Get some rest.” He tried to place me on the rock and I shook my head.
“Erm, I’d love to, but where is the bed?”
“…bed? What’s a bed? This is my basking rock. You are welcome to use it.” he nodded and once again tried to lower me onto it. I clung to him tighter as I seriously worried that it would burn my ass. I could feel the heat of the red lights above making my skin prickle. The rock itself had to be warmer, right? To be a basking rock?
“Do I LOOK like a snake to you?” He jerked to a stop rather comically. Or rather, I would have found it funny, if I wasn’t the one hanging off a reptilian alien with my ass hanging towards a good roasting. “Human comfort 101? Humans do NOT sleep on fucking rocks!? We have soft beds.” He lifted me back up and looked at me curiously. “A mattress? Pillows? Duvet? Any of these things ring a bell?” He blinked and shook his head. “Wonderful. When the engineering person gets here? I will need a word. I will needmanywords. In the meantime I’ll sit on that bean bag you threw downstairs.” At least that wouldn’t cook me. I might even be able to go to sleep on it, since it looked pretty hefty in size.
“I’ll go get it.” He got whiplash from the speed by which he put me down. “I’ll be right back. Stay away from the access hole so you don’t fall. Wait here. I’ll be right back.” My eyes were wide as he slipped down the hole like he could fly.
“…where exactly does he think I’m going to go?” I whispered to myself and shook my head. I ran a hand back through my greasy birds’ nest hair and grimaced. I looked up just to check if there was another access hole and another tier to this building, but this time the ceiling was had no such hole. No more levels. No more rooms. I folded my arms and sighed as I shook my head. I never realised how muchstuffI needed in my daily life to be comfortable until now. I had no toilet, no bed, and no kitchen. My personal effects would arrive at some point so I would have clothes, toiletries, and a hairbrush to tame my matted hair with. The hygiene level looked lush and was by far my favourite part of the snake-man’s layer. I could imagine myself reclined and relaxing in the massive pool-like bath tub with ease. The rest of the ‘nest’ though? Wasn’t particularly human-friendly. From the weapons on the ground floor to the lack of furniture throughout, this place was far from comfortable. At least, not for a human.
“Jeez!” I stumbled backward as the brown leather beanbag hurtled up through the hole and landed to my right. His head came up through the access hole and then his hands braced on the edge.
“Sorry, did I startle you?”
“Yeah. Either call out before you pop up like a damn mole, or you’re going to have to start wearing a bell.” I exhaled deeply and put my hands on my hips. I didn’t wait for him to reply. I was getting tired and shuffled over to collapse backwards onto the bean bag. I smiled, comfortable now I was off my feet. My eyes fluttered open to find Tumva was right in my face again. Hisforked tongue flicked at the tip of my nose again. Man that was weird.
“Please rest here. Sleep if you wish. We have specialist outlets that sell food that is safe for human consumption. I will go to one now for you Hannah. Do you have a particular food that you like?”
“I have no idea what human suitable food you have on this planet, so as long as it’s safe I’ll eat it.” I shrugged and nestled down on the bean bag. It was way too large for me, which was ideal for me to curl up on my side and sink into. My eyelids drooped already once I hit that perfect sleeping position. “If they sell toilets, buy one.” I smiled at my own joke and my eyes shut. I felt his tongue flick at my nose again, but I’m too tired to care anymore. The battering I took yesterday must have taken more out of me than I thought. A few seconds curled up on a leather bean bag and I was half asleep already.
“A toilet will be installed today, as well other facilities you need. Rest now Hannah. I will look into this ‘bed’ you described as soon as possible. For now, do you think you can sleep on my reading cushion?”
“Mmm hmm” I moan, over halfway there already. I think I felt the press of his tongue to my cheek…but the second later I was asleep.
Chapter 16
She does not seek comfort.
Tumva
I feel uncomfortable. Like I’m eavesdropping on something private, but it wasn’t my intention to do so. One minute I’m alone on the lower level and carrying out my morning training routine on the battle dummy, and the next Hannah is making herself something to eat in the new kitchen area. She’s taking a call on her com-gem around her neck, and it feels like I shouldn’t be here.
“That’s great.” Hannah was smiling as she cooked a few strips of meat and flipped them over with what I believe is called a spatula. She is speaking softly and from my position by the dummy, I can see she’s crying. My hands hold onto two of the grappling bars and I peer with fathomless eyes over my left shoulder to watch and listen. Even though I knew I shouldn’t. She hasn’t noticed my attention. She’s staring down at her breakfast with that sad smile that speaks of joy and pain in equal measure.
“It took some time to arrange my office to look as close as possible to my old one back on earth, but Izule helped move the furniture in. He is very patient. He wasn’t cross when I asked him to move things several times until I liked the way it looked.”
“Good. Are you all settled in to his home now then?”
“It’s not a home it’s a nest.” Hannah seemed amused when her sister corrected her. “Izule’s nest is big, but it’s warm and it’s quiet. I like the quiet. The view is distracting.”
“D-do you have curtains to help with that?” She piped up and looked up at the stone wall. “I could come and-”
