Sol Read online

  She frowns up at me.

  “No. It’s a little rusty, but when you say my name, it’s nice.”

  Is nice good?

  She angles her head back fully, her frown deepening.

  “You know, nice is—nice. You don’t know what nice is?”

  I can understand the sentiment, but I am unfamiliar with the sensation.

  She twists in my arms. I loosen my hold but keep her close to the warmth of my body. She looks troubled.

  “You’re telling me that no one has ever done anything nice for you?”

  How would I know if it is nice?

  “What do you mean? It makes you feel good!”

  She smiles and moves her shoulders up and down in a strange, rolling motion.

  I do not feel.

  “Like you have no sense of touch?”

  I have use of my tangible senses. You, for instance, are smooth and soft. Your hair smells like fruit. Even now, the slight musk of your body odor—

  “Hey, hey, hey. Dude, you can’t just point out the fact that I’m musty right now.”

  Why?

  “Cause it’s embarrassing!”

  As she says this, a strange thing happens. The tips of her ears get dark with blood. It is just the slightest tinge beneath the brown of her skin. I reach out and run my fingers over the delicate shell.

  Is this collection of blood embarrassment?”

  She frowns again.

  “Black girls don’t blush.”

  But you are brown. Is that why you blush?

  “I’m Black, and I don’t blush.”

  Her mind says that this must be so. I nod.

  A piece of wood breaks beyond our clearing. I have been monitoring the movement of the Zefr searching for us. Their thoughts are loud in the empty forest. They have gotten closer, but are not yet near. Still, the noise reminds me that we are being hunted and cannot afford to delay.

  We must resume our travel to the mountains. Will you be able to make the journey?

  She turns back around and nestles into my chest. Her body shakes vigorously as she pulls my arms tighter around her middle.

  “It’s cold! Can’t we just stay here?”

  We cannot. The Zefr will not stop, and if they find us, they will hurt you to make me fight, and I will lose.

  She spins around to face me again. Her hazel eyes are shadowed by a scowl.

  “Dude, you’ve got like a hundred pounds on that froggy ass motherfucker. You better fuck him up!”

  You would have me partner with him?

  “What?”

  Her head jerks back and her scowl deepens. I have never seen a face so expressive. The slightest movement of the muscles beneath her skin tell me nearly everything I would need to know of her mood. Reading her thoughts is almost unnecessary.

  I learned this word ‘fukh’ from your sister Tee. From her thoughts, I gathered it meant to partner. Although I do not see how partnering with the Zefr general would keep him from wanting to fight me.

  She watches me for a moment and then her expression transforms into the image I have had in my mind for the past several months. Her face tilts to the sky. The soft, full mouth opens wide, and the plump roundness of her cheeks sinks in as two dimples appear. She laughs. It is a loud, uninhibited sound that I am sure will alert any searching Zefr to our location, but I could not bring myself to quiet her if I wanted to. And I do not want to.

  “Sol! You’re a trip!”

  That sensation rushes over me again. It is light and loosening. It settles into the muscles of my hands, and my fingers spread wide across the smooth skin of her back. I pull her closer, wanting to hear her loud, risky laugh echo in my ears, but then the mere feel of her triggers another sensation and that looseness spreads up my arms. I curve them, wrapping across her tiny frame until the hard tips of her breasts press into my chest. This close, I am assaulted by her scent. Again that urge to lick it from her skin comes over me, and I no more understand it than I did the first time.

  “That got handsy pretty fast.”

  She has gone quiet, but her thoughts are loud. I do not know how long this has been, so absorbed was I with the feel and smell of her. She pushes gently at my shoulders, and the muscles in my arms contract to their former stiffness, which now feels restrictive. Almost prison-like. There was a freedom in the levity of a moment ago. I would know more of it. She looks to the side, and I sense her embarrassment again.

  You have a beautiful laugh, Sheh, but it has alerted the search party a few leagues from here. We must make it to the safety of the mountains.

  “Is it warmer in the mountains?”

  On the contrary. The Northern Mountains are the coldest point on Somii.

  Her nose bunches in the middle.

  “Uh, okay, but I’m wearing a summer dress and sandals. I’m pretty sure I’ll freeze to death. I almost froze to death last night. Do you have anything I can wear?”

  All have to give is my kesh. On me, it covers the lower half of my body, but the many spans of fabric will more than suffice to keep her warm.

  I ease her away, and she immediately huddles into a protective ball, rubbing her arms. I stand and untuck the edge of my kesh, unfurling the fabric from around my waist.

  “Wait, what are you doing?”

  She holds her hands up like a shield, and I pause.

  I will give you my kesh. You are small, and it will keep you warm.

  “But what will you wear?”

  Nothing.

  CHAPTER 5

  LASHAY

  Now what I should say as this big, silver alien dude starts to unwrap his kilt thingy is “No, it’s okay. You don’t have to do that for me.” But the way the muscles in his arms and chest flex as he releases the cloth makes me for the second time really take a look at my rescuer.

  He’s—kinda hot. The longer I look at him, the more his unremarkable features settle into something that isn’t ugly. He’s got the body for sure. He’s built like a truck. There isn’t a spot beneath his shimmery skin that isn’t bunched with muscle. His arms look about the size of my whole damn body. And still, he’s so gentle. Maybe it’s the fan of feathers across his chest. They were baby soft against my face when I woke up. Altogether, there’s something practical and yet tender about the way he looks that makes me feel safe.

  As one, sharp, silver hip comes into view, I swallow. He clearly doesn’t realize it’s not a regular thing among us humans to just get naked in front of each other, but I ain’t saying shit. I mean, in real life, I’m freezing. But, also, dick.

  I will not bare myself to you if it is an irregular thing for your kind.

  My eyes jump from where he’s cupping the last bit of fabric against his crotch. He’s wearing the same blank expression he’s had since I met him, but I feel like there’s some confusion there. Just the slightest shift in his brows.

  Right, he can read my mind. On a good day, it’s hard to keep everything I could possibly think from running nonstop though my head. Trying to shield my thoughts from a telepathic alien is going to be tough. But, also, dick.

  I hunch my shoulders and rub my arms. Throwing in a half-assed shiver for show.

  “It is really cold, but if you’re not okay with it—”

  I am not bothered by it. I would have you warm and not freezing.

  He releases the cloth, and my mouth drops open.

  “Lord, have mercy.”

  I’ve been trying to get a sneak peek at Lyqa D for months. Unfortunately, when you live in a house full of dudes with super spidey-hearing, accidentally on purpose walking in on one when he’s taking a shower is nearly impossible. I’ve heard tales of what they’re packing from my sisters, and if it’s anything like what’s going on in front of me, I don’t know how those chicks ever walked again.

  I don’t bother trying to play it off like I’m not looking. I’m looking. I’m looking so hard it feels like my eyes are about to pop out of my head.

  Like the rest of his body, the smooth are
a of Sol’s pelvis is ribbed with two thick cords of muscle that form a sharp V down to the thing hanging between his legs.

  It’s the same silver color as the rest of him and looks thicker than my wrist as it dangles limply above me. Over his lower pelvis, bright yellow spots form a triangular pattern that ends in a point halfway down his dick. A laugh bubbles in my chest. He has dick freckles. The head is thick beneath the hooded tip.

  Stand up and turn around.

  The words are a calm murmur through my head in that deep voice. On its own, my mind flashes with the image of me bent over, Sol’s big body moving behind me. My eye’s jump up to his face, and my jaw snaps up, right onto my tongue, which I didn’t even realize was hanging out my mouth.

  “Nhm!”

  I slap a hand over my lips and roll to the side, closing my eyes and pressing my tongue against the roof of my mouth to stifle the pain.

  A soft grunt sounds out. I open my eyes to find Sol’s face twisted in discomfort. It’s the first real expression I’ve seen on him.

  You must try not to harm yourself in front of me, Sheh. I cannot withstand you being in pain.

  I frown.

  Your tongue.

  My tongue? I don’t know enough about aliens to know what he’s reacting to. I bled a little. Was it the blood? Is he trying to keep himself from turning into some kind of blood sucking alien vampire? My eyes cast about the surrounding forest, looking for a place to run.

  You do not have to run from me. I will do you no harm. I can sense whatever pain you are in. It causes me to experience discomfort. It is not something I can control, but it will make it difficult to protect us if I am debilitated in any way.

  “You’re in pain because I bit my tongue?”

  I am in pain because you are in pain. It is this way for my kind.

  I don’t really know what to say.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  This was minor. I will be fine, and I will do my best to protect you, Sheh. It is my fault you are here. I will do whatever I must for you to remain unharm—

  His head spins to the left just before the far off crunch of footsteps sounds out in the quiet of the trees.

  Stand, Sheh. Do not speak. If you must, send me your thoughts.

  I jump to my feet, stepping close. He grips the end of the cloth and rips off a long strip. The sound is loud, and my anxiety builds as the far off crunch of twigs gets louder.

  He drops to his knees and grabs my leg, lifting my foot from the soft Lyqa sandals I’m wearing. Starting at my toes, he wraps the strip around, winding it thickly up my ankle before tucking at my calf. He rips another strip and wraps my other foot. Almost immediately, the numbing cold leaves my toes.

  He rises with the remaining yards of cloth and drapes one end over my shoulders then starts to circle it around my body, pinning my arms to my sides.

  “Wait, how am I going to run if you turn me into a human burrito?”

  Please speak in your mind. You do not have to run. I will carry you.

  “But—”

  Something zips past my face. The air is hot on the flashing trail of bright, blue light, and I flinch back with my pinned arms, struggling to stop my fall.

  The fire is behind me. Heat radiates up my neck as I tip backwards. I twist my head to see if I’m going to end up barbecue after all.

  “Ah!”

  Just when I’m gonna be toast, my body jerks midair. Sol has one beefy hand twisted in the cloth, stopping my tumble into the fire. Another burst of light zips behind his head, and I realized whoever is coming is shooting at us.

  “I’m gonna die.”

  I will not let you die, Sheh.

  Sol reverses the momentum of my cocooned body and pulls me forward, bending at the waist to flip me over his back. I hit the hard panel of his shoulder, and it’s like someone’s dropped a boulder on my chest. The breath whooshes painfully out of my lungs. Sol grunts and collapses to one knee.

  Try not to get hurt, Sheh.

  “You did it!” I shout back as he jumps to his feet, jostling me some more.

  I am sorry.

  He breaks into a run just as a froggy emerges on the opposite side of the small clearing. The stout, growling soldier raises his weapon at us. I open my mouth to warn Sol, but we dip to the side just as the blast rips past. Sol moves fast, so fast that the air whips loudly past, and then we’re moving through the trees. Froggy takes off after us, weaving clumsily around the tree trunks that Sol dodges like they’re nothing. Froggy isn’t quick enough. More and more of the forest comes between us until I can’t see him at all.

  I let my head drop to Sol’s back and turn my face to the side. The sound of us moving through the trees is surprisingly quiet. The scenery flies past, and I bounce against the firm muscles of his back as he leaps over fallen branches and pivots around trees. Blood rushes through my ears, lightening my head. I let my eyes drift close to block out the feeling that I’m going pass out anyway. As darkness settles over me, Sol’s voice floats through my mind.

  I am here, Sheh. Sleep. I will keep you safe.

  SOLUANITIAT’TI SOMIITI’UN

  The wind lashes violently across my back as I ease Sheh over my shoulder. She has fallen asleep, and her face is peaceful within the swaddle of cloth. I reach out to touch her smooth cheek, and it is warm beneath my fingers.

  The cold bites at my bare skin, but I am glad that she is protected from the elements. I have again managed to keep her safe, and the satisfaction at this accomplishment fills me with—something.

  I have felt even more strange since I rescued her. It has not been long, but already I have settled into the sensations she encourages in me. The slight flutters of warmth are less foreign, less jarring. Smoothing a hand over her face does not seem as strange as it did even a day ago. Already, having her with me feels as if this is how it should always be. She has become something normal to me, even as everything about her is unfamiliar.

  I lift my fingers and her eyes flutter open only to widen in panic.

  You are safe, Sheh. I will not let harm come to you.

  “Where are those guys? Are they gone?”

  She raises her head to look past me into the wood. I press a hand to her chest, easing her back down.

  “Be easy, Sheh. I have long lost them, and they will not follow us to these mountains. The Zefr were not designed to withstand this severity of cold.”

  Her expression loses some of its tension. I lift her to her feet. She wobbles, and I hold her by the shoulders until she is steady.

  We will have to make our way up the side of the mountain. There are caves where we can camp until I determine the best way to get us back to my land and to safety. Wait for me here. I will return shortly.

  I release her and head back toward the wood.

  “Wait!”

  I face her again to find her eyes wide in alarm. The cloth binding keeps her from walking, but she takes two small hops toward me.

  “Don’t leave me. What if something comes?”

  The Zefr are not near. They will not come here.

  “I don’t mean those froggy motherfuckers. I mean a bear or a damn lion or some shit!”

  Her words are accompanied by various furred animals flashing through her mind. She is worried about being attacked?

  There are no animals here, Sheh. Nothing lives in the Northern Mountains. It is too cold. I am merely going to gather wood for a fire. Otherwise, we will both die from exposure.

  Her panic recedes, but she still appears nervous. I hurry into the wood, shifting through the fallen branches for the driest kindling. When I have filled my arms, I return to the base of the mountain. Sheh is standing where I left her. Her face brightens with relief when I emerge.

  We will have to travel up the mountain. Can you walk?

  Her chin dips down to take in her encased body.

  “Not like this.”

  I drop the kindling at her feet, pull loose the end of my kesh and begin to unroll the cloth. As
expected, Sheh shivers the moment her body is exposed.

  Working quickly, I rewrap her body, allowing space for her to move her legs and arms. She grabs the ends of my kesh and wiggles.

  “This thing is really warm. I can’t believe it’s keeping out the cold so well.”

  It is designed to balance the climate.

  “What about you?” She nods at my body but her eyes linger at my waist. “You still good?”

  I am experiencing slight discomfort, but Somii are fashioned to withstand the elements. I will be fine.

  Her eyes widen in surprise before her face turns down on a scowl.

  “You’re one of those Somii dudes? They said they took me because of you!”

  I know, and I am sorry.

  “Why would they do that? I don’t even know you!”

  There has been a misunderstanding. I will explain it to you when we reach shelter, but we must make our way up the mountain while we still have light.

  She stares up at me with her brow furrowed. After a moment, she sighs and turns to the side.

  “Lead the way.”

  Her arm waves in the direction of the mountain path.

  It is perhaps safer if I take the rear.

  “Uh, no. Cause I already know I’m gonna be tripping all up this mountain, and I don’t need you collapsing in pain every time my toe hits a rock. Just walk ahead of me, and I’ll follow.”

  I will do as you ask, but be careful.

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  I nod and walk past her toward the mountain path. While the Northern Mountains are treacherous, the lower half of the mountain should be easy enough to climb.

  As I navigate the jagged path, the rough stones dig into the thick soles of my sandals. I wonder if perhaps this terrain will pose a problem for Sheh and chance a look back.

  Her head is down, watching the ground. She walks on the narrow tips of her feet, stepping around the more menacing rocks. As if sensing me watching her, her head lifts, and at the same moment, she stumbles, falling forward and catching herself with her hands.

  “Sss!”

  The hiss is soft. I immediately step forward to help her as the slight burn of her discomfort pulses up the base of my skull.