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Tessa nods, as if reading my mind.

“I’ve been trying to hide it,” she admits. “I know it wouldn’t be wise to show weakness around Toads or Aurelians.”

Tessa gets her balance back and stands on her own wobbly feet. Then, reaching for the hem, she pulls the pleasure dress off over her head – totally unashamed at her nakedness.

Then, Tessa pulls the sheet from the huge bed she’d been lounging in – yanking it free in one, smooth movement. She wraps and folds the draping cloth around her body – deft and assured in her tucks and knots. Soon, she’s fashioned herself a long, flowing toga – just like an Aurelian Warrior might wear on their home planet of Colossus.

“How did you learn how to do that?” I gasp, open-mouthed.

If I tried it, I’d have fallen on the floor – tripping myself up and probably winding up just as naked as I’d started.

Tessa shrugs.

“I learned it a couple of years ago, at a party. Everybody shouted ‘To-Ga! To-Ga!’ and one of the other girls showed me how to make one.” Her brow creases. “That was back on… Nevermind.”

Shaking her head, Tessa immediately changes the subject – gesturing to her toga and apologizing:

“I’m sorry, there’s isn’t another sheet.” She looks around eagerly. “I guess I could make you something out of a pillowcase…”

But my mind is still processing what she’d said earlier.

A party? She had a different life, back then. And where did she learn to swim like that? I wonder what her story is?

Tessa seems committed to her plan, and I find myself looking at her pull one of the pillowcases off. Even though the pillows are made to suit Aurelian dimensions, I still feel ridiculous as I imagine myself cutting holes in a pillowcase to slip my arms and legs through, and then wearing it like a wrap.

I’d look utterly ridiculous – but perhaps that’s what I need to keep the Aurelians off me. I laugh at the mental image of Marcel and his battle-brothers peering at me in my ridiculous outfit. For the first time in what feels like forever, I genuinely laugh.

“I’ll stick with this,” I tell Tessa. “It’s really not that bad.”

I smooth down the squirming fabric of the pleasure dress needlessly against my legs. It’s a useless gesture. The dress is already clinging to me like a second skin – like it’s alive, and it’s afraid I’ll take it off. My only respite is that – when I’m not near an Aurelian – the ceaseless tingle seems less overwhelmingly intense. It’s more like a light, soothing breeze – albeit one that breathes across every quivering part of me.

Tessa shrugs at my choice, and then looks up to the ceiling, slumping back into the bed.

“Gods, I need to sleep,” she sighs. “I’m exhausted. I hope those Aurelians get us off this floating garbage can – andsoon.”

The exhaustion is setting in for me, too. I lay down beside Tessa. There’s more than enough room – this bed could fit six more girls our size, since it was clearly made for the massive bulk of an Aurelian warrior.

As I nestle into the pillows, I close my eyes and try to silence my chattering brain.

It won’t shut up, though – warning me ceaselessly that on the other side of that bedroom door are three huge, alien warriors who stare at me with a terrifying, naked lust…

…but also reassure me that no Toads will come anywhere near me or Tessa while we sleep. Not with those towering warriors, armed with those otherworldly Orb-Blades.

“AI, lights off,” Tessa murmurs sleepily. A second passes. “Damn thing,” she sighs – and then the lights finally turn off and we’re left lying in the pitch blackness.

The pounding in my head begins to fade. The exhaustion claims me, as the last of the adrenaline finally drains from my bloodstream. The illusion of safety, no matter how false, makes me feel as if I could go to sleep forever.

As dreams coax me into slumber, I feel the warmth of the room embrace me – as reassuring as a hug from a trusted friend. The squirming, sensual touch of the pleasure dress morphs into a light, relaxing massage. Together, the sensations soothe my aching body and weary mind, and I let myself finally, sinking into oblivion.