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“Infernal torment,” he barked.

“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?” She stood, wobbling slightly, and grimaced.

“I’ll be fine,” he groaned. “You know, this is not the way I imagined you studying my body. I’m not an experiment.”

“That was rude of me. I didn’t expect to find you naked. I guess you’re naked. Do you consider yourself naked like this, or when your shell comes off?” she asked.

He chuckled at the way she babbled then cocked his head at her question.

“I suppose we consider ourselves somewhat naked like this, then truly naked when our shells recede,” he replied, not really sure if that explained it.

“I guess I understand. There’s naked and then there’s exposed, like when I’m spread-eagle at the doctor.” She shifted her legs wider, giving him a visual.

That paints quite a picture.

Aculus blinked and groaned as he looked down at the bit of fabric slung low on her full hips. Beneath it he could see a strip of hair atop her mound. Added to the comment she just made about her legs spread and he had a picture in his head that was pure torture.

I need to get her back to her quarters before I do something foolish.

“You’ve been trying to get into my panties since I got on this ship,” she continued. “I decided to give in just to make you shut up. But now I really am curious what you got going on down there.” Nadzia pointed to his crotch.

His eyes widened at the unexpected comment.

“So, if you show me yours, I’ll show you mine,” Nadzia crowed then jumped into the estuary.

Dumbfounded, he stood staring at her.Did she seriously say that?

His mind spun as Nadzia pulled off her panties and threw them at him, the wet scrap of fabric striking him in the chest, followed by the harness covering her breasts. He couldn’t perfectly see her body beneath the water, but he saw enough. Before he knew it, he’d joined her in the water.

I can’t leave her here alone inebriated,he reasoned.

“So, big boy, where’s this hidden cock you claim to have?” She stroked his chest, her delicate fingers tracing every ridge.

He groaned at the sensation. It was more powerful than anything he’d ever felt. He never realized how dull his sense of touch was until now. And just as predicted, the more she touched him, the softer his shell got.

“Nadzia.” He gripped her wrist and gently pulled her hand away. “Osivoire only expose their quick to their mate,” he tried to explain.

“Your quick. Is that what you call your cock?” She looked toward the water attempting to see his crotch.

“No, that’s my spurs.”

“Spur?! Like ride’em cow girl. Woo ha.” She bucked back and forth, sloshing the water, and making him laugh.

“My quick is what’s beneath my shell,” he chuckled.

“So, wait, your cock only comes out when your shell recedes, but you only get really, really naked for your mate. That’s kinda sweet and old-fashioned.” She paused and cocked her head. “Then what’s all this talk about you fucking a bunch of women?”

Being so close to the blessedly naked ivory beauty while her hormones flowed through the water and sank into his shell, softening it further, tested his resolve. It made it hard to hold himself together and think, as he attempted to explain things to Nadzia.

“Don’t your people have different kinds of sex?” he asked.

“Yes.” She looked at him funny. “But what do you mean?”

He grinned and stuck out his tongue, wiggling it at her.

“Holy shit, that thing is long.” Nadzia gaped at him with her big green eyes. “And thick,” she added.

“And skilled, full of nerves and taste buds.”