Noble Monster: A Scifi Alien Abduction Romance Standalone (Jannan Raiders Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter 3

Eliana climbed down from the bed and decided to explore the room. A bath would be nice, she thought. She had not had a chance to clean herself since prior to her abduction. She did not even want to think about how dreadful she must smell.

Rox had smelled delicious, her brain provided, like crisp spices mixed with a slightly woody scent. She chastised herself for that traitorous thought. Well, she admitted, just because he was her enemy did not mean that she had to be oblivious to the facts. He did smell good, very good.

That was just an observation she told herself. Just like it was an observation that he had been surprisingly gentle when tending to her wounds. They could still be enemies even if she recognized, and possibly even appreciated, his tender care.

She had been unsuccessful in her attempts to turn on what was clearly a bathtub when the two female attendants entered through a hidden door in the wall. They did not appear to speak English but casually gestured for her to browse the edibles while they prepared the bath.

Eliana lifted the lids of an assortment of steaming trays before settling on the dish that appeared least frightening to her. She would loosely have compared it to a dense muffin except for the meaty taste and the fact that two small servings filled her almost to the point of discomfort. Whatever she had eaten, she could guarantee that it was better than the spaghetti-like dish whose ‘noodles’ were wriggling around at the base of the bowl.

Eliana watched as the Heptonian women wheeled a small control panel into the room through the hidden door. From their station they entered the codes that prompted the bath basin to fill with lavender perfumed water.

When the women gestured for her to approach the washbasin Eliana became noticeably agitated. Weren’t they going to leave her to bathe in peace? When one of the women began to release the clasp at the shoulder of the slaver’s gown, as Rox had called it, Eliana clutched the fabric to her breasts and backed away.

It shocked Eliana when they started laughing and plucking at her gown. Without words the Heptonian females had effectively communicated the futility of a pleasure-slave’s modesty. Eliana realized that it was likely that only hours remained to come to terms with her own nudity before Rox became witness to everything Eliana had so carefully protected.

With a sigh of resignation Eliana dropped her gown and allowed the women to help her ease into the temperate water. If she had not been aware that she had been purchased as a slave only this afternoon, Eliana would have felt positively pampered.

The harsh reality was that Rox was probably disgusted with her grungy hair and sweat soaked skin. Of course he would want her properly cleaned and attired before having anything to do with her. She instantly regretted the luxurious bath. If she could only have remained filthy then maybe she would be able to dissuade him from any attentions that he might request.

One of the attendants, a malnourished looking teen with an artificial black braid that trailed behind her on the ground, washed Eliana’s hair with extreme care. The other, and elderly female with sharp blue nails and Hepto’s double suns tattooed on her forehead, tapped commands into the control center that released a series of soaps and lotions for her counterpart.

Eliana now understood why so many of the women outside of the building had been wet. It was likely that they were workers who had been drenched during a bathing, much like her young attendant was now.

Once she was thoroughly clean, Eliana stood motionless as a clear cylinder rose out of the tile around her. A swirl of warm air dried her hair and body with surprising speed. Once the cylinder had retreated to the bowels of the room she looked around for something suitable to wear.

After rejecting a pair of miniature white shorts and cropped top that were traditional Heptonian fashion, Eliana settled on a pair of pants that were identical to the ones she had seen on Rox. Unable to find a decent length shirt, she opted for one that fluttered around her navel rather than the style that ended right below her breasts.

She allowed the attendants to choose a formal gown of emerald green, to enhance her hazel eyes. It had a jeweled clasp behind her neck and the sheer fabric skimmed the front of her body, covering a revolutionary backless bra that blended perfectly with her skin.

Her back would be entirely bare until the skirt joined staggeringly low on her hips. Surprisingly, this was the least revealing of all the formal gowns and her attendants had not understood Eliana’s request to pair it with the nude bra, which was considered a stand-alone shirt for a casual outfit.

She carefully chose the rest of her outfits, including a pair of thick riding pants with boots, before dismissing the women.

Eliana wondered what time it was. She was exhausted and was sure it must already be late in the night. Yet, Rox had not returned. Would he be offended, she wondered, if she simply went to sleep.

After pacing the room, now empty except for the bed and changing station, Eliana found herself too tired to remain awake. She changed into a gossamer nightgown and crawled beneath the brilliant white sheets.

She scooted low in the plush bed and pulled the feathered comforter high over her head. Perhaps it was because she had spent two days lying on the hard floor of a space shuttle, but within moments she had slipped peacefully into the comfort of a deep, dreamless sleep.

Eliana vaguely remembered hearing Rox return to the room. She heard him open a series of floor panels followed by the distinct sound of the bath filling. That was the noise that finally woke Eliana from her slumber.

She held still and practiced slow, controlled breathing. She could hear him disrobe, quickly bathe, and enter the drying chamber. Luckily, the blanket was still positioned above her head so that she had no fear of the temptation to peek at his activities.

Finally, she heard the basin and cylinder retract into the floor Eliana braced herself for Rox to pull the covers back and join her in the bed. Maybe, she thought, if she pretended to be too tired to wake, he would leave her alone for the night.

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