"You press here to turn it on," he barely touched a crystal just inside the entrance of the stall, "and here to adjust the temperature." His finger moved to the next crystal. "There is cleanser on the shelf, and I will get you a cloth." He turned, retrieving a cloth from a cabinet behind him, then stilled when he turned back around.
Mackenzie had already turned the water on and was just standing there, her upturned face letting the steady stream run over her, soaking what little covering she wore. Goddess, she took his breath away, even in this condition. He wanted to be near her, found he needed to be near her.
"Mackenzie..." His voice was lower and rougher than he had intended.
"Hmmm?" she asked, her face still worshiping the flow of water.
"I cannot leave you alone... leave you to cleanse... alone. What if you were to fall?"
Mac realized she had forgotten Nikhil was even in the room because of the incredible feel of the water flowing over her. There had been no room for modesty or privacy in that mine even though she and Jen had some in the smaller cave. Her hands quickly covered her breasts that used to be D's but were now barely there, and the wild thatch between her legs that she used to trim, even though remnants of her clothes still covered them.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to get clean so bad. I'll just..." she turned away from him.
"No, I didn't mean for you to..." Nikhil ran a frustrated hand through his hair, causing his Suja beads to hit together angrily. "I am not explaining myself well. I am not used to this."
"To what?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Speaking to a female," he admitted. "To a beautiful female."
"I'm not beautiful," she denied. "I'm filthy and dirty, and I stink. I've lost so much weight. I mean I know I needed to lose weight, but I never wanted to be a size zero. A size ten maybe, but still that's stretching it the way I like food."
"You are beautiful to me... You used to be larger?" Nikhil asked hopefully. Kaliszian women were larger than Mackenzie, and taller. Not as tall as him, but a good six to eight inches taller than her, and they carried their size proudly. It was seen as an honor to carry some extra weight. It meant the female's male was able to provide for her, to see to her needs.
"Yes." Mac frowned at how happy that seemed to make Nikhil.
"Then we will make sure you are that way again?"
"You want me larger?" Mac couldn't believe it. It wasn't what gorgeous hunks on Earth wanted, at least not the ones she ever met. They'd always wanted those super-thin or super-toned women, and she had struggled with her weight all her life. She wasn't weak or lazy. After all, she spent most of her time outside hiking, biking, or being a guide on her mountain. She was active, but she just always seemed to carry this extra weight in her breasts, ass, and thighs. No matter how many diets she went on, it never went away. Her grandpa called her a full-figured girl. He would tell her that this was the way God made her, the way he wanted her, that he had a reason for her being the way she was. Maybe he was right because that extra weight had been what had helped her survive on the little food she and Jen allowed themselves. They had agreed that the guys needed larger portions than them as they were the ones working in the mine. Mac had even snuck more into Jen's bowl when she could since Jen weighed so much less than her.
"I want you to be as the Goddess created you to be," he told her, his gaze still running over her. "What I was trying to say is that, while you have been strong enough to survive, you are now weakened. I understand why you wish to cleanse, but it will take some time, and you could tire and slip. There will also be areas you will be unable to reach. I would be honored to assist you in cleansing if you would allow it."
Mac just looked at him for a moment then said, "You want to get naked with me?"
"No!" he immediately denied. "I would not expect you to allow that." He barely stopped himself from saying yet. "I will leave my pants on. I only wish to be there for you, Mackenzie, to assist you. Will you allow it?"
Mac didn't realize she'd turned to face Nikhil as he spoke, her thin wet coverings clinging to her like a second skin. The thought of sharing a shower with him, of him touching her. It had her breath catching for some reason. Well not for some reason. She knew the reason. He was gorgeous. Different than anyone she'd ever met. Yes, he was large, extremely large, but she wasn't intimidated by his size. Maybe if she had met him before being taken she would be, but now his size made her feel safe, and she hadn't felt that way in a very long time.
"I would allow it." She reached out to grip his hand. "And the honor is mine, Nikhil. Thank you."