Nikhil(14)

Nikhil closed his eyes at her touch, then after handing her the cleaning cloth, stepped back and started removing his uniform.

Mac knew she should be using the cloth to start cleaning herself. It was why she went into the cleansing unit fully clothed in the first place because she wanted to get all the Ganglian and Zaludian grime off her. But she found she couldn't pull her gaze away from the prime specimen of man stripping before her.

Nikhil started at his feet, undoing the straps on the snug, over-the-calf boots he was wearing. Toeing them off, he pulled out weapons she hadn't even known were there, setting them behind him on the counter, before kicking the boots aside. His hands then went to the buckle that crossed the front of his tight black pants hanging low on his hips. She held her breath. She wasn't going to remind him that he planned to leave those on. When the buckle released, it was the blaster on his right thigh that released, and he set it behind him. Next came the array of blades strapped to both his massive arms and they joined the other weapons on the counter. Finally, he removed his vest, revealing what little of his massive chest it had been able to cover, and it fell unheeded to the floor.

"Is there something wrong, Mackenzie?" he asked stepping into the shower.

"I... what... no," she stuttered. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you are not cleansing. Are you feeling ill? Weak?" He took the cloth from her hand. "Here, rest against me."

Mac offered no resistance as Nikhil's large, calloused hands lightly cupped her shoulder blades, pulling her near so she could rest her head on his chest.

"Will you allow me to cleanse your hair?" he asked quietly.

"My hair?" Mac looked up at him, her chin resting on his chest.

"I know it is asking much when we have just met."

"Are you sure you want to?" she questioned. "It's a tangled mess. It might just be easier to cut it off."

"No!" Nikhil's instant denial boomed off the walls of the cleansing room causing her to jump. "I am sorry, Little One," he was instantly contrite. "I did not mean to cause you fear."

"You didn't. You just startled me. Why does the thought of me cutting my hair upset you so?"

"Because it is not done."

"Kaliszians don't have short hair?" she asked, her gaze traveled over his hair that only covered the center of his head before it flowed down his back in long thin braids with beads attached.

"No. One’s hair is cut only if they have committed the most heinous of crimes."

"Oh."

"So would you allow me the honor of cleansing your hair?" he asked again. "I would never do so without your permission."

Mac frowned at his words. Why would he consider it an honor to wash her hair? But she could see he wouldn't do it if it made her uncomfortable.

"I would allow it, Nikhil. I just hope you don't regret doing it. It hasn't been brushed since the Ganglians took us from Earth."

Nikhil had filled his hand with cleansing liquid, eager to perform such an intimate act for his True Mate, when her last words had him stilling.

"Ganglians..." he growled. "The Ganglians took you from your home world?"

"Yes. Didn't you know that?"

"No. The Ganglians..."

"I know what Ganglians do to females, Nikhil," she whispered.

"Luol said you weren't abused that way," he growled back, his need to protect her surging through him.

"I wasn't." She put a calming hand on his suddenly heaving chest. "The guys protected me. They made sure the Ganglians didn't know that I and... that I was female," she stuttered over her words.

"You were not..."

"No! No, Nikhil, I wasn't raped."

"Thank the Goddess," he whispered shakily, finding he didn't know what he would have done if she had been. Forcing his hands to unclench, he began caring for his True Mate. "Lean against me, Mackenzie. I will care for you, and vow to make sure you never have to fear again."

Mac was about to tell him he couldn't promise something like that, but then his fingers sunk into her dirty, matted hair to massage her scalp, and all she could do was moan in pleasure.

"Oh, Nikhil, that feels so good."

"Then I will continue to do so, Little One. You just close your eyes and enjoy."

Mac did just that. Her chin remained on his chest as her hands drifted down his sides until they came to rest on his pant-encased hips.

Nikhil couldn't believe the honor his True Mate was giving him. For a Kaliszian, one’s hair was almost a sacred thing, for it is where their Suja beads lived. Where their place in society was revealed, along with their lineage, and their personal achievements. The beads alone decided where they settled, their height displaying the worth of those that wore them. Only the closest or most intimate to a Kaliszian was ever allowed to wash another's hair. The only one Nikhil had ever allowed to do this was his mother, and that had been years ago. For Mackenzie to allow him this honor humbled him.