“Um, Gnaw?” She looked over her shoulder at him.
He paused, meeting her gaze. “What?”
“Can you help me up here? I’m afraid if I try to climb, I might fall and crack my head like you did when they released you from the restraints. I don’t heal as fast as you do.”
He approached, and she tensed a little when his big hands gripped her hips. He was able to lift her easily, dropping her butt on the padding. It was a relief after sitting on the hard floor. “Thank you.” She glanced at her legs, which dangled far from the floor.
He backed off and began pacing again. She watched him, worrying. They were supposed to be having sex. The Elth didn’t exactly seem like they had much patience. They had to be the worst alien race she’d ever heard of. The torture room proved it.
Gnaw needed to be put in the mood. He said his women challenged their males to a fight. No way could she do that. It would be like punching, well…a really big guy. She wanted to ask more questions, but he looked as if he wanted to beat on the walls, rather than hold a conversation.
How much different could Veslor men be from humans physically, in the downstairs department? She didn’t exactly have a lot of experience with sex. Not the regular kind, anyway. Usually, she got a message from Anthony when he was on his way to inspect their greenhouse. She’d go to her quarters to prepare her body, he’d arrive, she’d close her eyes and let him do what he wanted, and then he’d leave to perform the inspection.
Once he finished his report, he might visit her again. Then he’d take his hover vehicle and go to the next job. Six months later, they’d repeat the same cycle.
She tore her gaze off Gnaw and took in the exam bed. It wasn’t built only for taller beings, but also wider ones. She scooted back, pulled her legs up, and took off her shoes. Her socks went next. She dropped them on the floor and got to her knees, reaching for the fasteners on her pants.
He might be furious—so was she—but neither of them had time to waste. She doubted their captors cared about their mental states.
This was about their survival. That meant she needed to do something drastic to snap Gnaw out of his angry pacing.
“What are you doing?”
She froze, looking up to find Gnaw staring at her. He’d stopped pacing.
“We need to have sex.”
“I told you that I can’t.”
“Yeah? Well, this isn’t about what we want, remember? I also don’t want to die. Did you hear me when I said they’d kill me if I refuse to do as they say, and then they’ll bring my sister in? When you won’t touch her, either, then she’ll die—and they’ll send in the next woman. None of that is going to happen because you and I will do this.” She knew she was blushing. “It.”
He just narrowed his eyes.
She looked down, unfastening her pants. “Just close your eyes and pretend I’m a Veslor woman. While you’re at it, imagine we’re somewhere else. I can’t beat you in a fight but if you like aggressive women, I can do that. Take off your clothes and get your behind over here.”
“My behind?”
She shoved down her pants, sat on the exam bed, and tugged them off, tossing them to the floor. Her underwear went next. It left her bottom half exposed, the fact that the aliens were probably watching made it worse, but she was going to do whatever it took to stay alive and protect Becky from being brought into the cell.
“Ass.” She glared at him. “Get your ass over here, Gnaw. Better? I’m not used to cursing. Twenty-four years of not saying bad words is a tough habit to break in a day. We can be fined and whipped for breaking the law too many times.”
“Whipped?” He appeared angry again. She also noticed he held her gaze instead of peeking at her bared lower half.
She grabbed her shirt and removed it, keeping it within reach, then slipped off her work bra. The room was cold, and she felt more exposed than she’d even been in her life, but maybe the sight of her would tempt him.
“Yes. Anyone who is arrested gets taken to the city, put before a judge, and they whip us in public to teach other women what happens when we repeatedly break the laws. I told you men control the women on my planet.” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “You said you like aggressive women. I can do that. Take off the pants, Gnaw. Do it now!”
His gaze finally lowered down her body. She put in long hours and working in a greenhouse wasn’t easy. Becky had excess weight to give her curves, since Darla had always volunteered to do the harder chores that were more strenuous. She hoped Gnaw was tempted by what he saw.
He spun away a second later, giving her his back.
It hurt her feelings. Didn’t he understand how much courage and determination it took for her to remove all her clothes?
It also made her mad. “Dang it, Gnaw. Get your big body over here!”
“I can’t do this.”
“You will. Turn around, come over here, and take off your pants.” She paused. “Why are you making this harder on me, huh? Dang you, you big jerk!”
He turned, frowning.
She got to her knees. “Am I that bad to look at? I’m naked. Do you know how difficult this is for me? The last time someone saw this much of me, I wore diapers and my mom gave me baths.” Tears filled her eyes. “Do you think I’m ugly?”
His eyes widened, and he took a step closer. “No.
