- Ava -

She put her panties and bra back on, and they sat on her suit on the tiled path. The intelligent fabric thickened to act more like a cushion than just flat cloth.

Xark'ion had gotten more berries and other fruits, and they had tasted them all to make sure they weren't downright poisonous.

Ava chomped on a black-skinned fruit with yellow, mango-like flesh inside. “I don't think any of these fruits are toxic. This is a biodome, after all. They wouldn't grow stuff that was dangerous to eat.”

“Probably,” Xark'ion said and wiped fruit juice off his chin. “But who can tell what's toxic to aliens. What's fine for them might be very different for us.”

“Like how chocolate is toxic to dogs. That weirded me out the first time I heard it. I mean, come on. Chocolate? The food of the gods? But yeah, you're right. Better not eat too much of each thing.”

The alien sun was still in the same spot outside the transparent ceiling and sent warm rays down on them, while the breeze was still blowing fragrant air over them. The supporting sleeve on Ava's leg glinted with all its hi-tech features.

“Xark'ion.”

“Ava.”

“You left my room before I woke up.”

“I did.”

“I thought maybe you didn't like me. I mean, the leg. I know Acerex don't like defects that weren't earned in battle.”

“That's true.”

“So you didn't? I mean, like it?”

He reached out to touch the sleeve, but Ava pulled her leg closer to her and away from him.

He smirked, grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, sliding her a couple of inches across the ground. Then he took a good hold around her weak leg with one large hand, holding it and studying the contraption up close. “It is a very Earth-like machine.”

“The leg was damaged before I was born. I mean, it never grew like it should. It didn't develop strength. That sleeve helps to make it usable. It actually makes that leg much stronger than the other one.”

He ran one finger up and down the sleeve, and Ava could feel every movement as if there was nothing between her skin and him.

“We usually hide defects we're born with. I mean, physical defects. It is an object of shame. But aren't we all imperfect? Don't we all have things that we struggle with?”

Ava snorted. “I can't believe you have any imperfections.”

“Really? Not physical, perhaps. Or rather, not so visible. But imagine an Acerex warrior who is no good with a sword. It defies imagination.”

Ava remembered what Harper had said. Not the best sword fighter. “Good enough to become the captain of an elite squad.”

He nodded slowly. “Only because I was helped by very capable men. But by the same token, it seems to me your leg didn't prevent you from being the leader of your research station. Or from surviving the Fire Planet. Or from becoming a close friend of our royal house. Or from becoming a successful diplomat.”

It was Ava's turn to nod. “Only because I was helped by very capable women. So you don't mind the leg?”

“I am an Acerex. I don't love that you were not born perfect. But I also don't hate it.”

“You don't care one way or the other? You know, I think that's the best approach.”

Xark'ion got to his feet. “If one wishes to understand any topic, it is often of vital importance how one approaches it.”

Ava peered up at him, still happy and buzzed from the sex. “You're unusual for an Acerex warrior, aren't you?”

He fastened the sword to his pants. “Very. Most of us handle the sword like we're born with it.”

“Maybe. What I mean is that I've never met an Acerex who thinks the way you do. Don't get me wrong, warrior. I really like it. Okay, time to go?” She got up and assembled the pieces of the suit around her. They fused together, leaving no visible joins.

“Perhaps. The diplomat decides. I am curious about the running liquid I hear. I hope it's not a leak of some kind.”

Ava stood still, just listening. But all she could hear was the distant hum of the alien ventilation system and the breeze rustling some of the treetops around them. “I can't hear any liquid.”

Xark'ion pointed. “That direction. Roughly on the way to the wall we're aiming for.”

Ava got her pack and popped the last berry into her mouth. “Let'th go.”

- - -

It was a circular stream of crystal clear water, about thirty feet in diameter, running around a green island in the middle. Around it there were only grasses, and the closest tree was many yards away.

“I think we were right,” Ava said. “Yeah, this definitely has to be a park as well as a biodome. This spot is clearly intended for recreation.”

Xark'ion went over to the stream and looked down into it. “No swimming predators. It makes me suspicious.”

“I think that creek was probably made for bathing in. The species that made this station must have been very similar to humans. See the rocky beach?”

Xark'ion dipped his hand into the water. “Most pleasant. Cool, but not cold. Pure water. No scent of any kind. Rocky bottom.”

Ava dropped her pack on the ground, went over to him and grabbed his forearm, leaning over the water. “Really makes you want to take a dip, right?”

“No. But I suppose the bodyguard must go first.”

“Hey, you don't have to-”

Xark'ion quickly placed his sword on the ground and dived into the stream, hardly making a splash.

He surfaced and smiled. “The bodyguard reports that the water is fine. And it appears clean, with no obvious monsters. Except possibly one.” He fumbled with his drawstring, then tossed his wet pants onto the grass. He looked down his body. “Yes, there it is.”

Ava stripped off her suit again, discarded her underwear and took a step into the shallow water close to the shore, supporting herself on Xark'ion's huge shoulder. “It is pretty cool. But I'm sure I'll get used to it aaaaeeeiii!”

Xark'ion grabbed her by the waist and propelled himself and her completely out of the water and into the air, before they fell back right into the middle of the stream in a mighty splash.

“What the hell?” Ava spluttered and wiped water and drenched hair from her face when she finally got her head above water. “Have you lost your mind?”

Xark'ion laughed. “Another lesson in diplomacy: Don't trust an Acerex near water.”

Ava's annoyance at being surprised vanished. “Mister, you're lucky the translator device is waterproof. If not, you'd owe me about a zillion dollars right now.”

He smirked. “I'd just use diplomacy to talk my way out of it.”

“Oh, I'd make you pay, all right. Can you guess how?” She grabbed his cock under the water and tugged at it, immediately feeling it stiffen.

“Earth diplomats play dirty,” Xark'ion growled and cupped her breast with a large hand.

“Hey, I'll have you know I got into this water specifically to get clean. But it appears I'm not the only one here who likes dirty play.”

His cock was stiffening fast, and now it had to be close to full hardness. Ava had to use both hands to  hold on to it. The feel of the throbbing flesh in her hands made her ready again. More than ready.

Stars, he's turning me into a total slut for him.

He cupped her pussy with his free hand, sending delighted little tingles up into her belly. “Warriors like all kinds of play. Especially this kind.”

She let go of him and splashed water in his face. “And this kind?”

“That kind is a particular favorite,” he coughed, wiping the water out of his eyes.

Then he grabbed her waist before he could splash him again, and once more he jumped clear out of the water with her, then splashed down in the middle of the stream.

Of course he had used the rocks at the bottom to push against, but that didn't make his strength any less impressive. Ava had no idea anyone could be this strong.

“You think you're a dolphin or something?” she said, again treading water and wiping wet strands of hair from her face. 

“Yes,” the large alien confessed, very seriously. “If a 'dolphin' is a warrior who often mates with Earthling diplomats.”

“'Often', huh? You sure it will ever happen again?”

“Moderately sure,” he said and came in close. “Though in truth I'm astounded it's happened even once. Not to mention twice.”

She put her arms around his neck again, luxuriating in those green eyes of his. “Want to try for three?”

He scratched his chin and shrugged. “I suppose. If you insist.”

She felt around under the water and grabbed his rock-hard manhood again. “This thing seems pretty insistent to me.”

“It does,” he agreed. “And this,” he slid his finger up along her slit under the water, “is too slippery to be a coincidence.”

“I guess we both insist.”

He leaned in and kissed her, hard and demanding. “It's not undiplomatic to be insistent.”

He took her hand and waded ashore in front of her, pulling her with him onto the circular island in the middle of the stream that flowed around it as a never-ending vortex. Here the rust-red grass grew to only an inch in height, creating a fine and soft carpet.

Ava admired his naked back and butt, so muscular and at the same time so unspeakably cute. Her stomach and pelvis and pussy were a continuous source of excited heat.

He turned and took her into his arms, with his huge, vertical manhood as a third presence between them. He laid her down on the grass and unceremoniously spread her knees far apart.

Ava had never felt more spread open, and she could feel his green gaze as a burning laser beam when he took in her female charms. It made her want to spread more for him, so she did.

“My Ava is the greatest beauty,” Xark'ion growled and got into position between her legs.

Ava whimpered when he speared her sex again, both from the slight pain and from the intense arousal that coursed through her.

She stared into his crystal clear, vividly green alien eyes as he fucked her, slowly and confidently, just taking his pleasure from her body and enjoying it.