I ran the twig brush through my damp hair, combing out the long golden strands. My locks had been wrapped into a tight bun on my head for what felt like a week now. I half expected them to fall out when I took my shower, but they didn’t, and now they cascaded down my shoulders in long, thick spiral curls.

I leaned forward, burying my gaze in the polished rock before me. It had a passable reflection and served as a mirror. It was interesting to see how the sub-Martian terrain had affected my skin. It was clear but also very pale, almost a milky white. The time spent without any sun was very apparent. However, my skin was completely free of blemishes.

Despite not being served with a daily helping of vitamin D, I felt refreshed and relaxed. Within the large cave that was Erotan’s home, I was given my own room and bathroom. The bed was soft with silky sheets that begged me to join them.

I was thrilled to find that there was plumbing in the cave with a functioning toilet and shower. The only thing that was considerably different was the water. Since it all came from a waterfall, the rock spout that worked as a showerhead was constantly running and the toilet was a never-ending swirl. It felt like they were wasting a lot of water, but it was simply nature going through its processes.

A shuffle drew my eyes from the stone, and I glanced to the doorway. Erotan’s hand stretched through the strands of red ivy that served as a curtain between this room and the next. He didn’t announce himself first, he just barged in.

When he saw me though, he halted in his steps as though he were stunned. He blinked several times before opening his mouth to speak, but I didn’t understand a thing. All I heard was his deep alien voice.

“Hold on,” I said. I didn’t have my translator in. Earlier that day, I had spent quite a bit of time trying to remove the embedded translator from my neo-neoprene suit. It had been a very difficult and risky endeavor, considering all the tools I needed were back at camp — but I had succeeded nonetheless.

I fit the tiny mechanism in my ear and turned to him. “What did you say?”

He lifted his hand and scratched the back of his head, as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I said that I thought you looked very nice this evening.”

Seeing him twisted in knots over giving me a flattering and genuine compliment brought heat to my cheeks. I knew with my pale skin, the color would be very apparent. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.” Especially since I knew I looked alien and weird to him. From what I had seen, I was much smaller than the female Subcotan; frail and lithe in build. I’m sure they all saw me as a twig they could snap with ease.

“I have something for you.” He lifted his hand and opened his fingers, revealing a twine necklace with gems attached to it. “All the women will be wearing a lot of jewelry and I didn’t want you to feel out of place. I wish I had more to offer you, but this is all I could find for now. It was my mother’s.”

“Your mother’s?” Were we moving a little too fast? He was already giving me the family jewels.

“Are you sure you want to give me your mother’s necklace?”

He nodded. “It’s important to me that you feel comfortable and not out of place here. I have a feeling things might become a bit overwhelming for you tonight.”

I turned around and lifted my golden hair. “Will you put it on me?”

“I would be honored to,” he said as he crossed the room over to me.

It had been a while since we’d touched and the feeling of his fingers grazing the skin along my neck made my entire body tingle. Despite all the work he did with his hands, the skin was still soft and smooth.

“Why do you believe tonight will be overwhelming for me?”

“I’ve received a lot of questions from neighbors and family and friends ever since you arrived here. They’re all curious and excited to meet you.”

“Well, I look forward to meeting them as well.” I tried to sound as gracious as possible to my host even though I was a bit nervous.

“What do you think?” he asked as his hands fell to his sides.

I turned to the mirror and marveled at the necklace around my throat. It was more of a choker, but the blue and green jewels brightened my blue eyes. I looked radiant.

“It’s beautiful,” I said as my fingers traced over the smooth stones.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

I felt his warm breath against my ear. I hadn’t even realized he was standing so close. The sensation made a shiver run up my spine. My body reacted to him in some unexplainable way every time he was near. Whether it was tingles, goosebumps, or that ever-present magnetic pull — I couldn’t deny that there was something between us. Some undeniable chemistry.

A part of me wanted to explore it, but it simply didn’t feel appropriate. He was a Martian, and I was an earthling. What was I expecting to happen?

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

He had been waiting patiently for me to get ready. I didn’t have a clock, but I knew it must have been at least an hour or so that he had been sitting outside my room, occupying himself with his own thoughts.

“Yes, I think I’m ready.”

He extended his arm out to me. The broad structure of his arm and bulging muscles caught my attention. “It is tradition that you walk holding my arm. One hand here.” He touched the bold of his bicep. “And one hand here.” He pointed to his forearm.

I wrapped my arms around him as he instructed, and he lowered his arm to his side. The action brought me close to him and I got a whiff of his masculine scent. He smelled good. It was almost as though we were snuggling as we walked through the cave house and out onto the stairwell leading down to the paths below.

The moss hanging around the city had already begun to dim, and in its place, the waterfall bloomed into glowing life. It was as though every ounce of water had transformed into drops of light. It ran through the center of the city like molten gold, sparkling and burning bright. Below us I watched as hundreds if not thousands of bodies moved around, greeting each other with small pecks on gray cheeks.

I could tell even from this height that it was just as Erotan said it would be. The women practically glittered, covered in polished stones from head to toe. The combination of the shining surface and the bright glowing water created a mesmerizing spectacle. It was almost as though each Subcotan female was a golden disco ball.

Erotan hugged me closer to his side as we descended the long set of stairs to the village center. At a far corner, I spied a large square full of people dancing. The step was very rigid for men but flowed more for women. They were urged on by a host of instruments that I didn’t recognize, nor could I match with an instrument from Earth. They focused on vibrations in order to create sounds similar to ours, but they were simply built differently and created very alien sounds. Still, I could feel my head nodding along to the rhythmic beat.

“The city looks so beautiful,” I told him, still transfixed to the site below us. It was like something out of a fantastical dream.

“These weekly parties are a very big event for us. It’s the one time that we all can be together, enjoying each other’s company.”

“Everyone’s here? Even the soldiers that are supposed to be out guarding the land from the Alaki?”

“Yes, everyone. Community is very important to us, and we wouldn’t want to leave anybody out.”

It was a beautiful sentiment, but I also thought it a bit of a dangerous risk to pull all the warriors from the tunnels.

He seemed to sense my hesitation. “Do not worry. The Alaki do not like the loud sounds. It keeps our village safe.”

As soon as we reached the ground floor, throngs of strangers made their way over to us. Erotan introduced me to individual after individual until the names all just seemed to blend together. They admired my hair, thumbing through it with their thick fingers. Some even had the gall to ask if they could take some and weave it into their own. Many of them enjoyed comparing the size of their hands to mine. The tips of my fingers barely made it out of their palms.

Each new wave of women questioned my outfit. They were just as scantily clad as the man, wearing something akin to a string bikini on their sturdy bodies. They couldn’t understand why I had decided to wear my neo-neoprene suit rather than the traditional evening wear of the Subcotan. I never gave them a straight answer, but the truth of the matter was that I simply didn’t wish to walk around exposed like that. I felt comfortable in my full body suit. Not to mention, it actually fit me.

Despite the questions and their overwhelming curiosity, the Subcotan people were extremely friendly, welcoming, and generous. Many walked over offering me food and drink. Some of them even tried to steal me away for a dance, but Erotan refused to release me from his arm.

I could tell by the way he held his chin and shoulders that he was proud to have me by his side. Sometimes I had to stifle a giggle at his boastful appearance, but I couldn’t deny that it felt good to be at his side, holding his arm. In fact, I think I was equally as proud to have him with me.

“Erotan, I am so happy to see you have returned from your post in order to attend,” said a super tall but narrow Subcotan. His dark hair had been trimmed up to his chin, and his eyes were as black as Erotan’s. “Is this the delectable creature I have heard so much about?” He asked as his gaze turned to me.

“This is Mia. Mia this is Elder Sulnil,” Erotan introduced us. “At his side, is his wife, Latho. Behind him are their two children, Asa and Cotid.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, trying to sound as gracious as possible.

“The feeling is mutual,” Latho said with a wide grin. She hadn’t been able to take her eyes off of my hair the entire time.

“Have you heard the big news yet?” Elder Sulnil asked.

“No.” Erotan shook his head.

Sulil reached behind him, wrapping his hand around Cotid’s wrist and yanked him forward. “Show him, Cotid.”

He didn’t need to tell his son twice. With a glint in his eye, Cotid withdrew a long black sword. He held it across two open palms for both Erotan and I to see.

“You got your sword?” There was a hint of shock in Erotan’s voice. “Congratulations!” He brought the newly made man into a hug, nearly stabbing himself in the process. “How does it feel?”

Cotid glanced over his shoulder at his parents before leaning closer to Erotan and whispering, “Like I’m ready to finally bed a woman.”

Erotan gave a big boom of laughter and clapped the young Subcotan on the shoulder. “It is the sweetest fruit this land has to offer.” A smirk graced his lips as he glanced at me.

“So, I’ve been told, and I was hoping to pluck the most exotic piece for my first time.” Cotid’s gaze turned on me.

A low, guttural growl sounded deep from within Erotan’s throat. Cotid leapt back. It was a warning.

The audacious show almost brought a giggle to my mouth, but I swallowed it down, not wanting to make it seem as though I were mocking Erotan.

He yanked me closer to him, making it rather apparent that no other male was going to touch me but him. This wasn’t the first time this had happened to me, but with those previous situations on earth, I had always felt the need to set boundaries. I didn’t belong to them. I wasn’t an object to be possessed. But this was different. Having Erotan here to protect me felt good, flattering even. This was a warrior’s way of showing that he cared about me, whether or not he was ready to admit it.

“Forgive him, please,” said the elder. “He’s still a young hot blood. You remember what that phase was like, right?” Sunil glared at his son, agitated by his disrespectful behavior.

“I remember, but that doesn’t mean I won’t chase off another male when he comes sniffing around my female.”

My female. The line repeated in my head over and over, and I felt a heat take over my body. What would it be like to live by Erotan’s side and be his female? My days would be spent safe and supported, while my nights would be… Well, you know what’s hanging between his legs. I don’t think I would ever get tired of that.

“Once again, you have my utmost apologies. I’m sure my son wasn’t aware that you had already claimed her,” the elder said, still trying to smooth over the small tiff.

“I appreciate it, and I will not hold it against him.” Erotan took on an air of authority.

“That’s all I ask,” the elder said as he gave a small bow and dragged his family away. He sneered and snapped at his son as they left our side.

“Well, that was interesting,” I said.

“He believes that just because he’s the elder’s son he can take whatever he wants.” He was still a bit peeved over the incident.

Erotan walked me closer to the waterfall, keeping me at his side. As we made our way through the crowd, more people stopped us to touch my hair and greet their prized warrior. I couldn’t help but smile throughout it all, even though a part of me felt like an animal at the zoo. Yes, their curiosity was overbearing, but they didn’t mean anything negative by it. I would imagine the same thing would happen if I were to bring Erotan back to earth. Everyone would want to touch every inch of him, and the thought of it made my head spin.

The urge to drag him back to the apartment and run my hands along his naked body spurred through me. I wanted nothing but to climb his massive structure and ride him until we both passed out.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked as we broke from the crowd and walked around the waterfall, not stopping until the pouring light separated us from the others.

“Nothing that I can share.”

“I would hope after all this time that we spent together you would be able to trust me with a thought like that.”

I shook my head. “It’s not about me trusting you or not trusting you.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me, not following what I was trying to say.

“It’s about me not rendering myself vulnerable to you.”

He placed two hands on my hips and brought me toward him, gripping me tightly. “You think you’re already not vulnerable?” He squeezed tighter. “You don’t think if I wanted to, I can have my way with you at any moment?”

It was a show of strength, not sexual domination — at least I thought that’s what he was going for. “And what if I want you to have your way with me?”

He licked his lips, clearly enticed by the idea. “Then I would lock you in my cave for days on end, not releasing you until I’d had my fill.”

I felt the blush heat in my cheeks. “I don’t know if I could handle days.” It was the honest truth. I had seen what his pole looked like flaccid. I couldn’t imagine what it was like at full mast.

His hand cupped my face. The touch was so gentle as though he were afraid to break me. “Then how about just a small taste?” He leaned forward, and my heart pounded in my chest.

The idea of him kissing me made my head swim, and he was seconds away from it. I braced myself for the explosion I knew was coming. If his touch was able to elicit tingles and sparks along my skin, what would his kiss do? Would I have an orgasm as soon as his lips touched mine?

At this point, anything was possible.

Just as his lips hovered mere millimeters from mine, a loud crash and the sound of a thousand screams broke across the scene. A familiar hissing sound filled my ears.

“Alaki!” a voice shrieked.

Erotan reeled back. “Alaki in the village? Get down.” He pushed me to the floor as he drew his black sword.

I fell to the hard rock floor with a huff. It nearly knocked the wind out of me, but I managed to crawl under a large fluorescent pink plant to hide.

Three of the large centipede-like monsters thundered through the village, killing and maiming the fleeing people. Erotan charged them with his sword drawn.

I knew I shouldn’t watch, but I couldn’t keep my eyes away. No other warrior had made it to the scene, and there he stood, ready to take on all three.