12. Twelve

twelve

My ears were flat against my head, my feet planted in the doorway.

Kendal grunted with the effort of trying to move me, her hands wrapped around my wrist.

She laughed and rolled her eyes at me. "I can't believe you're being a baby about this." She let go and waved at my body, doing an extra circle over my slit. "We're filthy. Covered in cum. The fur around your slit is crusty, for Christ's sake!"

"I will brush it." I was being surly.

She laughed and shook her head. "Not gonna cut it. Get in the shower."

I whined but let her move me an inch when she went around and pushed on my back with all her might.

She gave up and sighed. "Why are you so afraid of a shower?"

I shuddered and hung my head. "We were not allowed to bathe ourselves."

"Oh, Drym." I felt her move and then her face peered up at me, her eyes glassy. "What did they do?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."

She grabbed my nose, her grip fierce. "It matters. What was done to you was wrong. Traumatic. And if you don't talk about it, it will leave lasting scars." She smoothed her hands up the sides of my muzzle and cupped my ears. "It will never be okay, but talking about it will make it better."

She gave me a wry grin. "Trust me, my therapist tells me that every time I see her."

I swallowed. Maybe she was right. "They sprayed us with a hose. It was powerful, and the water stung. They would throw buckets of soap flakes on us. If we were good and soaped ourselves as well as they thought we should, they would rinse us immediately. If they thought we missed a spot, they would let the soap dry on our skin and fur and repeat the entire process."

I chanced a look at her. I needed to see her reaction, and at the same time, dreaded seeing disgust on her face.

Instead, I saw anger. "Those fuckers!"

She wrapped both of her small hands around one of mine and stared into my eyes. "Do you trust me?"

I shouldn't. My trust should be broken beyond repair after the laboratory. We were all still wary of outsiders and went to great lengths to keep our existence a secret.

"Yes." My voice was strong and sure. Maybe I was a fool, but I trusted her.

She slowly walked backward, stepping into the large square enclosure first. The room had filled with steam and my fur clung to my skin. My eyes flicked to the wall, where a steady stream of water flowed.

She directed my hand to her chest, flattening my palm against her breast. My fingers squeezed and she inhaled sharply. I focused on her, worried my claws had nicked her skin. As I watched, she slid my hand to her side and down to her hip, across her belly to the other hip.

Then she spread her legs. My mouth watered and I smacked my lips.

I flinched when the water hit my arm. I hadn't been aware that she had backed far enough into the shower to be completely under the spray.

She turned my fingers down and slid them between her folds. She walked further back, until she pressed against the wall. Her head thrown back, she moaned as she used my hand to pleasure herself.

The water was hitting my chest. It was warm and soft. Soothing, not painful. I watched the drops fall and lifted my other hand, running my fingers back and forth through the water.

She brought my hand from between her legs and rubbed my forearm. I realized she was washing me. The soap in her hand left bubbles behind. The shower filled with the scent of flowers.

I stood dumbfounded as she moved up my arm, across my chest and down my other arm. She pulled on my shoulders and I dropped to my haunches. She washed my face and neck, careful to shield my eyes from the soap. She even ran her soft fingers along the curves of my horns.

No part of me was left untouched. Not even under my tail or in the crease of my slit. My dick pushed against her hand but I kept control. Only because she was efficient in her movements and didn't linger longer than necessary. That both relieved and disappointed me.

She must have known because she chuckled. "We can play later."

She moved me this way and that under the spray, washing and rinsing every inch of me until my fur squeaked and my tail scales gleamed.

My fingers itched to give her the same treatment, but my claws were sharp and I had to stay mindful not to hurt her. I stared at them and growled. "I should pull out my claws."

She gasped. "Don't you dare! Why would you even say a thing like that?"

"I want to touch you, rub your skin, the way you can touch me."

She bit at her bottom lip and kissed my chest. "We can figure something out. Something that doesn't involve mutilating your body."

I chuffed. If she thought there was a way, I would give her time to research. But I wouldn't wait forever. If her way didn't work, there was always mine. I was certain Cavi could remove my claws.

She bathed herself. I marveled at her beauty. I couldn't believe this creature allowed me to touch her. By the time she finished, my cock strained behind my slit.

She turned and caught me pushing on my groin, trying to hold it in.

She laughed. "Later. I have to go rent a van, and then we need to get ready to go meet this mysterious representative."

She turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping a large cloth around her body. I stepped out after her and shook.

She squealed and threw her arms up, holding the cloth in front of her.

Heat suffused my skin when I realized what I'd done. The room was now sopping wet. I hung my head. "I'm sorry."

She just laughed and shook her head. "It's okay." She leaned toward me and smelled my chest.

I staggered back in confusion.

She grinned up at me. "You smell earthy and clean."

My brows drew down in further confusion. "What else would I smell like? You washed every part of me."

She giggled again. "I thought you might smell like wet dog."

I growled and she fled the room with a giggle.