Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Certainly, we can do that for you, lovely off-worlder! We have whole sections of garments that haven’t been sewed together yet for customers who like to mix and match colors and fabrics. Come with me and let he show you.”
“Oh, thank you,” Lexi said, perking up. She might even forgive him ogling her breasts earlier if he could find her something to cover up with.
They came to a section of the stall with many two-breasted pieces on display. Clearly the idea was for a Terian woman to pick two of them to sew together. But of course Lexi could just choose one and put it on.
The helpful merchant showed her coverings in red, gold, lavender, and orange, but none of them really caught Lexi’s fancy.
“No, none of those.” She shook her head as she looked through a rack beside the payment station. “I’m sure there’s something here for me, though. I’ll know it when I see it…” Then her gaze fell on the exact garment she wanted.
It was a breast covering of the softest fabric she’d ever touched, in vivid green—the exact shade of her eyes.
“That one,” she said firmly. “That one is perfect for me.”
The merchant blinked, all four eyes widening.
“That one? Truly? But you seem like such a respectable young woman.”
Lexi frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I like the color—that’s the one I want.”
He hesitated, then shrugged.
“Well, as you wish, though you may get unwanted attention when you wear it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Unwanted attention? No, you know what—never mind. Just let me buy it, please.” Lexi handed over the Terian coins Brandt had given her—she had just enough. She stepped behind a large sign listing the wares the shop sold for some privacy since fitting rooms apparently weren’t a thing here. Whipping off the gauze band which hid almost nothing, she slipped the covering on and nearly moaned with relief.
It tied behind her neck and around her back, like a bikini top and back on Earth, Lexi would have felt extremely exposed if she’d worn it in public. But after going for days with her breasts bare or nearly bare, it felt like the most wonderful coverage.
Finally, I’m covered. Thank you, alien Victoria’s Secret.
She had no idea that with the soft green fabric hugging her breasts, she had just stepped into more trouble than she could imagine.
26
LEXI
“T’linga?” Lexi called, her voice echoing oddly in the shadowed row of shops. “Are you down here?”
Silence answered and Lexi frowned. She’d been looking for her friend for almost thirty minutes now, going further and further into the market to try and find her but so far, no luck. It was like T’linga had completely disappeared.
She turned in a slow circle, realizing the market had changed around her. The bright colors, the laughter, the cheerful babble of bartering voices—all of it had faded behind her. The air in this section of the market was dimmer, the light filtering through sagging tarps stained with old smoke. The sweet scent of candied fruit and spiced nuts was gone, replaced by acrid fumes. There was a metallic tang in the air, with an undercurrent of something rotten that turned her stomach.
Her skin prickled.
Well, congratulations, Lexi. You’ve officially wandered into the alien version of the bad neighborhood. Now how the hell do you get out of here?
The stalls here were nothing like the bright bazaar in the part of the market she’d come from. They all seemed to be selling something dangerous or off-putting.
At one stall, gleaming knives and blades were displayed on black velvet, each one curved or hooked in sinister ways. Some had jagged, serrated edges, others were smooth but etched with runes that seemed to pulse faintly in the low light. One massive blade had a handle carved from what looked like bone. The vendor, a pale Terian with sharp teeth, ran his fingers lovingly over its edge until a bead of purple blood welled up. He licked it off and smiled at her.
Lexi shivered and moved faster. No thank you—she didn’t want anything to do with that.
The next stall was stacked with bottles and vials, their contents swirling in strange colors—inky black that seemed to suck in the light…glowing green that cast a sickly halo around them…viscous crimson that clung to the glass like blood. Labels in curling Terian script marked each one. She didn’t need a translation to guess they were either potions or poisons or some combination of the two. Again, no thank you.
Lexi moved on.
The next stall made her cheeks heat instantly. A row of Terian-shaped mannequins displayed various harnesses made of many straps studded with metal spikes. There were also clamps of every size, some glowing faintly as if electrified. Rods of translucent crystal hummed and vibrated faintly, stacked beside rings bristling with tiny barbs. A padded bench with shackles at both ends stood off to one side, obviously for demonstration purposes.