I hesitated to publish this story, if only because it is a whole new genre for me. So, this is a bit of an experiment. Then again, looking back, maybe this is exactly the same type of story I've written before--just on a different planet.
I hope you enjoy it, both in mind and body...
*
Mara dropped down naked under the waves and into an alien world. Even diving under the sea on Earth had felt like leaving the planet-- the vast oceans were filled with strange creatures with pulsing bodies and glowing feelers that drifted around in the dark.
But this was truly an alien world; the first inhabited exoplanet explored by humanity. People had been dreaming about this day for generations. Now Mara was here, in the flesh, one of the first human beings to glimpse what had once been only fantasy.
Giant masses of what looked like towers of coral made of rose petals pushed out from the ocean floor. A riot of colors splashed across their intricate patterns. Sunlight shafted down through the clear water above, making waves of light dance on the reefs.
"Beautiful, isn't it, Mara?" Taxlaq's voice vibrated through the water. Looking over her shoulder, Mara could see him floating a few meters away. His rubbery skin flashed with bright yellows of happiness as he thrust his tentacles behind him.
Mara could do little more than wave back as she inhaled in through the small circle of the breathing device between her lips. The rest of her was bare. With long legs kicking through the warm water, she swept her hands forward in a breast-stroke as she made her way through the cathedral of sights and sounds.
A collection of sea creatures with three little snouts like flutes flittered in front of her. Their tails flashed through reds and whites as they dipped and weaved. One of them made a clicking sound through the water, then the next, until a symphony of clicks rang through the reef. They swirled around her smooth brown body, gently touching her, before thrusting out together back down into the light blue below.
Taxlaq made a guttural rumble-- it was his equivalent of a laugh. His alien body was shockingly similar to that of an octopus back on Earth; apparently, when a pattern of life worked, nature stuck with it. Yet these last few weeks of having Taxlaq as her guide showed her how different he was on the inside. He was no cold, solitary creature. His eyes danced with intelligence and compassion. He seemed to know her thoughts and needs before she did.
Mara smiled again and reached out to stroke Taxlaq's tentacle. A tendril wrapped around her wrist, and gently played with the transparent little hairs on her arm. She'd learned that his tentacles were not always completely under his control. Apparently, they had a bit of a mind of their own. He assured her, though, that he had been trained since a child on the strict mental disciplines needed to direct his arms with the greatest of care, when needed.
The tentacle caressed further up her arm, making little popping sensations on her skin with its suckers. She had sometimes wondered what it would like to have those sensitive organs running up and down her body...
all
of her body.
Shaking her head, Mara pushed the thought to the side. She was a scientist-- here to explore and learn. This was the greatest experience of her life, and she intended to enjoy it.
Laughing out bubbles into the water, she swam through the glittering towers of the reefs, stroking out into the wonders of this alien ocean, the flowing form of Taxlaq always by her side.
* * *
Mara's head burst through the surface. She gasped and giggled as she threw her breathing device on the sand and pushed back her wet black hair.
"That was amazing!" she told Taxlaq breathlessly. The patches of color glowing on his skin told her that he was pleased. "The reef is so vibrant here, and the water is so perfectly warm," she added. "I've never seen anything so beautiful!"
That was true, but it was more than that.
It felt so freeing just to leave everything behind,
she thought.
No clothes. No responsibilities. No one around to care if I am naked or not. Just me, the water, and all the lushness of life on this world.
Taxlaq curled up next to her as she lay back in the pool, looking out into the lagoon as little waves caressed her thighs. As usual, Taxlaq's tentacles wrapped around her waist and popped little suction-cup massages across her legs. Mara's breasts rose out of the water, gently swaying to the ripples. Looking down through the nearly transparent water, Mara could see every sucker of Taxlaq's tentacles, and every curl of the neat black bush between her legs.
"Did that give you pleasure? Did it show you new ways to be alive?" Taxlaq's deep voice vibrated out from the water.
Laughing happily to herself again, Mara reached out to tightly hug Taxlaq's giant "head" in her arms. The soft, rubbery skin of his mantle melded itself against her breasts. Taxlaq was massive, with tentacles that could wrap around her three times without even trying. Yet she could compress his entire body until it was almost flat. It was still hard to believe that all that squeezing didn't hurt him; even more, that he actually enjoyed it!
The tentacle around her waist gave her a strong squeeze in reply, as did the tentacles wrapped around each leg.
"Yes, my friend, that gave me pleasure." Mara put her hands behind her and sank them into the sand. The water was so warm that it was hard to tell where it ended and the air began. She arched her neck back, letting her hair float on the little waves. Her nipples pointed up straight towards the sun. She closed her eyes and felt its heat.
"Yeah, I feel alive ... maybe for the first time in my life," she whispered.
Taxlaq's tentacles were doing their usual exploration, running up and down her legs, walking up her back, and running their soft tips across her skin. Taxlaq had explained how "touchy" his people could be, especially when faced with curious new sensations. She knew he was tasting her with those suckers. More than tasting-- almost all of his senses were in those things. Tasting, licking, smelling, touching--plus senses humans could barely imagine--he wanted to feel and explore every piece of her.
In spite of herself, Mara's heart began to beat faster.
"That is well," Taxlaq rumbled. His whole body was a bright yellow now, almost the same shade as the sun above. "You have also shown me new ways to be alive. I am ... pleased to have been able to know you, Mara." He gave one more squeeze, then started to stare off into the distance. The yellow in his upper body slowly started to fade to green, then light blue.
Apparently, he was moving off into meditation. He had explained that his people needed to do that when they experienced great emotions. As far as she could understand, it was a powerful spiritual practice; at least, when put in human terms. They still had so much to learn about each other!
A tip of the tentacle around her waist, still bright yellow, began to creep down her stomach. It briefly tickled her belly button, making Mara have to hold in another fit of giggles. She inhaled sharply as she saw it squirm downwards. It reached out towards her mound, touching her curly black hair.
The tentacle appeared to get excited, shifting back and forth across her mound to taste and touch.
A shudder ran through Mara. Opening her eyes, she glanced over at Taxlaq. He gazed steadily out into the sky and sea. He did not seem to be paying attention to her, or what his tentacles were doing.
Maybe one of those little brains in his arm is smelling something new, and wants to explore
, she thought.
