Nikhil (Kaliszian Book 1) by M.K. Eidem Read Free Book Online

only if they have committed the most heinous of crimes."
    "Oh."
    "So would you allow me the honor of cleansing your hair?" he asked again. "I would never do so without your permission."
    Mac frowned at his words. Why would he consider it an honor to wash her hair? But she could see he wouldn't do it if it made her uncomfortable.
    "I would allow it, Nikhil. I just hope you don't regret doing it. It hasn't been brushed since the Ganglians took us from Earth."
    Nikhil had filled his hand with cleansing liquid, eager to perform such an intimate act for his True Mate, when her last words had him stilling.
    "Ganglians..." he growled. "The Ganglians took you from your home world?"
    "Yes. Didn't you know that?"
    "No. The Ganglians..."
    "I know what Ganglians do to females, Nikhil," she whispered.
    "Luol said you weren't abused that way," he growled back, his need to protect her surging through him.
    "I wasn't." She put a calming hand on his suddenly heaving chest. "The guys protected me. They made sure the Ganglians didn't know that I and... that I was female," she stuttered over her words.
    "You were not..."
    "No! No, Nikhil, I wasn't raped."
    "Thank the Goddess," he whispered shakily, finding he didn't know what he would have done if she had been. Forcing his hands to unclench, he began caring for his True Mate. "Lean against me, Mackenzie. I will care for you, and vow to make sure you never have to fear again."
    Mac was about to tell him he couldn't promise something like that, but then his fingers sunk into her dirty, matted hair to massage her scalp, and all she could do was moan in pleasure.
    "Oh, Nikhil, that feels so good."
    "Then I will continue to do so, Little One. You just close your eyes and enjoy."
    Mac did just that. Her chin remained on his chest as her hands drifted down his sides until they came to rest on his pant-encased hips.
    Nikhil couldn't believe the honor his True Mate was giving him. For a Kaliszian, one’s hair was almost a sacred thing, for it is where their Suja beads lived. Where their place in society was revealed, along with their lineage, and their personal achievements. The beads alone decided where they settled, their height displaying the worth of those that wore them. Only the closest or most intimate to a Kaliszian was ever allowed to wash another's hair. The only one Nikhil had ever allowed to do this was his mother, and that had been years ago. For Mackenzie to allow him this honor humbled him.
    "Tip your head back, Little One," he murmured, and his heart beat faster when she didn't hesitate to obey him, and he rinsed part of the filth away.
    "Have you gotten it clean already?"
    "No. I am sorry. I did not mean to fail you.'"
    "What?" Her head whipped up, her eyes flying open. "Why would you say that?!! Why would you even think that?!!"
    "You wished your hair to be clean in one cleansing, and I did not do that."
    "Nikhil," her hands reached up, gripping his cheeks, forcing him to look into her eyes. "It was a question, not a criticism. If anyone could have gotten my hair clean in one washing, I know it would be you."
    "You truly believe this?" His dimly glowing eyes searched hers.
    "I do."
    "Would you allow me to cleanse your hair again?"
    "I would allow you to cleanse my hair and every other part of my body until there's not a speck of that grime left on me."
    "I will not fail you, this time, Little One."
    "Nikhil," she stilled his hand from getting more cleansing gel. "You could never fail me." Releasing his hand, she let her chin return to his chest and closed her eyes.
    Nikhil looked down at the little female in his arms. When had he ever been trusted so completely? Believed in so completely? It was then he realized he already loved this little female... completely.
    It took three more cleansings for Nikhil to finally remove the last speck of dirt from his True Mate's hair, and once it was done, he was stunned. "It's beautiful," he whispered in awe, never having felt such thick, silky hair