When Lyria woke up she was shocked when she saw Nyla was not using her technique and stood there in her regular form. Before she could manage to open her mouth Inara appeared next to Nyla.

“What are you doing? What if Alex sees you like this? Are you hurt or something? Quick infuse yourself, become one with the mana. Don’t ruin this now after all the work we’ve done!”

She was frantically waving her hands while talking with a hint of panic in her voice, spewing words faster than she ever heard from Inara.

Nyla just got the biggest grin on her face. Lyria noticed that she was positively beaming and even humming when she first saw her before Inara ran up to her.

“Alex kissed me.”

Nyla contentedly smiled.

Lyria couldn’t believe it. And by the wide open mouth, Inara couldn’t either.

“Makes it even more important to hide, you can’t show your true self after one kiss.”

Inara answered after her initial shock subsided.

“No he saw me like this tonight. And when I started to panic transform he stopped me.”

“What? Why?”

Inara quickly interjected after Nyla answered.

“Haven’t you noticed that he shows more attention to you and Lyria compared to me. I was actually kinda jealous. Yet I was worried for nothing since it seems he actually likes the way we look.”

Nyla had a dreamy look on her face while talking, obviously remembering last night while explaining her thoughts to Inara.

It was at this point that Alex came out of his tent, he looked haggard with disheveled hair and slightly red eyes.

Without thinking Lyria quickly jogged up to him while chanting cleanse. But this time it was actually lack of sleep and not poison that was the reason.

She instantly realized that she was touching his face and looking straight at him. After what Nyla had said it was to much for her and she let go while jumping back with a yelp and looking down on the ground.

He scratched his head while looking around on all of them.

Inara whispered.

“If it was such a good moment for you, why is he so haggard now?”

Nyla was looking really distressed after she saw Alex and was fidgeting while opening her mouth. But before she could answer or do anything he lifted Lyrias face up to him and pointed at Lyria then Nyla and said.

“You Nyla good?”

She looked confused with wide eyes and slightly gaping mouth unsure of what to say.

This time he pointed at himself than Lyria.

“You me good?”

She mutely nodded.

He repeated his initial action again.

“You Nyla good?”

She nodded again.

He released a sigh of relief and gave Lyria a hug while gently patting her back.

It felt really nice and warm. She could get used to this she thought while smiling.

When he was done hugging Lyria he came up to Inara before doing the same thing he did with Lyria.

***

‘He likes the way we look? But I have a weak looking faces, a thin spindly waste and a distinct lack of muscles. My ass is fat, I even have big useless meatbags on my chest that’s only good for getting in the way...’

Inara couldn’t wrap her head around what Nyla said and how Alex acted. It clashed with everything she knew, experienced and heard her whole life. She was ashamed of her looks and body, but as a speed and stealth specialist she had no choice but to use gear that helped her. And form fitted outfits where always the best for speed.

Inara lived by ‘fake it until you make it’ mantra, because ultimately strength trumps all. She wanted to act confident so that when it actually happened she wouldn’t look like a bumbling buffoon. Reality was different. When it smacked her in the face she wasn’t ready at all.

'Why is this harder than fighting monsters?'

The entire incident happened in a blur for her. When he came up and pointed at her and then on Nyla she just mutely nodded. And even worse when he hugged her she had her arms just dangling on the side, she was completely frozen in shock.

‘Aaaaaaaah. Why are you like this? First you got caught peeking, then you froze like a frog in front of a devil eyed snake. You are supposed to be the woman here. Not only did he initiate everything you didn’t even manage to squeak out a word or move a muscle. What is he going to think of you now?’

She didn’t even have the nerves to stay after that embarrassment, so while Inara slinked away Lyria and Nyla were having more language lessons with Alex.

‘They are probably having the time of their life, while Alex thinks I’m just a pathetic loser.’

“Is that how an expert acts?”

Cassandra poked Inaras side sporting a slight smirk on her face.

“Go away, I’m not in the mood to talk right now.”

“You should have more confidence in yourself, isn’t that what you always tell the other girls.”

Cassandra continued while ignoring Inaras moping.

“It doesn't help when I always screw up.”

“But you don’t, when was the last time you screwed up?”

Inara scoffed at Cassandras statement.

“I just messed up again, and it’s the third time since we rescued Alex.”

“Like what?”

“I neglected my scouting duty and even got wounded by the kril.”

“We all were responsible, not only you. And the fact you only took a glancing hit from a krils quill spray when you were up close shows how much you have grown.”

Inara quietly mumbled the next part while she got a slight blush.

“I peeked on Alex changing when he went swimming, and got discovered. And now when he hugged me I froze in fear because I didn’t know what to do or how to react.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hahahahaha, Inara you never change. I don’t think you screwed up that badly. He clearly forgave you for peeking when he comforted you that day, and if he doesn't care that you peeked at him then he obviously wouldn’t hold this against you either. It’s not like all is lost. In fact this should be a good thing, he easily looked past your mistakes. Don't try to guess how he thinks. Now grow a spine and get out there.”

Cassandra couldn’t hold back her growing smile while she air quoted mistakes.

Inara got faux offended look on her face.

“Damn it Cassandra your always so mean to me compared to the others. Can’t even wallow in peace with you around.”

She jumped up with renewed vigor.

“Go get him panther.”

Cassandra slapped her ass while laughing.

***

I really didn’t know what to do when I had two beautiful women on each shoulder. It didn’t make it any easier when I couldn’t understand most of the things they said.

I was just glad that they understood when I asked if everything was good between them and me. With the fact that they where three girls pining for me at the same time. And they actually were okay with it and seemed happy together, and actually even more enthused after I had hugged all of them.

I was really surprised by their reaction i wouldn't have stressed so much if i knew this would happen.

Well except for Inara who went completely stiff. It was kinda ballsy of me to just walk up to all of them and hug them in turns. But I didn’t know any other way I could find out if they were okay with sharing.

I was awake the whole night because I was so nervous about this whole thing. My life is basically relying on them helping me, and I planned to do the biggest ‘don’t shit where you eat’ anti move I could think of.

It feels like I lost some of my inhibitions coming to this world.

‘Fuck it, you got your fantasy world. Better enjoy it instead of living in regret like back on earth.’

Besides it was the girls who gave me those signals.

I was going trough round two of justifying my behavior to myself. This time it was easier as it worked on two of the girls.

It was no wonder I was an average student, I couldn’t keep my head straight for a second if I got something on my mind.

Focusing back on the lesson I couldn’t help but notice that they both were sitting right up to me. Nyla was looking slightly reproachful while asking me to repeat what she said I could only scratch my head.

“Sorry”

After a couple of minutes I could see Inara walking up to us, she started with a determined look and brisk pace. But the closer she got the more she slowed down, and her determination turned into uncertainty.

Nyla jumped up and went over to Inara when she was still a few meters away yet barely walking forward.

They had a quick talk before Nyla pushed Inara towards me. Nyla was smirking like Inara always did when she was encouraging her on the first few days. How the tables had turned.

She sat down next to me, opening her mouth and closing again without making a sound. Her sun kissed skin was getting redder while she got a blank look on her face and looked down at the ground.

Even though she looked like a man eater when we first met, always had the confident gait and cocky grin on her face. But in truth she was the one most insecure of herself and frightened by intimacy.

Well I wasn’t going to let this continue. I wasn’t the most savvy of guys, but sometimes you just had to do it.

I grabbed her hand and held it, while lifting her chin up so we looked at each other. I really loved her shinning golden eyes, they were lifted wide open. And I could feel that she was trembling. She was really unaccustomed and afraid of intimate contact it seemed.

Unsure of what to do I just guided her hand up to my cheek, it seemed better to let her get some initiative and control. Since a direct hug from me didn’t work at all earlier, it just froze her.

She absently stroked my cheek before I opened my arms towards her, inviting her in. Her face became even redder before she got a slight smile on her face and she went for the hug. I stroked her back and slowly went down the spine, I was really curios about her tail so I kinda went for it and touched it at the base. She gave out a sexy moan while slightly jolting.

‘Shit, maybe I went to far?’

Before that thought was even set she grabbed my ass and squeezed. It seemed I had flipped a switch, she looked hungry into my eyes. Licking her luscious lips she went for the kiss.

And slammed her nose against mine while going for it. My head got knocked back I got tears in my eyes and my nose started bleeding. Inara jumped back with a horrified look on her face and tears building up in the corner of her eyes. She did my patented move of bowing her head and pressing her hands together while saying

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

Well that's what I think she said since I only understood half the words. And I did that to show appreciation not to beg for forgiveness, well maybe both.

“Hahahahahaha, you’re surprisingly a ditz.”

While laughing I ruffled her hair to show that I wasn’t mad, than gave her a slight scratch around her ears. She let out a purr before quickly ducking away.

Nyla was laughing her ass off, while Inara was sitting there moping.

Lyria was giggling while casting a heal on my nose.

All in all it went better than expected.