Page 34 of Accidentally Abducted

"Yeah, well, I'm not most visitors." I lean back in my chair, studying him. "Besides, I figured if I only get one chance to try alien cuisine, I might as well go for the real thing, not some human-friendly approximation."

Something shifts in Zeph's expression, a subtle tightening around his eyes, a dimming of the glow beneath his skin. "Jake, there is something I must discuss with you."

The sudden formality makes my stomach clench. "That sounds ominous."

"It is a practical matter." Zeph rises and retrieves something from a storage compartment, returning with a small, metallic container about the size of a pill bottle. "I realize your unexpected absence from Earth will have professional consequences."

It takes me a second to process what he's saying. "Wait, are you worried about my job?"

"Your employment as a... barista, correct? A three-day unexplained absence would likely result in termination."

I can't help it, I laugh. It's absurd, sitting here nine hours from saying goodbye forever to the most incredible person I've ever met, and he's worried about my crappy coffee shop job.

"Zeph, I really don't care about getting fired. Trust me, there are plenty of other places that will pay me minimum wage to make overpriced coffee for grumpy people."

"Nevertheless." He places the container on the table between us. "This is standard protocol for any human participant in our program."

I eye the container suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Compensation." Zeph slides it toward me. "These are minerals that have negligible value on our world but are considered precious on Earth."

I open the container and nearly drop it when I see what's inside, a collection of what appear to be uncut gemstones, mostly blue and purple, glittering even in the ship's ambient lighting.

"Holy shit, Zeph. Are these... are these actually sapphires?" I pick one up, holding it to the light. It's rough but unmistakably valuable, probably worth more than I'd make in several years at the coffee shop.

"And similar mineral formations, yes. They are abundant in our oceanic mining operations but rare on Earth. It should be sufficient to compensate for any employment difficulties."

"Sufficient? Zeph, this is—" I stop, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "This is enough to buy a house. Or pay off my student loans. Or both."

"You are not obligated to accept it," he says formally, though I can tell through our bond that he wants me to take it. "But given the... unexpected nature of your experience with us, it seemed appropriate to provide substantial compensation."

"Substantial is one way of putting it." I close the container and slip it into my pocket, trying to process the fact that I'm suddenly holding what must be hundreds of thousands of dollars in alien gemstones. "Though I kind of feel like I should be the one compensating you, considering you got stuck with the wrong human and all."

"I did not 'get stuck' with you, Jake Morrison." Zeph's voice is suddenly intense. "While your presence was unexpected, it has been... illuminating."

"Illuminating," I repeat, unable to help myself. "Nice choice of words for someone who lights up like a Christmas tree when they're turned on."

The blue flush that spreads across Zeph's cheeks is absolutely worth the terrible joke. "That was not the intended reference."

"I know." I reach across the table, taking his hand. "I'm just being an ass because it's easier than thinking about the fact that we don't have much time left."

He turns his hand to intertwine his fingers with mine, and the casual intimacy of the gesture makes my throat tight. "I find I am also avoiding that particular calculation."

"So let's keep avoiding it," I suggest, standing and tugging him gently toward me. "At least for a little while longer."

Zeph rises, letting me pull him close, his body warm against mine. Through our empathic bond, I can feel his conflicted emotions, desire and sadness, longing and resignation.

"I believe that would be... acceptable," he says, his voice dropping to that lower register that never fails to make my skin tingle.

"Just acceptable?" I tease, sliding my hands up his chest. "I was hoping for a more enthusiastic review."

"Highly recommended," Zeph amends, his own hands settling on my hips. "Essential, even."

"That's more like it." I rise on my toes to kiss him, and for a little while, the countdown stops.

*****

Later, much later, we lie tangled together in the bed that now feels like it's ours instead of just his, my head on his chest, his fingers trailing lazy patterns along my spine. The gentle glow of his skin provides just enough light to see by, pulsing softly with each beat of his heart.

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