Page 32 of Reluctantly Abducted
"It's an involuntary physiological response," he says, his voice not quite steady.
"To what?" I ask, running my thumb along his cheekbone.
"To... stimuli," he replies, the scientific term somehow endearing in this context.
I smile. "Am I stimulating you, Ry'eth?"
I deliberately use his full name, pronouncing it as carefully as I can. Something flickers in his golden eyes at the sound, and before I can analyze it further, I lean in and brush my lips against his, even more gently than before.
This time, he doesn't pull away. Instead, to my surprise and delight, he leans into the kiss, his hand coming to rest hesitantly against my chest. I can feel his touch through the thin fabric of my shirt, tentative but unmistakably present.
I deepen the kiss slightly, keeping it gentle, conscious that this is all new to him. The patterns of light beneath his skin pulse in waves that I can feel against my palm, a strange and beautiful sensation unlike anything I've experienced before.
When we finally separate, I keep my eyes on his, searching for any sign of regret or discomfort. I find none, only a complex mixture of wonder and uncertainty.
"We have less than two days left," I say quietly, voicing the reality we've both been avoiding. "After that, you'll be done with your assessment and I'll go back to Earth."
"Yes," he agrees, and I see something shift in his expression.
"I wish we had more time," I admit, not bothering to hide the truth.
He steps back slightly, as if needing physical distance. "The assessment timeline is fixed," he says, his voice steadier now. "Three days is the standard protocol."
I nod, accepting his retreat without pressing further. "Then we should make the most of the time we have left."
"There are still several assessment parameters to complete," he reminds me, clearly more comfortable with scientific procedure than whatever is happening between us.
"Of course," I agree, though I suspect he can tell I see through the deflection. "What's next on the agenda, then?"
He consults a data pad, his movements precise and controlled once more. "We should complete a full environmental compatibility analysis. This includes exposure to various Nereidan botanical specimens to check for allergic reactions."
"Plants," I say, nodding. "Sounds safe enough."
"Most are harmless to humans," he confirms. "But we must be thorough."
"Always thorough," I say with a small smile. "Lead the way, Environmental Specialist."
As we leave the kitchen, I find myself intensely aware of Ry'eth beside me, the subtle glow beneath his skin, the precise way he moves, the lingering warmth where my lips had touched his. Two more days, I think. Just two more days before I go back to Earth and he returns to his research.
The thought should make me focus on the present, enjoying what little time we have. Instead, it leaves a hollow feeling in my chest that I haven't felt since waking up alone after Derek left for good.
I'm getting attached, I realize with a sinking feeling. To an alien scientist who's made it clear that his work is his priority, that relationships are a distraction, that our time together has an expiration date.
And despite knowing better, despite all my experience with things that don't last, I can't seem to stop myself from wanting more.
Chapter Ten
Ry'eth
The data glows in front of me, blue and green lines tracing Owen's breath, his energy use, how he's adapted to our air. It should be fascinating. I've spent two days collecting these readings, and normally I'd be lost in the patterns, excited by the story they tell.
But I can't focus. Not tonight.
I wave my hand to dismiss the holographic display, watching as it collapses into a single point of light before disappearing entirely. The lights in my room brighten automatically. I should be working. I need to finish my report. Instead, all I can think about is that tomorrow is our last day together.
Tomorrow, Owen goes home.
I can't stop thinking about our kiss in the kitchen earlier. The way his lips felt against mine, warm and gentle. The way my whole body responded, like a current running through me. It was our second kiss, but this one felt different. More deliberate. More... real.
