Page 67 of Reluctantly Abducted
Owen looks surprised for a moment, then smiles. "You want to talk? Now?"
"Yes," I confirm, hesitantly sliding my hand under the hem of his shirt to rest against the warm skin of his abdomen. The direct contact sends pleasant waves of bioluminescence across my skin, but I maintain my focus. "We have seventy-two hours for physical intimacy. I find I want to know more about you first."
His expression softens as he settles back against the bench, adjusting our position so we're still close, my hand remaining under his shirt. "Okay," he says. "Though there's not much to tell. I've mostly been running and working out since I got back."
"Why running specifically?" I ask, genuinely curious about this activity he seems to find so important.
"It helps me think," he explains, his hand absently stroking my arm. "Or not think, depending on what I need. When I push hard enough physically, everything else falls away for a while."
"You were trying not to think about our time together," I realize, my fingers tracing small patterns against his skin.
"Yeah," he admits. "Didn't work very well, though."
My bioluminescence pulses brighter at this admission. "What else? Did you pursue employment opportunities?"
Owen shakes his head. "Not really. I'm set financially for a while. I sold a few of those mineral samples you gave me."
"Thekethritecrystals?" I ask, surprised. "They're quite common on our world, though I suppose they would be considered exotic on Earth."
"Exotic enough that one small stone covered three months' rent," Owen says with a slight laugh. "I only sold three, kept the rest. Seemed wrong somehow to sell all of them."
I'm touched by this sentiment, though I'm not entirely sure why. "You could have sold them all. They were a gift."
"They were from you," he says simply, as if that explains everything. Perhaps it does.
We fall silent for a moment, comfortable in our closeness. My hand continues its exploration under his shirt, fascinated by the warmth of his skin, the subtle differences in texture from my own. I spread my fingers wider, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
"What about you?" Owen asks eventually. "Besides the Council presentation, what have you been doing?"
"Preparing for my next research assignment," I reply. "Though I found it difficult to focus properly."
"Oh?" There's a hint of smugness in his voice that I find I don't mind.
"Yes," I admit. "I found myself experiencing frequent... distractions."
"What kind of distractions?" he prompts, clearly enjoying my admission.
I consider being evasive, then decide on honesty. "Memories. Of you. Of our time together. They would intrude at inappropriate moments during my work."
Owen's smile widens. "Good to know I wasn't the only one struggling to focus."
"Indeed," I agree, shifting my position slightly to slide my hand higher under his shirt, feeling the contours of his chest. "I found it particularly difficult during hydration cycles."
His breath catches slightly at my touch, and at my words. "The water reminded you of us having sex, didn't it?"
"Yes," I admit, feeling my skin glow brighter with the memory of what we'd done just hours ago in his bathroom. "The physical sensation was... evocative."
Owen turns slightly, his own hand moving to cup my face. "For someone who claims to struggle with emotions, you're getting pretty good at talking about them, Ry."
"I am finding it easier," I acknowledge. "With you."
His expression softens further at this, and he leans in to kiss me gently. Unlike our earlier urgency, this kiss is slow, deliberate, a conversation without words. When we part, he doesn't move away, keeping our foreheads touching.
"What else do you want to know?" he asks quietly.
I consider the question. There are many things I could ask about Earth, about his experiences, about his plans. Instead, I find myself asking something more personal. "Were you afraid you wouldn't see me again?"
He doesn't answer immediately, his thumb tracing the line of my cheekbone. "Yes," he finally says. "I figured the assessment was over, that was it. Back to normal life." He pauses, then adds, "Except nothing felt normal anymore."
