“No, still on thePR. We’re being tractored in now. Just a few hours way.”
“I see. I have not yet looked at tomorrow’s scheduled arrivals. You must have entered the tractor after I clocked out.” There’s a hesitation I start to fill when they speak again, making me shut up and listen. “I had wondered if it was growing close to time for you to return once more. I have been thinking about you much, as of late.”
My mouth refuses to work for a moment. This is total bullshit—my freezing up, I mean—and inside, I’m absolutely screaming at myself to quit acting like an idiot. “You have?”
“Yes. I wish to buy a meal for you, once you have arrived.” I’m still trying to process that statement when Olarte speaks again. “I will be paying for it, if you are agreeable to that. It is a gift I wish to give you.” It sounds like they take a deep breath. “If you wish to receive it.”
“Yes,” I say before I can say something stupid and blow this opportunity. “I would love that. Thank you.” My turn to breathe deep. I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate. “I’ve been thinking about you, too.”
“You were?” Olarte asks.
“Yeah. A lot.” I take another deep breath. “I have a condition for our meal,” I add. “I want this to be adate-date. Aromanticdate. I want us to be an actual romanticcoupleand not just friends. Go out with me, please?”
There’s a pause. “Perhaps we have many things to discuss upon your arrival.”
Have I finally caught a break? “I think so.” I opt to nudge this in the direction I want it to go. “I would like to dowaymore than talk with you.”
I swear it sounds like they sigh. “I wish to do more than talk with you as well. In private.”
It feels like my throat dries up, even as my cock isthrobbing. “Really?”
“Really. Would you like our date to be for us to go out for breakfast after your arrival? I will be off tomorrow and the next two days.”
Fuuuuuuuck!“Yeah! Absolutely, I’d love that.”
These pauses arekillingme, man. But Olarte eventually speaks again. “I do not understand why I cannot stop thinking about you when you leave if we are only friends. Meaning that I know what I feel for you is more than friendship. But I also realize that, while what I feel for you confuses me, Ipreferthat confusion rather than not having you here in person to think about.”
I’ll fuckingtakeit. I fight the urge to scream in triumph. “The feeling’s mutual, buddy,” I tell them.
“Can you take leave upon your arrival?” Olarte asks.
“Yep.”
“Have you yet arranged for a hotel room?”
My heart pounds. “Not yet.”
“I believe my apartment would be large enough for both of us and all of your belongings, should you prefer to spend this leave staying with me.”
I pump my fist in triumph. “Are you saying I should pack to stay over at your place during this shore leave, then?”
“If you would like to. That would be pleasant. Perhaps we can go down to Pfahrn, and I can show you around.”
Fuck it.I’m jerking off. My hand slips inside my waistband as I close my eyes, listen to their voice, and conjure their scent in my soul. “Please tell me you’re saying you want to talk about taking our relationship to the next level. Physically.”
“I do wish for a physical relationship with you. That is something I will discuss with you. If you are agreeable to such discussions at this time.”
I stretch back in the captain’s chair, yank down the waistband of my trousers, and start stroking. “Ooooh, am I agreeable,” I hoarsely say. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Maybe a contract won’t be so bad after all.
“I do not know what is customary in these situations between humans. I have come to realize you are correct that I will need to adjust my expectations in certain areas if I do not wish to remain lonely.”
That makes me pause. “Expectations?”
“Contracts. It is not fair of me to force others to adhere strictly to my beliefs.”
Fuuuuuuck!
