Then I felt something nuzzling me. I blinked blearily when I came down from the high. Zat’tor’s face was pressed against my cheek as he cuddled me like a cat claiming a piece of furniture.
“You made much pollen, Levi,” Zat’tor said proudly.
I blushed. Nobody had ever complimented my semen production, nor had they sounded so honestly happy about it. Nobody except him.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, patting his scaly cheek. I was so exhausted that I didn’t bother correcting the term.
Zat’tor pulled back. “You are weary now. I will carry you back to the village.”
My pilot training drill sergeant would’ve had my ass if he saw me, the mission captain, swooning in an alien’s arms like a damsel in distress.
But did I give a shit? No.
“That sounds nice,” I admitted. “But can I wash off first?”
“Yes. I will help!”
As I smiled at his wholesome enthusiasm, I felt a tickle in my chest.
There was no way I was crushing on the seven-foot-tall alien, right?
6Zat’tor
After my filumwas clean and dry and covered again, I escorted him back to the village. Taking care of Levi was a wonderful feeling. My blood hummed like an insectoid’s buzzing wings, already looking forward to our next physical intimacy. But it was enough being by his side, because every moment we spent together was an intimate one.
Now that he was with me, I would never let him go.
The village bustled with activity. Many of my siblings stood around examining the defunct space craft. Among them were Levi’s two human companions.
Not siblings, I reminded myself. I had to make an effort to understand their unusual ways.
“I guess nobody knows what to do with it, huh?” Levi asked, nodding to the ship.
Hearing Levi’s voice, his taller companion turned around and frowned.
“Captain, there you are,” Jaeyoung said. “Where have you been?”
Levi blushed. It was one of my favorite things his little human body did.
“We went to recover the ship and repair the harm to the Sweetfields,” Levi explained.
Jaeyoung arched a brow. “Zat’tor brought the ship to the village two hours ago. Then he ran off again. With you, I presume. So, I’ll ask again. Where have you been?”
Levi shuffled on his feet. “We were... sightseeing.”
Jaeyoung crossed his arms and stared at Levi. “With all due respect, Captain, I find that hard to believe.”
“Why is that?” Levi asked.
The third human, Paz, joined the conversation. He squinted at Levi. “Because you lookwaytoo happy. Like, the happiest I’ve ever seen you.”
“What?” Levi sounded flustered. “I’m not—I mean, Iam, but it has nothing to do with anything. What have you two been doing the whole time, anyway?”
“The Maeleons didn’t want us to wander, so we’ve been here in the village,” Jaeyoung explained. “It seems you’re the only one who was allowed to ‘sightsee.’”
As he spoke the last word, he curled both index fingers in the air.
“Yeah, and unlike you, we were trying to figure out how to salvage the ship,” Paz grumbled. “Y’know, so we can escape Eukaria and get back to the original mission?”
