“I see,” Linn’ar noted, his gaze wandering over my limb. “I never realized they were so different. I’ve noticed you’re taller than both Levi and Paz. Are you the average human size?”
“I would say so, yes, for someone of my sex and age.”
Linn’ar arced his neck, leaning close enough to my arm that I felt his breath against my skin.
His sudden closeness startled me. I was supposed to be the one studyinghim;I didn’t expect him to return the favor. Though it was fair enough—at the end of the day, this was a mutual cultural exchange between species.
There was nothing unscientific about it. So why did I have that flustered sensation in my belly?
Linn’ar’s nostrils flared. Was hesmellingme?
Ignoring the rush of heat to my face, I cleared my throat and spoke curtly. “If you’d like to measure me in return, that’s fine, but I’d like to continue, if that’s all right.”
Linn’ar straightened his spine. “Oh, yes. Please continue.”
As he exited my personal bubble, I let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t that I disliked his proximity. It was just so abrupt. Maeleons weren’t shy about physical closeness the way most humans were. It was just another behavior I’d have to get used to.
After measuring both arms, I moved on to other body parts: his torso, back, and legs. I noticed that despite his tall stature, his legs had shorter proportions than his arms. A theory popped into my mind.
“Do you often run on all fours?” I asked.
“Hmm... Not me, personally, but when Maeleons have to get somewhere fast, we drop down like this.”
Linn’ar hunched over. His clawed hands touched the ground while his powerful hind legs supported his rear end, and his tail rounded out the pose with perfect balance. The position reminded me of a gorilla or anteater, except Linn’ar didn’tcurl his hands to protect his fingers. Instead they acted like a cheetah’s non-retractable claws, digging into the soil to provide maximum traction while running at high speeds.
“Fascinating,” I murmured, writing down this new finding.
Linn’ar beamed. He looked happy whenever I did that. Maybe he was a bigger fan of sharing knowledge than I realized.
I reached out to touch him then I stopped myself. He was a person, not an object. I couldn’t just feel him up without consent.
“May I?” I asked.
His eyes squinted with the warmth of a smile. “Of course.”
I placed my palm on the middle of his spine, then moved down towards the base of his tail. Aside from the tentacles and feelers, his tail was the most noticeable variation from human anatomy. Wonder engulfed me as I felt the place where his tail vertebrae met his spine, fusing in a perfect transition from one to the other.
An awe-filled shudder ripped through me. His form was flawless. I didn’t want to stop exploring him.
Even if there was a distracting, uncomfortable heat burning below my belly.
But I was no stranger to unusual sensations during research. I’d ignored plenty of headaches, stomach cramps, and fits of fatigue while in the depths of my studies. This was nothing.
“I’d like to measure the circumference of your tail,” I told Linn’ar.
“Go right ahead.”
His tone was so chipper, I figured he must really enjoy science.
I leaned down, readying my measuring tape, then paused.
Although I hated to give Levi credit for anything, hedidhave the edge in one particular topic: Maeleon junk in the trunk.
What was down there? I despised being ignorant about anything. Yet here I was, not knowing whether or not I’d be greeted by an alien anus.
It was fine. As a doctor, I obviously wasn’t offended by any body parts. And like always, I preferred to do the hands-on part myself.
I kneeled down on the floor, eye level with Linn’ar’s tail. He lifted it to give me easier access. I couldn’t help but notice what I saw—or rather, what Ididn’tsee.
