“This is a lot to take in,” he murmured. “Is it okay if I just... think about it for a while?”
“Take your time.”
I stroked the soft, dark fur on his head. I felt his muscles relax as I caressed him.
“Do you still want to bathe?” I asked.
“Yeah, but can we go in the evening? I need a nap first. My body and brain are both exhausted.”
I felt a bit disappointed, but didn’t let it affect my expression or body language.
“Certainly. In that case, I’ll see you soon,” I said, turning to leave.
Jaeyoung looked confused. “Wait, Linn’ar. Where are you going?”
I blinked. “I assumed you meant alone.”
He blew out a breath, then spoke in a quiet, muffled manner. “Well, I haven’t slept with someone in... forever. I thought it might be... nice. To take a nap with you.”
I was so ecstatic, my feelers practically shot through the ceiling. They pulsed with happy, radiant pink.
“I would love to!”
Jaeyoung grinned, eyeing my feelers. “I can tell.”
He led me to a kofotta fiber bed in the corner of his den. Apparently, sleeping on a soft pile on the ground was humans’ preferred way to rest. Jaeyoung slid onto his knees and gestured for me to join him. I slunk to all fours and crawled into bed with him. The fibers were soft and springy under my weight. It was no branch, but it would do, especially when I got to share the bed with my filum.
Jaeyoung’s cheeks flushed at our close contact, despite our sexual encounters earlier today. This was a different kind of intimacy.
“Sorry it’s small,” he said, lying down along the edge of the pile. “I would’ve made it bigger if I knew I’d have... company.”
A purr rumbled in my throat as I scooted closer. “I don’t mind. It means I get to be near you.”
He smiled shyly. I heard the rapid thumping of his heart as it wracked his delicate chest. It was cute how his body reacted to my proximity. He might not have had feelers like a Maeleon, but I learned how to read his body language.
Our legs bumped, but Jaeyoung kept a gap between our chests, like he was nervous to lie flush. I arced my head towards him so our foreheads touched, which made him smile and lick his lips. I took that as a positive response.
Slowly, Jaeyoung shuffled closer. His racing heartbeat pummeled the scales on my chest. He wouldn’t be able to sleep with a pulse that fast.
Remembering how he calmed under my touch earlier, I stroked his head-fur again. Jaeyoung held a breath, then released it. His shoulders relaxed and his pulse slowed.
“That’s nice,” he murmured.
As his body went slack, he rested his head beneath my throat. I slowly wrapped my tentacles around him, pulling him gently closer so no part of our bodies was apart. Jaeyoung’s breaths turned long and rhythmic. Soon he was asleep.
I kept petting his head and inhaling the sweet, warm notes of his sleep scent. As long as he was comfortable, I was glad to hold this position forever.
9 /Jaeyoung
I didn’t noticeI’d dozed off until I woke up. I blinked a few times, not understanding why all I saw was green, until I remembered I’d taken a nap with Linn’ar.
Instantly, a thrill ricocheted through me. I had sex with an alien—twice—then fell asleep in his arms after he declared us destined soulmates.
Totally normal day.
“Are you awake?” Linn’ar asked softly.
“Mm. Yeah.” I wanted to rub my eyes, but my arm was trapped between our chests. I didn’t bother moving it. In fact, I barely bothered moving at all. “How long was I out?”
