“It is dark now. But we still have time to bathe.”
That sounded nice. Spending the rest of the night curled up with Linn’ar sounded nice, too. At this point, I wasn’t picky.
Except, Iwasstill coated in dry sweat from our escapades earlier, so a bath seemed necessary.
“I’d still like to go,” I said. “Even though... it’s pretty comfortable here.”
Linn’ar made a light trilling sound. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
It was a new skill, but I learnednotto mask my pleasure or hide the things that made me happy.
“Yeah. I really did,” I said.
“I am glad.”
Linn’ar’s feelers pulsed with glittering pastel colors. It reminded me of what he said earlier, about the glowing particles connecting us. It sounded supernatural, or fantastical—a made-up, impossible phenomenon.
But Levi got pregnant and gave birth to a baby, so wasanythingimpossible here on Eukaria?
I couldn’t see the particles, presumably because of my lack of nictitating membrane, but I believed Linn’ar when he said they existed. He’d never once lied to me, and he never would because he always spoke his mind. I admired that about him. It seemed so freeing.
And if he said I was his filum, then it must be true.
My heart fluttered.
I was getting in way over my head. This was supposed to be a science experiment. I wasn’t supposed to get attached.
But despite my best efforts, it happened anyway.
And I didn’t really mind it.
Yet my original goal still hadn’t come to fruition. I wanted to experience a cis male pregnancy firsthand, to research it in the most hands-on way possible. But when Linn’ar brought up the topic of kids, I hesitated. It felt too real, and way too fast.
Of course, Linn’ar had the solution. He reassured me, promising we could take our time, if we decided to have children at all. His honesty was comforting.
I glanced up at him. His broad, muscular shoulders were a wall keeping me safe. His scaly chest was oddly warm. I didn’t want to leave the comfort of his touch. I feltgoodwhen I was with him. I felt like anything was possible.
Could I really go through with a pregnancy? Maybe if it was with Linn’ar...
My heart flipped at the idea. I couldn’t tell if it was excited or nervous. Maybe both.
Dammit, why weren’t emotions easier to understand scientifically?
After rousing, we got ready to leave for the pool. I heard Levi talk about it, but had never been myself. Most of my time on Eukaria was spent in the village learning valuable healing skills from Fhi’ran, or doing my own personal research.
With my tools safely at home on my desk, we left the den—only to run into Levi and Paz. Their sudden appearance startled me.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked.
Their wide, curious eyes indicated they were just as surprised—which was odd, sincetheywere the ones showing up at my door. But I quickly realized they were shocked about something else.
“You are naked,” Paz stated.
Heat flooded my cheeks. I’d forgotten to put my clothes back on.
No, that wasn’t true. I deliberately stayed naked since we planned on going to the pool, and because I was trying to ‘let loose,’ so to speak. Except it was harder to do that when confronted with my previous crew mates and co-workers.
“Yes, I am,” I said.
