“Xylo.”
“Xylo?”
He nodded his head, his smile brightening. He thumped his chest a few more times, repeating, “Xylo.”
I eyed his vines as they drifted toward me, the teal flower ends almost touching me as they waved.
“Xylo.”
I suddenly realized what he was doing. He was telling me his name and was asking me for my own. The only problem was I didn’t have a name other than the Yaarkin-issued experiment code name 5313-3F. I paused for a minute, mulling over my options.
I decided to start over.
A new beginning. A new life. A new name.
At least, I hoped things would be different. His behavior and treatment of me seemed to indicate it would be. I needed to make sure I said my blessing to the Stars—or Fates?Destiny? Or whoever had decided to rescue me from my troubles.
Not now though—later.
I reached out to grasp one of the vines waving in front of me, hoping a handshake was universal. Well, hand-vine shake? The vine was smooth and felt cool as it moved in my hand. Its flowered tip brushed the palm of my hand. I returned his gentle smile.
“Selena.”
“Sea—leen—nah.” He focused on trying to say my new name correctly. His purple-fuzz-covered blue lips worked over the syllables. “Seen—lah?”
And that’s when it hit me—I wasn’t afraid of him.
He had a peaceful demeanor. I’d had no experience with that. In my experience, males were violent, arrogant, and egotistical—taking what they wanted without regard for others. Whereas, Xylo was gentle when he could’ve easily overpowered me.He was even taking the time to learn to speak my name.
That spoke volumes.
I reminded myself to be wary—it would be foolish totrust blindly—but I could give him the benefit of the doubt. And watch. Of course, that still didn’t explain the sudden attraction I had to him nor why I felt so comfortable around him...
“See-na-lah... See-la-nah?” Xylo’s brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to shape the foreign sounds.
Smiling sweetly, I spoke, enunciating each word, “Selena. Xylo. Selena.”
“Selena. Xylo. Selena.” He repeated, looking deep into my eyes.
I cheered, then with a celebratory giggle, leaned forward to grab another vine, pulling him closer. The sudden movement startled Xylo, and he tripped, catching himself with his hands and knees on the bed.
I let go of the vines to cradle his face with my hands and look into his bright teal eyes—currently scanning mine in bewilderment. His remaining vines extended to the bed on either side of me in an attempt to keep from crushing me.
Giddy with the promise of a new beginning and the pleasure of hearing a gorgeous male calling me by my new name, I pulled his face closer to mine.
Our lips met.
His were as soft as I’d thought they’d be when I first saw that faint downy covering. To my surprise, the tiny hairs made my own lips tingle. Without warning, his vines slid around me, pulling me tight against his body. It didn’t matter. I was lost in the kiss. I nibbled at his bottom lip and felt the tickling of the soft, purple fuzz against my lips. Whatever it was, it made me feel amazing.
I gasped and snapped out of the trance I’d fallen into.
I was sitting on his lap, legs wrapped around his torso, just above his petal-like hip blades. The vines still pressed metightly to him, and his grass-like hair was threaded between my fingers.
Before I could pull away in embarrassment at virtually attacking him, he cupped my face with his soft hands and leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. The nagging headache I’d been peripherally aware of cleared, and I closed my eyes in relief.
“Selena,” he whispered against my lips.
“Xylo...” I replied breathlessly.
