And yes.
He had all the body parts.
"Wow, uh, um," she said. Though she wasn't sure if it was from almost falling or from being yanked against him. Could have been both. She was going to go with both. He felt so very real.
So very much real and against her.
Looking into his eyes, she felt this pull, like a magnetic need she'd never felt before. "Uh, well. I uh... thank you."
He held her close to him. "Are you well?" His voice was soft and deep and very intimate. She felt it resonate all the way to her toes.
What was this?
Was he really that telepathic?
"I'm something," she said as she balanced herself and stand upright again.
"Are you requiring further assistance?" he asked as he put his hand on her arm.
"I'm fine, thanks. And thank you for catching me. That might have been a nasty twist, if I had gone down on my ankle."
"You are welcome. I am honored to assist you." He did this partial bow thing, his head and shoulders lowering, but not much more, and he crossed one arm over his chest.
She leaned down and bowed as well. She'd rather be back in his arms again, but that didn't seem to be an option at the moment, so she would have to deal with just being near him.
He watched her. "I thought your people did that shaking hands gesture."
"In some cultures, we bow as well." She stepped closer. "In others, we touch arms. Here, I'll show you one. Hold out your arm. Well, really just your elbow, like this." She held out her elbow, and he mimicked the pose. "Now, I will rest my hand here and hold onto your arm. Like this."
She slid her hand into the opening and gripped his upper arm. "It's a sign of companionship. Or of a close relationship."
Her heart started pounding again, that feeling of energy she felt before when he held her close, and it was just from touching his arm.
What was this? Did he have some kind of mental magic mojo to make women fall all over him?
"Are we developing a close relationship, then?" His voice was a little lower, and the way he stared at her, she felt it all the way to her toes.
How did he do that?
"Not sure, actually," Jenny said, smiling and looking away for a second. "I think we're both learning about each other. That means something." She glanced around, pretending the intimate contact wasn’t affecting her at all. When it was. It totally was. "Are we getting closer to my apartment?"
"It is not far," he said. "This way."
They walked along in silence, and she wondered if he could read her mind. Did he hear her rambling thoughts? Like the ones she had about him? About the weird energy she felt just touching his arm.
Part of her thought that he’d done something. Those others that he worked with said he was telepathic. Maybe he really could manipulate her mind?
But then, if he could, wouldn’t he be the center of attention and have all the girls and guys as his friends?
That’s what most people would do, if they could manipulate people like that. They’d be the king of the world, figuratively speaking.
If you can hear my thoughts, she thought,then you should tell me how pretty I am.
They walked with neither of them speaking, but Jenny waited.
Don’t you think I’m pretty?She thought, though she did not know if he could really hear her thoughts.
Regardless, he said nothing.
