“So we’re friends?”
“Do you not think so?”
“I do.”
“So this shift in our relationship, it is a test. Thirty days is not a long period for us to,” he paused, his gaze running over her for a moment. “Experiment with the idea.”
“So it would be for science,” she said, seeing a gleam in his eyes.
“We find one another appealing. You are a scientist. The experiment would have merit. I’m sure the engineering studies for alien and Earthling testing would be appreciative.”
“You think?”
“I think.”
He leaned in.
How did he get so close to her all of a sudden?
Before she knew what was going on, his lips met hers.
And everything exploded.
In all the good ways.
The flavor of him, the smell, the feelings. They were intense and amazing and everything she’d ever thought a kiss should be. He stroked her face, his hand sliding down her cheek and along her neck.
A tiny part of her stiffened, because she feared he would grab her throat. Instead, his hand slid around the back and into her hair.
Thatfelt good.
Thatfelt right.
He felt right.
Jenny wentthrough her little dorm room and started packing up all of her belongings. They were leaving soon, and she didn’t want to forget anything at the station. A stipulation that Re-lee didn’t initially mention was that they were to live together in an apartment built just for newly-mated couples.
Back on The Bridge.
Mister Fluffikins stared at her from his perch on the back of the couch, judging her. At least, it felt that way, the intense stare he had.
“Really. I think you’ll like this. After all, we’ll be with Karuk, and he can actually hear what you’re saying, and we’ll all be better for it. Right?”
Mr. F said nothing.
She folded up her clothes and continued to pack. Her stomach was still dancing in knots.
Did she seriously just make a bargain with a being from another planet, to live together for a month, and see where it goes?
He got her with experiments.
Because that’s what it would be—an experiment, to see how it would go. If he was able to make sure she was safe, and protect her from Phil, well, all the better.
And then there was that kiss.
That ridiculous, intense, swimmingly wonderful kiss. The kiss felt like it lasted forever. Obviously not, of course, but still, it took her breath away, and touched her deep inside.
How did someone she’d only just met touch her so fast and so deeply? And so well? Just with a kiss, she was taken with Karuk, and couldn’t wait to kiss him again.
