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Nell tutted. “Yes or no?”

“Why not?”

She inched her hands up, gently squeezing his thigh muscles as she did so. He had a fine set of thighs.

Nell slid her hands down to his knees again and touched his calves. Decent calves, as well. Nothing weird about those. No need to freak out.

“May I touch your arms?”

Rane didn’t speak again but presented his hands to her with the palms up.

She studied his hands for a moment. His fingers were longer than hers and shaded a pale green. She pulled one hand to her cheek and pressed it against her skin.

No, it felt too much to have him touch her. She dropped his hand and explored the lines on his palm. Nell traced her fingers up his forearm and then to his solid bicep.

She couldn’t deny it. Rane was a fine figure of an alien. Nell explored the other arm and then rested both hands on his shoulders.

She risked a glance into his eyes. She was surprised when she saw his neck frill slightly expanded. That really was alien. She reached a hand up, but he grabbed hold of it before it made contact.

“Maybe not that. Not many people touch an Olickie’s frill.”

“Why not?” The words came out as a whisper as her eyes fixed to the neck frill.

“I think you know why.”

“You use it to make that weird hum that calms everyone?”

“It’s more than that. They are valuable and need to be looked after. Only loved ones touch our neck frills.”

Nell dropped her hand back to his shoulder. “I’m not one of those. And I don’t want to mess with your abilities. It’s kind of lovely, though, in a strange sort of way. You look like one of those lizards we have on Earth. They display their frill when they get excited or are in danger.”

Rane nodded. “Ours serve that purpose, as well. The red striations on the skin show potential attackers not to mess with us.”

“Because of the poison?”

“You got it.”

“You’d never use that on me?”

“Nell, I do not consider you a threat.” Rane’s lips pursed. “But you are a curiosity.”

“Like some kind of freak that should be locked away?”

He placed a finger gently under her chin and raised it until her gaze met his. “No, not a freak. Someone who is working through some issues. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t have something they need help with. You’re not so different.”

Her mouth turned down. “I feel it.”

“Which is also natural.”

Nell’s gaze landed on Rane’s lips, and her stomach clenched. They were lovely lips, the perfect shape for kissing.

That thought jarred her. “You’re not influencing me, are you?”

“Have you heard me hum?”

“No, it’s just that, well, I had a weird thought.”

“Which was?”