Page 12 of Abducting the Alien

Clay tilted his head. “Why?”

August shrugged. “I dunno. It’s just how dicks work. Usually. Well, you can get medicine that makes it easier, but I don’t take it.”

“Oh,” Clay said. He ate another fruit chunk and the juice dripped down his chin.

“You really like that melon, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Your purring noise when you eat is making me kinda horny,” August said, scooting closer. “I mean, again, I need, like, an hour. But I really like that sound you make. Like a sexy cat.” He leaned over to kiss the side of Clay’s neck.

“Um, thank you,” Clay said. He thought back to the Earth videos he’d watched, recalling the strange little creatures humans called cats. His scales shimmered lightly, and he laughed awkwardly at the comparison. It was sort of funny.

August was funny. And protective, and patient, and understanding even if he didn’t always know things. He was gentle in ways Clay hadn’t expected, and he was very, very good at making Clay feel good.

Their bond was already stronger than he’d imagined possible. Even a short distance between them caused physical reactions he couldn’t control. He liked August so much it was almost difficult to breathe.

The sound of his communication device rang out from his suit on the floor. He reached down to pick it up, scrolling through the messages his father had sent—angry messages, calling him a fool, saying even if he did meet a bond mate on Earth, they could never be together.

It drove home the weight of what Clay had done. His breathing quickened and his scales tightened against his skin.

“No! Don’t shine because I called you a cat,” August said, licking fruit juice from the shimmering scales along the top of Clay’s chest. “You’re not a sexy cat. You’re just sexy. There’s so much I want to do to you and show you. It might take a week. Maybe two.”

Clay’s scales were sparkling now, nearly painful from how quickly they’d gone from their relaxed matte to a tight, glittering shine. He didn’t have a week or two. He had a few days. He shifted away from August’s wandering hands and lips, pulling a cloth over his body to cover his chest and neck. His eyes caught on the hoodie across the room, wishing he could put it on and cover his forehead.

“Hey,” August said, moving the dishes from the bed. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”

“No, I just…” Clay’s scales throbbed, causing him to wince. “I think I’ve made a mistake coming here. My father told me not to, and I didn’t listen.”

“Whoa. What? What happened? I’m sorry about the cat comment, Clay. I meant it nicely. Please be patient with me, I don’t know what’s offensive to you yet, but I want to learn. I really like you.”

“It’s not that. My ride will be here in a few days, which means I may never see you again. And I don’t know what I was thinking, bonding with a human Earthling who lacks the ability to travel.”

“Why can’t we see each other again?” August asked, sitting up straighter. “You said it only took two days to get here. We could figure out how to make that work, right?”

“My father will never let me leave the atmosphere again after I ruined my ship. Once I get home, I’m taking a junior advisory position with my mother, so I will be busy anyway. I… came here to find you, and I am glad I did, but I didn’t think it through. Now I may have ruined my soul bonding forever.”

“Ruined? You can only soul bond with one person?”

“No, we can bond with many. Even at the same time. But for most of us, there is one intense bond that’s stronger than any others, called a heightened bond. So, yes, we can enjoy sex and time with other people, but one bond, with one person, is stronger than the others. Some people choose to keep that bond untouched, by saving themselves for that person.”

“And you’ve never bonded with anyone else, so ours is the only possibility for you to have an untouched bond.”

“Yes. I mentioned earlier that my parents have kept me isolated from others my age, and now I understand why—they thought I may find my heightened bond with someone outside their circle.” Clay’s eyes shimmered as he looked at August. “I’ve always wanted to leave my bonds untouched, which is why I waited.”

He felt embarrassed about it now. He’d kept to himself, obeyed his parents and avoided other potential mates so he could find a special, heightened bond, and now he’d found it… but on another planet. He had no idea how he was going to tell his parents. Leaving August’s house now seemed like the best thing to do, to avoid strengthening their connection—which Clay hadn’t even confirmed was reciprocated.

Panic gripped at him as he stood from the bed and found his suit, stepping into it and shoving his tail down the pant leg.

“What are you doing?” August asked, walking on his knees across the bed. He placed his hands on either side of Clay’s bare waist, memories of those hands in his slit landing like molten goo next to the cold fruit in his belly.

“I should probably go wait by my ship,” Clay said. “My tow might be here soon.”

“You told me the tow would take days,” August said, his voice carrying a hint of panic. “Don’t leave yet. We just met, I know, but I feel⁠—”

Clay held his breath waiting for August’s response.

“I don’t know what’s going on with me, but I feel drawn to you. It doesn’t feel like anything I have felt before. It feels bigger than me, bigger than my emotions. I know you live on another planet but I… I just don’t know what I’ll do if you leave and I never see you again.”