Page 13 of Abducting the Alien

He stood from the bed and stepped closer, taking Clay’s fingers in his hands.

“We don’t have bonds here. Some people believe in soulmates. I don’t, but I can’t deny there’s something between us that makes me think maybe I’ve been wrong. I know this sounds silly, but I just… I can feel it.”

Clay’s breath picked up. “Heightened soul bonds require proximity. The stronger they are, the closer the bonded partners must be. It’s most intense at first, but it⁠—”

“I’m telling you, Clay. My body hurt when I went to the deck to get us those sodas,” August said. “Now that I’m back in my bedroom, I feel fine. Don’t you think we should… I don’t know, figure that out?”

“What are you suggesting?” Clay asked.

“Don’t leave yet.”

“Will you come with me? To Zengi?”

“I mean—no, I can’t,” August said.

He didn’t even think about it. Clay expected it, but it hurt anyway.

“I understand. But I can’t stay on Earth, either. I have a political career at home that is just starting.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” Clay said. And he did. He wanted to be an advisor for his mother and one day, to his sister, if she took over. But he also wanted a partner. He wanted to gestate and be someone’s heightened bond mate. “I want other things, too, but I can’t have them without a career.”

August slumped on the bed. Clay pulled his suit up and slid his arms through the sleeves, eyes locked on the curve of August’s neck and the soft hair on his head. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and run his fingers through it, the way he had when August tasted his body. But if one evening of mating was enough to make their bond feel this strong, he was afraid of what would happen if it strengthened further, when he inevitably let his tail slide against August’s skin, or let August fuck him, or his body milked August for his seed. His body shivered at the thought.

“I should go. The bond will snap if I get far enough away. It might require me to get back to my planet, I don’t know for sure,” Clay said, voice shaky as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He was stupid for allowing himself to bond with someone from Earth. The bond sickness he’d read about was real, making him incapable of thinking through what would happen if they couldn’t stay together.

Clay was willing to accept the pain of a broken bond, but he wished he could prevent August from feeling it. None of this was his fault.

“I don’t care about the pain getting worse. If I’ll feel it either way, I’d rather spend as much time with you as I can before you leave,” August said.

It would be irresponsible for Clay to agree. For himself, more than August, as severing a bond abruptly ran the risk of damaging his future bonding ability. He didn’t want to tell August that, worried the guilt would impact the decision making of this sweet human he’d met only hours ago. But without explaining the true reason, his justification for leaving was flimsy.

August looked up at him, panic behind his eyes. “Please?”

Clay didn’t know what to do. He had to go home, to start his career. But he wanted to stay, and work to convince August to come back to Zengi with him. He wanted to partner permanently, gestate August’s eggs, and care for him his whole life. All he could wish for was that their bond would strengthen so much overnight, neither one of them would be willing to break it.

Without thinking about it further, Clay said, “Okay.”

“Okay… what?”

“I’ll stay. I want to spend time with you, too. I still don’t know if it’s a good idea, but I don’t want to leave you yet. My father said it would be a few days before my tow arrives, and that’s only if they don’t run into traffic.”

“Is there a lot of traffic in space?” August asked.

The corners of Clay’s mouth turned up in a tired smile. It would be a lot of work educating this Earthling human about the ways of the galaxy, but it would be worth it if it meant a life together. “Yes. There can be.”

August flopped onto his back, pillowing his hands behind his head. “That’s amazing. I’d love to see that. Space gridlock.”

Clay’s scales dulled with affection. “You could, if you came with me.”

“Yeah,” August said on a laugh. “I wish. I’ve always wanted to leave this place. But even if we figure out space travel in my lifetime, I don’t exactly make a lot of money. I wonder if there’s a way you could send me photos, though.” He turned to his side, resting his cheek on his fist. “Is there a way we can communicate? There must be, right? If you knew it was safe to come here, you must have some way to reach us. Then, maybe someday…”

“Well… I could leave my communication device. But that would only last until it ran out of energy, and you wouldn’t be able to charge it with your primitive technology,” Clay said.

“Ouch.” August let out a silly laugh and reached his hand out. “Come back. Take off your suit. I don’t care how much it hurts later, just… don’t leave yet. Stay with me.”

Clay nodded, dropping his suit to the floor, leaving himself nude as he walked to get another snack. August sucked in a breath and slipped his shorts off, his cock heavy against his thigh. Patience, Clay reminded himself. The bond needed time.