Page 15 of Reluctantly Abducted (Nereidan Compatibility Program #3)

"But I'm... confused," I finally say, choosing my words carefully. "I didn't expect to feel... conflicted about the end of the assessment period."

Owen's expression is hard to read. "I'm not good at relationships, Ry'eth. My marriage fell apart."

"I've never even had a real relationship," I point out. "I've never wanted one."

"We live on different planets," Owen continues.

"We have ships."

"Your work takes you to remote places for long periods."

"So did your military service."

A small smile tugs at his lips. "Are you going to counter everything I say?"

"I'm just being thorough," I say, feeling a matching smile on my own face.

"Look," Owen says, getting serious again. "I don't know what this is between us. I don't know if it's just this weird situation, or if it's something real. But I do know I can't stop thinking about you, and that's... that's not normal for me."

His honesty makes something twist inside me. I want to match it, but the words stick in my throat. "I'm... experiencing similar difficulties," I admit, retreating slightly into more formal language. "It's... unsettling."

"Terrifying," Owen agrees.

We sit quietly for a moment, both trying to process what we're admitting.

"I can't finish my report," I say finally. "I've tried four times, but something keeps stopping me."

"Which is?"

I look away, uncomfortable with how exposed I feel. "The data doesn't seem to capture the full picture." It's a safer answer than what I was about to say.

Owen's expression softens. "That's not very scientific, Ry."

"No," I agree, looking down at my hands. "It's not."

We fall quiet again, but it feels different now. Expectant. Like we're both waiting for something, but neither of us is sure what the next step should be.

"It's late," Owen says finally. "And we both need to sleep, especially if tomorrow's going to be... whatever it's going to be."

"Yes," I agree, though the thought of going back to my empty room makes my chest hurt. "I should go."

I stand up, but I can't make myself move toward the door. There's more I want to say, but I don't know how. I'm balanced on a knife's edge between what I've always been and something new and frightening.

"Would—" I start, then stop. My skin is glowing bright with nervousness. "Would it be okay if I stayed?"

Owen looks surprised. "Stayed?"

I almost lose my nerve. This is irrational. Unprofessional. A further breach of the scientific detachment I should maintain. And yet...

"Yes. To sleep," I clarify quickly. "I don't... I don't want to be alone with my thoughts right now."

Owen's face softens. "Of course you can stay."

Relief floods through me, but there's more. Something I've never asked anyone before. Something I've never even wanted before now. I struggle with myself, the part that wants connection fighting with the part that fears it.

"Would you..." The words catch in my throat. This is so far outside my experience, so contrary to everything I've always believed about myself. But something in me needs this, needs the comfort of another person - of this person specifically. "Would you hold me?"

The question hangs between us. I wait, my heart pounding, suddenly horrified at my own request. What am I doing? This isn't me. I don't seek physical comfort. I don't need it.

Except right now, I do.

"Yes," Owen says simply. "I'd like that."

His answer is so straightforward, so genuine, that it catches me off guard. My skin lights up like the night sky, patterns of light I couldn't hide if I tried.

I should say something else. I should clarify that this doesn't mean anything beyond tonight. That I'm just experiencing a temporary emotional response to an unusual situation. That tomorrow everything will return to normal.

Owen holds out his hand to me. I take it, feeling the warmth of his skin, the strength in his fingers as they wrap around mine. He leads me to the bed, where the covers are still rumpled from his earlier restlessness.

"Is this okay?" he asks, gesturing to the bed. "Just sleep. Nothing else."

"Yes," I say, relieved at the boundary. "That's all I meant."

Owen gets under the covers, then lifts them for me. I take off my outer layer but keep my underclothes on. It feels important to maintain some boundaries, even now.

I slide in beside him, suddenly very aware of every place our bodies might touch. The bed feels too small and too big all at once. I'm rigid with uncertainty, caught between wanting comfort and fearing what it might mean.

"Come here," Owen says softly, opening his arms.

I move closer, not sure how to position myself. I've never done this before. Owen guides me gently to lie on my side, then curls his body around mine from behind. One arm slides beneath my neck while his other hand comes to rest splayed across my lower stomach.

I inhale sharply at the contact, my muscles tensing involuntarily.

Owen starts to pull back, but I place my hand over his, keeping it in place.

After a moment, I relax into his embrace.

The warmth of his palm seeps through the thin fabric of my underclothes, sending ripples of blue light cascading beneath my skin.

"This okay?" he asks, his breath warm against my hair.

"Yes," I whisper. And despite all my reservations, all my internal conflict, it is okay. More than okay. It feels safe in a way I didn't expect.

I can hear his heartbeat under my ear, steady and strong.

It's faster than a Nereidan's, with a different rhythm, but somehow soothing.

His scent surrounds me, something distinctly human but unexpectedly comforting.

It's warm and slightly earthy, with traces of the ship's cleansing products and something uniquely Owen.

I find myself breathing it in deeply, another piece of data my report will never contain.

"Goodnight, Ry," Owen says quietly, his arm tightening slightly around me.

The nickname makes me smile instead of protesting. It sounds right now, coming from him. "Goodnight, Owen," I reply, letting myself relax against him.

As I close my eyes, I realize my mind has finally quieted. Tomorrow will bring decisions and consequences, rules and realities. I'll need to sort through these confusing feelings, figure out what they mean and what I want to do about them. But tonight, with Owen's arms around me, I can just be.

For the first time, I think I understand what drew my brothers to their humans. It's not what I expected. It's more complicated, more frightening. But also more... real.

And as I drift toward sleep, confusion still swirls beneath the surface. No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm not the same person I was when Owen arrived.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad. But right now, in this moment, it just is.

Tomorrow's decision looms over me even as I begin to drift off, stay or go, follow protocol or break it, return to the life I've always known or step into something entirely new and terrifying.

The weight of it should keep me awake, but somehow, here in Owen's arms, even that burden feels lighter. For now.