Page 24 of Uprooted

Elowen

“Ready to lose that bet?” Aro asks, appearing out of nowhere. He could’ve very loudly approached me, and I still would have missed. I was so fixated on my work, I could have missed a herd of stampeding elephants.

I brought my work to the rec room today. I wanted a change of scenery from the lab, and it’s usually empty in here while everyone works.

“I’m not easily impressed, but that storage room was pretty spectacular,” I tell him with a note of sarcasm.

“Let’s go. It’s now or never.”

“Right now?”

I worry we look too much like a couple. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to him, but this is still a no-go.

The fact that I let my eyes wander all over him when no one’s paying attention is my own little secret.

I follow him through the hall, and I watch him walk. That’s really not the right word—it’s a goddamn swagger.

“If we hurry we can get there during shift change in the greenhouse, and it will be empty for a little bit. Now’s your chance to check it out,” he explains, and I match his stride.

“Then what are we waiting for?” I say as I pass him, turning back briefly to smile. It’s safer up here. I’m not tempted to let my eyes linger on him from up here.

Aro pulls to a stop outside a door like all the rest. He scans his palm to open it, and I’m immediately hit with warm fresh air.

It’s enough to knock me over. There is no comparing it to the recycled air we’ve all been breathing.

The entire ceiling is clear plexi, and I look at the blue sky for the first time in months.

It feels like heaven—the warm suns on my skin.

The smell of soil draws my attention down.

There are dozens of rows of large raised gardening beds.

“The seedlings sprouted a few days ago. They’ll be ready to start their migration soon,” Aro tells me as he walks toward the short soft tufts of greenery.

I lean down and watch a sprout slowly unfurl and sway.

I’m too afraid to touch the small leaves.

They look so fragile at this stage. I’m transfixed, watching the tiny movements of the green barely peeking out of the soil.

Little fingers wave back and forth, reminding me of a tiny sea anemone’s tentacles moving with the ocean current.

I had no idea we were cultivating in the dome. This definitely beats the storage room.

I walk up and down the aisles between the raised garden beds, completely spellbound. Their little roots are secure in the soil for now, but in a short amount of time, these little sprouts will be fully mature and ready to seek out resources and pollinators.

“In a few weeks, my team is going to disassemble the boxes so the flowers can rove,” Aro explains. “I was just in here going over the plan with the greenhouse staff and I thought you would like it in here.”

"They have you guys doing yard work now?"

"Gotta put these muscles to good use," Aro says. I detect a tiny flex in his chest and avert my gaze back to the plants.

“I bet it’s amazing to see them move around.”

“It is. They remind me of you. These beautiful little things exploring, searching for what they need,” he says.

“You make my drifting sound so poetic.”

“I think it is,” he says and walks farther into the greenhouse.

His observation stabs me in the chest. I’m surprised by the sweetness behind his words. I thought I had him figured out. But he’s not just a perpetually joking arrogant alien—he’s so much more.

“Can I take one of these? I want to analyze the apical meristem,” I ask Aro, even though it’s not his approval I would need.

“The what?” he asks .

“They make the plant grow. I want to see if they’re similar to the ones on Earth,” I explain.

“I have an idea, and go with me on this. Why don’t we just sit and watch? The microscope can come later. Let’s be in the moment,” he suggests.

My mind races with the discoveries this could uncover. “This could be the key that unlocks a breakthrough. I haven’t looked at this stage yet.”

“You can do that later, right? Come sit with me.”

Aro sits between two raised beds cross-legged and leans back, using his arms as support. I make a mental note to come back and collect a sample before the sprouts grow too quickly.

I settle in next to him, using the frame as a backrest. I try to make myself relax, but I’m eager to take a closer look in the lab. This might be the critical stage I’m missing.

“You really can’t turn it off, can you?” Aro asks, sensing I am still in my head, and not in the moment with him. He picks up a small rock and turns it in his hand.

“I don’t know how you can turn it off,” I say, confirming his suspicion. “How do you stop your mind from racing? Worrying about every possible outcome?”

“I dunno. Right here right now feels pretty nice.”

I take a deep breath to give myself a chance to think of what to say next. The air smells so good. I close my eyes and savor the feeling of the suns on me once again.

I slowly open my eyes and Aro is watching me. “See? That wasn’t too hard.”

“And you live like this every day?” The idea that someone can do that blows my mind.

“Not all the time.”

“I’m not very good at being in the moment.”

“I’m sure my father wishes I was more like you,” he admits.

“Don’t change. Overthinking is a rough existence."

“Really? It doesn’t bother you that I don’t have a ten-point plan for the future?”

“Not at all. I like you just like this.” I’m surprised at my own words. It’s the most spontaneous, in-the-moment comment I’ve ever made to someone. There were no equivocations, no disclaimers. Simply a statement of fact about my feelings.

I keep my eyes on the ground, nervous to meet his gaze at my heartfelt confession.

His finger gently lifts my chin and our eyes meet.

His face is close to mine, so close that all I can see are his eyes.

He leans closer and softly kisses me. His lips linger for a moment before he pulls away.

I open my eyes to find him smiling. He leans in and kisses me again.

I kiss him back—this time harder. His hand combs through the hair at the base of my neck, holding me to him.

It’s intoxicating. I can’t believe I’ve been avoiding this.

The door to the nursery slides open and a group of scientists file in.

“Time’s up.” Aro pulls away slowly, like he’s being dragged away against his will. I wish I could stay here for hours. Getting back to the lab is now the last thing on my mind.

* * *

I toss and turn, trying to fall asleep, wondering what Aro is doing at this very moment.

I picture him lying in his bunk with his shirt off.

Conjuring that image immediately turns me on.

I close my eyes and let my hand slip under the sheets along my belly.

I picture Aro’s hand sliding between my thighs.

It’s not the first time I’ve imagined us together.

Some nights I think about him taking his time and torturing me with his touch.

Other nights it’s more urgent and demanding.

I think about the dirty words Aro would whisper in my ear as he pleases me.

Memories of the sounds he made when we kissed today make me moan and I move my hand lower.

I bring my wet fingers back and rub the pads of my fingers across my most sensitive place.

I think of how hard he would be, pushing himself into my hip while he works his fingers in and out of me.

I ride myself as I climb closer to the peak of my desire.

I think of Aro pushing deep into me, and my muscles clench around nothing. My fingers aren’t enough. I need more.

I clear my head of everything except him.

It takes a long time to get there, and in my frustration, I almost give up.

I keep picturing him, imagining what he would look like stroking himself while I got off.

I tense and grasp a handful of my bedding when I cross over the edge and shake through my orgasm.

My body pulses while I catch my breath and slowly pull my hand away.

This takes the edge off, but I know there is only one thing that will fully satisfy this obsession I’ve developed for him.