Page 58 of Obsessed

"I can feel you," I whisper, breaking the silence at last.

He pulls me close, pressing his forehead to mine. "That's the bond. It will only grow stronger."

Davrik's lips meet mine, and the temple's energy seems to pulse around us. The kiss deepens, and I feel the bond between us strengthen - like roots intertwining beneath the earth. When we part, my eyes are damp.

"Mom would have loved you," I whisper against his chest. "She always said I needed someone who could keep up with my curiosity."

"My father would have respected your determination." His fingers trace my cheek. "Though he might have been concerned about how often you throw yourself into dangerous situations."

"Speaking of dangerous situations..." I pull back, bouncing on my toes. "This planet has an enormous moon and the most incredible forests I've ever read about. We could-"

"Already packed the gear." He grins, that crooked smile that first made my heart skip. "Navi's been mapping the safest routes."

"The term 'safest' is relative when it comes to you two," Navi chimes in from the doorway. "But I've identified several paths that probably won't get you eaten."

"Perfect!" I grab Davrik's hand, tugging him toward the exit. "Let's change and head out before sunset. The spores only glow in complete darkness."

"Slow down, honey." He laughs, matching my pace. "The forest isn't going anywhere."

"No, but my patience might." I squeeze his hand. "Come on, I want to show my husband everything this world has to offer."

"Husband." He tests the word, a sparkle in his eyes. "I like how that sounds."

The jungle canopy towers above us, its purple-tinted leaves filtering the twin suns into a dance of light and shadow. My scanner beeps as I crouch next to a flowering vine that wraps around a crystalline tree trunk.

"Look at this structure," I say, running my finger along the vine's surface. "The way it's adapted to absorb light through these translucent patches - I've never seen anything like it."

"Careful," Davrik says, his hand resting on my shoulder. "Last time you got excited about a plant, it tried to eat your equipment."

"That was one time." I take a tissue sample, tucking it into my collection case. "And I managed to save most of it."

A creature chirps overhead, its call echoing through the branches. My head snaps up, searching for the source. The scanner forgotten in my hand, I step carefully toward the sound.

"Nova's database doesn't have anything close to that vocalization pattern," I whisper. "Do you think it's a new species?"

"Have you started drafting the research proposal in your head already?" Davrik's voice carries that amused tone I've come to know so well. "I'm sure there's an empty patch of jungle nearby that would make a perfect research station."

"Actually, Nova already has a station about twenty kilometers south of here. They're doing some fascinating workon-" I catch his smirk and the way his eyes crinkle at the corners. "Oh, you're teasing me."

He pulls me close, pressing a kiss to my temple. "You're adorable when you get caught up in discovery mode."

"Just for that, you're carrying my sample case the rest of the way."

"As you wish, Dr. Watson." He takes the case with an exaggerated bow. "Though I should warn you, Navi's detected some interesting atmospheric readings ahead. We might need to turn back soon."

"Five more minutes," I bargain, already moving deeper into the jungle. "There's something flowering just beyond those trees."

The luminescent petals unfold before us, each one a masterpiece of evolutionary art. The Lunar Nexus flower - I'd only seen it in holovids before, but nothing could have prepared me for this moment. Each petal catches the moonlight and transforms it, creating a cascade of colors that shimmer like living rainbows.

"It's responding to the lunar radiation," I whisper, my scanner forgotten in my hand. "See how the pistils are extending? They'll only remain open for about twenty minutes."

Davrik's arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer against his chest. "You're shivering."

"I'm just excited. Do you know how rare it is to witness this? Most botanists go their whole careers without seeing a Lunar Nexus bloom."

The flower continues its dance, releasing spores that drift upward like starlit snow. I lean back against Davrik, drinking in every detail.

"I keep thinking about all the other incredible things out there," I say. "Whole worlds of undiscovered species, waiting tobe studied. And we've barely scratched the surface of what we know."

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