Page 14 of Secretly Abducted

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"Protein supplement."

"Edible?"

"For Nereidans. I don't know about human compatibility."

"Only one way to find out." I tear it open and try a small piece. It's chewy, salty, vaguely seafood-flavored. "Not bad. Kind of like jerky. Want some?"

"I'm not hungry."

"When did you last eat?"

He pauses. "Yesterday."

"Vel'aan."

"I don't require frequent meals."

"Everyone requires meals." I move to sit next to him, our shoulders almost touching. He goes very still. "Here."

I hold out a piece of the protein thing. He stares at it, then at my hand, like both might be dangerous.

"It's just food," I say softly.

He takes it carefully, making sure our fingers don't touch, and eats it mechanically. I stay where I am, close enough that I can feel the slight coolness his skin radiates. His bioluminescence is cycling through rapid patterns now.

"This is hard for you," I observe.

"What?"

"Me being close."

"It's... intense."

"Bad intense?"

"I don't know." He looks at me finally, those golden eyes uncertain. "You're very casual about physical proximity."

"And you're very not casual about it."

"I haven't had anyone this close in years."

"I know." I lean back against the wall, my shoulder now definitely touching his. He inhales sharply but doesn't pull away. "Is this okay?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Sitting so close. Touching me. Being..." he gestures vaguely at me, "unclothed."

"I'm wearing underwear."

"Barely."

"It's warm in here. And I like being close to you." I turn my head to look at him. "Does it bother you?"

"No." The word comes out fast, desperate. "That's what bothers me."

A particularly large piece of debris slams into the shelter, making us both jump. The lights flicker for a second before stabilizing.

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