Page 60 of Secretly Abducted
"That was nice," I say as we navigate the floating walkways. "Having friends."
"We can do it more often. If you want."
"I want." I lean into him. "I want a lot of things I didn't think I'd want again."
"Like what?"
"Social evenings. Shared meals. Someone to come home to." I pause. "You. Mostly you."
He stops walking, pulls me close. "You have me. Completely."
"Even when my family's difficult?"
"Especially then." He kisses me under the bioluminescent street lights, not caring who might see. "Come on, let's get you home before you fall in the water."
"I don't get that intoxicated from fruit."
"Sure you don't." But he keeps his arm around me as we walk, and I let him.
My dwelling comes into view, glowing softly in the darkness. Our dwelling, I correct myself. Alex's few belongings have already begun to migrate here—a shirt draped over a chair, his scent on my sleeping platform.
"Stay," I say as we reach the entrance, though it's unnecessary. Of course he's staying.
"Always," he says simply, and through the bond I feel he means it.
My family will be back tomorrow with more questions. People will gossip about us for weeks. But tonight, Alex is here, I have friends again, and for the first time in ten years, I feel complete.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
The morning water is perfect—cool enough to be refreshing, warm enough that my body doesn't go into shock. We've been working since dawn, trying to finish Section G before the heat gets unbearable.
But somehow we've gotten distracted.
"We should be working," Vel'aan says against my mouth, even as his legs wrap around my waist underwater.
"We've been working for an hour," I counter, pressing him back against the floating platform support. "We deserve a break."
"Your definition of a break is becoming very specific." But his complaint is undermined by the way his hips roll against mine, creating friction that makes us both groan.
"Can you blame me? You're wet, practically naked, and glowing purple." I bite at his throat, careful of his gills. "It's like you're designed to drive me crazy."
His hand slips between us, palming me through my work shorts. "These need to come off."
"Here? In the fields?"
"No one's around yet." His bioluminescence is pulsing with need. "And I can feel how much you want to through the bond."
He's right. The bond is singing between us, amplifying every touch, every sensation. I can feel his arousal mixing with mine, creating a feedback loop that's making me desperate.
"Fuck it," I mutter, reaching for my waistband.
"Vel'aan! We brought breakfast!"
We freeze. That's Sar'na's voice, coming from the main platform.
"Shit," I hiss, pulling away from Vel'aan so fast I nearly dunk myself. "Your parents."
