Westayed silent for a few passes longer, and then J squeezed my shoulder andwhispered, “Time to go to bed.”
Istarted to get up, but J stopped me. “Let me carry you! You need to rest asmuch as you can.”
“ButI feel good, J.”
“Okay,then do it for me.”
Ismiled. “All right.”
Ididn’t mind being in J’s arms. Not at all.
Chapter 20
Itwas late morning and we were on the road for about two hundred passes. AlthoughI got used to the captivating greenery of this world, every now and then I was sweptaway by yet another tree, yet another plant.
Istopped in front of one such fascinating tree and looked at it for a moment. Jstopped, realizing that I wasn’t following, and returned to stand next to me.He followed my gaze with his eyes.
“Whatare you looking at?”
“This!Isn’t this just amazing?”
“Hmm.”He pressed his lips together, looking at the plant. “I guess so. What do youthink makes it so amazing?” J turned to me.
Ishook my head a bit, still looking at the tree. “I can’t really explain it, but…look!” I raised my arm, finger pointing to the tree trunk. “This one isdifferent. I saw a similar type of a tree before, and normally these longleaves start only at the top of the tree, and the trunk is just bare, brown,and woody. But look at this one! This one has the leaves all around the trunktoo, it’s just that they are light brown, and those on topare green. But it didn’t lose any leaves, you see?” I kept looking at the tree,and J continued looking at me. I turned to him, “J, you’re not looking at thetree!”
Helaughed. “I’ve been seeing this type of a tree for more than nine years now. It’snot amazing to me. You are!” And he bent down to kiss me. My heart skipped abeat, and I momentarily stopped breathing.
“Hmm…”J gave a crooked smile as our lips parted. “It’s a real shame I have to shortenmy kiss every time. I keep worrying how long you can last without a breath!”
Atfirst I thought he was serious, but then I smiled, realizing his joke. “Ha! You’rebeing so funny!”
“Iknow.” J laughed. “And I’m so happy you released your Human side so you can getmy jokes.”
Ifrowned. “I kept my Human side hidden because it saved my life!” I let go ofhis hand and continued walking, following the others a few dozen IPs ahead.
“Dora,I’m sorry.” He sped up to catch up with me. “That was really meant to be ajoke.”
Hegently held my elbow to stop me. “I’m sorry. I can only imagine how your lifemust have been before. And I think I understand it, I guess, the best I canwithout actually having to disguise my ancestry and being afraid for my life ifmy secret were uncovered.”
Heleaned his head to a side, looking into my eyes, but I looked away.
“Dora,look at me.” He lifted my chin with his finger. “What I really wanted to say isthat I am really happy that youbrought out the Human in you, that you didn’t lose it, and that you can reactto me like a Human can. Because… I understand that. I understand Humanreactions, and it was difficult for me to understand Senthien ones.”
Ilooked at him, green eyes fixed on black.
“Butthe truth is… ” He lowered his gaze for a few moments and then looked back. “It’sthe half-Human, half-Senthien that… I fell in love with.” He slowly tucked astrand of hair behind my ear and moved closer, his lips just about to touchmine. “You do know what falling in love means, don’t you?” he whispered.
Myheart was beating madly. I’d heard the term before, from my mom. And now, I finallyknew what that feeling was. The one that made my heart race,the one that induced uncontrollable desire deep inside me; the one that wasnowhere to be found on my nanoprobes data.
Falling. In. Love.
“Yes…”I whispered back.
“Good.”He still did not touch my lips. “Now, kiss me,” he said softly.
Ilooked at him, startled, my breaths shallow.
“Kissme and stay conscious,” he whispered again.
Iunderstood what he wanted me to do.
Forthe longest moment, I gathered my courage, and then very slowly I came closer.Lifting up on my toes, I softly pressed my lips to his.
Hislips were warmer than mine, and I felt as if they were molding perfectly intomine. I realized then that I would not lose consciousness. The intense feelingof excitement and anticipation, like a strong pressure in my chest, I now feltI could hold and enjoy.
Heslid his arm around my waist, and with the other he gently circled my neck,bringing me closer to him. He leaned forward and with his lips he slowly openedmine, reaching out with his tongue to find mine. As our tongues met, my passionburned with a new flame; wanting, needing, craving… him.
Heheld me tight, our tongues exploring each other, my body reacting by itselfwith no input; yet, feeling such immense sensations, I realized I was only afew moments away from fainting. I held my hands against his chest to tell himwe should part, but I could not stop kissing him.
Herealized it and released his tight embrace, but still holding my arms as ourlips parted.
Wewere both breathing heavily, taking a moment before we could speak.
“Wow,”he said, looking at the ground. Then he looked up at me. “Are you okay?” Hisvoice was hoarse and broken.
“Yes…yes.” That was the only thing I could muster. “I… needed, you know—space…before I…”
“Yeah,I know. Me too.”
Iheard footsteps coming back down the path.
“Boring,boring!” Peter laughed from a few IPs ahead. “Don’t you get tired of that?” he asked,folding his arms on his chest.
“Pityyou’re so old, Peter. You forget what youth does to you,” responded J, his armsstill around me.
“Yeah,yeah!” Peter muttered, still loud enough so we could hear him. “Let’s go, guys,we should be at our destination by early afternoon…if you don’t stall us allthe time!” And he winked at us as he turned to follow the group up ahead.
Jlooked at me and smiled. He released me from his embrace but still kept
