Monstrophy, Vol. 1

All I Need

They'd been dancing around the subject for months. It began with shy sideways glances when they thought the other wasn't looking, progressed to awkward smiles and small talk when they were invariably caught looking, and eventually led to dinner and a romantic moonlit walk along the promenade. She'd only been planetside since the beginning of the year, and outside of the other curators and interns at the museum, still didn't know anyone. He'd offered to be her tour guide, heart quickening at the thought of spending some quality alone time with the strange alien woman who had become his friend.

Pausing along the bridge as they passed by a waterfall, the flowering vines a natural canopy above their heads, he summoned his courage and took her hand. "I'm so pleased you agreed to join me tonight."

"I'm glad that you invited me."She smiled as she tucked a lock of hair, something he found endlessly fascinating about her species, behind her ear. He gave her hand a squeeze and admired the pink flush that rose to her face, recognizing it as blushing though his own kind's blue blood would have shown purple.

"It may be obvious to you now, I hope it is," he began, uncertainly, "but I have come to treasure our time together, and I think that you feel the same. I'm sorry if this is too bold, I know humans aren't as open about emotions, and I don't want to frighten you off with the strength of my feelings for you."

Stars, the way she was looking at him, her strange brown eyes bright and intense. He raised his hand to brush her cheek. "I do, feel the same, I wasn't sure if you...I know there is still resentment about humans coming planetside here, and you're right, we're not as emotionally open, I didn't know if you were just being nice or if you really felt for me..."

He cut her off with a kiss, soft and sweet, but the way she melted into him sent fire racing along his veins. One hand tangled in her hair, the other pulling her waist tight against him. He hummed against her mouth and used his tongue to send a spark of bioelectricity through their kiss. Her answering whimper was enough to convince him that maybe he should invite her back to his place after all.

"My apartment isn't far, and I'd like to continue this train of discussion in private, if you're agreeable." he said, voice low and full of promise.

"Oh, I am very agreeable to that,yes, absolutely." she linked her arm through his. "Lead the way."

If they attracted a few less-than-accepting looks as he squired her through the streets, they both pretended not to notice.

His apartment was small, and somewhat Spartan, to her eyes. A few personal items here and there; some musical instruments she recognized from their ancient counterparts in the museum, made to be played with bioelectricity and fewer fingers than she had, some brightly-colored blankets and pillows on the sofa(itself made to accommodate a much larger frame than her own, one that came with digitigrade legs). For an alien's apartment, she reasoned, everything was more or less recognizable in its function.He offered her a glass of taavum, the sweet fruity alcohol that was a local mainstay, which she had learned to drink as the locals did,which is to say warmed.

He lingered close to her as they enjoyed their drinks, his blood warmed by the alcohol and the way her fingers brushed along his forearm both. He felt a decade younger,with the nervous excitement of early blossoming attraction and the promise of pleasure. He wasn't sure which of them moved first, not that it mattered, as they were both caught up in disrobing the other.She managed to strip him to the waist first, pulling his shirt up and over the wide muscled cowl that framed his face. He'd never admit to her, but her own slender human neck gave him no small amount of anxiety, it looked so delicate and fragile. He struggled with the garment that held her, what were they called again...ah, breasts,flushing a bit purple when she chuckled and reached behind herself,deftly undoing the clasp and letting it fall away.