Subject 3033...(BWAM, Sci-fi Romance, 18+)

Chapter Seventeen

Slightly Sexual Content Up Ahead!!

From a distance, a grave distance comes the call of my name, comes the gentle graze of thumb upon my cheek as palm cups my face. And the consciousness returns to me. Softly, slowly, my eyes flutter open and rake my surroundings till they land upon man who sits atop bed and gazes upon me. To his lips is a sweetly, subtle smile, one I find reciprocating with a smile of my own. Odd feeling nudges me, it plunges and pokes until the thoughts and recollections begin to bombard. I draw away from man, recoil from his touch as if burnt by it.

Man appears confused as his brows furrow and the smile drops from his features.
"How are you, Tallulah," he inquires despite himself.
The wonder, the confusion is there in his voice, clear as crystal.
"Good."
"I...uh, came straight home from the airspace hoping I'd find you. You were gone. The house was empty."

"Yes, I was with Tokyo."
My eyes lower to the floors, lift to meet his once more. More quiet, more silent. A hardness envelopes my body much as I battle to subdue it. The tension lifts and stabs into the atmosphere and I shift a little, fold arms beneath my bosom and cross feet -one above the other.
"Have I done something wrong, Tallulah?"
His head tilts a little and his fingers move to brush away the tiny hairs that tickle his forehead.

"What? No, you have done nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing. I am exhausted, need some rest that's all."
He stares upon me, just stares until I avert my gaze for the briefest of seconds. I clear my throat, sniff a little. Then, I look to him.

"Then why are you cold, Tallulah?" Is the query that comes.
Why am I cold in all truth? Man kissed another woman. But man is just but a friend. Just but a friend!
"Cold? I really don't know what to say to you, Noe. I'm just tired is all."
"Can I tell you something, Tallulah?"
I glance upon his direction, one brow arched, my lips pursed.
"I missed your company."

I scoff, I roll my eyes, I sigh.
"Is that why you left without a word, Noe? Is that why you kissed that...that woman!" The words leave my lips so quickly my brain barely registers.
I cup my mouth in embarrassment as my eyes grow wide. Noe -on the other hand- appears to find some sort of humor to this conversation because a genuine smile curves upon his face, lightens his features.

"You were worried for me, Tallulah?"
'You were worried for me, Tallulah?,' I mock inside my mind.
"I did not kiss her, she kissed me."
"I do not care, Noe. I really do not. Forget I said anything! You and I, we are friends. You can kiss whomever you want, I can kiss whomever I want," I cannot help the gestures my hands make whilst I explain myself.

"No, Tallulah. If anyone, and I mean anyone, dares to kiss you, they'd be losing a limb or two shortly after, simple."
I glower at man as though he just sprouted himself a second neck. I pinch the bridge of my nose, sigh softly to myself. It serves no purpose to continue forth with this conversation. So, lifting off the bed, I work to move past man.

But man is quick in his reflexes. His palms reach for my waist and he draws me between his now spread-out thighs. He cranes his neck and looks to me. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. His tongue lightly flicks his lower lips. The little hairs obscure his vision.
"I need to use the bathroom, Noe. Let me go," and though I intend that my voice comes out a little stronger, it fails me terribly.

"She kissed me, Tallulah. I was taken by complete surprise, pushed her off of me entirely. I am guessing you did not stick around long enough to see that part. Her name is Gillian, a good friend who's now managed to sever our friendship because of her impulsivity," his voice is tranquil, soothing as he works to explain.
And as he gazes upon me, those little butterflies begin to flap their tiny wings against the walls of my stomach
"I...I don't believe you, Noe," I persist in a low voice.