With Arms Wide Open

Chapter 3

The sun beamed throughout Ryders room, making it difficult for her mind to remain in peaceful subconsciousness. Releasing an annoyed groan she rolled over, extending her arm across the bed. She expected to feel the warmth of Jaals massive body, but instead she was met with a cold pile of tousled sheets. She rose quickly, scanning the room through heavy lids. "Jaal?" She called when she spotted him standing on the viability platform, staring out the window.

She kicked the blankets off of her and scooted out of bed. Her feet dragged along the floor as she yawned loudly, stretching her arms high above her head. His broad back casted a shadow over her, easing the assault of sunlight burning her eyes when she wrapped her arms around his waist. He jolted slightly, taken off guard by her sudden presence and turned around, but when she looked up to meet his face she was immediately alarmed.

"Jaal? What's wrong?" She asked, seeing his eyes welled with tears

He held out his hand, displaying the buds gathered together in his palm. "I'm sorry, Darling one. I-I think they're broken. No matter what I do they won't work."

Panic struck as she took the buds from his hand and popped them in. She quickly scrolled through her Omni tool, picking the first song she could find when a familiar dull beeping sound rang in her ears. She sighed with relief, taking them out. "You didn't break them Jaal, they just died." His eyes grew wide with panic when she held up her hands to stop him. "The battery, Jaal. The battery died. It just means they have to be charged and they'll be as good as new."

She walked over to her bedside table, placing them on their charging dock. "There." She said, brushing her hands together. "In a few hours they'll be fully charged and ready to use, see?"

He followed her, seeing the buds sitting in their station, charging safely. "Thank the Stars." He sighed heavily.

She chuckled, nodding in agreement as she grabbed her clothes from a near by chair. He watched as she wiggled into her tightly fitted jeans, the sight reminding him of what he'd walked into last evening. He didn't know if it was appropriate to ask about it, but his curiosity wouldn't allow him to resist. "Darling, might I ask a question?"

"Sure." She said, pulling her shirt over her head.

"Yesterday, when I first arrived, you were moving." He said, trying to find the right words.

She looked to him with one brow peaked. "I'm always moving."

He laughed nervously, scratching the top of his head, careful to avoid the dressing. "Y-yes, that is true. However," he looked to the edge of the bed, recalling the alluring way she swayed when he gazed back at her. "You were moving...differently. I have never seen you move that way before."

"No?" She said, smirking as she walked toward him, swaying her hips more noticeably with each step.

His eyes locked on to them, his heart starting to race in his chest. "Well, except for when I'm inside you."
He said with a lowly growl.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, stopping a breath before him when she popped up onto her toes, whispering in his ear. "It's called dancing."

The moment the word processed through his translator he pulled back and scoffed. "Dancing?"

"Y-Yea." She said, expecting the conversation to have gone a completely different way. One where she got to show him in more intimate detail.

"If that is how humans dance then it is a serious wonder why your families are all so small." He said.

"Wait, do Angara dance?" She asked.