Chapter Six
Closing the front door to his cabin, Eteriion pulled his hat off, freeing his tentacles as he leaned back against it.
“What a night,” he murmured. After they’d eaten the food Justin had prepared, Justin had started a fire and Eteriion had taken him as he’d been on his hands and knees in front of it.
Sliding into Justin’s tight heat as the flames flickered had become etched into Eteriion’s mind.
The sex had been amazing and Eteriion hadn’t wanted to leave, but he knew he couldn’t stay.
The idea of being naked in bed with Justin had tormented him, but Eteriion knew that wouldn’t happen.
Justin didn’t try to touch his hat like he had before, but Eteriion had noticed him staring at it more than once.
What he wouldn’t give to be able to let Justin see who and what he was, but he knew that wouldn’t happen.
He hadn’t even let Justin see him naked.
Not with his markings and tentacles. They were enough to send Justin running out of the door.
Sighing heavily, he pushed away from the door and walked into his bedroom, where he stripped naked and stared at his body in the mirror.
He knew he looked attractive to humans…if they didn’t see his tentacles or the marks that ran along his spine.
Turning, he looked at the marks. Deep red against the dusky cream of his skin, they resembled circles.
Some smaller than others that overlapped to form one continuous line, growing smaller as they reached the base of his spine.
Stepping away from the mirror, Eteriion walked over to the window.
It was dark outside now, and he could see the fresh flakes of snow falling lazily to the ground.
It was a perfect night to go outside and feel them on his skin.
He loved to stretch his tentacles out and feel the flakes on them.
Maybe even try to catch some. Again, he did this where he knew he wouldn’t be seen.
Imagine what humans would think if they saw a tentacle headed alien trying to catch snowflakes with said tentacles.
Chuckling, he watched the back door to Justin’s cabin open, the light from inside a bright slash in the darkness.
Justin stepped outside, clad in jeans and a sweater, and stared over at Eteriion’s place.
Eteriion stepped back, even though he knew Justin couldn’t see him.
Years of being careful had him moving automatically.
Justin stood and stared at his cabin, then went back inside, the shutting door cutting off the light, leaving the place in darkness once again.
The human would be leaving in two weeks and even though Eteriion wanted to spend as much time with him as possible, he also knew he should keep some distance between them.
Difficult when he’d kissed the man, touched him.
Fucked him. Licking his lips, his eyes dropped to the floor and his tentacles moved around him.
He gave a small smile, feeling the years of loneliness weigh heavily on him.
He shouldn’t have gone over. The loneliness when Justin left would swallow him and Eteriion was beginning to struggle with it now.
Who knew what he’d be like when Justin walked away?
One night was all they could have. He’d show Justin the sights tomorrow as he agreed when Justin had asked, but then…
“I should sleep for a couple of days. Shut my body down then—”
His phone ringing had him pausing, and he walked over to where he’d pushed it into his jeans. Pulling it free, he saw an unfamiliar number on the screen. “Hello?”
“Er yeah. Hi. I wanted to make sure we’re still on for tomorrow. Weather said to expect snow overnight.”
The sound of Justin’s voice stilled a part of him deep inside, which he wasn’t expecting, but he did welcome even when he shouldn’t. “Justin.”
“Yeah.” Eteriion heard Justin clear his throat. “So anyway, I thought I’d call. You know, just to make sure.”
“Thank you for thinking about me. Yes, I have everything I’ll need. You get used to being prepared when you live here. Do you need anything?”
“The cabin came fully stocked, so I’m good.” There was an awkward silence, then Justin murmured, “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m looking forward to our day out on the mountain.”
Eteriion closed his eyes and nodded, even though Justin couldn’t see him. “Me too. Sleep well, Justin.”
“You too.” When the call ended, Eteriion stared at his phone until the screen went dark.
“I should sleep. Sleep for a couple of days and then…I don’t know what.
” Eteriion dropped his phone on the bed and stood by the window, watching the snowflakes fall.
“Christmas will be here soon. Trees and tinsels and bright baubles. Presents under the tree and families celebrating together. I should sleep through that. I’m not sure I can manage another holiday season watching others be happy.
Like some outsider, which I am.” One of his tentacles moved to rub his cheek as he rubbed his chest. A human custom based on the birth of Christ and nothing to do with him, but he’d seen families together.
Seen them have fun and love and laughter and it reminded him of what he didn’t have.
“Why can’t I have someone? Someone who can see past the fact I’m not human. ”
His tentacles wrapped around him, and he sighed, then turned away from the beautiful landscape. “Shower then sleep. One more day with Justin, then I’ll sleep the deep sleep I need to restore balance.”
Stripping, he took a quick shower, then dried off, brushed his teeth and crawled into bed. Closing his eyes, he thought about his last day with Justin. He would enjoy his time with the gorgeous human. Make sure he had plenty of memories, then he would sleep.
***
Sipping his coffee, Eteriion sat at his kitchen table and read the news on his tablet.
Wars and terrorism. Threats and stalemates.
Why couldn’t humans get along? It reminded him of his world’s history.
They had been a violent species with themselves and those they had come across once they had established the ability to travel through space.
It had taken decades before they had changed, but now his home world lived in relative peace.
Not like here. It saddened him to see so many deaths because people couldn’t get along, but it wasn’t something he could get involved in. He was merely a guest on this world.
Putting his tablet down, he stood and walked over to the window and stared outside.
Snow had fallen during the night, but not enough to hinder their visit to the mountains.
He’d already changed the route to take out those areas that may be dangerous, and had considered a few spots to stop for lunch that he believed Justin would like.
One had a nice view of a lake surrounded by trees and snowcapped mountains.
Maybe Eteriion could convince Justin into doing something more.
With a smile on his face, Eteriion gathered what he needed and placed it in his bag, then sat on the sofa with his legs stretched out in front of him.
His tentacles lay over the back of the sofa, sliding over the material, then over his shoulders to pool in his lap.
Looking at them reminded him of home and the differences between this world and his.
Snow. His world didn’t have snow. He smiled, remembering the first time he’d felt snowflakes on his head.
Little kisses of cold that quickly melted and ran down between his tentacles.
He’d marveled at them, his head tilted up to the sky, a strange color he could only describe as an orangey darkness.
He watched the flakes drift slowly, their beautiful shapes capturing his attention.
He wanted to examine them up close, but then they fell faster, and Ged told him to go inside.
A storm was on the way, so he’d stood by the window and watched the sheet of white descend.
When it had ended, he’d gone outside and walked through crisp white snow, the crunching sound making him grin.
Amusement parks were another discovery he found he liked, but he had to make sure his hat was well secured before going on some of the rides.
He’d laughed in joy as they’d sped along the track, turning over before dropping down suddenly.
The way his stomach had tingled, anticipation and excitement rushing through his veins.
The laughing and screaming humans all around him, rushing from one ride to the next, had filled him with excitement too, and he found himself doing the same thing.
He didn’t enjoy the sick feeling he had from eating too many sugary treats, though he did like cotton candy.
TV wasn’t something he liked. Boring show after boring show.
Police chasing law breakers, medical dramas and wives of whatever.
Documentaries he did watch, so he learned about his new home, but other than that, it didn’t interest. What did interest him was music.
All of it. He couldn’t pick a favorite genre.
They all had something he liked. What he didn’t understand was when someone was sad, they listened to sad songs.
Why do that to yourself? Why prolong your pain?
Dating. He didn’t understand that. Wining and dining for three dates, then you had sex. On his world, you talked for a while then had sex and if it was good, you had more sex and then that was it. You were together and had a family. So much easier that way and less expensive.
Another thing he didn’t understand was materialism.
They didn’t have it on his world. No one was trying to buy or build the largest ship, or biggest gun, or fastest car.
You had what you had, and that was it. You worked hard to improve the planet for everyone who lived there.
Eteriion could see that the need to… ‘keep up with the Joneses’ made people miserable.
Why not make the best of your life instead of competing with others? No, he didn’t understand that.
Picking up the end of the tentacle he’d burned, he ran his fingers over it and nodded when he saw it had fully healed. “Idiot.” His phone rang, and he picked up, seeing a number on the screen he didn’t immediately recognize until… “Justin.” Smiling, he answered. “Hi.”
“Are we still on for today? It doesn’t look like it snowed that much.”
“We should be fine. I’ve checked my bag to make sure I have everything we’ll need. I’m looking forward to showing you the area.”
“It looks beautiful. I can’t wait to get out there and see it.”
“I’ve picked a relatively easy route. It has snowed, so we do need to be careful.”
“I’ve hiked plenty of times before, but you’re right. I don’t know this area like you do, so I trust your judgment when it comes to the area. I’m about to have something to eat and then I’ll be ready to go.”
“Same here, though I may need another coffee to get me going. It took me a while to get to sleep last night.” He heard Justin’s soft gasp and smiled. One last day to create memories with this beautiful human.
“I had some problems as well. Maybe we could talk about them when we walk.”
Eteriion felt his body respond to the suggestive, teasing tone in Justin’s voice. “There are some places where we can discuss it in private.”
“I’m sure you know where they are. We wouldn’t want anyone to see us while we were discussing it.”
Eteriion inhaled deeply. It seemed Justin had the same idea he did. Sex on the mountain, and he did know a couple of places where the snow wouldn’t get in the way…if Justin didn’t mind the cold. An old, abandoned hut was one of them. “There’s an old hut I should show you. It has great views.”
“Does it now? I can’t wait.” Eteriion heard the sound of movement. “I’ll see you in an hour?”
“Yes, an hour will be fine.”