“We’re measuring his responses again,” Kiva explains. “When we originally captured hormone levels last week, his body had not fully entered the mating stage. We’ll need to know the full extent of the hormonal signatures in order to properly map a regulator for our new chips.”

“They enjoy putting me in a box,” Kila mutters. “I’m sure they’d like to keep me in here always like a little hopper.”

Kiva and Mori share a snicker, and I can only imagine that Kila means to say he is feeling like a circus monkey. We wait a while and then the panel board starts blinking. Pakka rushes to record some numbers and data that mean nothing to me.

“I think it’s obvious that I don’t really agree with what you’re doing,” I say slowly. They all turn to look at me. I swallow awkwardly. “I mean, that I don’t think it’s right for you to try and ‘fix’ Kila if he doesn’t want to be fixed.”

“Yes, and that is a matter of opinion,” Mori says with a shrug.

“What I’m getting to is… it’s against my personal feelings to help you design this thing. But I’d better be honest anyways. Besides, you’ll be helping others that do want a chip… And I have a little bit of a suggestion.” I fidget my fingers and exchange a glance with Kila. He nods, as if encouraging me to say what I need to say.

“Great Ka, then say it already,” Vala says.

“It’s just— you’re not going to get the highest levels like that,” I say.

Pakka shows me the results as if that means something to me. “Look at these. They are astronomical! What can you mean? Your presence here is likely helping us get the top levels, clearly.”

“His eyes go black when he’s… in some kind of… savage mode,” I tell them, my cheeks heating.

“I see,” Pakka murmurs.

“Go ahead in there and mate then,” Vala suggests.

“Excuse me?” I squeak.

“Is that not what you are referring to?” he asks. Kiva has paled in color. “The damage has been done hasn’t it? They’ve already mated, we all know this to be true. Why not send her in and have them mate inside for the data collection?”

Kila sits up on his knees and protests, “Yet you will not let me see her after hours? I cannot believe this.”

“Woah, woah,” I sputter. “Human women do not— I mean, I won— That is— It’s not happening.”

“Our former project was to use human subjects for a very similar process,” Mori argues. “How is this different?”

“Because I’m not signing up for it!” I snap. “I have to work with you guys every day, and you think I want to go in there and take my clothes off? No way. Not to mention the fact that I’m pissed at all of you. And I would just never agree to it, okay?”

“Leave her be. She does not wish to,” Kila adds.

“You don’t have to remove your clothes,” Vala offers.

“Just forget it,” I say. “He did it outside of that, anyways. He got that way when we heard the news about Kar’Kal. And a man tried to take me away from him. His eyes went all black then, too.”

“You know,” says Kiva, teal eyes sparking with excitement. “This must explain why the Archaic statues have shiny black stones for eyes. I once though it was an artistic choice, but it seems that they are depicted in this ‘savage state’, as you referred to it. It begs the question, would a male with colored eyes like myself also have them turn black? Something to think—”

“OUCH!” I scream, as I feel the tight pinch of Mori’s fingers on my upper arm.

Kila edges toward the glass and glares. “That is not amusing, Mori!”

He pinches me again, then takes me gently by the forearm and gives me a little shake. Kila begins to growl.

“Hey, hey,” I say angrily, and punch him hard in the arm. It turns out, Kar’Kali muscles don’t just look like they are cut from stone— they really feel like it too. I double over and clutch my fist against my chest. “Owww, goddamnit!”

“Oh, I apologize, Ella-vi. I did not think you’d hurt yourself trying to retaliate,” Mori says, but I still see a glimmer of amusement in his eye. I narrow my eyes and curl my lip at him.

“How dare you!” Kila shouts through the glass. He’s shuffled right up to the edge and rests his fists against the barrier. “I do not wish to destroy this box but I will if you touch her again.”

The panel is buzzing again and Pakka rushes forward to take down the new results.

“That is not okay,” I complain to them as I flex my sore fingers. “If you ever do get more human test subjects in here, we’re going to need to have a talk about appropriate conduct and acquiring consent for experimentation.”

Mori makes a noise of derision. “Perhaps, but the element of surprise can be quite useful for scientific findings.”

“You’ve had your fun, now let me out of here,” Kila demands. “Or I’ll break this Ka-forsaken box and spend the afternoon repairing it.”

They finally release Kila from the microwave and he strides over to me immediately. I’m pulled into the warmth of his chest as he embraces me.

“Are you all right?” he asks, leaning back to search my face, which is no doubt still pink from the suggestion that I get fucked in a glass box while four virgin scientists watch me.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, patting his shoulder. “More annoyed than anything.”

“We are going to procure lunch now,” Kila announces, bristling.

He stalks from the room, and I follow him. As he sweeps down the hall, I am half-jogging to keep up with him. “Kila,” I pant out, “Let’s stop and talk for a minute.”

No response. “I know you’re having a hard time,” I say. “Just tell me everything, and I’ll listen.”

He rounds the corner like a man on a mission, and he’s out of my view for a few seconds. “Kila!” I call, now refusing to jog just because he can’t slow down for me. I swing around the corner, where an oddly shaped junction divvies into three options— the stairwell, the elevator, and the hall towards Jen’s office. I expect him to be waiting at the elevator, perhaps with a broody expression on his face. Instead, he stands with the stairwell door open. When I catch up to him and go to open my mouth, he tugs me into the stairwell, hauls me against the cinder-block wall, and covers my lips with his own.

I am just about to interrupt him with a warning, but I notice the way he keeps his tongue carefully inside his mouth. Instead of a typical make-out session, we’re grinding against one another as he peppers my face and neck with soft close-mouthed kisses. He presses his cheek against mine, slides our noses together, and gently runs his hand over my hair. I relax under his grip and forget everything.

A breathy sigh escapes me as my thoughts slide away. What else could there be but the heat of him in this moment? We hang onto one another with desperate lust, caressing and dry-humping like horny teenagers.  This alien makes me crazy. His touch drives me wild. That intensity… that need that emanates from him… It’s enough to make me forget that we’ve only just met and his own people want to take him away from me.

What was it Jen said? Don’t get attached? Too late. Too too late.

***

KILA

Up until this moment, I had been needing her for too long. To have her in my arms and kissing me will only be temporary relief, but I take what I can get. Every second feeds me. I feel stronger just by the simple act of sliding her lips between my teeth and eliciting a quiet moan. I don’t dare to let my tongue touch her now, at work. But I need her, and from the way she responds, I know she needs me too.

We kiss like this for a while, her breasts pressed against my chest and her legs clutched around my torso. I remember briefly how I’d had misgivings about the human practice of smashing faces together. Just another on my growing list of past errors in judgment. Even without tongue, the intimacy between us is palpable.

As I guide my fingers up under her top she whimpers, and I feel the twitch of excitement her body makes when our bare skin is touching. Her responses are like oil on the fire of my need. I slide my hand further and palm her breast. Only the silky fabric of her little cup coverings stands in my way. I squeeze and rub my thumb over her nipple, delighting in the way it immediately hardens to a peak.