Ch. 1 History – First Contact
I feel another's gaze upon me one evening while working on a laptop computer in my quiet study. My breathing accelerates as I quickly scan the street outside my window. No one obvious appears. However the window faces a street, small hill and a local park across the way. Who knows what's lurking in the darkness outside my home?
"It's just my overactive imagination or some oversexed teenagers making out," I blurt out as a means of soothing myself.
People often pull into a parking lot at the top of the hill across the street from my home to gaze upon the county and city lights. Occasionally I even catch the interchange of two men on their walkie-talkies since my computer speakers also transmit their discourse to my study.
Sometimes the men discuss their weekends and sex lives while I inadvertently eavesdrop. One describes sex as akin to "floating among the sun, moon and stars". I would not know, as it's been years since my last experience. I pull my blinds closed and plop my IPod onto my speakers (Runaway Train by Soul Asylum assures me of distractions for a bit) while I continue writing my latest academic article. I am a psychologist and professor at a large state university.
By 3am, fatigue sends me stumbling to my queen size mattress in the next room for several hours of sleep and dreams. I teach in the afternoon and need to be at the university by noon. Sometime during 3am and noon on that day, the world, as I knew it, changed. A being from another galaxy visited me during my dream for the first time, though I did not know it at the time.
My dream involves running beside a rapid transit train in sock covered feet. Something like a fluorescent light buzzes above me while I run with a young friend. We are both about 20 years old, laughing but feeling guilty because we have not paid the fare for the transit.
"Let's find safety," I shout to my young male friend. I gasp at his excitement filled eyes and his beauty.
"Why?" he asks with a jovial chuckle.
"My feet need shoes!" I explain.
He gazes back with concern and points toward an old warehouse just to the right side of the ramp where we are running.
During my dream, a bright light finds me and pierces my eyes through their slits. I gasp for air but am paralyzed by the light. My dream state shifts to another time and place then. A creature with lovely large black irises and grey corneas stares into my eyes. I feel mesmerized by the eyes. I feel calm even though my body is rotated at a ninety degree angle on my mattress and a blue light enters several of my orifices at once.
"This feels marvelous," I utter to nothing in particular. I appear to be talking to myself.
Orgasms consume my body for several moments while I float among the stars of the universe; my body feels like jelly. The walkie-talkie men nailed the experience correctly. The curious and kind eyes never break contact with mine while I tremble and moan with pleasure. The word "lovely" leaves my lips. I never want this dream to end!
The laser light enters my orifices and probes my body again. The probes relax me and give me the most intense pleasure of my existence. My brain, my body and, dare I propose, my essence floats in space.
"Give me more," I may have shouted. My rational self wonders if I have lost my mind.
My attitude surprises me and I suspect some emotional manipulation from beyond my body. The grey eyes make contact with me again and now a full-lipped smile appears beneath the eyes. A gorgeous yet kind face appears. It is similar to a human face with expressions that convey gentleness, curiosity and interest. His face and eyes never break their contact with mine.
"You are Jillian?" he asks gently.
I nod my assent. "Yours?"
The kind and sensuous looking mouth forms an D, then a word that sounds like "Daniel" emerges from his amazing looking mouth. I don't want to look away. His intense eyes grow more round with curiosity. "Afraid?" he inquires with concern.
"I should be but NO...it's wonderful," I admit while feeling strangely calm.
"Please wait," his beautiful mouth requests.
Do I have an option? There's no way I'd recoil from this contact. My body continues to float toward the bedroom and above my mattress. The blue light flashes intermittently. Then a spotlight appears on the floor of my bedroom. Soon, a human like body emerges from the light and the image of someone who looks like a Nordic god in a toga floats before me. He's stunning.
"Daniel?" I check. He nods and stares at me intently for a moment. Then he reaches his long, slender fingers to mine. A jolt of electricity shoots through me in that instant. We both look affected by the touch.
"Amazing," comes from his trembling lips. His expression reflects mixed emotions. I think I note both restraint and desire in his face.
"Seriously? Same here!" is what comes out of my mouth. The emotional pull of my being toward Daniel's feels magnetic and profound. I'm drawn to his physical appearance in a manner that shocks me. Have I suddenly become superficial?
Daniel appears to be conflicted. I can see nothing but confusion in his eyes. But his body stiffens and he pulls back from his obvious interest in me. On the other hand, I'm ready to explore him without restraint.
"I feel such a sense of trust with you," I utter before slipping further into unconsciousness.
When I am awake at 11:47am, I feel more refreshed than I have for months. What a great dream.
My afternoon lectures on the DSM and anxiety disorders flow well.
My course assistant, Omar, even remarks, "Your jokes were hysterical today and the students paid attention the entire time."
Was that a first? "That is amazing," I retort. My energy level is higher than ever. After office hours, eating with my peers and a few meetings, I'm once again back in my home study.
I wonder what really happened last night and whether I'll have a repeat experience. I brush the experience off as a random but fabulous dream state and return to my paper on twin relations. This work absorbs my attention for hours. There are no further visits for a while but I find that I'm already missing the contact.
I tell no one about my experience and begin to practice progressive relaxation in an attempt to cap my growing anxiety. My agitation increases with each passing night though. Soon I begin searching for information about alien contacts on the internet. Most of the information follows a pattern.
I learn that alien abductions or visits entail being taken against one's will by nonhuman beings and subjected to various psychological and physical examinations. The exams then lead to communication over an important matter. That contact is followed by a tour of the captors' vessel or space ship.
The aliens are either grey with bug-eyed scale-skinned looks or the kind, Nordic types that look human. Abductees cannot fully recall the experience afterwards but are returned to their location. The abductee may feel uplifted by the experience but then must cope with the aftermath and reality of the visit.
Though I didn't volunteer for this experience and probing has occurred, I don't feel violated. As the nights pass without an additional visit from my alien, a sense of regret pervades my mood. He needs to give me much more information and I, unfortunately, never had a tour of his vessel. By Friday, I begin to convince myself that the experience was a one-time unique event; possibly more a dream than reality.
I feel resigned to my predictable life as I enter my study and sit down at my desk on yet another Friday night. My gloomy feeling fades quickly only to be replaced by exuberance and joy because within minutes of entering my room, a blue laser pierces the blinds. In another few seconds, my very own Daniel stands before me in all his glory. His shoulder length blond hair glows while his pale complexion and kind dark eyes reflect excitement and more.
"Jillian," he addresses me like a long lost friend as soon as he steps from the light into my study. He holds his hands out to me but I cross my arms and hold myself erect.
"You need to answer some questions first, Daniel."
"Of course," he agrees with some confusion but eventually sits reluctantly at my feet.
"Why are you probing me?" I inquire and shudder.
Daniel looks truly remorseful but explains, "Sorry. I hope you're comfortable."
I nod my assent. "It's fine. I just need to know why."
"I'm on a mission to learn more about the reproductive and physical capacities of human beings on earth. You have responses that my kind have lost, apparently. What we've discovered through our probes can lead to valuable changes on my planet," he divulges but his eyes are filled with a mix of emotions.
"What sort of responses are you probing?"
"Primarily, those related to reproduction," he discloses with some embarrassment.
"I haven't reproduced. I'm not sure I'm the best candidate," I admit with honesty.
"We want to know more about you, Jillian," he admits.
"If this is an alien abduction, bring it on!" I joke. Apparently, my curiosity overrides any of my concerns over self-preservation. "The probes are alright. They are very sensual and I feel comfortable."
He counters with, "I hope you do. I've been observing you from afar for months, Jillian."
"I can see that you're feeling ambivalent about me, however," I state and smile at him seductively.
"This has never happened to me before on any mission. I will admit, however, you fascinate me," he proclaims while his eyes penetrate mine. His body language and face continue to reflect mixed emotions and uncertainty.
"Convince me," I command while reflecting on the fact that he knows my body rather well given the probes.
"For a human, you're quite balanced. You have intellectual curiosity and drive as evinced by your career in academia. Yet you also draw upon your emotions to guide your work. You're friendly with colleagues and students but really enjoy your solitary lifestyle. Your attraction to writing and reading dominates your strengths and priorities."
I'm stunned and simultaneously pleased at his careful observations of my patterns. "OK. You've nailed it in terms of my lifestyle. You know my patterns," I murmur. "But why did you choose to observe me, in particular?"
"In part, it was pure chance. However once we discovered that you were alone and easy to examine, it became more appealing," he indicates while trailing off.
"I sense something more going on with you," I observe and then look into his burning eyes for confirmation. Sure enough, that spark within has been ignited.
He bows his head as if in shame. "I know it's wrong but I'm attracted to you, Jillian."
"Why is it wrong, Daniel?" I challenge. Of course I feel the same jolt that he does.
"I must learn to resist your appeal, Jillian. It's not befitting or proper for a scientist to feel the way I do about a subject."
I'm charmed by his interest and beauty. There's no way that I'm letting this chance of a lifetime pass me by."Well, this could be a step in the right direction, Daniel. Why resist it?"
"It's forbidden," is all Daniel will reveal.
I huff in frustration. "Tell me more about yourself."
"I explore other worlds and their inhabitants with a team of what you would label 'scientists'. We're oriented toward the group on my planet. We put an emphasis on rational processes," he admits, "perhaps too much so."
"Is that why you want to know more about humans?"
"There's so much to know. I admire you, Jillian," he admits with an entranced look upon his face. "We've tested all of your capacities over many months."
"And what did you conclude?" I ask a bit too eagerly.
"You're intelligent, focused, energetic, and a perfect specimen. I'm sure you can sense that you enchant me," he admits softly and with great embarrassment. Then Daniel sighs with regret.
Actually, I'm shocked at his open admiration of me. My attraction to him is indisputable. I touch his arm gently and look into his eyes with a frankness that must intimidate him.
My behavior surprises even me. I'm old enough, though, to know what I want and how fleeting life can be. Daniel more than entices me. However a relationship with someone from another planet confounds me. I swallow with anticipation and smile.
"You trust me," he observes with a radiant smile.
"Since this feels like a dream, I'm feeling bold and brazen," I admit and gaze at him boldly.
"I shouldn't allow myself this indulgence. It's selfish and unprofessional," he blurts out at last.
"Maybe you should explore the feelings. It might teach you something about what's missing on your planet," I suggest with an inviting tilt of my head and shoulders. I hold my arms out to him but he pulls back and simply looks at me.
He's in a quandary. Poor Daniel. We both hold our ground and look at one another.
I've just decided that I want this gorgeous creature in my arms in no uncertain terms. What woman in her right mind would turn down this sort of opportunity to connect with a godlike creature from another planet? Of course, this could all be some sort of holograph. Maybe he's really a cockroach who's taken on human form. There's only one way to know for sure. We need to explore each other carefully.
His hands fist and release at the side of his body. At last, he caves, "Can I touch you?" he finally requests. I can see from the look on Daniel's face that he wants and needs this contact with me in a profound way.
"You already have probed me. Why not touch me in other areas as well?" I encourage.
His hands tremble as he tenderly touches my cheekbone with the knuckles of one hand while the other is placed on my shoulder. I'm pleased with his familiarity though I should recoil. Somehow it feels right and very appropriate. Those amazing dark, tortured eyes never break contact with mine.
"You cannot know how mesmerizing this contact feels," he gushes at last with reverence. I dare not break eye contact with this wonderful 'man'. My fingers find their way to his outstretched arms and rest there.
"You're so warm, Daniel," I observe and smile seductively while subsequently touching his firm and beautiful face.
A moan escapes his throat when I touch him again. I massage the smoothness of his skin.
"You're a marvel," he states and continues to probe the depths of my eyes. "This feeling, this desire for contact with another being is what we've lost on Kepler. How is it that I feel so drawn to you, Jillian?"
Hesitantly, afraid that this rare and amazing opportunity could end, I stroke his golden hair. His irises widen with gratitude and appreciation as a smile dances on his chiseled lips. "That feels so soothing, Jillian. Please, don't stop."
My hand moves to his cheekbone. "Whoever you are, whatever you are. I'm drawn to you like a moth to light," comes my surprising admission. I caress his face again and smile like a prom queen. I'm not sure how this cross-planetary attraction has occurred. There's no doubt that Daniel is enamored of me and I feel the same attraction towards him. The social scientist in me wants to embrace our bond.
His eyes are watching me with warmth and desire. "My feeling mirrors yours and my surprise surpasses it. We are from different worlds but so needy of contact, " he observes. His words trail off as he holds both my hands in his large but warm ones.
"Are we? Tell me more," I reply as if in a trance. This powerful connection with Daniel surpasses the passion of any romance I've encountered on earth. Most of my academic encounters are cerebral.
"Later," comes from his lips as his arms pull me closer to his chest. Very slowly, his hands slide down my torso to my hips. My breathing betrays my need and resignation. It's labored and heavy.
I hear Daniel catch his breath as he looks at me. My knees practically give way beneath me at his more intimate touch. If anything, my connection with Daniel has just been cemented.
"I could get lost in your being, Jillian," Daniel admits. His forthright admission and desire disarms me.
"Let's explore, shall we?" I encourage. He nods in compliance. Both of us want more.
My arms encircle his waist as I search his wondrous face. I don't know how long we embrace but the electricity between us is palpable. Eventually, he lowers his head to place his lips on my neck and shoulder. The jolt of desire running through my body at his kiss stuns and amazes me.
My hand tilts his head up to mine then. My lips join his in the most enticing way ever. My tongue luxuriates in the warmth of his generous mouth and I am lost to him. His response indicates full compliance when our tongues tangle in an erotic dance. Daniel moans and pulls me closer.
OH. MY. STARS. Am I really in my study, making out like a teenager with an alien from a far away planet? It's as though two forces have just collided. We're both falling into the vortex of desire.
Suddenly, the blue light around us begins to pulse again and Daniel pushes back from me.
"I'm sorry, Jillian," emerges from his tortured voice. "We have to stop now though I want you with every fiber of my being," he explains. "My colleagues want to dialogue. I must go for now but I will return," he promises with the look of a frustrated lover.
"No Daniel. Don't go. Whatever we have is magic. Please," I beg and fear this won't ever happen again.
"My portal is closing soon," he retorts with a mask of disappointment evident on his features.
"Come back soon then!" I urge.
"I will miss you for every moment we're apart," are his final words as the laser absorbs him.
AN: The rest of this story has now been put on Amazon ebooks and is known as Tempting Kepler by JS Luxor. Of course, the character's names have changed but I've expanded it and given it an ending. I'd love if you' leave a review for it on Amazon. XXOXX