“Oh, it wasn’t quick,” Kekoa replied. “We were in there for over three hours, but it gave us a chance to really look at everything.”
“And grab way more fruit than I have ever seen anyone purchase at one time,” Nyx grumbled.
“Wait, you got fruit too?” I asked, so a grinning Kekoa got up and opened the refrigerator door to reveal that it was stocked with colorful bunches of delicious, juicy fruit of all different shapes and sizes.
“I amend my previous statement; you are not a prince among jellyfish, you are the king, and I will bow down to you forever for this,” I said. “I can never get him to bring fruit home unless he wants me to bake something with it.”
“Because the only good fruit is one that is in something sweet, doughy, and filled with carbs,” Nyx replied.
“You forgot fried, dripping with glaze, or stuffed with cream,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I know all the requirements; I’ve heard them enough.”
“I’m pretty sure you just made his point for him,” Kekoa pointed out.
“Yeah, I probably did.”
I pointed my fork across the table at Nyx. “I’m warning you right now, that beautiful collection in there is not going to be eaten in any way other than the one nature intended. Cold and raw. Seriously though, thanks, guys, and thank you for waiting up. It was a long day.”
“Nyx said you liked to wind down by watching a few episodes of something animated and funny,” Kekoa said. “If you’d like, I can give you a massage while you’re watching.”
“In that case, we’ll watch in the bedroom,” I said. “Where I can pass out the moment your fingers start working their magic.”
“Who says I’ll be using my fingers?”
My answer was to shovel the last three bites of food into my mouth and stand with my dishes, only to have Kekoa pluck the plate and glass out of my hands and carry them to the sink.
“Please tell me you don’t have a tragic past involving dishwashers?” I said as they opened it with one hand while rinsing the glass.
“Nope, all have survived my attempts to load them and pop in a pod.”
“Okay, fair,” I said.
“Had a flashback to the time your dad put dishwashing liquid in one, didn’t you?” Nyx asked.
“Just for a moment.”
“What happened?” Kekoa asked as they finished loading it and added the pod to its spot but didn’t start the machine.
“I told him about the solar panels on the roof and explained that it was more economical to run the appliances in the daytime,” Nyx explained.
“So, if we’re all set here, me and my magical tentacles will be awaiting you in the bedroom,” they said as they breezed past us.
“Seems like you guys had an amazing day,” I said as Nyx tugged me against his side.
“We did, and I had the chance to learn more about why they choose to wear their hair that way, but that’s a conversation for another time,” he said. “Tonight, just let us take care of you.”
“You’ll hear no protests from me,” I admitted. “I could go for a bit of pampering.”
As soon as I stepped back into the bedroom, I realized they had put a lot of thought into tonight. There was a container of water on the floor by the bed, which they’d probably fetched from the beach, judging from the slightly salty seawater smell that lingered in the room. How the hell had they brought home seawater along with everything else they’d revealed in the kitchen? Oh yeah, the Jeep. Nyx said he was going to take it in case they did a bunch of shopping, which they had, and I knew he kept a couple empty gallon jugs back there.
Had they really spent all day planning this?
Kekoa stepped out of the bathroom as I shed my clothes, naked, with their hair flowing free around their shoulders. The bed was already turned down, and Nyx handed me the remote as soon as I sprawled out on my belly.
Since we’d just finished a show Saturday night, I pulled up a new one. I’d been curious about Brickleberry for a while now and decided this would be a good time to check it out, though the sight of my mate stepping into the tub of water before shrinking down to his jellyfish form was all I was interested in staring at.
“The sheets need to be washed tomorrow, so relax and don’t get your flippers in a bunch when he starts dripping,” Nyx said as I lifted Kekoa and carried them to the bed.
I couldn’t care less about the dripping when Nyx placed them on my back. Soft and squishy, with the instant bonus of those tingly surges that contact with them sent through my body. I could feel them crawl into place, dragging themselves along my skin.
