Looking relieved that I’m not freaking out as much anymore, he adds, “The mark will intensify and merge with the partner's mark if you fully consummate the bond. Right now, as you can see, the coloring of the marks is faded, but it won’t stay that way if someone becomes your permanent partner.”
“And that takes five rounds of sex?” I question again.
“Yes, in most cases.”Mostcases? Do I delve further into this, or do I just let it go for now? I mean, haven't I already got enough on my plate? Head in the sand, it is.
“Well, ok then, no having sex with anyone more than five times if they have my mark. Nice and easy. I certainly don’t need a husband at the moment.” I’m pacing back and forth, repeatedly running my hands down my skirt until William steps into my path to stop me.
“Lila honey,” he says to me softly, like he doesn’t want to startle me further. “Don’t forget it could be husbands,plural. Don’t close your mind to it just because what you are used to is monogamy. Nobody here will judge you. In fact, it might make others even more open to you if they see you embracing more of our culture. Either way, it’s an important decision that deserves your fully informed choice. Remember, anyone you do mate with will gain any abilities you have and vice versa. You could end up with other powers, ones that you’re certainly not expecting. Now, your grandma was Skarrian and had the same powers as us, but we know of many matings that have resulted in different species partners gaining new abilities.”
It brings a tear to my eye that he’s being so gentle with me. Honestly, his care feels less like management and more like genuine care for my feelings. It’s kind of sweet… but then I think twice. He’s never soft and gentle. What’s going on?
Silly me, I ask the question I’ve been dreading but secretly know the answer to. “What do the other marks mean?” He flinches before he straightens up and looks me in the eye. “The left shoulder will contain the marks of the man or men who return your interest.” My heart is pounding so hard I feel like it’s going to jump out of my chest. “A mark won’t appear if the interest is not mutual.”
“So what are you saying?” I ask cautiously, bracing myself for the answer.
“Those are the marks of whoever you find yourself attracted to, so long as they return the attraction.”
“The interest has to be mutual for the mark to show?” I need to check, already feeling like my world is about to be rocked.
“Yes,” he says, setting my mind whirling. There are plenty of men that I’ve found attractive so far. If I had to guess, one is the doctor. But who could the other one be?
“Was there anyone in the elevator with you? That's when you felt it, yes?” Eric asks, his eyes still laughing even though he’s calmed down.
“Caspian was in it for a while, but he’s the only one.”
“Well, there you go. It would be safe to assume he’s one of them. I guess he’s not as grumpy as you thought.”
Showing remarkable class and self-control, I very maturely ignore the temptation to make that whole foot/ass situation into reality. Caspian!?
“Well, fuck!”
* * *
CASPIAN
The elevator doors close, leaving me with an impression of sexy as fuck Lila wiggling her fingers at me burned into my retinas, and my anger fades away. She really isn't disgusted by me. In fact, if the scent that drifted to my nose as my tentacle caressed her leg is anything to go by, she was turned on. I shake my head when I realize I was so flustered that I got off at the top floor even though I needed to get out on the performers’ level. I push the button to call it back while I contemplate the conundrum that is Lila.
The minute I saw her in the cafeteria that first night, my kraken tried to come out. He smelled her and thoughtmate, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being rejected again. I pushed him down and brought out my asshole self, but she didn't even flinch. Sure, her mouth dropped open, but she’d quickly recovered and greeted me like I wasnormal. Then gave back as good as I dished out.
But of course Dylan wormed his way into a seat at the head table. Sure, the guy’s my buddy and we've been performing together for a while now, but he doesn’t hide the fact that he has big goals. And yes, we’ve been lovers on and off for a while now, but it’s nothing serious. I know that my kraken would never consider him a compatible mate, and let’s face it the guy’s a manwhore. I'm certainly not the only person he’s sleeping with. Thankfully, there’s an inoculation for alien STIs.
My mind is a whirl of chaotic thoughts on the ride back down. Once I’m on the right floor, I find Dylan already dressed for the performance.
“Cas! Where have you been? Come on, man, you need to get ready.” He drags me to our dressing room without waiting for me to answer.
He throws himself onto our couch as I pull off my clothes and replace them with the leather pants I wear for the performance. Moving over to the nearby makeup table, I start to apply the show makeup, using a ridiculous amount so that we can be seen from the top rows.
I’m staring off into space as I apply it, only meeting Dylan’s eyes in the mirror after he clears his throat to get my attention. “What's wrong with you? You’re all spacey. Where were you?” I can’t help but roll my eyes at the suspicion in his voice. God, he’s a jealous asshole. He can fuck anything that walks, but the minute I do something out of the ordinary, he assumes there’s something else going on.
“I was talking to Lila in the elevator.” His face wrinkles into a frown, and there’s a flash of his dragon’s presence in his eyes.
“Why? I thought you didn't like her. You certainly were an asshole the first day.”
“Yeah, but that was when I thought she would be repulsed by me. Now that I talked to her again, I don't think she is.” Even to my own ears I sound amazed.
He scoffs. “You don't have a crush on her, do you? Because I think she's a fangbanger. She got all turned on when I was talking about Saxon the other day. You haven't got a chance, bro.”
I narrow my eyes at him, which makes putting on eyeliner a little tricky. “I thought you were all Team Lila. Sure seemed like you liked her too. Why are you being like this? Do you know how long it’s been since the last time someone was genuinely interested in me? She wasn’t scared off, man, or even disgusted. I swear she was actually into it!”
