"I can't see in the dark," Tony protested. "I'm human, remember? Or mostly human. The jury's still out on that one."
"Well, mostly-human Tony, you're going to have to trust me." She threaded her arm through his, pressing close to his side. "I'll be your guide. Just follow my lead and try not to trip over anything."
Her warmth seeped through his jacket sleeve, and Tony decided that maybe the darkness wasn't so bad after all.
"Why did you ask me about my alcohol tolerance?"
She lifted her face to him with a mischievous smile. "Immortals can drink a lot and not get drunk, so don't get into any drinking competitions. You'll lose."
"I have no intentions of competing with anyone. One beer is my usual limit."
She chuckled. "Cheap date. I like it."
His ears caught fire as the implications sank in, and he was grateful for the darkness until he remembered that she could see perfectly fine.
He had no money, and he didn't know whether the card he'd been given for the vending machines in the café also worked in the bar. He was already working, but he hadn't discussed getting paid with anyone.
"What's the matter?" Shira asked. "You suddenly look like you've swallowed a frog."
"Does the bar take the card that works on the vending machines in the café?"
"Nope, but don't worry about it. Tonight is on me. You can pay the next time."
Well, at least she was thinking about another date, so that was good. "I have a job, but I'm not getting paid. At least I don't know if I am. No one has explained things to me yet."
"Poor baby. They are probably waiting for your identification papers to be ready. Once that's in place, they can set up an account for you with your own credit card and everything. Your salary will go straight to your bank account."
"That sounds so normal," he murmured. "I'd forgotten how the modern world functions. Living on the island was like living inside a fantasy book. A dark fantasy."
"What was your job there?" Shira asked.
He'd been under the impression that everyone in the village knew that. "I was a stud. I was supposed to contribute intelligent sperm so Navuh would have smart sons."
To his surprise, she laughed. "A harem stud. How progressive. I wouldn't have expected that from Navuh. Did the ladies pass you around?"
"No. Tula demanded exclusivity, and they honored her wishes."
She turned to look at him, and he was stunned to see a glow in her eyes. Was she thinking naughty thoughts about him? Had the harem stud comment given her ideas?
He smiled. "You are a naughty lady, Shira, aren't you?"
"You have no idea." She snorted and continued walking.
What had she meant by that? Was she into kinky stuff?
He could go for some kink, but nothing overly adventurous. Was that why Tula had found him boring after a while?
"Here we are." Shira stopped in front of what appeared to be a small hill, but as Tony's eyes adjusted, he could make out the outline of a round door set into the earth.
A hobbit hole.
An actual hobbit hole, complete with a circular frame and hand-carved decorations around the edges.
"This is incredible," he said.
"Wait until you see the inside."
There was no light coming from the structure, but there was plenty of noise. Laughter and conversation and the clink ofglasses spilled out, muffled by the thick earthen walls but unmistakably boisterous.
