He chuckled at the nickname. "I think Lessa's corrupting you. Seems everyone's calling me that lately."
"Only when you're exceptionally cute," I promised. "Look, to put this bluntly, we both know you're not after sex. You want a connection first, right? Well, I don't think we're going to lose ours. I won't let that happen. I do think Sylis is going to be looking for the same thing, too overwhelmed to throw himself in someone's bed, and that man has a long road ahead of him. He has to work through his shame, Om. You know, like you did."
"Which is a good point," Omden relented. "So, how about this? I'll consider it - and I won't promise anything else - if you actually consider Meri? Stop saying you're going to scare her off, because you clearly aren't. Stop telling yourself you're going to mess things up for Lessa, because that woman can handle her own shit. Stop making excuses because you feel guilty about having more lovers than just me and wrap your thick head around the fact that I love you no matter what, okay?"
"You," I told him, "are the most amazing man in the world."
"I am," he agreed slyly. "I mean, since I managed to catch you, that proves it."
I let my eyes run across him. "And here I was trying to start something with you this morning. Want to take a little afternoon nap with me, Ommy?"
He groaned and rolled his eyes. "I have no clue how you canstillbe horny! I know Lessa rode you hard last night, and you're still not satisfied?"
"Practice makes perfect," I assured him. "I've spent my whole life building up my tolerance or something." And I waved that off with a laugh. "No, I think we'd horrify Sylis if we tried something like that - even if it was for a real nap." And I flicked my tail up and around his leg. "I just wanted to make sure you know I'm okay with this."
"But can we trust him?" Omden asked.
Which meant hewasthinking about Sylis. Not the same way I would, but my partner wasn't like that. He cared about knowing someone more than anything else. Beauty, brains, and everything else took a back seat to personality. He was drawn to the connection, not the orgasms, and it was the best thing about him.
Somehow, this man made me feel like I was always seen. Like he stopped and listened, no matter what. The relationship I had with him was so intense in some ways, and never what anyone expected, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. He was my lifeline. My rock, or safety net, or any other metaphor I could think of.
Which was why I needed to make sure he was thinking about this now. Something in our house had shifted lately, and it wasn't just because of Meri. It had happened before Sylis got here. I couldn't figure out which thing to put the blame on, but the crazy thing was I liked it.
When Omden had asked Lessa to act like this was a trial partnership, it had taken me by surprise, but it convinced me he liked it too. She really was a nice addition to our relationship.But now that she and Meri were starting something, and it seemed like it was working out well, I'd almost expected her to move on.
"You just took a mental vacation," Omden said softly, snapping my attention back to the present.
"Sorry," I said, because he was right. "I was just thinking it wouldn't surprise me if Lessa ended things with us."
"For Meri?"
I nodded. "She's crazy over that woman, and it sounds like it's working. There's been some kissing, some cuddling, and a whole lot of 'getting there' between them."
"Yeah," Omden said, dragging out the word, "but I'm not sure Meri wants monogamy, Droz. Just think about it. After what her husband did to her, and then seeing her best friend find happiness with those three? Why wouldn't Meri decide having options is safer for her?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well," he said, his tail flicking wickedly beside him. "If Lessa loses her shit and goes off on a rant, Meri knows you'll put yourself between them. If, as an example, you tried to hold her down and have your way with her, what do you think Lessa would do?"
"Shit, she'd kill me," I said, seeing where he was going. "Never mind you. I'd be lucky if all I lost was my tail!"
"Exactly," he agreed.
So I decided to play that out just a little more. "I wonder if the same would be true for Sylis."
Omden's head twitched. "Huh? Why?"
"Because," I said, rubbing Omden's leg gently, "I'm pretty sure that man's a virgin. Male or female, Om. He's thin, weak, and pretty much helpless right now. Sure, he's stronger than Meri was when she got here, but I'm not convinced he's strongerthan her now. Physically, I mean. Mentally, that woman has him beat, hands down."
"I agree with you there," Omden said.
So I kept going. "Which means all of this?" I gestured above me. "Lorsa, Dragons, the Moles coming back - because we know they will one day - and the stares of the people here? All of it, Omden, is going to be a lot for that man to handle. He didn't even know about antibiotics!"
"I know," Omden agreed. "They have electricity, but not penicillin?"
"Yeah," I grumbled. "Shows you their priorities, huh? But Tobias made a point of telling us about him. I get the impression this guy is looking for a connection. A friend, a lover, or who knows what else. Shit, he probably doesn't even know, but if he's anything like those girls, he's going to be just as scared of it as he is desperate for it. I mean, he's spent a lifetime unable to touch anyone else. No hugs, no kissing, no hand-holding, or any of it! And now, he's here, thrown into our mess and trying his hardest to give us a reason to trust him."
"I actually do," Omden said. "I know Zasen wouldn't, and I'm sure you'll try to say I shouldn't, but I think he's really everything he's showing us."
