“O-of course,” he stammered, releasing me, keeping our love blossom tight to his side, to make his way to the kitchen to whip up some alphabet canned pasta for the hungry little men.
“I can make it,” Pen offered, but Gren shook his head as he opened a cupboard full to brimming with can after can of the stuff and took out enough for all of the little ones to have a bowl.
“Stocking up?” Viv asked.
“I thought you didn’t eat processed stuff? You said it’s gross.” Kat turned as the girls all raced to a bar stool. The boys chose the table so they could easily continue playing with their soldiers.
Gren’s face was so red and bright green, I was actually enjoying watching him squirm. “I had a hankering,” he mumbled quickly under his breath, hurrying to turn his back on everyone, busying himself at the stove.
Feeling my shift’s grip on me ease as I cooled my jets, I quietly made my way towards the hall where I assumed he had a bathroom. I wasn’t about to stand there in my birthday suit in front of a bunch of little kids and their mothers.
Once inside the bathroom, I leaned against the door. My head settled against the heavy frame and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I could do this. Everything was fine. I was fine.
Slowly, my shift settled, and once more I was pale skinned and Human haired. My hair was an odd shade of peach with streaks of cotton candy pink, but I kind of liked it.
Glancing around, I spied a thick red and grey plaid robe and plucked it off of the hook. Bringing it to my nose, I shivered. It carried my male’s scent heavily.
A soft knock at the door had me jumping, jerking the robe away from my face to hastily jerk it behind my back. Which was really dumb because,hello, Aster, you’re butt naked, honey.
“Uhm, yes?” My voice was high and tight.
“I, uh, I thought you might like a change of clothes.” Gren sounded like he had his face pressed to the door and was speaking right into the crack. I almost laughed out loud at the mental picture that idea made.
“May I use your shower first?” I asked as I opened the door enough for him to hand over the offered items.
“You’re killing me, sweetheart,” he whispered fiercely, muffling a groan as I peered around the edge of the door but wouldn't allow him more than a glimpse of my bare shoulder. His forehead pressed to the door and he pecked a kiss to my knuckles. “I wish we were alone.”
My grin was more of a smirk. “You’ll live.” Lifting my hand to tap his nose, I snorted out a laugh at the tortured look he gave me.
“Just one peek?” he cajoled.
“No.” My lips curved upward.
“A sliver?”
“No.” I laughed.
“I have the key to this door.” His dark eyebrows rose.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I quipped, then booped his little snoot.
“A kiss?” A grunt left him as I started to close the door on his handsome, heartbroken face. I was stronger than him and we both knew it.
“Maybe later,” I teased. The door closed with a resounding snick and I locked it.
“I love when you play hard to get,” he muttered, his voice muffled like he had his face mashed into the door again. “Green glory, I love that woman,” he muttered as he pulled back, and then he sighed and strode away. He said it so casually, like it came naturally to him.
I stood frozen, staring at the door I’d just locked on him. He said he loved me. He loved me. Blinking, dumbfounded, I felt stupefied, stunned speechless.
I felt no more Human after a quick wash up, but I loved using all of his things, knowing I’d smell like him. MINE.
Exiting the bathroom, I found Gren leaning over the end of a sofa, staring down the hall as if he’d been standing sentry waiting for me.
“Thought you might want some socks.” He held up the thick looking grey crew socks in his hand and waved them at me.
Walking around to the front of the sofa, holding my hand out to take them, he followed me around it, until he was nearly crowding me, and sat scooched up next to me when I plopped down on his couch.
