I stare at him and then hold out a piece of bacon. “Want to try this? It’s delicious.”
He shakes his head and leans back slightly. “We do not eat meat. It is…our bodies cannot process it.”
“Hm. Although you do eat a certain kind of meat.” When he cocks his head, I add, “Mine.”
His hum is low and deep. “You are in an odd mood this morning.”
I shift in my seat as my fork scrapes over the plate. “Just feeling rejuvenated and you know…nervous to go into your world. It’s making me feel all sorts of ways.”
“Why are you nervous?”
I think back to the many long years stuck in my aunt and uncle’s house, staring at old travel magazines, wondering what it would be like to escape, to visit places I never got the chance to see.
“I’ve never been through a portal before. Hell, I’ve never traveled outside this town. It’s…overwhelming and exciting.”
I push my plate away and stare at him. The bushel of kirrashev is nearly gone, and I wonder if I should try some, butthen again, I don’t want to ruin my chance of going through the portal by eating something that gives me a stomachache.
Rathyn’s long tongue snakes out, and he engulfs the rest, chewing for a moment before swallowing. He eats like he sucks cock.
My cheeks flush at the thought—the way he spread me out last night.
I liked that a lot.
“We can leave soon. But first, you must adorn the traditional dress for companions.”
I glance up at him and then down at my bare chest, and my pierced nipples are slightly red and puffy, but not painful. Then my gaze slips down to my tight sweatpants, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a lot less than I’m wearing now.
“What kind of outfit?”
“I have several being delivered which you can try on.”
“I mean, are you really going to let me pick?”
He stares at me, and I wink at him, making his skin shimmer. “I do not know what this eye twitch was, but I think it is an insult.”
“It’s called flirting, which I’m pretty sure you don’t do. I’ll teach you how to, though.”
I wink again, and he turns around, his tail twisted tightly around his thigh. “Is it like kissing?”
I shrug. “It usually leads to kissing.”
His ears flutter again, and he nods. “Cielo will arrive soon with the garments. Do notflirtwith him.”
“I won’t. Jesus.”
“I do not know this Jesus, but do not make your eye twitch near Cielo.”
I stand up and move toward Rathyn, my hands landing on his bare chest. “You know I’myourcompanion, not anyoneelse’s. And I don’t cheat. Ever. But I promise no winking. Just…I want a friend, and I think Cielo can be mine.”
His hearts thump angrily in his chest. “He is not yours.”
I shove at him slightly. He doesn’t move. “You’re so literal. I mean, he could be myfriend.”
He doesn’t look very sure, so I roll my eyes and head toward the shower. “Alright, well, we can discuss this later. I need to clean up. You made a mess of me last night.”
I hear his hum follow me into the bathroom, and as I’m washing myself, I hear his voice in my mind.
“You were not a mess last night, my Everest. You looked beautiful.”
