I let out a small laugh. “Makes sense why you’d like milk. It’s the same color as cum and kind of the same consistency.”
I make him another and then finally settle down with my latte, my robe pulled tightly around me as Cielo stares down into his now-empty mug.
“Can I ask you a question?”
He peers up at me and nods, a bit of froth still on his upper lip.
“Is your world safe? Because Rathyn keeps saying it’s not, and he won’t take me there again.”
Cielo blinks at me.
“It doesn’t matter. I mean, it does, but fuck, he’s being cagey.”
Cielo stares at me but says nothing.
“He told me we’d go again once he got his blow jobs, and he’s not following through on his promise.”
I watch as Cielo’s tongue falls out of his mouth again and he laps at the inside of the mug. It makes my lips curl up at the corners.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. You wanna go out? Get out of this place? Rath isn’t going to be home for a while anyway.” Cielo glances up at me. I pull the mug from his hand, and his lips turn down slightly. “Come on. No more milk. Let’s go shopping.”
He nods and stands up, towering over me.
“Let me change. Give me ten.”
When we finally stride from The Foundry, the sun is high in the sky. It’s cold, so I wrap my jacket around me as I pull up a rideshare on my phone.
“We’re going to call a car.” He cocks his head at me, and I add, “I’m not using the service here. They’ll report back to Rath, and honestly, he’s not open with me, so why should I be with him? Plus, he can always just go into my brain and ask me where I am.”
Cielo’s eyes widen at that, and I feel my cheeks flush. That might have been a secret. I don’t know. I’m really not sure I know much anymore, but I should probably stop telling other people about it.
I peer down at my phone and see that a driver is nearby, and a moment later, the car pulls up to the curb. The woman behind the wheel eyes Cielo, who stares at the small backseat.
“Can we move this seat up a little? I don’t know if he’ll fit.”
The woman purses her lips. “Sure can, honey. But next time, hire a larger car.”
I roll my eyes when she’s not looking and watch as Cielo folds his lithe body behind the passenger seat. His knees almost hit his chin, and the driver glowers at him.
“Seatbelt on, honey. You’ll become a projectile if I get into an accident.”
His skin darkens slightly, and he fumbles with the strap. I bite back another laugh as I help him buckle in, the seatbelt stretched to its limit as we head toward the small collection of boutique shops on the other end of town. I haven’t been here for ages. I used to wander around here a few years ago, but I never had any money to afford the stuff behind the glass.
Now, though, Idohave money. Not that I’m going to buy anything, but it’s nice to know I can afford something if I want it.
My eyes swivel to Cielo, and I watch as he stares out the window at the passing cars and buildings. His tail is wrapped tightly around his waist.
“Maybe we should get you something to wear, too. A nice human outfit.”
The woman meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “He’d look nice in pastels. He’s got that pretty blue skin that would complement it.”
Cielo’s ears flutter at that. “Yeah, I think so, too.”
His sharp fangs poke out, and he says softly, “Pahhhhhstillll.”
“Yeah, pastel. I’ll show you what that is.”
The woman drops us off at the curb right near the coffee shop, and Cielo stares up at it longingly.
