Zephyr
Keoni looked nervous, and also a little embarrassed, and it threwme for a loop. What could he want to tell me that would make him look like that?
"What is it?"
He bit his lower lip, then glanced away, his eyes focusing on a spot behind me, as if he couldn't bring himself to look at me. Fuck, had I done something wrong? Pushed too hard, too fast?
Before I could ask, he exhaled loudly, then said, "You know how I was born paralyzed?"
My confusion grew at the sudden segue, and I hummed.
"Well, I can't feel anything beyond this point," he said as he reached behind him and patted the spot halfway down his 'horse' back as I leaned up to see what he was doing. When he glanced back, he avoided my eyes once more. "I can't feelanything. Or control anything. Orexperienceanything. Do you get what I'm trying to say?"
It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize what he was implying, but he waited me out, though the grip he still had on my waist tightened noticeably, as if he was afraid I'd run away.
"Are you saying you can't get an erection?" I asked, and my blunt words made him flinch. "I'm sorry. I should've phrased it better."
"It's okay. I was being a child about it. But yes, that's what I mean. I can't get hard," he said with a shrug. "I know humans have medicines for that stuff, but I don't know if they'd work on me, and honestly, I don't really want to try. I've never been all that interested in sex. I don't know if it's because I can't have it or just how I'm wired, but I'm okay without it if you are," he said, then smirked. "And I don't think I would need a dick to satisfy you."
I blinked, and my cheeks flushed hot as my cock twitched at his words. It took me a few moments to gather myself, and I wondered how he'd turn the tables on me so quickly. "Thank you for telling me. It doesn't change how I feel about you."
Keoni smiled, looking relieved, and then he pulled me into a kiss that left me feeling breathless and like I was floating. I snuggled closer to him as I caught my breath, and he tightened his arm around me as he pulled me into his chest, his blue eyes warm and sparkling as they gazed into mine. I reached up, sifting my fingers through his curly blond hair. I couldn't feel the strands against my fingers, but his eyes fluttered shut as he clearly enjoyed my touch. That was okay too.
He talked in low whispers, like someone would overhear us, which was impossible. Not only were we alone, but my room had a silencing ward that activated whenever I was inside. Yet there was something sweet and cozy about whispering words right into each others' lips.
The growl of Keoni's stomach finally broke the moment, and I chuckled as I pulled back. "We should go get some lunch."
I couldn't believe I'd spent all morning in bed and not worried about work once. I had a feeling Keoni had talked to Touya about it to make sure I'd be free, and I wondered why he insisted on taking care of me this way.
I was older than him, and more powerful too. Shouldn't I be the one taking care of him?
Though I couldn't say I disliked it. It was a novel feeling, being taken care of, and as long as Keoni didn't mind doing it, I would never ask him to stop.
Keoni hummed but didn't move, and I raised a brow at him.
"Wait," he murmured, and my brows furrowed as I gazed at him. Wait for what?
As if in answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Room service!" Touya called cheerfully as Keoni grinned at me, and I shook my head as I slid off the bed.
Once I'd made sure I looked decent, I opened the door. Touya handed me a tray laden with food, waved at Keoni over myshoulder, then walked away without a word, leaving me with a mix of emotions and some delicious-smelling food.
I carried the food back to the bed as Keoni sat up, his front legs folded under him as he straightened. "Can we eat on the bed? I don't want to deal with the cart again."
"Of course."
I set everything up on the bed, and then settled cross-legged across from him. Seated like this, he was taller than me, and it felt strange but also kind of right.
We chatted as we ate, discussing the things people usually talked about on first dates. Our favorite colors, music, movies, hobbies. Some things I'd already known; others I was surprised to discover, like the fact that Keoni knew five languages and was learning a sixth one. I'd lived for over two centuries and I only knew two. I made sure to tell him how impressive that was, and got the chance to make him blush, though he recovered quickly.
After lunch, Keoni told me to put the dishes outside with the breakfast ones so Touya could take them away, refusing to let me take them to the kitchen myself.
"If you go out now, I won't get you back until they've all congratulated you, and right now, you're mine," Keoni grumbled, and I chuckled, then did as he asked.
It'd been a long time since I'd felt this light, but every day since the Sanctuary was fixed, the weight I'd been carrying lessened a little more, especially when I was around Keoni.
I climbed back on the bed, then shuffled closer to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. With me kneeling on the mattress, I was a little taller again, and I hugged him close as he made a surprised sound before hugging me back.
