Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Part of me said to leave the conversation there, but I wanted to make sure we were both on the same page.
“Do you agree with everything I said or just the part about my being there so you don’t have to talk about it later?” When he went quiet again and it felt like I needed to prompt him to breathe, it seemed like he’d actually processed everything I’d said. “I think we both know your pup would like to hump Kenton’s.”
His groan didn’t give me much to go on, but it let me know he was taking in oxygen, so I decided it was a positive thing.
But the way he made me wait for more information was definitely in the negative column.
“I have to talk about this or you’re going to eventually worry.” His frustrated tone made me want to laugh, but he wasn’t wrong so I did my best to stay quiet. I didn’t want to give him conflicting signals or do anything to make his words stop.
“Okay, human me has no desire to do anything with anyone else. You’re my partner.” He shrugged then shook his head like the idea just didn’t compute. “You saying stuff in a fantasy is one thing, we both know that, but actually doing something. No.”
So fantasy was good, playing with other humans was not good.
Got it.
“I agree with that completely.” I didn’t need anyone else either, but I liked fucking with him sometimes, so I was glad I didn’t have to stop that part.
“Good. Yes. Good.” Nodding mostly to himself, he sighed. “But my pup is…he’s a happy pup. You figured that out pretty fast.”
Because it hadn’t been subtle in the slightest.
“He’s also more happy than thoughtful and he forgets how to worry about stuff really easily.” Ender’s slightly confused tone said he didn’t understand how that was possible and it almost felt like he disapproved. “But he’d probably get happy and do something…happy if there was another happy pup around.”
God, that sentence made me itch, but it wasn’t technically wrong.
It was just really, really awkwardly worded.
“So we plan for that.” Now it was my turn to shrug. “I make sure Kenton and his Handler are on the same page.”
Whatever that guy’s name was.
“And then we do a low-key playdate with just them around.” When Ender wiggled, I knew he was thinking of something else. “If we’re feeling brave, we do a playdate with Eli and his photographer boyfriend.”
God, I was going to have to learn their names better.
“Just something small where you can figure out how you like it and what it feels like.” We both knew he’d like it, but there was a lot of practical things about the work he might not enjoy. “At least this time you wouldn’t have to worry about an erection or sitting still for so long.”
That got a giggle out of him and seemed to pop some of his stress.
“You…you’d be there because that’s one of your limits and our rule, but you…you’d be okay with…with all that?” Ender was vibrating with nervous tension.
To say I didn’t like it would’ve been a major understatement.
But I wanted him to know I wasn’t just answering to make him happy, so I took a moment and breathed, really thinking about it. “Neither of us will know how we feel until it happens. I want to make sure you understand that, but right now, I like the idea of you being free to be happy and play, and I think you’d be cute.”
That might not have been the right word for it since we were talking about erections and tails and possible eruptions…but it worked and it got another giggle out of Ender.
“I don’t think that word means what you think it means.” He thought he was being clever but that lasted about two seconds until I started tickling him…then his squeals of laughter and pleas for mercy said he realized who was in charge.
Chapter 23
Ender
Huh?
“It’s Saturday.” Leif frowned like I’d lost my mind and he wasn’t sure where to go grab me a new one. “It’s Saturday date night.”
Huh?
I just blinked and tried to get my mind to focus on the sentence but it was difficult. “We’re going to do that?”
Now he was the one blinking.
“For fuck’s sake, Ender.” Folding his arms over his chest, Leif glared at me. “I’m going to date my partner and you’re going to let me. Got it?”
“Yes, Sir.” That probably wasn’t the most logical thing that could’ve come out but it made him smile and stop looking at me like I was a few crayons short of a box. “I mean, yes, going out sounds good.”
Oops.
Narrowing his eyes, Leif’s glare got worse. “No. What should you have said?”
He was such a pain in the butt.
“Yes, going out on a date with my partner sounds like a wonderful idea.” Had that been enough? “And romantic. And relationship building?”