Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
He went still before lifting several of his limbs almost like he was waving his hands around. “I will admit to the same flaw. However, that is something we can change.”
Yep, that was easy to fix since we’d caught it early.
“And you’ll help make the list too.” This wasn’t all about me. “I’m sure there are things that you want to talk about too.”
He made an adorable thinking sound before nodding. “Yes, I will consider my questions for you. Understanding mate tasks that are not domination-based is important.”
Hmm.
What else did mates do?
Hell, what did boyfriends or spouses do that we weren’t doing?
Planning for the future was the biggest one that popped into my head, but I decided that could wait. “We’ve got a lot to think about, but you helped me to stop worrying about money so that makes me feel a lot better.”
“I am glad, my Theo.” Jerker looked like he had something else on his mind, but our waiter took that moment to walk over to us and the conversation quickly shifted.
Jerker wasn’t one for small talk with strangers, so once our server had finished introducing himself and asking if we were ready, Jerker charged right in and ordered for both of us. I didn’t mind, and honestly, it was nice not to have to think about it.
Especially since I knew why he’d picked spaghetti.
Yep, just thinking about how much he liked watching me suck on the noodles had my noodle getting hard.
And not even the curious way the waiter was bouncing his gaze back and forth between us dimmed my delight.
In fact, it made it even more fun because I knew he was putting the pieces together pretty quickly. “Perfect. I’ll get this into our system and then I’ll be back with some bread and a refill on your waters.”
Without a single question aimed in my direction, he gave us a pleasant smile and walked away with nearly as much confidence as Jerker would.
“The interruption was not timely, however I am glad to have our food ordered. You are hungry.” His gaze dropped down to the table like he was staring at my stomach.
“Can you hear it?” I hadn’t been rumbling like a cartoon but I wasn’t surprised when Jerker nodded.
“Your body also gives off other signals that indicate what humans call blood sugar and other factors.” His matter-of-fact tone had me shaking my head.
“I just can’t imagine processing all that information at once.” Our brains were fascinating places but his was amazing. “I think we’ve traded space for our imagination instead of all the processing power you have.”
Jerker went very still. “That is an interesting assessment of our differences.”
I wasn’t sure which would be better, but I liked all the fun stuff that came with my imagination. “I like our differences.”
“I find them highly cooperative.” Going back to teasing over my hand, he squeezed my ankles and trailed his tentacles higher up my calves. “Before our interruption, I had planned to ask about other questions you have for me. Ones that are not relationship-based.”
So little ones, not the big relationship stuff like money.
“Yeah, I do.” I probably had a list a mile long, but I started with the one I’d been forgetting to ask. “How did you come up with your name?”
I knew their names were meaningful to them, and Larry proved that definition could be flexible, but I wasn’t sure what Jerker had been thinking.
He was really nice.
“When I was picking out my Earth name, I was isolated and a human being the same situation would be called lonely.” Jerker made it sound like he hadn’t been lonely but a human in the same situation would, but before I could figure out what kind of question to ask, he continued. “I chose a name based on a language called Old Norse whose people were very mobile in the ocean. It means ever ruling or island ruling.”
Oh wow.
Always ruling.
Always alone.
The seafaring reference made sense too in a way.
“I think that’s a very good name for how you must’ve been feeling at the time.” I wasn’t going to debate the alien feelings versus human thing, so I just skipped over it. “I’ve never heard the name before but I think it’s perfect.”
He wasn’t going to be alone anymore, but he could rule our tiny kingdom.
I definitely didn’t want to be in charge.
Chapter 20
“No.” Laughing as he picked me up and carried me into the apartment, I wrapped my arms around him and shook my head. “I don’t need to go to Paris. You’re romantic enough right here.”
We were going to have to work on his internet habits.
“I have read that it is a very romantic city, my Theo.” Stroking his limbs over me, he gave me a good hint about what he meant by romantic. “You would like romance and I will walk you around the large tower where I will tell you about our human marriage plans.”