Page 4 of His Theo

It might’ve been how he saw me.

Great.

“I think he’s just going to need a moment to take it all in.” Nicholas looked like he squeezed his mate’s limb. “There are a lot of Doms here and a lot of people that are his type. So, yeah, he’s slightly overwhelmed and thinking about a lot of different topics at the moment.”

Understatement of the year…on all counts.

“I don’t just like tentacles. I want to know the person they’re attached to as well.” I knew the moment the words came out they’d been too loud because about a quarter of the room smiled and waved a tentacle in my direction.

As I hoped to just die right there, several subs around me giggled and moved to hide behind who’d ever brought them…probably to prevent them from saying something equally as stupid.

Nicholas gave a wicked grin. “At least now we know we don’t have to explain that tentacles won’t be a turn-off.”

Someone just needed to shoot me and put me out of my misery.

I was too impulsive to be in a restaurant full of Doms.

Shit.

Nicholas was my ride.

Clamping my lips shut, I tried to take a subtle deep breath and stop radiating so much ridiculousness.

I was calm.

I was relaxed.

I was peaceful.

I could be a functional human in public.

I just had to focus and not say whatever came to my mind. It would be hard but I could do it because I did it at work on an almost daily basis. I’d be polite and professional and then I’d go home and take a nap.

Repeating the words over and over…especially about being polite and professional…I followed Nicholas and Larry through the restaurant, smiling when they pointed out people that they knew.

I was polite.

I was relaxed.

I was quiet and didn’t say anything stupid.

Somehow that was a challenge to the universe, though, and it decided to test me.

A younger-looking alien came up and gave a polite nod toward Nicholas and Larry before turning his gaze to me. “I must ask if you are above the legal age for physical pleasures.”

Shit.

I didn’t have enough self-restraint for this.

Chapter 2

I stood there dumbfoundedly for just a bit too long, so Larry decided to step in. “That is not a conventional greeting.”

Damn right.

“Stature and even facial hair do not designate age.” The alien gave a liquidy shrug and his features pulled into what I knew was a confused and slightly frustrated expression. “I have been approached by several for the purposes of mating who are not of legal age.”

Oh.

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