Page 197 of Bride of Choice

“Liar,” I muttered, but my lips quirked a little when he turned back to me with a single raised eyebrow.

“Jo want talk now?”

“No,” I said slowly, putting emphasis on the word like he was slow to catch on.

“‘Kay. I talk. Jo listen.” Taking my hand, he held it captive, presumably so I couldn’t hurry off.

“I don’t-”

“Want Jo,” he started off, which stunned me stupid. His thumb began to stroke warmth into my skin as he stared into my wide eyes. “Want Jo all the times.” His claws unsheathed, looking more like the dangerous weapons I knew they could be. “Want Jo bad.” His eyes flushed as his voice hitched.

“You have that mate lust stuff that Gopher struggles with,” I blurted. “You never said anything.”

“Learn more hand words, take Tokre with on hunt, ‘member, yes?”

When I nodded, he continued. “Noyel say to Rothy after they mate and he talk Tokre, him think that what Tokre had. Make Tokre rough. Not take care at first him Rosielindy.”

“But he’s fine now, isn’t he?” I interrupted.

Kooky’s fingers gave mine a light squeeze. “Take time. Asked Tokre. Him say get better, Noyel and Zhuii with Rosa help.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to point out I thought it was getting better for Gopher, too, but refrained. That can of worms didn’t feel the least bit appropriate to bring up right now.

But also, “You’ve been looking into ways to- to be with me?”

Bringing my palm to his face, he nuzzled right into it. His eyes closed as his nostrils widened. “Jes.” The purr that cranked to life in his chest vibrated my hand.

“I want you, too,” I told him.

His eyes cracked open, his smile slow and lazy, slumberous. “I know.”

When I scowled at that, his lips pulled into a wicked grin.

“Jerk,” I muttered, reaching out to smack my hand to his face and shove him off of me.

His smile fell when I bit my lip and sat there for a minute, debating on where to go from here. “What now?”

“We go… slow,” he rumbled out softly. “Long time slow,” he emphasized. Placing a kiss to my palm, he took my hand in his. “No want hurt Jo.”

He wanted me. That was all I’d needed to hear. “We can go slow.”

“Long slow,” he stressed.

Giving him a jaunty salute, a silly smile tipped my lips. “I’ll make snails look like race car drivers.”

Kooky blinked at that. “No know that means… but ‘kay.”

“We’ll go as slow as you need to,” I elaborated.

Looking like he wanted to say more, he hesitated. “How Jo feel… Celuk come stay here?”

“Celuk?” My eyes nearly bugged. “Wait, you mean here, with us?” My silly grin was now a concerned frown. “I heard he’s unstable, like make you or me look like a kitten crazy. I’ve probably heard too many things about him to be totally comfortable around him, actually.” Blowing out a deep breath, I didn’t know what to say. “We could relocate to my place. I’m assuming you either don’t have one to be crashing here all the time, or your hut isn’t ready yet…”

A shuttered look came over the male, making me wonder if I’d just totally stepped in it with him. “Uhm, what if I use the time he’s here to hang at my place and you two can kinda have your own brotherly… dude time or whatever? Make your own beast jerky, shit with the door open, whatever it is you get up to without any estrogen around.”

Kooky cocked his head, eyeing me. “Jo think ‘bout it?”

“Yeah, of course, I mean, I am staying at his place and everything, after all.” It was only right, right? I wasn’t ungrateful. “I’m not trying to be a dick… I’ve just heard a lot of, uhm, things…”

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