Page 29 of Purring, Presents, and Parties

He would’ve probably ended up working as a mercenary, but he would’ve done everything in his power to give Aubrey everything that made her happy.

In the end it all worked out, but he didn’t think she ever truly understood her importance. She scoffed sometimes when he spoke of her significance and said something demeaning about her anxiety or smaller stature.

He saw this trip as a way to make her finally understand that she was the sun he revolved around.

“You’re the best kisser,” she whispered, pulling away.

“Only for you,” he answered. She smiled and dropped back down on her heels. Tarrian watched as she slipped off the covering on her slippers then started toeing off one nano-infused, faux-fur slipper. Alarm went through him and he sounded a negative rattle that echoed in the cave. “Aubrey, your feet are too soft for this rocky ground.”

She held up a hand with one finger extended up. “First thing, no more rattling. This place is way too enclosed for that kind of noise.” She popped a second finger up. “Second thing, it's all sand and smooth rocks, I’m not going to cut myself. You said the water was warm, and I want to wade in.”

“I brought food and drinks,” he said. “I thought we could have a picnic in here and let you warm up. I never thought you’d want to get into the water!”

Aubrey chuckled. “We humans love water! Don’t worry, I’ll dip a toe in first to test.”

“I don’t think you should dip anything!” he countered as she finished shedding her footwear. Then she pulled the omnie off and let it fall to the cave floor. Finally her nimble little fingers untied the wrap. Completely naked, she waded in knee deep.

Realizing she wasn’t going to stop, he quickly stripped down and made his way into the water. “You said you would only place a single toe in the water first!”

Knee deep in the water, Aubrey stopped moving and laughed. “I did, and the temperature is perfect. Like a hot bath.”

Talarian only had one small ocean and a few lakes. Most of its liquid water was underground. The colony he’d grown up on had several massive bodies of water but because Talins weren’t a water species, he’d never bothered to visit any of them let alone submerge himself.

In truth, this was the first time he’d even been in a body of water substantial enough to cover most of him. It was both frightening and exhilarating.

“Don’t go any deeper,” he warned Aubrey as he approached her.

“I grew up with Ari in New Rico. We were surrounded by water, so I learned to swim before I could walk,” she said and then did the unthinkable, she bent her knees and dove into the water.

In his haste to get to her, Tarrian tripped and fell face first into the water with a huge splash. He immediately sank straight to the bottom. It was hard not to panic as water invaded his mouth and nose slits. Gathering his legs under him, he stood, relieved to find the water was at his waist level.

“Tarrian!” Little hands patted his chest and face. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

He spat water out of his mouth and blew his nose slits clear. After pulling in a deep lung full of sweet, scentless air, he turned his attention to Aubrey.

“This isn’t natural,” he grumbled.

“You mean being in water?” Aubrey asked.

He sounded an affirmative rumble. “We’re terrestrial animals.”

“I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me that you might be afraid. We can get out,” Aubrey said, taking his hand and trying to lead him to shore.

Tarrian refused to move. He drew her back until she was facing him. “I didn’t say I’m scared of water!”

“Maybe not scared but definitely uncomfortable. I wouldn’t want to get into water if I didn’t know how to swim either. Maybe I could teach you.” Her eyes lit up with excitement. “It’ll be fun!”

“Talins can’t swim, we have negative buoyancy,” he explained. “When I fell, I sank straight to the bottom. If this water was deep, my only hope would be to walk to where I could stand up and get air.”

Aubrey covered her mouth with both hands as she gasped. “I didn’t know! No wonder you don’t like water. This was a bad idea, I’m so sorry. Let’s get out and dry off.”

Again, he refused to move. “You wanted the water, so we will enjoy the water. I checked on the water depth before coming here, and it shouldn’t be higher than my shoulders in any spot.”

Those numbers were from last solar; he could only hope the water level didn’t change rapidly or by much.

“But I don’t want to stress you out,” Aubrey argued. “I already feel super guilty!”

“There is no need for guilt,” he assured her, drawing her against him in a hug. Warm water swirled around them, lapping as his armor plating and teasing the edge of his mating pouch. It was a pleasant sensation, and he could see why humans enjoyed the water so much.

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