Page 9 of Santa Has Tentacles

I liked the flashy lights.

“There’s a lot to like this time of year.” There were worse things for someone to get wrapped up in. “You picked a great name.”

“Thank you, my human.” Saint’s larger limb tightened around me and inched me closer as we headed out into the night. “Do you have any cravings? Humans desire specific foods for a variety of physical and psychological reasons.”

Something had Saint nearly tripping over his tentacles and giving me a wide-eyed look. “Please pick based on happy memories. I do not understand the human act of crying well enough to handle that emotional response in a public setting.”

Oh, poor guy.

“I don’t have any sad food memories.” What kind of guy picked a restaurant he knew would make him upset? “I have happy memories of making Christmas cookies with my mother. We can do that on our next date if you’d like.”

Probably shouldn’t have assumed I’d get a second date, but Saint didn’t mind. I got a hug that brought me right up against him and the way he was petting my head somehow felt more erotic, even though there was nothing inappropriate about it. “You wish to provide me with entertainment and holiday food? That sounds like a wonderful date, my human.”

Hoping I hadn’t somehow asked him to marry me because I’d offered to feed him, I nodded. “I think it’ll be fun.”

When wedding bells didn’t start to play and he didn’t say anything about owning me, I relaxed and let his possessive cuddling continue. He was definitely agive an inch take a milekind of guy, because he’d caressed nearly every inch of me before I’d remembered he’d asked about food.

“There’s a good seafood place down that way and an Italian place the other direction. I like them both.” The best thing about working downtown was that nice restaurants weren’t hard to find. “Which sounds good to you? I like them both.”

And there was nothing truly filling about holiday-shaped cookies and cupcakes.

His choice didn’t surprise me. “Seafood, thank you.”

Saint steered us in that direction and we’d made it halfway across the plaza in front of the building before I realized something important. “Your coat. Did you bring one?”

“Our temperature regulation is different than for a human.” He seemed pleased that I’d noticed, though. “You are good at caretaking as well.”

“Thank you.” It seemed like the right response, but I felt awkward until I got his head pat.

“You are welcome, my human.” He frowned and reached over to pat the coat I was holding. “I will endeavor to caretake just as well for you.”

He was worried I was cold…right.

“I’m not cold yet. It’s not that windy. I brought it just in case but I promise to put it on if I get cold…or even chilly.” Based on his nod, he seemed to understand cold was worse than chilly. “I won’t be stubborn about that.”

Saint made a quiet hum that seemed to be a thinking noise. “Your sentence indicates there will be other times where you will attempt stubbornness.”

I’d “attempt” meaning I wouldn’t succeed?

Yep, he was a Dom of some sort.

“How about I answer that by telling you that I’m going to like making you happy?” I was being cheeky and his bubbly laugh said he liked it. “We won’t worry about the rest.”

“The rest will be handled through a system of rewards and consequences.” Several of his limbs tightened around me before loosening again. “Human submissives require structure and thrive on verbal or physical rewards and punishments.”

Ugh.

He’d been researching us.

“Technically yes, but I like rewards much better.” And bribes. “And I wasn’t teasing about wanting to please you. I’ve got enough of a praise kink that I’m going to like making you happy.”

“I will do my best to be worthy of being made happy.” He stroked one more time over my head before gently easing most of his tentacles back as we approached the restaurant. “Your safety as well as your mental well-being is very important to me.”

Aww.

Ignoring the fact that it seemed like he’d already decided to keep me, I smiled. “Thank you, Sir.”

It might’ve been the weirdest first date I’d been on in a while but it wasn’t the worst.

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