Page 30 of Slithery Heat

“A date would be rather disappointing. I’ve dated before. I didn’t find it fulfilling. An arrangement? I mean, it could be an arrangement. But the strings would be…attached, so to speak.”

Now Gideon’s cheeks grew pink. He seemed to be smiling but very subtly.

“What kinds of strings?”

“I’d like to see you twice a week at least. It’s not necessary when you’re busy, but I’d prefer it. If we enjoy each other’s company, we could increase the frequency, or you could maybe stay at my house for the weekend. I’m open to negotiations about frequency and locations in general. I would prefer it if, while you are seeing me and having sex with me at regular intervals, neither of us would engage in sexual relations with others. I find that the thought of you having sex with someone else bothers me, especially if it were another Vaellian.”

“So you want to have sex with me, spend time with me, and get to know me. And you don’t want us to have sex with anybody else but each other.”

It was so simple when Gideon said it like that. “Yes, please. That would be lovely.”

“That’s what we call dating.”

“Oh, I know that. Like I said, I’ve been on what people call dates. But there are so many different meanings people attach towords, sometimes contradictory. I wanted to be clear with you. I care about your opinion of me.”

Gideon stood and walked over to Siurin. He sat sideways on Siurin’s lower tentacles and stroked his hands over Siurin’s torso. The easy familiarity of the touch stole Siurin’s thoughts. No human had ever approached him like this, with such ease.

He decided he liked it. He wanted more of it. He lifted four tentacles and gently wrapped them around Gideon’s back. “I’d like to do more of this too,” he hurried to explain. “Touches that aren’t necessarily sexual.”

Smiling, Gideon pressed a kiss to the side of Siurin’s face. “I’d like that too. This is what we’re going to do. We’ll go out together, to dinner or to a museum maybe, and if we feel like it, I’ll come to your house with you and have sex with you. And if we like that, we’ll do it again. Maybe I’ll stay the night. Or you can come to my place the next time. We’ll get to know each other and see if we still like each other’s company.”

“If we do?”

“We’ll spend even more time together.”

“And you won’t have sex with others.”

“No. I won’t.” Another tender kiss. “Do you feel possessive of me, Siurin?”

“I think I do. In any case, I worry about your safety. Someone else could easily touch you in the wrong way and hurt you. But if you’re only with me, I can protect you. You’re very small and fragile.”

Gideon laughed softly. “You like that, don’t you?”

“Very much. Like I said, you are highly attractive to me.”

“You’re not so bad either.”

Leaning in, Gideon kissed his lips, and when Siurin opened his mouth, Gideon sucked on the tip of his tongue. A warm feeling spread inside him, and his tentacles tightened around the little human seemingly of their own volition.

My omega. My precious.

Maybe if Siurin did things right, one day he could put his eggs inside Gideon again.

He liked the prospect very much.

11

DATING

After years of working in retail, if there was one thing Gideon could be confident about, it was clothes. No matter how nervous he was about his first date with Siurin, he knew he’d dressed well.

Siurin had been candid about his appreciation for Gideon’s fragile looks. To enhance those qualities, Gideon chose a flowery shirt in pastel tones, a cream scarf, beige slacks, and cream leather loafers. He left the top shirt buttons open to reveal his collarbones and a sliver of the delicate lace cami he wore underneath. He used minimum product in his hair and no makeup aside from just the thinnest layer of highlighter under his eyes. Siurin had already seen Gideon at his best and his worst, naked, splayed out, and laying eggs, for goodness’ sake! What would be the point of covering every imperfection?

Patting his nearly flat stomach, he gave his reflection in the mirror only a fleeting final look—better not to let his insecurities swarm him at the last minute—then he pocketed his phone and strode out of his apartment with determination.

Like a true gentleman, Siurin had arrived early and was waiting for Gideon in the reception area of the upscale restaurant. After not seeing him for a few days, Gideon wasstruck anew by the alien’s impeccable looks in his human form. Besides, he could guess the price tag of Siurin’s lightweight summer suit. Out of his league in every way.

But as Siurin hurried to greet him and pressed a soft kiss on Gideon’s cheek, Gideon forced himself to calm his breathing.

---