Page 26 of Fallen from the Stars

She smirked. “You didn’t answer mine either.”

“Are youfuckinganyone?”

Theo’s eyes widened, and she glanced away.

“What a lesson in subtlety,” Kane murmured.

“That is how you defined mating, is it not?” Vasil asked, confused by her reaction. Why would she speak so candidly about it a moment ago only to look horrified now?

“If you were a human, I’d tell you it wasn’t any of your fucking business.” She tilted her head back and looked over his body before meeting his gaze. “But you’re not. It’s just that the way you asked made it sound like you’re interested in…well, you know.Sex. With me.”

“I am.”

Theo took a couple steps backward, shock overcoming her expression. She held her hands up, palms out, as though to keep him at bay. “Whoa! Okay. Umm…”

“I would like to know you better, first,” he said. “That is the way humans usually enter relationships, correct?”

“A…relationship?”

“That’s what he said,” Kane chimed.

“Kane. Sleep mode,” Theo growled. The orb at her wrist blinked out.

Vasil moved forward, closing the distance she’d created between them. Though she didn’t back farther away, her expression remained wary, and she kept her hands up.

“I did not mean to upset you,” said Vasil. “I have been told I sometimes tend towardunnecessary bluntness.”

“That’s an understatement.”

He dipped his chin in acknowledgment; self-awareness hadn’t made it any easier for him to change the habit.

“You are attractive, Theodora. I am drawn to you. But it is your personality that intrigues me and keeps me interested.” Vasil drew in a deep breath, swelling his chest. “I am a skilled hunter, a keen-eyed scout, and a reliable companion. And I am interested in what you humans call aforever relationship. We would complement each other well as mates.”

Theo stared at him for several moments. The corners of her lips twitched, her brows lifted quirked up over the bridge of her nose, and she smiled before bursting into laughter. Vasil tilted his head as she clutched her middle and doubled over with her intensifying laughter.

He frowned. Had he said something unintentionally humorous, or was she laughing athim?

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She held up a hand. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Her laughter finally tapered off, diminishing to a few chuckles before ceasing completely, but her grin remained. “There’s something to be admired in directness, but when it comes to this stuff, you have to slow it down a little, Vasil.”

“Is it not best to state my intentions up front so there are no misunderstandings?”

“Well, yes, but you should start at the beginning and take baby steps from there.”

Still frowning, he gestured to his tentacles.

She followed his gesture with her eyes. “I’m not quite getting—Oh! You don’t take steps. Okay, so maybe that was a poor word choice on my part. What I mean is you need to take thingsslow. I don’t know how it’s done with your people, but—”

“Males display their suitability as a mate through hunting and physical confrontations with one another until a female chooses one to take to her den and procreate.”

“Well, okay then. That explains your forwardness.”

Vasil released a slow breath, glancing at the jungle floor as he gathered his thoughts. “I know that is not how humans behave. I was attempting to do it the human way. I did not expect to have sex with youtoday.”

Her eyes flared wide again, her brows rising high above them. “Yeah, okay, about that…”

“Do not worry, Theo. Ourpieceswill fit.”

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