Page 121 of Cosmic Castaway

“Can we not talk about it?” I refused to lie, but I wasn’t ready to voice my worries yet.

“Of course.” He kissed me again, his touch soft. “Sit and let me wash you.”

I liked that idea very much. On the edge of the shower was a bench so we could sit as we scrubbed our wings. Bartholomew easily slid in the space between the bench and the wall and began to massage my scalp. As he washed my hair, then me, I relaxed into the familiar feel of my mate’s fingers on me.

As we stepped out of our room, I suppressed a shudder. It was fucking cold in the living room. But that wasn’t the immediate issue. Pookie was running around, nose twitching as she snorted, dragging a ripped flag that Serlotminden had left out with the rest of his junk.

My boyfriend wasn’t clean. Truly shocking. I rolled my eyes.

“Pookie,” I groaned.

So she was a pig-rabbit-spider who operated on dog software. That was marvelous. She was a hunter, and like dogs, I guessed, enjoyed destroying random shit. It wasn’t her fault. Mindy had left all his crap everywhere, and she had no toys left from her most recent destructive binge—not to mention, we hadn’t walked her enough.

Caleb had been helping by taking her out. He adored her and wanted one of his own. Fyn had given a quick and immediate no. They were not going to ask Don to violate Maykian space a third time so Caleb could get a pet.

In truth, we probably shouldn’t have taken Pookie. While she’d domesticated rather easily, we didn’t know much about her or her needs. But it would’ve killed me to leave her on the planet; I was already so attached to her.

“We need to get her some more toys,” I commented as Mindy, somewhat stiffly, bent at the waist to pick up some of the fabric.

“Agreed. I’ll put all of this away, though.”

I snagged Pookie and cuddled her close while she snorted into my neck. I kissed her snout, then set her down to help Mindy. Between the two of us we had the room in decent shape in no time. Then Mindy scrolled through something on his tablet, probably toys.

He’d promised to give me a tablet, and he’d already given me a touchstone—a round stone that pulsed light blue in the center. It was connected to NAID, and it allowed me to speak to anyone. I was waiting to be added to the Drakcon system, but this way, I could talk to Seth or Caleb. Or Mindy, if we ever left each other’s side.

“There,” he said. “I’m having some toys synthesized for her.”

“Will it take long?”

“No. They’re probably in our dispenser by now.”

I peered at the terminal near the table, and yep, there were several stuffed toys of odd creatures and a few ropes. It was so nice not having to randomly go to the store.

I frowned at Mindy.

“What?”

“You made it sound onerous the last time you got her toys,” I commented. “I distinctly remember rewarding you.” I’d given him a blowjob, not that it had taken much to convince me; I liked sucking Mindy off.

He played with his lip ring, not meeting my gaze.

“You are horrible,” I teased. “Come on, Pookie, let’s leave the liar behind.”

“No,” Mindy cried, and I paused at the actual fear in his voice.

Slinging my arms over his shoulders, I kissed him. “You know I’m joking, right?”

“Of course.”

From the way his tail strangled my ankle and his arms were like iron bars around my waist, I was fairly positive he hadn’t known. “Let’s all go together, Honey.”

Taking Pookie out was always an interesting experience. People tended to shy away from her as she scurried on walls and sometimes the vines creeping over the ceiling. She’d never harmed anyone, but she was exuberant in her affection and liked everyone. And I meant everyone. Hopefully, we wouldn’t bump into Seth. He was mortally terrified of her after the incident where she’d flung herself at him.

I took a single step outside and sneezed. My eyes started to itch and my nose began to run almost instantly. Pollen might not bother the drakcol, but it sure as hell bothered me.

“Hold on.” I slipped back into the room; I’d forgotten my medicine. I held the preloaded injector with a frown. I had to jab it into my arm, hold it for twenty seconds, and done. However, it fucking grossed me out. Thankfully, the lone plant in our apartment was the floor. It was a moss of some type and didn’t bother my allergies.

Scaled fingers took it from me, and Serlotminden tugged me close. “Let me, Mate.”

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