Page 75 of Where the Current Takes Him
“No,” Loriun recited, recalling the pamphlets. “It can occur at any time of day.”
“Fantastic.”
Loriun crouched down, offering the mug. “Take small sips of tea.”
“This feels unsanitary.” Beau took the mug with trembling hands. “Drinking tea in the bathroom.”
Loriun shuffled closer, placing a hand on his mate’s back. He smoothed circles across the wide expanse of his shoulders. “Is there anything else I can do?”
Beau shook his head. “I think it’s going away now. The pomegranate just set it off, I guess.”
“Should we move downstairs?”
Beau considered for a moment. “Yeah, I think it’s safe.”
The Mer carefully collected his mate into his arms, holding him tightly to his chest. Beau’s slender fingers held the mug of tea steady as he rose into the air.
“This is stupid,” Beau grumbled against Loriun’s neck. “You can’t even see that I’m pregnant and I’m already spewing my guts up.”
“Your guts? That sounds like a medical emergency.”
“I’m calling Vuos.”
Chapter 31
Beau
There were naked Mer absolutely everywhere. “You told me you wanted a local experience.” Loriun seemed entirely at ease, lounging in his submerged seat, clothes discarded to a convenient basket at the pool’s edge. Their table rose from the water’s surface between them.
“You could have at least warned me that everyone would be nude,” Beau hissed, feeling simultaneously too exposed in his swimming trunks, and also overdressed by wearing any clothes at all.
Loriun tilted his head with a frown. “Why would Mer wear clothes if they are not around humans?”
“Because—” Beau spluttered. “People don’t just get naked and go out to eat!”
The Alpha snorted. “Yes.Peopledo not.”
“So you’re saying that Mer only wear clothes for human comfort?” Beau demanded.
“Exactly.” Loriun’s claws clinked on his wine glass. Beau knew it was filled with Turriculae, an ancient Roman wine made with seawater. He’d convinced Loriun to give him a tiny sip, and it had been just enough for him to learn that the stuff was vile.
“But,” Beau protested again, “what about when you were growing up? Were you and your parents just always buck ass naked?”
“Of course.”
Beau gaped at his mate.
“We do not have your concepts of modesty.” Loriun shrugged. “And our genitals are not on display. It would be impractical for an amphibious species to try and keep track of their clothing between land and sea.”
Beau dropped his chin into his hands with a huff. “Fine, I guess that makes sense.” He was trying very hard not to stare at the other patrons. Female Mer didn’t have breasts, and seemed tricky to tell apart from males. He was burning with curiosity to take a closer look at all the different alien anatomies around him, but he felt that it may be inappropriate to ogle someone just trying to enjoy their meal.
“What are you thinking about?”
Beau jolted, his face flushing red. “Uhh. Well. Just that it’s hard not to stare.”
“At?”
“Everyone?”Beau rolled his eyes. “How would you feel if you were sitting in a pool full of naked humans?”
