Page 11 of Tied In Tentacles
With a smile on his face, Eteriion gathered what he needed and placed it in his bag, then sat on the sofa with his legs stretched out in front of him. His tentacles lay over the back of the sofa, sliding over the material, then over his shoulders to pool in his lap. Looking at them reminded him of home and the differences between this world and his.
Snow. His world didn’t have snow. He smiled, remembering the first time he’d felt snowflakes on his head. Little kisses of cold that quickly melted and ran down between his tentacles. He’d marveled at them, his head tilted up to the sky, a strange color he could only describe as an orangey darkness. He watched the flakes drift slowly, their beautiful shapes capturing his attention. He wanted to examine them up close, but then they fell faster, and Ged told him to go inside. A storm was on the way, so he’d stood by the window and watched the sheet of white descend. When it had ended, he’d gone outside and walked through crisp white snow, the crunching sound making him grin.
Amusement parks were another discovery he found he liked, but he had to make sure his hat was well secured before going on some of the rides. He’d laughed in joy as they’d sped along the track, turning over before dropping down suddenly. The way his stomach had tingled, anticipation and excitement rushing through his veins. The laughing and screaming humans all around him, rushing from one ride to the next, had filled him with excitement too, and he found himself doing the same thing. He didn’t enjoy the sick feeling he had from eating too many sugary treats, though he did like cotton candy.
TV wasn’t something he liked. Boring show after boring show. Police chasing law breakers, medical dramas and wives of whatever. Documentaries he did watch, so he learned abouthis new home, but other than that, it didn’t interest. What did interest him was music. All of it. He couldn’t pick a favorite genre. They all had something he liked. What he didn’t understand was when someone was sad, they listened to sad songs. Why do that to yourself? Why prolong your pain?
Dating. He didn’t understand that. Wining and dining for three dates, then you had sex. On his world, you talked for a while then had sex and if it was good, you had more sex and then that was it. You were together and had a family. So much easier that way and less expensive.
Another thing he didn’t understand was materialism. They didn’t have it on his world. No one was trying to buy or build the largest ship, or biggest gun, or fastest car. You had what you had, and that was it. You worked hard to improve the planet for everyone who lived there. Eteriion could see that the need to… ‘keep up with the Joneses’ made people miserable. Why not make the best of your life instead of competing with others? No, he didn’t understand that.
Picking up the end of the tentacle he’d burned, he ran his fingers over it and nodded when he saw it had fully healed. “Idiot.” His phone rang, and he picked up, seeing a number on the screen he didn’t immediately recognize until… “Justin.” Smiling, he answered. “Hi.”
“Are we still on for today? It doesn’t look like it snowed that much.”
“We should be fine. I’ve checked my bag to make sure I have everything we’ll need. I’m looking forward to showing you the area.”
“It looks beautiful. I can’t wait to get out there and see it.”
“I’ve picked a relatively easy route. It has snowed, so we do need to be careful.”
“I’ve hiked plenty of times before, but you’re right. I don’t know this area like you do, so I trust your judgment when itcomes to the area. I’m about to have something to eat and then I’ll be ready to go.”
“Same here, though I may need another coffee to get me going. It took me a while to get to sleep last night.” He heard Justin’s soft gasp and smiled. One last day to create memories with this beautiful human.
“I had some problems as well. Maybe we could talk about them when we walk.”
Eteriion felt his body respond to the suggestive, teasing tone in Justin’s voice. “There are some places where we can discuss it in private.”
“I’m sure you know where they are. We wouldn’t want anyone to see us while we were discussing it.”
Eteriion inhaled deeply. It seemed Justin had the same idea he did. Sex on the mountain, and he did know a couple of places where the snow wouldn’t get in the way…if Justin didn’t mind the cold. An old, abandoned hut was one of them. “There’s an old hut I should show you. It has great views.”
“Does it now? I can’t wait.” Eteriion heard the sound of movement. “I’ll see you in an hour?”
“Yes, an hour will be fine.”
Chapter Seven
Justin checked the items he’d placed on the table, double checking he had everything he’d need for the day. A whole day on the mountain with Eteriion. Snacks, drinks, and sandwiches, plus warm clothes. After his call with Eteriion—he really had to ask where that name came from—Justin felt like they had everything covered, and when he heard a knock on the door, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
A day on the mountain with a hot man.
Opening the door, he stared up into blue eyes and smiled. “Ready?” Eteriion asked.
“Let me finish packing, then get my coat and boots on, then we can go.” Leaving the door open, Justin went back to the table and put everything in his bag, then quickly pulled his boots and coat on. “Let’s go.”
Following Eteriion outside, Justin made sure the door was locked, then followed him along a path that led up toward the mountains. The day was cold but bright, and the air had a clean crispness to it that seemed to be missing in the city. “It’s beautiful up here.”
Eteriion nodded. “Whenever I need to clear my head, I pack a bag and come up here. There are a few huts along the way where you can spend some time and enjoy the peace and tranquility.”
“It must be nice to wake up to this every day.”
“You become used to it.” Eteriion stepped over a fallen log covered with a fine layer of snow and waited for Justin to catch up with him. “But it’s nice to be able to walk out here and relax. It gives you time to think.”
“I bet it does. Having a difficult week, then coming out here and letting your worries disappear. I can see the appeal. It looks gorgeous now, but I can imagine what it’ll be like in the summer when there is grass everywhere.”
“And the wildlife outside your cabin.”
