Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Okay, let me think.” Lying back down on the bed, I pulled him onto my chest and snuggled him close as he giggled at my manhandling. “I’m not even going to try to guess the dates. I didn’t pay enough attention to the stories. Shit. I can tell you more about Whitehorse or Troy, the other town I grew up near in Montana.”
Not helpful at all at the moment.
Alick smiled but curled into my chest and decided that using me as a pillow was better than giggling. “That’s stuff you came across more often. It makes sense.”
Maybe.
Okay, what stories had I been told? “I remember a few trappers going west. I remember someone—maybe one of my grandparents—talking about the decision to take one of the wagon trains. There was the expected hardship stuff. The bulk of the group stayed in Montana but some eventually split off and headed north again.”
That part I knew better but it wouldn’t help, so I kept grasping for more relevant information. “Most of our group bounced back and forth between the two areas over time. That’s why I have relatives in both countries and why I have dual citizenship.”
Alick made a thinking sound but waited while I tried to sort through the random stories I could remember hearing.
“There was a story about some people getting sick. I’m not sure what got warped over time and what’s an accurate detail, but I think the main point was that anyone who had regular human DNA in them got sick too.” I hadn’t heard it told that way exactly, but since we hadn’t come from Earth, that was how I thought they should’ve said it.
“I can’t remember what disease everyone caught. I could randomly guess but I don’t think it matters.” And I’d just be randomly popping out ideas like we were playing that old Oregon Trail game. “So, I’m going to say that was when we lost the people who had the best knowledge.”
“The younger ones probably survived and they just hadn’t learned the history and science of your people.” Alick kissed my chest before snuggling against me again, but after a second, he went still. “When did you get naked?”
“Just noticed that, huh?” It seemed his brain was starting to wake up. “After I cleaned us off. Should I put some clothes on? We need breakfast anyway. I think you only came back to life because your stomach was growling so loud.”
Groaning, Alick hid against my chest but shook his head. “No, I like it. And you’re my mate. That means I can see you naked.”
“No, it means you tell me honestly if things bother you or if you’re not ready for something yet, because you know as your mate, I want you to be happy.” My know-it-all teacher voice made him giggle, but he nodded again and I got another kiss.
“Yes, Daddy. I’ll remember.” His teasing tone still felt genuine, so I kissed his head and tickled his sides.
As he laughed and wiggled, I rolled us over until he was pinned against the bed again. “Good, because I can’t do wicked things to my boy otherwise.”
Eyes bright and filled with excitement and naughty fantasies, Alick looked up at me without a single fear on his face or showing in our bond. “Like the primal play?”
He was definitely looking forward to that.
“Yes.” And so was I.
For some reason, though, his smile slowly started to fade and he ended up looking thoughtful and almost worried. “Lorne and his mates have such a strong bond that they can talk to each other in their heads. What…what if we can never do that because I’m just human?”
Oh no, we were going to nip that idea in the bud.
“First of all.” I took a dramatic pause and rested my forehead against his so we were eye to eye. “There is no ‘just human’ anything because up until very recently, I thought I was mostly human. So I’m still going to take offense at that even if it’s not logical.”
He was doing his best not to smile and managed to sound halfway contrite. “I’m sorry, Daddy. No more just human anything.”
“Thank you.” Giving him a quick peck, I eased back enough that he could see me without going cross-eyed. “And secondly, it will make it easier to hide from me if you’re not tempted to talk to me in your head. Besides, I’m not sure you’d ever think to turn down our telepathic telephone because you spend most of the day talking to yourself.”
As a blush spread over his face, Alick hid against my shoulder. “No, I worked so hard to stop that.”
“Well, if it makes you happy to hear, you only seem to do it around the house or when it’s just the two of us. I didn’t see you doing it in the diner and no one else mentioned it.” Pushing against the mattress to make sure I could see his face, I gave him another kiss as he flopped back onto the bed.