Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Start on it in the morning,” he says, clapping me on the back. “For tonight, we celebrate that our strange little tribe is growing.”
I scowl. “But I want to court her now. I want her to be impressed with me.”
“Then go talk to her instead of the gladiators.” Ashtar gives me a shove forward, indicating I should head to her side. “Get to know her. Listen to her needs and show her that you care about more than just her cunt.” He pauses, and then adds, “Or ass-sucking.”
“I care about more than just her cunt,” I tell him, wounded. “I care about all of her. It is all attached.”
He shakes his head at me. “Talk to her about something other than resonance, ssethri fool. Talk to her about something that shows you value her thoughts. Make conversation, flatter her, learn about her, and it will lead to the ass-sucking.” Ashtar pauses. “Though knowing my mate as I do, it is probably best if you start with kissing before you lead into the ass-sucking.”
“Kissing?” It is a word I have heard before, and it takes me a moment to place it. “The strange mouth-massages that Flor does with I’rec? And O’jek and Daisy do to each other?”
“That’s it. Humans love kissing. You can ask her to show you how…but make sure you don’t start with kissing or she will think you only want her cunt. Remember, talk about things that interest her first.”
Mmm. I consider this even as I cross the sands towards my mate.
Chapter
Seventeen
VIVI
I listen to the endless chatter around the fire from a safe distance. When I start to feel overwhelmed—which doesn’t take much—I edge to the back of the group and just absorb what others are talking about. It’s not that I dislike anyone or don’t want to participate. It just feels like too much. Like someone’s going to ask something I’m not prepared to answer—like my name—and it’s better to hang back and let others handle all the conversing. It’s more comfortable that way.
Even so, I’m not surprised when Skarr approaches me, a frown on his face.
He drops onto the rocky seat next to me and eyes the fire, then eyes me again. I can see in his mind he’s calculating just how far I’m sitting from the others. I hug my legs and pretend to ignore his expression of annoyance, because I know I’m hanging back. It’s just…there’s so many strangers. I’m still getting used to our small group and now there are so many more to greet. For a shy person like me, it’s downright painful.
Skarr’s not shy, of course. He flicks his cloak back with a flamboyant gesture and leans in, all show, like he’s the prince of the beach deigning to speak to one of his subjects. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
I shake my head, even as my stomach growls loudly.
He narrows his eyes at me.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stare back at him. How do I get him to understand that I want nothing more than to retreat from the crowd? That getting up and demanding food and drink from the laughing, merry group is beyond my capability at the moment? I freeze the moment a stranger even looks in my direction.
He grunts and gets to his feet again. “Stay here.”
As if I have anywhere else to go? If I did, I would be there already.
I watch, tensing inwardly as he moves to the fire and gets food and drink. Knowing Skarr, he could just as easily snag it for himself and then eat it in front of me with a scowl, daring me to get my own. That would absolutely be on-brand for him.
He doesn’t, though. He returns to my side, cutting through the group, and then sits next to me again, balancing the dish on his knee and indicating we should share. “Lucky for you that I am a wildly generous male,” he says. In his other hand, he holds up a skin. “I brought drink, too. They call it sah-sah.”
“Thanks.” I want to be sour at his back-patting but I’m just relieved that he’s sharing with me without forcing me to go and get my own. I pluck something that looks like a rib out of the dish and nibble on the meat. It’s so tender it falls off the bone and flavored with herbs that are both pungent and appealing at the same time. I devour it in a few quick bites and then put the bone back in the dish, reaching for a long, skinny tuber. It tastes a bit like a boiled potato, and I nibble on it, watching Skarr as I do.
He’s not eating. He’s watching me eat and holding the plate for me. I swallow the mouthful I’m on and put a hand to my mouth to cover for crumbs. “Are—are you not eating?”