Chapter 15

Somehow he made putting groceries away a very studious experience and I was starting to wonder why he was tracking every item like we were packing for a trip to Mars. I should’ve questioned it sooner, but he watched me all the time. Sometimes it just took me a while to figure out when it’d crossed into confusing territory.

“What are you thinking, Master?” Yep, communication was good and using his favorite title was even better.

And when it was accompanied with a cute smile, I knew I’d get a thorough answer.

“I am making sure I know your preferences for food organization.” His response was logical but I waited to see if he would give me more.

There had to be more.

Yep, there was more.

“I must understand your system before I can request communication to improve it, and I must see where everything belongs in order to know what is missing.” Looking in my tiny pantry, he nodded and went about studying every shelf.

Taking what he’d said and where I thought he was leading us, I put the last of the fresh stuff in the fridge. “You’re making sure you understand what we’ve got and where it goes so you can do more of the grocery shopping?”

That wasn’t it exactly, but his nod said I was close.

“Yes, household management is an important skill to master in order to properly care for you.” He aimed his studious look at me, making me squirm. “Your preferences are for quick foods and what is considered junk if you are not encouraged to make better choices.”

Shit.

Well, he wasn’t wrong and he’d know right away if I tried to lie.

“Master’s do like taking care of their subs.” And they took that idea up to a ten every time. “Thank you for wanting to do the grocery shopping to make sure we have healthy options too.”

Trying to slide in the idea that we got crap and good stuff, I cuddled close and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Is that something you want to do to take care of me or is it about something else?”

Yes, that was a much better way to take the conversation or we’d end up debating the merits of healthy food and I’d never get the good stuff.

Gathering me up in his limbs, Jerker made a thoughtful sound that kind of made me think he knew my game, but he didn’t call me out on it. “Household management can be a good way to fill up my day as humans like to say. You work long hours to care for others and it is my job to care for you.”

Aww.

Wrapping my arms around him as he sat us on the couch, I gave him a hug before letting him snuggle me tight against him. When he had me nice and squished, he nuzzled against me and made a pleased sound. “The grocery experience would be much more pleasant if you did not have to remain so far away.”

Oh, he was so cute when he was learning to manipulate me.

He did it really well too.

Smart people were dangerous.

“Thank you for understanding human social customs, though.” Yep, I was not going to end up agreeing to be carried around while we ran errands. “I know it’s hard sometimes but you can carry me around for the rest of the night if you want.”

We didn’t have anywhere else we needed to be and we had the rest of the weekend for him to indulge himself.

“And we’ll make sure you get lots of carrying time for the rest of the weekend too.” I wasn’t going to promise him the whole time, but a bit on Saturday and more on Sunday should fill him up for a while.

Hopefully.

“That is an activity we will both enjoy, my Theo.” More snuggly hugs led to him starting to take my clothes off, but honestly, I’d been surprised he’d waited as long as he had. “There are a variety of activities we may enjoy together, provided I understand your limits on public intimacy.”

Oh, warning flags were going off left and right as my shirt and socks came off.

“I…” Shoot. Where was I supposed to start? “Humans have to keep their clothes on in public places. You can’t make me come in the grocery store.”

Even he wasn’t sweet enough to make sure we wouldn’t get arrested.

His thoughtful hum didn’t reassure me that we were on the same page. “I understand the intimacy rules around places of public like the grocery store and the store labeled Walmart.”

While I was wondering why Walmart got an honorable mention in the weird scenario he was planning, I almost missed an important part.

“However, I do not understand how your views on public intimacy change in special places such as clubs and domination-based relationship groups.” He paused to give me time to think as he finished taking my pants off.

It probably took me too long to figure out what he was talking about, but the whole getting me naked while we were talking about sex in the grocery store was distracting.

Special places?

Groups?

Oh.

“Has someone talked to you about BDSM clubs and play parties, Master?” I was glad when he finished getting me naked and he sat me up on his lap again. It felt like a face-to-face kind of conversation, but I was glad I didn’t have to figure out how to explain that.

“Yes.” Running one limb over my head and probably fixing my hair, he seemed relaxed as he fidgeted with me, but I wasn’t sure I was reading him right. “There are places where submissives may be…displayed?”

Okay, that wasn’t the wrong word based on what we were talking about, but I still wasn’t sure I was following the discussion accurately.

“Your limits list indicated approval on a limited basis for those kinds of activities.” Cocking his head, he cupped my cheek. “Please explain.”

Oh wow.

“Um, let me think of where to start.” It wasn’t a question I’d ever thought to have with Jerker, so I wasn’t prepared at all. “First of all, I understand how…I understand that you guys don’t share or anything like that. So you don’t ever have to worry.”

About anything like that.

It must not have been the right place to start, though, because Jerker made soothing sounds and snuggled me close again. He was so worried about me, he started playing with my dick too. “This is not to be a stressful conversation, my Theo. Your ability to give yourself to your mate is not in question.”

It shouldn’t be so easy to distract me but he could give the best hand job ever.

The little nubby things were amazing.

“I…” Shoot. Closing my eyes, I relaxed into him and tried to show him I wasn’t worrying. “I’m not going to be stressed, Master.”

I’d just been a bit nervous.

“Good boy, my Theo.” His tone was happy but still focused on being very soothing. “You have lowered your stress very quickly for your Master.”

Okay, no worrying Master by being worried.

I could do this.

“On my list…On my list, I indicated that under the right conditions, I didn’t mind being displayed.” Yes, that was what he’d called it. “But it’s not something I need. Like cuddling with you and spankings and that kind of stuff…that’s the stuff I need with you, Master.”

Everything else was either cute like being carried or just something that might be fun if we explored it.

Like lightning.

I knew I was being a baby about that but it was fucking electricity.

Damn puns.

“I understand your lower limits on necessary things, my Theo.” He paused and his silence was loud enough for me to open my eyes and see him pouting. “That did not work.”

Aww.

“It did.” Rubbing my cheek against his torso since that was really all I could move at the moment, I made sure I sounded and felt confident. “I knew what you meant. It was just a hard sentence.”

He huffed, but nodded after a few seconds. “Thank you, my Theo.”

He was the sweetest guy ever.

“You’re welcome, Master.” Resting my head against him again, I let out a breath and stopped ignoring what his tentacle was doing to my dick. His level of multitasking was amazing, but I’d never be able to do it. “Okay, I’m going to try to stop overthinking your question.”

“That would be appreciated, my Theo.” He might’ve been teasing but it was hard to tell with his frustration still being so high.

“There are places like BDSM clubs and private parties with people I’d feel safe around where I’d submit to you and we could have a scene. It might be simple like me just naked and kneeling while you ate dinner or talked. It doesn’t have to be like something out of a movie or a book.” His education wasn’t just based around porn, but I wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

So that meant we had to communicate.

Yes, that was one of his favorite words for a reason.

“Under the right circumstances, I’m not shy about my body, but it has to be in the right place.” Did that make sense? “So not where the regular public is and not where we’ll get in trouble or embarrassed.”

I really wasn’t sure my explanation was coming out right, but he was so quiet I couldn’t begin to guess what was going through his head.

“But like I said before, that’s not something I need.” Managing to say it and not worry him that time, I went back to rubbing my cheek against his body and soaking up the wonderful feelings he was giving me. “This is what I need, but if you wanted to explore something specific, we could talk about it.”

His thoughtful sounds eased back in slowly as his limbs started rippling around me. It felt like he was working his way up to something but he’d gone out of his way earlier to make sure I knew he trusted me.

“My people are…possessive and strongly caretaking. We…we do not see relationships in the way humans do, but we are adapting.” His careful tone said we hadn’t gotten to the point yet, but he didn’t want to spook me.

A tiny voice in the back of my head asked if we could start worrying again, but I had to remind him that Jerker was nice and we needed to give him time to explain what was going on.

Then we could worry.

“I think you’re adapting amazingly.” I wasn’t just being nice but it was also a good reminder that he wasn’t human. The tentacle around my dick should’ve been another reminder, but for some reason, my brain didn’t always tune into that one. “And I hope we can always communicate and compromise so that you get what you need too.”

Yep, compromise wasn’t just about them changing so they were more human.

For whatever reason, that got me another hug and pleased sounds from Jerker. “Thank you, my Theo.”

He was happy but he still hadn’t told me what the point of all this had been.

Waiting him out seemed like the best way to handle it since that was what he did to me a lot, so I did my best to breathe steadily and marveled at the way he’d made playing with my dick relaxing. The slow way he was winding his tentacle around me and using all his nubs to almost massage it was amazing.

After a bit, he huffed, letting me know he’d clued in about my plan, but since he liked using it too, he couldn’t complain.

“You are very patient today.” His adorable drama was enough to make me fight off a smile and he had to have felt my delight because he huffed again. “The building where I have lived has many roofs.”

Okay, now we were getting somewhere.

Roof sex?

That seemed naughty and like it could be vaguely dangerous, but not something I thought he’d be into, so I knew I was missing something.

Thankfully, he kept going without much drama that time.

“There is one smaller one. No. Shorter building. Yes. There is one shorter building with a pool on the top.” Some of the blanks were starting to get filled in, but I waited for him to fill in the rest. “My people use it for recreation. It is a peaceful place.”

Was he dawdling or was it information I needed to know?

The twirling started to spin faster, but that didn’t give me enough to go on.

“Several of my ship workers. No. There is another word. They still live in the building and are overwhelmed. Confused. Yes. That word, maybe.” Jerker’s struggle with words was the biggest clue that he wasn’t as calm as he was letting on. “They do not understand how beautiful human submission is. Several. They had disappointing first encounters with humans. It has stopped them? Frozen them?”

Oh.

“Stunted them. It stunted their emotional growth or their transition here.” And more pieces fell into place. “And you’re their captain, so you have to help.”

What did that mean to him, though?

“Yes, I must lead by example.” He was thoroughly confident about that and the hesitation that had been in his voice was gone. “That is how to lead.”

And he wanted to lead by showing his friends…what exactly?

We might’ve had a starting point and communication, but I wasn’t sure that was helping much in this case.