Chapter 19

“Your anxiety over money must be taken care of before we finish our previous conversation.” Jerker was trying to be nice. I knew that because he’d waited until we’d ordered our drinks and were settled before he charged in to fix the problem, but I still had to fight to keep my anxiety from rising again.

“Thank you.” Keeping Master to myself because there were a few too many people around us for that, I sat straighter and reached for my water. “I know we need to talk about it because it makes me nervous.”

That got a very decisive nod from Jerker but he looked confused too. “Humans find conversations about money to be taboo, but that limit does not happen between mates. Are you aware of this, my Theo?”

“Yes.” But worries weren’t logical. “I’ve just never had a relationship like this before, so I’ve never needed to have money conversations.”

Fuck.

I could talk about sex positions and not paychecks.

What kind of fucked up was that?

“Not the mate thing but just a long-term relationship where I matter to someone.” That sounded terrible but I kept going. “You’re the only guy I’ve ever thought about having a future with. This is new.”

Puffing up with pride for some reason, Jerker didn’t make me wait long to figure out what he’d liked hearing. “Yes, our relationship is special and I am your only mate. Human or not. Having conversations about things like money will help you to remember that.”

Oh.

Yeah, that did make him special.

Finally getting what was making him so confident, I had to smile. “You’re very special to me and thank you for being patient when I worry about things that don’t seem rational.”

Just thinking about it, he probably had to remind himself a lot that I wasn’t completely inane.

“Our brains do not process information the same way, so the same results cannot be expected.” He shrugged before reaching out with one tentacle and holding my hand. “In this discussion, I think that means I should explain my money life in more detail.”

Finances.

But yes.

“That would be helpful, but I just want you to remember that even though I feel anxious, this is a conversation I want to have.” For a variety of reasons, not just because the menu would give me an ulcer otherwise.

“Anxiety in humans is not always something that can be avoided.” He almost sighed as he said it, but I was just glad he understood what I was trying to say.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” For a whole species of Type-A Doms, that had to make them anxious too. Which was actually kind of ironic even though I knew Jerker wouldn’t see it that way.

“It cannot be changed, so we will adapt.” His confidence was kind of adorable even though I was still unreasonably worried. “Our first adaptation will be additional communication about subjects that provide anxiety.”

Like money.

“That’s a good idea.” Hopefully the answers wouldn’t make me more nuts.

His limbs did a kind of wavy jerk that looked almost like he was shifting to look more professional but I had a feeling it was a thinking hard kind of movement. Jerker was definitely planning what he was going to say and he looked a bit like he was going into battle.

It shouldn’t have been cute but it was and it made it harder to stay so stressed.

“My society understood we would need to be compensated in the correct manner for Earth upon our arrival.” Watching Jerker go into teacher mode was really cute. “Due to the value of our knowledge and physical items, it was decided that each individual would be given what is called a base pay for one year of work.”

Okay, made sense.

He waited until I nodded to keep going, just to make sure I was following along. “I was given additional money because I stayed in my position longer than most other individuals.”

Good.

“Because you were on the ship a lot longer.” I was glad someone had realized how important that was.

“Yes.” The limb holding my hand started using the small nubs to ripple over my skin, sending a shiver through me that made him nearly laugh. “It was decided by the human leadership that my funds would be put into a bank account to keep it protected. It has been growing through compound interest and what is called safe investments.”

“Really?” The stress bubble inside me popped. “Someone thought of that?”

“Yes.” Jerker reached under the table and two smaller tentacles started teasing around my ankles. “One of the members of the first-contact team had a spouse who was a financial advisor. From what I was told, she was very insistent that our compensation be cared for. It is believed she is the dominant partner in a domination-based relationship, but we quickly came to understand it was not acceptable to ask.”

I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.

“That must’ve been hard to figure out at first, but I think you guys are doing great overall.” Better than we would’ve probably done if the situation had been reversed.

Humans brought chaos to any situation they encountered.

But considering how much fun they thought we were in bed, the chances of us starting an interstellar war was probably lower than I thought.

“I will provide the paperwork called statements to help ease your anxiety further, but I will be able to provide for you should you continue your caretaking work or not.” He said that so casually I found myself really thinking about it.

“You’d be okay with taking over the finances and stuff like that if I decided to do something else? I want to work. I like working.” I didn’t want there to be any question about that or I might end up propped up on pillows all day to keep me safe.

But instead of answering my question, he came back with one of his own. “Do you enjoy your caretaking work, my Theo?”

“Um, well, I have good benefits and I like most of my coworkers. I met Nicholas and Larry through work.” That was a really good bonus considering it’d helped me meet Jerker. “But I kind of just fell into it because once I got out of high school, I didn’t have any other options.”

It hadn’t been bad and I’d been grateful to get the job.

“That is the base human education, correct?” His head cocked and I could almost hear his brain whirling. “I was told many of your people continue on to get specialized training in different forms. Is your job not specialized?”

“Not really.” I shrugged, not sure how to explain it. “I did okay in school but my family never pushed for more education and never pointed out how important it was. No one really does anything in my family.”

Except get really good at figuring out government assistance.

“I didn’t realize how many options there were for schools and that kind of stuff until after I started working at the university.” Even the teachers and counselors at school had written me off because of my family.

Not that I could blame them.

I didn’t realize how fucked up my family was until after I’d finally gotten away from them.

“Then we shall research the topic of education together.” Jerker said that like it was obvious. “It can be another date project like the crafts you spoke of.”

That sounded like such a Jerker kind of date it made me smile. “I think that’s a great idea.”

“I agree. It is a very sound and enjoyable plan.” He said it with such confidence, I knew he wasn’t joking…which just made it even cuter.

I loved it when his confidence shined like that.

“We will each help the other research human jobs and we will make a list of options.” Giving me a very serious expression, he gave my hand and my ankles a squeeze. “We will take our time, my Theo. It will require patience.”

I wasn’t sure if he was warning me or himself, but either way, I nodded. “Yes, we’ll take our time and won’t rush into anything. I have my job and I like it for the most part. You have your savings. We’re not in a hurry.”

“That is correct.” Looking proud of me, he nodded. “What is also correct is that we will continue to make lists of important topics humans in a relationship should discuss. Are you ready to make that list now or should we schedule time later this week?”

Oh.

“Um, let’s schedule time?” That hadn’t come out very decisive, so I kept rambling. “I need to think about it even though you’re right. I’ve been thinking about our relationship in terms of domination and submission, and I forgot the everyday kind of stuff.”

He went still before lifting several of his limbs almost like he was waving his hands around. “I will admit to the same flaw. However, that is something we can change.”

Yep, that was easy to fix since we’d caught it early.

“And you’ll help make the list too.” This wasn’t all about me. “I’m sure there are things that you want to talk about too.”

He made an adorable thinking sound before nodding. “Yes, I will consider my questions for you. Understanding mate tasks that are not domination-based is important.”

Hmm.

What else did mates do?

Hell, what did boyfriends or spouses do that we weren’t doing?

Planning for the future was the biggest one that popped into my head, but I decided that could wait. “We’ve got a lot to think about, but you helped me to stop worrying about money so that makes me feel a lot better.”

“I am glad, my Theo.” Jerker looked like he had something else on his mind, but our waiter took that moment to walk over to us and the conversation quickly shifted.

Jerker wasn’t one for small talk with strangers, so once our server had finished introducing himself and asking if we were ready, Jerker charged right in and ordered for both of us. I didn’t mind, and honestly, it was nice not to have to think about it.

Especially since I knew why he’d picked spaghetti.

Yep, just thinking about how much he liked watching me suck on the noodles had my noodle getting hard.

And not even the curious way the waiter was bouncing his gaze back and forth between us dimmed my delight.

In fact, it made it even more fun because I knew he was putting the pieces together pretty quickly. “Perfect. I’ll get this into our system and then I’ll be back with some bread and a refill on your waters.”

Without a single question aimed in my direction, he gave us a pleasant smile and walked away with nearly as much confidence as Jerker would.

“The interruption was not timely, however I am glad to have our food ordered. You are hungry.” His gaze dropped down to the table like he was staring at my stomach.

“Can you hear it?” I hadn’t been rumbling like a cartoon but I wasn’t surprised when Jerker nodded.

“Your body also gives off other signals that indicate what humans call blood sugar and other factors.” His matter-of-fact tone had me shaking my head.

“I just can’t imagine processing all that information at once.” Our brains were fascinating places but his was amazing. “I think we’ve traded space for our imagination instead of all the processing power you have.”

Jerker went very still. “That is an interesting assessment of our differences.”

I wasn’t sure which would be better, but I liked all the fun stuff that came with my imagination. “I like our differences.”

“I find them highly cooperative.” Going back to teasing over my hand, he squeezed my ankles and trailed his tentacles higher up my calves. “Before our interruption, I had planned to ask about other questions you have for me. Ones that are not relationship-based.”

So little ones, not the big relationship stuff like money.

“Yeah, I do.” I probably had a list a mile long, but I started with the one I’d been forgetting to ask. “How did you come up with your name?”

I knew their names were meaningful to them, and Larry proved that definition could be flexible, but I wasn’t sure what Jerker had been thinking.

He was really nice.

“When I was picking out my Earth name, I was isolated and a human being the same situation would be called lonely.” Jerker made it sound like he hadn’t been lonely but a human in the same situation would, but before I could figure out what kind of question to ask, he continued. “I chose a name based on a language called Old Norse whose people were very mobile in the ocean. It means ever ruling or island ruling.”

Oh wow.

Always ruling.

Always alone.

The seafaring reference made sense too in a way.

“I think that’s a very good name for how you must’ve been feeling at the time.” I wasn’t going to debate the alien feelings versus human thing, so I just skipped over it. “I’ve never heard the name before but I think it’s perfect.”

He wasn’t going to be alone anymore, but he could rule our tiny kingdom.

I definitely didn’t want to be in charge.