Chapter 3

Yep, that was it.

Okay, he liked holding me and I’d told him that I liked being held.

Had he thought that was enough of a response since that was what I’d said first?

Well, they didn’t lie, so I didn’t need to worry about reading into what he’d said. He’d made sure I knew I was safe and he’d explained that he didn’t have a lot of human social interactions.

Hmm.

How not a lot was not a lot?

“Can…can you explain what you’re thinking?” How had I turned into the person who was leading this discussion? “Um, I just want to make sure I understand what you want.”

And what he thought would happen next.

It’d been a long time since anyone had cuddled me, and I had no desire to be put down no matter how casual his intensions were. But I didn’t want to read into something that wasn’t there just because we both needed someone to hug.

“Yes, trading information on thoughts is important at the beginning of a relationship. Humans especially need that verbally because of your blunted senses.” He sounded like he’d been reading a Humans for Dummies kind of book, so I just nodded since he wasn’t wrong.

“You require knowledge of my thoughts and emotions since you cannot sense them yourself.” He seemed like he was really thinking about how to answer my question because one small tentacle started stroking my head. It felt almost absent-minded on his part and made me smile.

I liked being his fidget toy while he was thinking.

It was kind of cute.

“Your bonding process is also significantly different than our own because of your biology.” He seemed to be talking to himself more than he was to me specifically but I nodded anyway. “Evolving from cooperative prey animals would have an impact as well.”

Yep, definitely not talking to me.

“Our biology is unique from yours and holding a submissive while participating in caretaking activities induces the chemical reaction that produces pleasure and emotional attachment.” His tone warmed slightly as he gave me a hug, making it clear that now I was actually in a conversation. “So, my explanation of finding pleasure in holding you was accurate but should have been expounded upon.”

True statement…just too short.

I agreed with that completely.

“Thank you for explaining that part in more detail.” Yes, praise for what he’d done right. Nicholas had mentioned that in some of our first conversations about having a Dom who wasn’t human.

Oh yes.

I got more pets and firm cuddles.

He liked that.

“You are welcome, human.” He went back to caressing my head as he paused thoughtfully. “I was also processing what I knew about human dating rituals as well as monitoring your vital signs. Your loss of consciousness was unexpected.”

Yeah.

“I’m sorry about that.” And I was embarrassed about it. “I knew Larry was going to share stuff about me but when…but when it sounded like I was fetishizing your tentacles, I panicked.”

I also might’ve been holding my breath.

“Hmm.” The adorably human thinking sound that came across like he’d seen it in a sitcom said he was trying to decide what to say…but it was so cute. “Fetishizing…as in a desire moving from a preference to a stronger form of arousal that is seen as inappropriate.”

Kind of.

“I do not understand how a preferential desire for a higher quality can have a negative association. Please explain.” He gave my head a pat like he was prompting me to be a good boy and it made me blush as tingly pleasure swept through me.

His quiet hum said he’d noticed but he was dead set on understanding the fetish comment and didn’t get distracted.

“Um, well, I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve never had to.” It was just one of those things everyone seemed to know. “I…well, it’s more about being hyperfocused on one attribute and that turning into a negative thing.”

I was missing huge parts of that explanation but he didn’t seem to care.

He huffed and it made me want to laugh. “Having a strong focus and desire for a superior product or attribute cannot be negative. Tentacles are highly superior. They are more dexterous and can provide a range of pleasures that humans cannot replicate. I am more confused by humans who find them…wiggly.”

Someone had definitely compared him to something icky.

“I don’t think you’re wiggly.” Or anything else gross. “You’re soft and strong.”

Petting the tentacle under my fingers more firmly, I nuzzled against his torso again. “And I’ve researched a lot about how flexible you guys are. It’s very impressive.”

That was a good way of explaining I’d watched lots of porn without actually saying I’d watched a lot of porn, right?

“You’re also very focused on taking care of your mates and you…you like making your mates feel good.” I wasn’t sure that was the way I should’ve taken the conversation but it was what’d popped out, so I tried not to worry about his reaction.

“Caretaking comes in many forms…especially for humans.” His humans are kind of odd tone made me fight back laughter. “Pleasure also comes in many forms for humans, but I have read that the physically based erotic pleasures are necessary for a significant portion of humans.”

He had been doing a lot of research.

“Yeah, most of us like that but there are people who are asexual or who need different kinds of things.” But that wasn’t me and I didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding about that. “I like the physically erotic kind, though. A lot.”

My honesty got me another hug and one tentacle started stroking low on my back, right above my ass. I wasn’t sure if he’d known what that would do to me but I knew he could sense how good the tingly pleasure made me feel when he made that thinking sound again.

“I find I am glad you have a preference for erotic pleasure.” He was so glad his limb inched down lower and I barely held back a moan. “I did not understand their effects.”

On him?

Oh.

Larry had said horny humans smelled good.

I smelled good.

Shit.

There’d been no reason to hide my moan…he knew how I was feeling.

Fuck it.

“It’s…it’s good effects, right?” I almost couldn’t breathe as his tentacle shifted lower again, obviously testing the water to see what I’d allow.

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his voice and that was sexy even though he probably didn’t understand why. “Your pleasure gives me…there is a word but humans do not have it in English…strong happiness.”

He was reacting to turning me on.

“I…I like making you happy.” I must’ve lost a few brain cells along the way because that just sounded stupid, but he made a pleased sound and finally ran his tentacle over my ass before patting it.

I didn’t even try to hide the shiver that raced through me as I let out a breathy moan. “That…that feels good.”

Had to communicate.

He’d said that.

He needed words to be confident.

“You…you’re making me feel so good holding me tight. I…I like cuddling.” Yes, I could tell him what I liked. He wasn’t a regular Dom. He wouldn’t think I was stupid or saying the obvious like a moron. He needed the obvious until he could read me better.

Oh wow.

My reward for using words was for him to tighten his hold just enough to make me go boneless and the tentacle on my ass started making wide circles over it.

Rewards were awesome.

“You are highly adept at communication. I am very proud of your good behavior.” The words might’ve sounded silly if it hadn’t been for the warmth in his voice and the way his pride came through in every word. “Making your needs clearly discernable will allow me to provide for them more easily.”

More words equaled more pleasure.

Got it.

“I…I liked it when you were carrying me and…and I like the way you’re caressing me.” Yes, that wasn’t hard to admit and he probably already knew both of those things. “I…I like that you’re so sweet to me and you kept me safe.”

I had a split second to wonder if that’d been stupid before I knew his reaction.

He liked it.

My new friend made a deep, pleased sound and I got another full-body hug.

“I am happy to provide you with safety and emotional security.” Limbs rippled over me, making it clear how happy he was. “You are a human who should be protected and who should have their submission nurtured. It is my pleasure to provide that for you.”

That definitely seemed to indicate we were both moving in the right direction, so I turned my face into his body and peeked my eyes open. I wasn’t brave enough to pull away and meet his gaze yet, but he stroked my head again and cuddled me tighter. “Good boy. Your trust is not misplaced, human Theo.”

“I…I’ve never even dated anyone of your…your species before and my track record with human guys is…well…it’s terrible.” There was no point in hiding that. “So you need to tell me if I’m doing something wrong or something that you don’t like. I…I won’t know how to make you happy if you don’t explain it to me.”

Limits list.

Rules.

Something so I wasn’t blindly guessing all the time.

I didn’t think that was so hard, but the last couple of human guys I’d tried to date who said they were Doms thought I should be able to read their minds or have some kind of behavior list already memorized. It’d been so stressful I’d ended up with a small ulcer and the doctor said I had to get rid of the stress in my life.

So I’d broken up with the guy I’d been seeing at the time and stopped dating completely…and my stomach had finally healed.

But maybe I wouldn’t end up single forever if I didn’t date humans?

“I do not completely understand the human concept of submission. My instincts are for you to submit and me to provide care and structure. You submit. I care for your submission. You are not required to make me happy. That is…that is contradictory to my biological imperative.”

Oh.

That was why Nicholas didn’t drive Larry insane.

“I want you happy too, though, so…so you’ll tell me if you don’t like something that I’m doing or not doing or just…” Realizing I was rambling, I tucked my face into what probably would’ve been his shoulder if he were human.

There was still a nice indent to hide against, though, so I didn’t care what it was called. “I submit. You care for my submission. I’ll do my best to remember that. But I need you to be happy too. It’s part of my biological imperative. It’s part of being a human submissive.”

Not the same species.

I had to remember that.

We were not the same species even if we were crazy compatible.

I got more pets and soft thinking sounds as he processed what I said and eventually something about his movements changed and I knew he’d figured out what he wanted to say. “There will be what I think humans call a learning curve as we process adapting to such distinct cultures and instincts.”

Oh yeah.

The understatement in that sentence was so big it could rival Mount Everest.

But I was polite and just nodded since being snarky wasn’t a good start to any new relationship.

“I will do my best to take my happiness into consideration as well, but I have not been trained to process emotions or thoughts in that way.” He paused and he was quiet enough that I eased back just enough to see him frowning off into the distance.

After a few seconds, he tuned back in and realized I was looking at him. “My brave human.”

More snuggly caresses seemed to make him more relaxed because it didn’t take long before he was a lot less stressed…even though I had no idea how I knew that…and he was back to being his chatty self. “I have spent long stretches of time alone. I may need you to help in deciphering my happiness from yours.”

Oh, my questions had questions.

“I’ll help you.” Feeling brave and probably stupid, I kissed his cheek before snuggling back into him and finally realizing for the first time that we were in the restaurant’s employee lounge. “We can figure it out.”

I wasn’t sure how I’d know what made him happy if he didn’t know, but he seemed smart and I knew scientists, so we’d figure it out.

Hopefully.

We just needed a starting point.