13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHENTE

As humans would say, Monday is a shitshow.

It's made all the worse because instead of going to the library at lunch, I'm stuck cleaning up someone else's mess.

Not seeing her all weekend was bad enough.

At four-thirty, I burst into the lobby like my tail's on fire, and she stares at me with wide, pretty eyes.

"Is everything alright?"

"Uh, yeah. I just…I missed you."

The expression on her face wipes away all my apprehension and unease.

She beams a smile at me that's positively breathtaking.

"I missed you, too," she admits shyly, and I nearly groan.

Just when I think I can't fall for this woman anymore.

My hand nearly burns with the desire to give Odette her surprise, but I hold back.

First my lesson, then her gift.

I try to stay out of her way while she wraps things up.

When Odette locks the door at five, I help her turn off the lights except a few in the back.

She leads me to a table in the corner where a pile of books and other materials await.

To say that I'm nervous is an understatement, but Odette looks cool as a cucumber.

Deep inside of me, I'm afraid that I won't be able to read, and she'll think I'm just a stupid, green oaf.

As if sensing my unease, Odette reaches out to stroke a finger over the back of my hand.

I shudder at the sensation of her touching me, committing to memory the feel of her against me.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm…worried. Every time I try to read, I fail. What if you can't teach me—what if I can't learn? I don't want to waste your time if I can't."

"Oh, Chente, you're never wasting my time. I enjoy being with you more than you know. As for not being able to learn, I think it's unfair to judge yourself so harshly. Anyone who's left to learn on their own struggles."

Her words fill me with warmth and hope.

"Ok, so what's first?"

Odette reaches over and opens a book that she slides in front of me.

"Most languages are made up of letters—like Spanish, English, and French. The letters are the same, but some make different sounds. It's when these sounds are combined that they make a word. We'll start with English, but it'll be fairly easy for you to transfer the knowledge to Spanish, if you wish to read that as well. English uses the Latin alphabet. There are twenty-six letters."

"Only twenty-six? It doesn't seem like many."

"Well, they can be combined in a nearly endless manner, making up all the words you speak. Also, in English, some letters can be put together to create a new sound, but we'll get to those after you learn the sounds they make individually."

She points to a squiggle, and I force myself to concentrate.

It's a bit difficult with her scent permeating the air.

With every inhale, I want to mark her—claim her.

Mine.

"Chente?"

I clear my throat and apologize. Odette smiles, continuing the lesson.

She only shows me a handful of letters, no more than six.

Some are called consonants, and others are called vowels.

All words need vowels, and apparently, these are the ones that can make more than one sound.

English has forty-four sounds while French only has thirty-six.

It's rather fascinating to distinguish the once squiggly lines into a letter and then learn its sound.

My homework for the evening is to continue practicing with my new letters so I can learn more tomorrow night.

Just the thought of joining Odette for another evening fills me with joy, but I loathe to leave her now.

"Thank you for helping me tonight."

"You're so welcome."

"I know it's been a long day for you here…"

Odette shrugs.

"The library is peaceful for me, and I enjoy your company. I have allergies, so I can't even have any pets. Well, not the ones I want—the ones that'll interact and snuggle with you."

"Well, I'm like a giant lizard-man, or so I've been told. I could be like your scaly pet."

She laughs, the beautiful sound echoing off the book shelves.

"You definitely have reptilian features, but I wouldn't call you a lizard-man. Giant—definitely."

"Does my size bother you? I know it does for some humans."

For a moment, Odette freezes, her expression glazed.

" I love how big you are. "

She whispers the words, more to herself than me, but my mouth goes dry at them nonetheless.

A rumble of contentment crawls up through my throat and out my mouth before I can tamp it back.

"S-sorry! I…was thinking of a book I'm reading."

My brow furrows, wondering what kind of book would have something like that.

But before I can ask, Odette reaches into a bag on the desk and pulls out a small bin of food.

"This is left over from my lunch in case you're hungry. It's just some trail mix but it was too spicy for me."

"Thank you, that's kind of you. I do love spicy food."

"Coming from Mexico, I figured you might, although I know that's stereotyping."

"Hot foods help maintain Chupan core body heat—especially in colder temps like here."

"Do you miss home?"

"Sometimes, especially on those bitter cold winter nights, but Sherbrooke is my home. I feel more comfortable and welcomed here than anywhere else."

"Even away from your clan?"

"I never fit in with my clan."

Odette sighs.

"Well, I'm glad that you don't feel like an outsider here, but I'm sad you had to travel so far from your homeland to experience it."

"It's alright—I got the chance to meet you."

She blushes a beautiful pink that reminds me of her hair.

The pretty tresses are up atop her head again, and I wonder how long they are.

I ask the question without realizing that I'm even speaking.

Stupid mouth.

But Odette doesn't seem offended or bothered that I asked.

In fact, she tugs at the strands, and suddenly, all her bubblegum-colored hair comes tumbling down.

The gentle waves cascade down her shoulders and past her breasts.

It's much longer than I expected and shimmers in the light.

"What color is it naturally?"

I groan under my breath.

Stop asking personal questions!

But I can't help myself. I want to know everything and anything about this woman.

"Strawberry blond."

My nose crinkles.

"So it's already pink?"

Odette laughs.

"No, that means it's a reddish-blond, more blond than red, though, for me."

"Ah, that makes more sense. I'm sorry. I know a lot of English colloquialisms, but some words elude me."

"I think you speak beautifully."

My chest puffs up for no other reason than Odette complimenting my ability to talk.

How sad am I?

"I have something for you."

This abrupt announcement makes Odette bite her lip.

"You don't need to give me anything—I promise it's not any trouble to help teach you to read."

"Oh, it's not for that…it's just a token of my friendship ."

Her lips form a sexy little O of surprise, but whether it's because I want to give her something or from my emphasis on ‘friendship', I'm not sure.

"Give me your hand."

She gives it to me without hesitation, and I let out another rumble of satisfaction.

For a moment, I just relish the feel of her but then I press my gift into her hand.

She quickly pulls back to squint at what I gave her and lets out a little scream.

"Is this what I think it is?!" I nod because I know she knows. "Chente! This…this is extraordinary! Humans have only ever heard about these, but none have ever seen one let alone held one!"

"A friend gave this to me on the consideration I knew you would never sell it or exploit its significance."

Odette nods.

"Never! It's such a rare coin—even rarer than Chupacabran chivos! I wish my grandpa could've seen it, but it'll be amazing to add to my collection. How can I ever thank you?"

"No thanks needed. I want to give you monster coins because I know they make you happy."

"But I have nothing to give you."

"You gave me your time, your knowledge, your smile—what more could I ask for?"

Another gorgeous, scorching blush splashes across her cheeks.

"How about…a kiss?"

Something fierce sweeps through me—probably premature triumph, but I soak it up anyway.

I'll take as much as this lovely creature will give me.

Using my tail, I maneuver Odette's wheelchair until she's facing me.

She bites her lip again as I dip my head towards her.

When our lips are a whisper's length apart, my tongue flicks out to taste her.

Like warm berries on a summer day.

I growl, closing the gap between us and kissing Odette until she's limp and panting.

With her hair down, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding, I've never seen anything so captivating.

"Tell me a secret."

Her eyes widen at my demand, but she doesn't hesitate to answer—or maybe we just have a tendency to speak without thinking.

"I touched myself to the thought of you…and came."

My tail thumps to the ground as shock flits through me.

Sweet scales, I wasn't prepared for that.