Chapter 6

Colby

When I just blinked at him and somehow nearly took a header into the sidewalk, he caught me and his smile shifted to thinking I was a cute mess. “My Colby, you must be careful. I am not allowed to carry you. It is a human social convention.”

That would not be good.

And on a naughty level, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t spank me if he didn’t think I could walk on my own.

There were probably some good loopholes for that, but I wasn’t going to test it.

“Sorry, Sir.” Walking more carefully, I tried to think about what he’d said logically. It wasn’t working, so I just did my best. “You were serious about that, right? That was what you’d asked me?”

“The human communication method of teasing could apply in this situation. However, I am serious.” He must’ve realized I needed more information because he kept going. “I would enjoy spending time discussing physical pleasures in private and attempting to give you a human orgasm .”

They clearly didn’t have those.

That was kind of sad, but he said it so practically, I didn’t think I needed to be sad about it.

“I have discussed the diverse ways that humans can receive pleasure, and based on your reactions, I am positive you will enjoy my attentions.” His tone was clearly trying to show me how confident he was, but his side glance said he was worried I didn’t believe him.

“You’ve given me a lot of pleasure so far.” That was so truthful he seemed to be able to sense it based on how big he smiled. “I have no doubt that you could make me come.”

Ugh.

That’d been too loud.

Ignoring the weird looks and giggles that we got when a group passed us on the sidewalk, I focused on Saint. “I just don’t want you to think that we have to do anything just to make me happy.”

He seemed like the type to make questionable decisions based on making me happy.

“Hmm.” His adorably fake thinking sound had me fighting back a smile, but I managed to keep a straight face while he did his best to respond like a human. “I am subtly trying to decide if this is the right time to explain my species’ need to physically connect with human partners .”

That clearly wasn’t the word he’d wanted to use, but I wasn’t ready to ask what else he’d have said without the last-second change…because he was so wonderfully subtle.

“So you guys are a jump right in when you want to get to know a sub kind of Dom?” That wasn’t a bad thing, but he paused and shook his head.

When we got to the plaza right outside our buildings, he stopped us. “I do not think that conveys my intent.”

Being patient while he sorted through how he wanted to say it, and probably a lot of the English words he knew, I encouraged him to wrap me tighter since he seemed to be fabulously insulating. Yep, he was warm enough that I didn’t mind waiting even though the temperature had dropped.

“There is no direct cultural translation between our species on the subject of dating.” His frustration about that was easy to see, but he didn’t let that distract him. “As individuals we connect with few. We do not… play around as the human barista down the street says. A human submissive who has mated to one of my species says we date to mate . We go about our business and then we find our submissive human and then they are our human.”

His limbs shifted upward in a shrug. “I have worked and learned. I have found my submissive human. I would like to pleasure my submissive human and give him submission.”

He got this look that said he was rearranging the sentence in his head, but I was pretty sure that was more of a writer and historian issue and not an alien thing. “I would like to pleasure my human and help him find submission.”

That seemed to make him happier because he puffed up again. “That is more accurate and adheres to the human convention of not repeating words.”

I had questions…but I stuck to the ones about our night for the time being. “I would like to spend the night with you, and I would like your help to find my submission.”

Hmm…kind of weird but not wrong.

“It’s been a long time since I was able to relax like that completely.” I wasn’t sure he wanted to hear about my past Doms and lovers, so I tried to keep it vague. “I was thinking about how it would feel to have your limbs make me completely immobile.”

I couldn’t decide if it was the weirdest first date conversation or the best one I’d ever had…but it might’ve been both. At the very least, I liked being able to tell him what I was thinking without worrying about it or obsessing over getting something wrong.

“Then using our safewords and appropriate limits, we shall explore your submission with restraints and pleasure.” Looking confident as he started moving us toward his building again, he patted my back and smiled. “Are there any other additions you would make to our scene?”

It was like ordering in the restaurant all over again…only this time it was easier to answer because I’d been thinking about it since I’d sat on his lap. “I would like to be spanked, Sir.”

The pleased sound he made had something heavy lifting off my shoulders I hadn’t realized was there. “That is a very appropriate addition, my Colby. Good boy.”

His head pat sent a crazy mix through me and he must’ve realized that based on his bubbly laughter. “Humans are delightful.”

For some reason that made me blush and it just seemed to prove his point because he looked very pleased with the situation. He didn’t linger on it, though. He simply gave me another pat and quickly shifted to very practical questions about when I had to leave tomorrow and if I needed anything special to sleep with.

I must’ve looked really confused because he immediately started to explain as we went into the lobby of his building. “Human submissives come in a range of variants. The ones called littles require extensive materials for even nonsexual satisfaction.”

Oh.

“No.” That question made a lot of sense, actually. “I don’t need anything special like they’d need, but I guess, I’d say I would need a drink later…water or something like that would be fine. Dessert wouldn’t be bad.”

I shrugged as he made another happy sound. “They didn’t have anything I wanted but dessert is always good.”

He looked like he was thinking about how cute humans were, but he held himself back that time. “Those are all easily obtainable items.”

I thought that was because he had water and cookies in his apartment, but he veered us over toward what seemed to be either a front desk or a concierge service. “Hello, helper human. I am the resident of room 3 0 1. I require a human submissive package delivered to my room.”

Huh?

The guy behind the counter stepped closer and somehow managed to treat that like it was the sanest and most serious thing he’d heard all night. “Yes. I would be happy to provide that for you.”

Still had no idea what was going on…but I knew it would be interesting eventually.

The guy seemed to realize that because his eyes finally started to sparkle. “Do you have a preference on dessert? We can easily provide brownies, cookies, or fruit. But no one ever picks the fruit so don’t worry about picking something healthy to make him happy.”

Weirdest fucking date ever.

“Um.” Okay. Dessert. I could do this. “Brownies, please.”

If no one else picked fruit I wasn’t going to feel bad about it.

“Do you like bottled water, juice, or noncaffeinated sodas?” He shrugged before I could even open my mouth. “They won’t let me stock booze or caffeine.”

That wasn’t surprising at all.

The only side-eye he’d given me at dinner had been when I’d ordered tea, but he hadn’t tried to tell me no. I had to admit he’d been happier once I’d switched to water later after our food had arrived, though.

“Water, please.” I had to resist the urge to explain I wasn’t little because some of his options seemed geared toward them. “Thank you for your help.”

Human helper.

God.

“Do you have any allergies to latex or lubricants?” His question had my eyes going wide but he didn’t back down. “We had one allergic reaction with someone who’d never used any lube before. So now I have to ask and we also need to have the info on file just in case the ambulance has to show up again.”

Fuck.

“You don’t want these guys worried about your health.” Human helper dude was just as stubborn as they were. “And you’d be surprised at how angry the ambulance guys get when you just shrug and keep saying you don’t know why the cute twink stopped breathing.”

“I really don’t like how much logic there is in this conversation.” I could see Saint getting confused, but I had to stick to the discussion with human helper guy first. “No allergies to latex or any lube. No known allergies that would send me into anaphylactic shock.”

I knew there’d be something else…there was no way that was the weirdest topic.

I hated being right.

“Everyone in the building understands the stoplight system of safewords and you will be shocked at how good their hearing is.” The way he rolled his eyes said there was a story there. “We’ve never had an issue with consent but language issues are a thing. So if you say red in a loud voice several someones will come running.”

I thought that was all until he kept going. “I’m also required to inform you that you need to connect the dots on that. If you scream out an orgasm, everyone will hear that too. There’s only so much sound dampening insulation can do for aliens.”

Fuck.

“And if you have sex in the pool everyone is going to watch.” He shrugged like he couldn’t control that and wasn’t even going to try. “They like education in all forms. But someone will end up asking about why you’re willing to be shown off.”

Good grief.

I was starting to understand why Saint had been so stressed about the whole exhibitionism part of our fascinating discussions.

“Communication is important. I should’ve realized that.” Human helper dude was back to trying not to grin as he nodded.

He clearly liked his job.

“Thank you for pointing that out.” I could officially say I’d never had a date like my one with Saint. “Anything else?”

His brows pulled together. “I don’t think so. This process is fairly new. Mr. Saint?”

Saint gave him a proud parent smile. “You have articulated all the necessary points. Thank you for being diligent.”

The human helper couldn’t seem to decide if he wanted to grin or roll his eyes again, but he nodded. “Thank you.”

“Have a good night.” I wasn’t sure what else to say when Saint lifted me up in his limbs and started carrying me toward the elevators.

Random shit was taking up way too much of my brain.

“Why do you need a human to point out fairly obvious things to the dates who come visit?” They didn’t really do hookups and I wasn’t sure what the mate word he kept using actually meant outside of romance novels, but the question made sense to him, so I tried not to overthink it.

“Once more human mates started coming to this building and our residences—humans have many words for the space they primarily live—we ran into…situations.” He was definitely downplaying the issues, but since nearly any problems with them were accidental and kind of weird, I wasn’t worried.

“It was decided that someone who understood human social dynamics should be brought in.” Saint’s wiggly reaction made me think he was conflicted about it in some way. “We have a schedule of helper humans who have been trained to look for unexpected communication difficulties.”

Like pointing out that if people had sex in the pool other people were going to watch.

Seemed logical to me, but then again, I’d have been one of the people to watch too.

“Well, we have good communication and I’m not allergic to anything, so I’m not worried.” I was, however, not sure what to do about being carried. “And we already talked about being watched.”

It seemed like he was above the curve when it came to making sure he brought up the most important points.

“Yes. I would agree.” That got me a happy tone and a pat on the butt.

My Dom…or whatever he was going to be…liked praise and liked being right.

He also clearly liked carrying me because as I relaxed in his embrace, he made a happy sound and his limbs rippled over me. “This is not public, my human Colby. Carrying you is acceptable around my species. I would say it is encouraged. Any signs of claiming are acceptable.”

Hmm.

Maybe that was why he had a thing for public sex?

Whoever the pool people had been certainly understood it.

“I will remember that.” It wasn’t worth pushing back against it since he understood he couldn’t do it in public. “I don’t mind it here.”

We weren’t going to start this in the grocery store or just walking down the street, though. My dick liked it entirely too much, and with the way his tentacles were inching into interesting places, he knew it.

“Humans have sexual responses to a variety of stimuli, my human.” His voice sounded nonchalant but his tentacle was petting my dick over my pants. “You do not need to be concerned over responses within this building.”

Don’t worry about getting turned on around the aliens or helper humans.

Got it.

“As long as we’re in this building, I’m going to do my best to let you take charge of where I get turned on.” We’d see if that was a good idea or not, but our relationship was going to be a learning experience.

“I understand the human domination-based rules around limits and what it means to be a good mate to a human submissive.” His words were earnest and sweet but he also patted my butt and rubbed the head of my dick.

So yeah, parts of me were very confused…but we all liked attention, so I wasn’t sure I was going to let myself overthink the situation.

“Thank you for making that clear.” As the elevator let us out on his floor, he lost his hesitation when it came to our private time because he charged to his door faster than I thought he’d be able to move.

More limbs equaled more speed, evidently.

We’d have to see what else it meant.