13. Xax

Chapter 13

Xax

A fter a very long time, Amanda emerged from the bathing chamber. She walked slowly, and I could tell she was sore.

"Are you alright?" I asked as she paused outside the door dressed in a pink gown similar to the one she'd arrived in. Her feet were bare, and her cute pink toes curled on the soft floor.

"Did you know Alexa has a praise kink just like me?" she asked.

"Who's Alexa?"

"I named your shroom god."

"I see." Praise kink . . . My snort rang out. "I've never considered calling her a good girl."

"Maybe because you only have one good girl."

Why was there an edge in her voice? "You're right."

"I am."

Definitely an edge, but she appeared both physically and emotionally tired, so that must be the cause.

"Nothing has led me to believe the god who resides within my shroom is female," I said.

"I think she is." She shrugged. "It was a wild guess on my part. She likes bath bombs, and she knows which tampons and floss I prefer. Is there a problem with me calling her Alexa or naming her female?"

"Not one bit."

"My GPS lets me change its voice. I like the one with the sexy British accent." She covered her mouth as she yawned.

"I see." I didn't ask what a GPS was. Something from her home world that she missed. Another thing to add to the list. What was a British accent?

"Anyway, I should go to bed." She released a rueful laugh. "I'll take the sofa."

"Did you sleep on a sofa when you lived on Earth?"

"Oh, no. I slept on a bed. I was referring to the only one bed trope that's popular in romance novels."

I blinked slowly. Soon, I needed to quiz my god about everything that might appeal to my new mate. I wanted her to be happy here with me. I couldn't catch my breath when I thought of her leaving or rejecting me.

"Let me show you where you can sleep and not on a sofa," I said, taking her hand and leading her to the only bedroom. "What's a trope?"

"A plot or a theme that's used so commonly in books that it becomes a popular thing in the genre." Her smile rose, and I was so glad to see it. "I can tell you don't understand what I mean. On Earth, many of us read books. I don't know if you read much here. "

"We don't have books."

"Not even if you ask Alexa to provide you with one?" she looked up at the ceiling. "Hey, Alexa, could I have an e-reader loaded with enough books for three lifetimes? It needs to have a never-ending battery life or recharge with solar, please. Oh, and make sure the books are steamy romance, plus I'd love a few paranormal cozy mysteries. Complete series only, if you'll be so kind."

A flat black thing appeared on the floor, and she scooped it up, hugging it against her chest. "Thanks, Alexa!" Holding it out, she stared down at it. "Wait. This is just a piece of wood."

"She's a plant god. Wood, leaves, bark."

"But she gave me tampons."

I had no idea what those were. "The god will give us what it's capable of delivering."

"Aw, no e-reader?"

"I suspect not."

She huffed and peered up at the ceiling. "How about a book? That's paper, which is made from vegetation."

Another rectangular block appeared near her feet.

Lifting it, she frowned. "A dictionary?"

"What's a dictionary?"

"A volume full of definitions for words."

I took it from her. "This must be for me."

"Can I have a book other than a dictionary?" she called out, and another rectangular thing appeared near her feet. "Oh, cool. That'll do." She grabbed it and hugged it to her chest. "Nothing beats a complete collection of my favorite author's romance novels." Holding it out, she grinned. "Want me to read Candy For My Orc Boss to you sometime?"

"What's an orc? What's candy?"

"You're going to love them both. Thanks, Alexa!" She smirked my way. "I think she likes her name."

My mate was changing my world completely, and I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.

I'd decide tomorrow or the day after that.

Inside my bedroom, I pointed to the floor. "Lie down and my god—Alexa—will create a soft bed for you."

"Despite the floss and tampons, I don't believe I'll ever get used to this."

"Soon, it will feel seamless. We were skeptical at first, but we've lived within our shrooms for a few years now, long enough to feel comfortable with what the god can provide and what it can't."

With a shrug, Amanda crossed the room and dropped to the floor on the far side. A bed formed beneath her, lifting her high enough she would have to slide off the surface when she rose in the morning. She rolled onto her back, and the god covered her with blankets.

"This is nice," she said, stifling a yawn. "Almost as nice as my bed back home."

Couldn't she see that her home was here with me?