“Can you maybe rub my head again? Like you did yesterday?” Gem asked, several tiny eyes swiveling to look up at Rusty as he pushed play on the anime he’d queued up. “It really helped before.”
“Sure,” Rusty said, cautiously placing a paw on Gem’s head. With a sigh, Gem snuggled closer, rubbing his cheek against Rusty’s jean-clad thigh. When Rusty’s fingers sifted through his soft curls, the Araknis hummed in pleasure, and Rusty smiled to himself.
“Thanks, Rus,” Gem said as the opening credits of the anime played. “Not just for the soup.”
“It’s no big deal,” Rusty said, and the Gem’s cheek lifted with his smile.
“If you say so,” he said diplomatically.
Gem fell asleep thirty minutes into the film, but Rusty didn’t wake him. He continued rubbing his head, marveling at how silky his hair felt against his hide. Then he felt like a creep, marveling at anything while Gem was unconscious. So he hooked one arm over the back of the couch and set the other on the armrest as he watched the anime boys kiss, his heart beating fast and heavy in his chest the whole time.
Chapter nine
Soft and Mushy
Gem
When Gem roused, heknew it was too early to actually be awake, but something had disturbed him. Soft fur tickled his face, and someone was purring loudly, a deep, comforting vibration that had Gem smiling before he was fully conscious. He smelled spicy tobacco and musky sweat, and he nuzzled deeper into the squishy pillow with a sigh.
Except the pillow grunted, which was something pillows weren’t supposed to do. Gem cracked open two small eyes to investigate, and the light pink fur of Rusty’s belly filled his vision. He angled his head back, looking up Rusty’s torso to find the Pyclon sleeping, face propped on his hand. He was purring steadily, and it was just the loveliest sound.
Quietly, Gem lifted his top right hand and laid it gently to Rusty’s chest. The purr vibrated down his arm, and he couldn’t resist purring back. It wasn’t the same, of course. Rusty purred with his vocal chords; Gem purred using the thick hair on his arms and legs. But there was something wonderful all the same in purring together.
Relaxing back against Rusty’s tummy, Gem kept one hand on his chest as he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep. It felt like only a second later that someone was gently lifting his head, moving slowly like they were trying not to wake him.
“Wha’s’happening?” Gem slurred.
“Shh,” that someone said. “Go back to sleep, Gem.”
His head was laid back down, though the surface was less fluffy and soft than before. A blanket was draped over him, and he snuggled into it. Feeling warm and comfy, Gem succumbed to sleep once more, a husky voice saying, “I’ll see you at work.”
He was too far gone to respond.
Hours later, his alarm woke him, and he sat up with a pained groan. His back was stiff, neck sore. He was too old to sleep on a couch, even though he considered his couch very comfy. It wasn’t long enough to accommodate his height though, so his legs shrieked as he straightened them out.
He grabbed his phone and silenced his alarm, and a paper fluttered to the floor. Bending down, he picked it up and read the message Rusty had left for him.
Take the pills! See you at work. —R
On the coffee table were two small, white tablets lying beside a glass of water.
With a cheek-splitting grin, Gem palmed the pills and headed to the kitchen. He retrieved his other meds and tossed them all back, chasing them down with the water Rusty had provided. He was clear-headed for the first time in two days, and even though he felt pressure at the back of his brain,like a headache lying in wait, he wasn’t in active pain. It was a welcome relief.
When he walked into work, Glyma dropped the dough in her hands with a cry and rushed him, throwing her arms around his torso. “I heard what happened. Are you alright? Are you sure you’re feeling up to working today? You can take a day or two if—”
“I’m fine, Glym,” Gem said, patting the top of her head as she continued to fret over him. “Honestly, I’d rather be here than home right now.”
Cupping his face, the Succubus studied him with intense, hot pink eyes. “You’re sure?”
“Yes,” he insisted. “Now, unless you want me popping an inappropriate boner that will call into question everything I’ve ever believed about myself, you should probably let me go.”
With a giggle, Glyma patted his cheeks once before releasing him. “Oh, our Gem’s okay.”
His chest warmed at her words, and he offered a little curtsy. “Your Gem is okay, I promise.”
“We were all very worried,” Willow said as she replaced Glyma, hugging him tight enough to knock the breath from him.
“Oh, thanks, Wil. But I really am okay.”
