He kissed the top of my head, probably in response to my thoughts, but he didn’t speak.
I nuzzled his shoulder, kissing the joint, before going back to resting.
“Did you have a pleasant day?” Don asked after a moment.
Memories of the day whirled before my eyes. Seth knocking Kal into a snow drift. Fyn and Caleb disappearing when they found a cave with glowing moss. Mindy retelling stories from the planet he and Teddy had crash landed on. Don holding my hand. He’d stayed by my side for the whole of the day. No matter what we’d done, he was there.
“I did,” I said with a smile, kissing him again. I laved my tongue over his smooth scales, unable to help myself. He tasted of salt and sulfur, but not unpleasantly so.
“Don’t,” Don said, and I flinched at the rejection. He caught my chin and ran his nose along mine. “I liked it, my Vince, but too much, and you will get sick from the water. It’s not meant to be consumed.”
Worrywart, I thought.
Don grunted, but his fingers returned to my back, brushing over my skin.
Either he’d understood what I said, or, more likely, he’d gotten the context from my thoughts.
He skated over the knobs on my spine. “You’re finally gaining weight.”
It had gotten easier to eat. I refused to drink those slurries Klars recommended, but I was eating all three of my daily meals with Don. And I often had snacks as well when I was hanging out with Teddy and his demon pet or Seth and his cat, who I hadn’t caught more than a glimpse of.
“Yep, though, just so you know, humans don’t like to discuss weight.”
“I apologize.”
I nipped him, careful to keep the pressure soft. “It’s fine, Sweetheart. I don’t mind, but some do. It’s better not to talk about it.”
“I shall refrain in the future.”
“You can with me, if you want.” I looked at him. “I know you like that you can’t see all my bones anymore. Though I wasn’t nearly as bad as Teddy. He used to give me his food, which is why he was so much thinner than I was.”
His thumb rubbed over my bottom lip. “I don’t care how you look, Vince. I care about you being healthy.”
My Don worried about everything. I snuggled against him, warm. Part of me wanted to initiate something. Frotting would be hot, in the best way, but another part of me worried someone might see us. I wasn’t embarrassed about my attraction to Don or the fact we fucked. I didn’t want to chance anyone seeing us, even though this was supposedly a private space. Every one of Don’s intimate expressions and noises belonged to me; I didn’t want to share them.
Don growled, kissing the top of my head.
I chuckled. My possessiveness might be toxic by human standards, but Don seemed to like it.
“I do,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I need it.”
“Me too,” I whispered. My eyes ran over his strong features as my fingers followed the same path. Don bit my forefinger when it brushed his lips. Helpless but to confess it, I said, “You are so beautiful.”
He squeaked. An honest-to-god squeak. I laughed, loving that sound.
“You are, Dontilvynsan,” I said, using his full name. I rarely said it, but I did love how it rolled off my tongue. Seth might struggle with the long names, but I didn’t, and Don’s was lovely. “So beautiful. I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as you.”
His breathing turned harsh, and he looked away.
He was embarrassed. Don hadn’t been complimented enough in his lifetime, and I aimed to change that. Everything I said was the truth, and he deserved to hear it.
“But you’re more than beautiful,” I said, kissing his neck. “You’re kind, smart, funny, caring, and so giving. You are lovely inside and out, Sweetheart. I’ve never met someone like you.”
Swallowing, Don lifted his hand, and I placed it against my cheek. A wave of embarrassment crashed over me. My compliments were overwhelming him, but beneath the discomfort and unfamiliarity was happiness.
I kissed his palm. “Do not doubt your worth. You are more than your gift and what you do for people. You’re unbelievably you, and that alone makes you special.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
