for what he was. My protector, whether I wanted him or not.
The sound of a plane flying low over the houses had me looking at the window. When I glanced back at Thallirin, he was watching me again.
“What’s your favorite food since coming to the surface?” I asked, trying to make good on my vow to get to know him.
“Meat.”
“What food do you miss from back home?”
“None.”
“Really? Nothing.” He shook his head. “Okay. What do you do to relax and have fun?”
“I do nothing.”
“You mean you literally just sit and do nothing to relax, or you haven’t found anything fun and relaxing yet?”
“I haven’t found anything. Why are you asking these questions?”
“I meant what I said. I want to get to know you and to try to be friends, but I don’t want you to read more into that than there is. It’s just friends.”
He nodded once.
“Do you want to watch a movie with me?” I asked.
He grunted, and I smiled. I could deal with his short-term goal of companionship, and as long as he understood my stance on his long-term goal, which he’d aptly said was his burden, not mine, we’d be fine. He’d given me enough information to feel more comfortable around him and to think that Angel was probably right. He was bossy and just didn’t know how to act around me. And, that was something that would change the more time we spent together.
I got up and picked a movie from Uan’s selection and settled in for some TV time like I’d planned hours ago.
Thallirin barely moved throughout the movie. I knew that because I glanced at him often, trying to gauge if he was having a good time or not. He didn’t laugh at any funny scenes; he just sat there. When the credits rolled, I stood and put the movie away.
It was far too early to go home without potentially catching mom in a compromising situation, again.
“Do you think Uan would mind if we raided his kitchen for some food?” I asked.
“He will not mind.”
Thallirin followed me to the kitchen. I started opening doors at random while Thallirin shadowed me.
“Check those cupboards over there,” I said, pointing. “If it’s in a bag, I’m interested. If it’s in a can, keep looking.”
Since we were raiding Uan’s supply, I felt no guilt about eating the good stuff. He owed me after what I heard earlier.
“There are bags here,” Thallirin said.
I closed the door to the cupboard full of canned meats and glanced at Thallirin’s find. The shelf was full of junk food.
With a squeal, I crossed the room and reached around him to snag a bag of cheesy curls. I wasn’t thinking beyond my next junk food fix. That my chest had rubbed against Thallirin’s arm didn’t register until I was already two steps away from him and tearing into the bag.
He stood where he’d been, in front of the cupboard, the tips of his ears darkened.
The move hadn’t been intentional, and the contact brief at best, but the way he continued to stand there like I’d stabbed him made me wonder what the contact really meant to him. I knew the fey craved female attention. Just talking to them made their day. Touching them could put them over the moon. Until recently, Thallirin hadn’t spent much time in Tolerance. Was this the first time anyone had ever casually touched him?
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He grunted but stayed where he was, his hand gripping the cabinet door.
“I can’t decide if that grunt means ‘run for your life’ or ‘everything’s fine.’”
“Everything is fine,” he rasped, his voice rougher than usual.
“We both know that’s not the truth based on how you’re gripping that handle. Are you upset because I brushed up against you? Embarrassed?”
“No.”
“Did my boob touching you freak you out because I’m not eighteen?”
“No.”
I munched on a cheese curl while considering him, then took another one and offered it to him.
“I’m not good at guessing. It’d be easier if you just told me what you’re thinking.”
He turned his head, meeting my gaze, then bit the little snack from my fingers, somehow managing to use his tongue in the process. It was warm against my fingers, and I felt it all the way to my toes.
I stared at him, guessing where his thoughts were because of the accidental brush, and I was no longer sure everything was okay. Not because of him, but because of the way my stomach had somersaulted at the feel of his tongue against