Married to Krampus - Marina Simcoe Page 0,63
rest time had been regulated. Following the same schedule from birth, the boys had also gotten used to going to bed at a certain time and taking their meals in set intervals.
Running around must’ve made them work up an appetite. They finished their food in minutes.
“Do you want some more?” I took out the extra tray I’d packed for them, just in case.
“No.” They shook their heads. “Cupcakes!”
Grabbing a mini cupcake in each of their little hands, they hopped off, unable to sit still for too long.
“Oh, the energy these two have!” I laughed, watching them skip and roll in the grass.
“I bet anything that they’ll fall asleep in the aircraft on the way home.” The Colonel stretched out his long legs next to me, balancing his food tray on his muscular thighs.
“They’re so stinkin’ cute, those two.” I got my own food out, too. “It’s a good thing I have the Ministry to keep me in check. I would spoil them rotten, otherwise.”
“I’m sure they’d take advantage of you, one way or another,” he chuckled. “When they look at you with pleading eyes, it’s so hard to say no.”
In my opinion, the Colonel was fairly strict with his sons. However, the unconditional love between the father and his sons was evident.
I tipped my chin at the food in his lap.
“You better eat it all up. I’m sure they’ll make us run a few more miles before the day is over.” I stretched my legs in front of me and groaned. “Not sure if my feet can take much more, though. I should’ve worn my running shoes. These don’t have a good arch support.”
The Colonel set his empty tray aside, and I handed him a bottle of water.
“Is it hard to walk on feet?” he asked, taking a drink.
I shrugged.
“Not harder than walking on hooves, I imagine.”
“Hooves don’t get sore from running.”
“Lucky for you.” I finished my food and put away the container.
“May I?” He suddenly reached for my foot.
I managed only a brief noise of surprise as he grabbed my leg around the ankle then placed my foot into his lap.
“What are you doing?”
“Massage helps relieve muscle ache.” He took off my ballet flat, then squeezed my foot in his large hand. “Does it work the same for feet, too?”
“Ohh,” I leaned back, propping myself with my hands, as he expertly rubbed my sole and heel. “It most certainly does.”
Who would refuse a free foot massage? I forgot all about being self-conscious about my toes in front of a Voranian.
“These are very curious appendages.” He gently pulled on each toe, massaging them all in turn. “So cute and tiny.”
I lifted an eyebrow in amusement.
“Now, you find them cute? Not repulsive?”
“No part of you could ever repulse me,” he said confidently, making my heart skip.
This man. How was I supposed to play cool around him for the rest of our year together, when he made my heart so warm and my body so impossibly hot?
What would I do when the year was up?
Drawing in a long breath, I shoved the worrisome thoughts aside. This had been an amazing morning, and it promised to be an even better day. Humor had helped me get through many awkward moments in life in general and with the Colonel in particular.
“You like my toes?” I teased, wiggling my eyebrows. “Here, I have another set for you.” I placed my second foot in his lap, happy to see him laugh as he took my other shoe off.
“Ten times the fun!”
FOR THE AFTERNOON, the Colonel had planned a trip to the Zoo.
The twins jumped with excitement in anticipation, and I kind of did too. I hadn’t been to the Voranian Zoo yet. Other than a few small birds and the pretty flying insects in the flower garlands at the mall, I’d seen no local animals.
The Zoo was a group of large glass hemispheres interconnected by arched passageways.
A guide drone accompanied us on our tour. It flew next to us, telling us, in a monotonous, androgynous voice, facts about the Zoo and each of the animals it housed.
After about two hours of browsing the spacious enclosures, I’d seen so many otherworldly animals, it felt like my brain was about to explode from being overloaded with new images and information.
“Bilgro Uchoit,” the drone hummed, hovering in front of the fenced enclosure with an animal that strongly reminded me of an overinflated tire tube, set on its edge upright. “From the Gaxeon Forest of Neron.”
Two eyeballs, suspended on two