plants one massive hand beside my head and leans in on one thick forearm in until our noses are almost touching. “Isla?” His exhale becomes my next breath. “Respect. My. Boundaries.”
His warning sets shivers traveling through me. The good kind. I send him a sincere smile. “I will. You said slow and like I told you, I can work with that. With this being an official date though, kisses are on the table.” As is teasing. He’s so stiff and serious; he needs to be shaken up as much as possible.
Bash’s eyes shift to the table near us and for a beautiful second where he inhales sharply and all of his spines raise, I know he’s imagining a kiss happening on it.
But then his long ears flatten and he shakes his head like he’s tossing off the image.
Aww, Bash. It’s okay to enjoy the moment. I’m not going to hurt you.
Somehow, I need to convince him that I’m not here to bang him and bail. That we don’t have to wait anymore—I’m committed. I’m as committed as they come. But he’s not going to believe what I say. This is a male who gave his heart… er, hearts—to a female who friggin’ stomped on them after using him for hot crazy monkeysex.
I clear my throat as he retreats from me, letting me straighten from the wall where he had me happily trapped. “Want help putting away your tools and stuff?”
I can see the refusal spring to the tip of his tongue. But he surprises me by catching it and agreeing instead. “We’ll make better time together, Grab those there.” He indicates tools to my left.
Always so efficient. “You got it, boss.”
“Talk to me,” he orders, surprising me.
So for the next five minutes, we sweep up the area, the quarry finishes emptying out, and we’re left alone while I tell him about the phenomenon of pet rocks in the mid-seventies.
“I should probably be offended that you think I’d believe such nonsense, but the notion of your people adopting rocks as pets and paying for the privilege somehow does not surprise me.”
I smirk. “Next I’ll tell you about Beanie Babies.”
“Don’t. If your people adopted beans for children, I’ll be done with all of you.”
I bust out laughing.
Bash watches me, something on his face registering as a soft poof along a spot tucked behind my breastbone. It makes my laughter taper off until we’re left staring at each other.
Bash’s eyes snag on the spot when I bring the heel of my hand up to rub it.
I clear my throat. “So,” I start. “What are we doing for our date?”
It takes several blinks for Bash to come to himself and drag his gaze up to meet mine. “I will feed you.”
“Your food is weird, but I’d just about eat recycled tires if it means I get to spend time with you.” I shrug. “Lead the way.”
“How,” Bash asks softly, staring into my eyes. “Do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Admit the most disarming things as if it doesn’t leave your soul open and unprotected.”
“Oh.” I shrug. “I’ve tried keeping that stuff to myself. Know where it got me?”
His ears twitch forward just slightly. “Where?”
I smile sadly. “Nowhere. If I don’t open up and show you what I’m feeling, how will you know who I am and what I want? Besides, I said the tire bit because I thought you’d jump on it. You missed an opportunity to disparage all of humankind and our primitive transportation donuts—again. Are you okay?” I move for the ramp that will take us to his cave, knowing he’ll follow.
He falls into step beside me, not his characteristically quiet self. “I’m not certain what I am.”
“An alien.”
“You’re an alien,” he retorts without heat. “Scaleless pest.”
“Where I’m from, that’s a positive trait.”
“Proving how backwards your people are.”
I start to moonwalk—which makes Bash’s eyes bug out before he swings his horns and sneers at me like he wasn’t just shocked by my moves.
I toss him a grin. “See? You are so fun when you’re in a good mood!” I bump him. “I like you, you know. Even when you’re grouchy, but especially when you’re in a good mood.”
Smoke curls up out of his nostrils.
“Uh oh,” I murmur, eyeing him. “What’s the matter?”
Bash catches me by the elbow and halts us both, immediately making the moment feel heavy. His serious-as-death expression seals it. “I care about you, Isla. I more than like you.”
“Oh.” I swallow. “That’s good.”
He stares at me hard. I used to think