Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57876 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
He made a noncommittal thinking sound as he plated up the most perfect breakfast sandwich I’d ever seen. “All forms of communication will be something I encourage, my Theo.”
I had a feeling that would be an understatement.
“So that means I can text you first thing without worrying I’ll annoy you?” My question had him looking at me like he thought I was confused about reality. “I just want to make sure. Clear communication, right? I thought that was what you were saying but I want to make sure I can’t start worrying over it later.”
That had his thinking face coming back and he made quiet sounds that I had a feeling were for my benefit.
Fuck it.
“Do you make sounds when you think so I know what you’re doing?” It really sounded like a stupid question until he nodded and looked at me like I was the smartest little puppy he’d ever seen.
“Yes.” He was so proud of me he even patted my head as he went back over to the stove. “Humans require several layers of communication. The first-contact team discovered that very quickly. Without the ability to sense hormonal changes and other physical reactions, you have built in a variety of nonword-based information exchanges.”
Oh.
“So we didn’t react well without the clues?”
How not well?
Jerker nodded, probably another human thing he’d learned to do just for us, and went back to moving around the kitchen. “Please eat, my Theo. The temperature of human food changes its taste and viscosity.”
He was so cute.
“Yes, Sir.”
My reward for taking a bite was for him to continue the story. “From the report I was provided, the first-contact team was met with suspicion and unreasonable fear when we went from electronic communications to in-person discussions.”
Online to in person.
Got it.
“And that turned out to be about sounds?”
Really?
Humans were weird but not that weird, right?
“Yes.” As he started to make what looked like it would be several more sandwiches, he nodded. “The political leaders began as polite but it quickly…unvolved?”
“Devolved.”
Once I’d given him the word I thought he’d been looking for, he perked up and storytime got back on track. “Yes. Our natural state is still and quiet. We are not prey.”
Oh.
I hadn’t thought of that.
“And we started worrying that you guys were the boogie man or some kind of predator out to eat us.” It would’ve been like some kind of Hollywood horror movie.
“If I understand your expressions, yes.” Master sighed, another humanism I appreciated. “However, one of the human first-contact team members had worked with a variety of remote Earth-based civilizations and was able to explain the problem.”
That would’ve been crazy.
“So you guys learned to pick up our nonverbal cues and stuff. I think that makes sense, and I have to say, I appreciate you not sounding like the monster in a scary movie.” That would’ve been hard to deal with. “I’ll adapt now that I understand what to expect, so you don’t have to keep doing the human stuff if you don’t want to.”
Shaking his head as he started assembling three different sandwiches at the same time—still amazing—Jerker didn’t seem inclined to take me up on my offer. “I must continue to practice. However, I will give you gratitude for the offer and your understanding.”
Practice?
He hadn’t been doing it as long as everyone else.
Duh.
“Alright.” As he came back over to the table, I reached out and caressed one of his tentacles. “But just remember, I know you’re not human. I’ll just need you to explain things sometimes.”
I’d probably need him to explain a lot, but it felt obvious, so I didn’t point it out.
I would however start making lists…lots of them.
Like where had he learned to cook?
Chapter 10
“I think it went well.” Yes, I was confident about that part. “No, it went well. It’s just…”
Nicholas raised one eyebrow as he leaned against the door to the small closet, inadvertently trapping me in the tiny room. “Just what?”
Now he was worried.
That meant his mate would start to worry.
And that would start a chain reaction I didn’t want to live through again.
“I keep remembering things I should’ve asked him and I’m kind of feeling like a first-date failure.” Trying not to sound stressed enough to trigger the domino effect of worries, I took a breath and forced my shoulders down.
“I don’t know what he does for a living or why I dropped him off at an office complex instead of a house this morning. I don’t know where he learned to cook and when I’m going to see him again. And I’m kind of worried that tired me was a brat and I kidnapped him into staying over because he was too nice to tell me no.” That was definitely something Jerker would do.
I’d even forgotten to ask him about his name because I knew there would be a reason why he picked it.