Page 120 of Citrine

Once they stop talking, I follow the orange male and his human across the water, this time holding Eli in my tentacles. It'sdisappointing when she doesn't complain, but I can tell she is tired by the events of the long day.

It's tempting to just go to the bottom with her, but I know she will want to assault me with her words. She never settles at night until she does and it is easier for her to talk above the water. I take us out to the most secluded part of the cove. As far as I can get from any shore and all the ridiculousfriendsthat seem to swarm along it in greater numbers every day.

She starts talking as soon as we come up out of the water. "I am so happy. This has been the best day. I mean, not of my life, because that would be sad, but you know what I mean."

I don't and I don't want to.

"Oh! I asked Thivoll why there are so few animals. He said it was fromterraformingand any dangerous creatures were released as part of making the hunting grounds more of a challenge. That means the Many Teeth are aliens, too."

This might take a long time, so I settle my tentacles into a defensive swirling pattern that keeps us afloat and senses any Many Teeth disturbances in the water.

"But that isn't important right now. Ree and Thivoll went back to their cave to start movingsupplies. They'll be back at sunrise. I know we talked about this, but I just want to make sure because it is important to me. You'll help me keep them all safe?"

I repeat her words, just like she expects, then add my own thoughts. "I will want their help in return."

Her eyes open wide in surprise. "You do? I mean, yes, I'm sure they would give it, but for what?"

"Killing the enemy."

"Many Teeth?"

"No, the gray ones with pink slime. They were the ones who took me. I want all of them dead. Is that part ofcommunity?"

Her mouth opens, then closes, then opens again. "I want to say no, it isn't, but I think from what Ree told me that killing all of them is the only way we can make sure we even have acommunityat all."

"You will tell them what I want in return? You will share mydealwith Thivoll?"

"Alright. Yes, I will. I have one more thing. I think this one will be harder for you, but I need it to live."

I perk up, excited to be moving into more erotic territory. Maybe this will be a fight. My mating tentacles start stroking along her legs in anticipation.

She swats them away. "I have important things to say right now and that can wait."

This is getting more exciting by the moment.

"You can't threaten or kill anyone who touches me."

"No."

She makes that lovely sound of frustration, and I am back to twining myself around her legs. "Basta." Another swat sends a jolt of pleasure through me. "I need more than just your touch."

"Kindhandsare all mine."

"Notkind hands, well… I guess. Huh, there's a translation issue here. Never mind. Not a sexual kind of touch. Afriend'stouch. They aren't the same."

"No."

I spend some more time saying no to her, not paying attention to the increasingly more agitated words she keeps hissing out. Once she gets to the appropriate level of anger, I relent.

"You can touch yourfriends, but not withkind hands, and if they ever touch you with violence, I will make sure they have a few Many Teeth at their feet. Is this the new deal forkind hands?"

She huffs out a breath. "Fine. Yes, but I think both of us know by now that what we have is more than adeal. I don't think that term works anymore."

"Alright. Does that mean you will talk less?"

I almost lose control of the seed in one tentacle when she makes a growling shriek of frustration.

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