Page 25 of Earth-Bound

“What about him?”

“He’s out there.”

“So?”

“So he’s, um, not ready for visitors?”

“Visitors?”

The incredulity in Broadmire’s voice was justified, in my opinion. I couldn’t work out why I shouldn’t like to receive visitors.

I called out, “I have just been admiring your craftsmanship, Broadmire. These chairs are very finely made.”

Broadmire came striding out of the kitchen with Randall still pulling on his arm, trying to stop him. Broadmire stopped in the doorway and stared at me, and then a large grin cracked across his face. He looked rather like a cat about to torment a canary.

“You like my chairs, huh?”

“Yes, indeed I do.”

“Never had anyone like my workthatmuch before.”

Randall hissed, “Broadmire! Don’t say that. Get back in the kitchen.”

I frowned in confusion. “Is something the matter?”

Randall gave a falsely cheerful, “No, not at all,” but Broadmire just grinned again.

“Your branch is waving out the front of your pants.”

I looked down.

Ah. I did indeed have a rather sizeable erection.

“Excuse me,” I said, placing both my hands in front of my crotch to conceal it. I hadn’t been aware of my arousal or I’d have covered it before. It was just that I was still getting used to moving around in my body, feeling solid again. There were a lot of sensations that went along with a body and it was hard to keep track of them all.

Broadmire continued to grin and Randall blushed harder.

“No problem, Terrund. You can get hard over my chairs any time you like. I can make you your own, you know. Cost you.”

I spluttered, “I amnotaroused by your chairs, thank you very much. No matter how finely made, I do not find them sexually appealing in the least.”

“No?”

“No. I was simply waiting for my mate to arrive and might have got a little carried away.”

“Shame. I thought you were about to hump your chair. Would have been funny to watch.”

The chime over the door sounded and I looked up to see my mate standing there, his mouth open in shock and his eyes flicking back and forth between me and Broadmire.

“Hmm, who’s humping his chair?”

I groaned quietly. Why could I not behave charmingly when my mate was nearby?

Broadmire opened his mouth to reply but Randall elbowed him sharply in the ribs. It did not look like a gentle tap, either.

“Nobody, it was a joke,” he said, and then glared up at Broadmire. “You have done quite enough for today, thank you.”

“Aw, was just getting interesting,” grumbled the troll. I could see him wavering, wanting to stay and humiliate me some more.

---