Page 49 of Simon

But I wouldn’t. I didn’t want him to think I was being condescending. He was just—Simon.

“You did not come to the Wood to find a mate, then?”

I frowned. “I’m a human. While humans have found mates in Bergarian, I don’t think I would have one. I came fromEarth with no ties to anyone. We just answered an ad on the internet looking for a scientist and somehow we were selected, as if it were fate.” I rubbed my lips together. “I came for a job, not because I was hunting for a forever partner. Honestly…” I paused as I tried to find the right words.

“I’ve never found anyone attractive to me. Who would fit my tastes? It’s hard for me to have a relationship with anyone because I don’t have… those special desires.”

Simon’s mouth was parted like a goat ready to be fed.

Alright, I can’t beat around the bush with this. He needs bluntness.

“Sexual desires. Sex!”

He continued to stare at me.

“What we did earlier! You, on top of me. Touching each other!” I covered my face. “I’ve never wanted to before.”

He gave me a toothy grin.

Ah, Skittles!

“And why would a goddess give me a mate anyway if I don’t have those feelings to do that?”

Of course, Simon’s excitement deflated.

My thoughts made my stomach churn. I would like to have a mate, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the thought that I could have one. I didn’t know what to look for, and I didn’t get to ask the queen those questions because I was too busy and excited to see shifters, fae, vampires, and the other lot.

Simon turned away and shoved the roots into his satchel. “Don’t you want to find someone? Not be alone? We do not have to touch if you do not want to.” He looked hopeful as he stared at me.

My lips tilted downward. I wanted to touchhim.

“I sought no one before. It wouldn’t be fair to them. It’s natural for beings to seek contact, physical contact. Besides, I’m notalone. I have my father.” I picked at my red-stained dress. “We can care for each other.”

Simon shook his head. “Not the same.”

He was right, it wasn’t. I had never seen my father with a significant other since I was a child. My father believed he would never find the right woman for him, one that shared the same interests in science, enjoyed reading and exploring unknown places.

“It’s not. But he is my father,” I stated. “What about you?” I decided to change the direction of this conversation. I was feeling way too vulnerable. “Do you remember your parents? If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.” I placed my hand on top of his. He stared at it longingly and put his other hand on top of mine.

“I do not know them. I do not remember a lot of things.” His face went red, and he avoided my gaze.

More questions surfaced, but seeing how the light died from Simon’s features, I realized I should leave it alone. I didn’t want to see him sad, not after everything he had done for me. I’m pretty sure I slept a day or so because he had set up a base camp here around the fire.

Yet, I still wondered. I needed to know more about Simon, this faun that had me chomping at the bit, wanting to understand him and his sweet ways.

“I don’t know my mother,” I muttered under my breath.

Simon’s head popped up, and his gaze met mine.

“I don’t. I have never met her, but I know of her.” Was I really ready to tell him my story? It was a part of me I never shared with anyone. Everyone believed that my father had a relationship with a woman, and she gave me up to him. Or that she died, which was partly the truth.

“My father was on a conference trip in South Africa. It’s a place, back on Earth,” I added. Simon scooted closer to me andsqueezed my hand tighter. “He wasn’t planning on leaving the hotel where the conference was being held, but since he was already in a new country he had never visited, he decided to go explore when he didn’t have a meeting.”

I smiled and remembered when he first told me about my history. It made me realize what a kindhearted man he was. A little eccentric at times but a wonderful man, nonetheless.

“My father…” my voice croaked, “was walking through the Port Elizabeth streets just after dark.He was warned not to go out after dark, being a tourist and all, but my father,”-I chuckled-“isn’t one to take heed of any warning.”

Simon scooted closer to me again, and I saw the warmth brimming in my eyes. “He heard a scream. A blood-curdling scream and ran straight toward it. When he got to an alleyway a few blocks down, he saw two thugs roughing up a woman. He charged right away; he didn’t care about his safety. When they saw my father, they ran, but the woman they had assaulted had been stabbed.”

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