Page 34 of So I Married an Alien
“When you’re going to have sex,” I say in a quieter voice.“Enough to see by, but not bright.Sexy lighting.”
“Sexy… lighting.”Roth’kar appears even more perplexed now.“But it is a fire hazard.”
I giggle as we exit the elevator and head down the hall to my apartment.“I guess you’re right.It’s about the mood.”
He ponders this as we step inside.“So a ‘mood’ is important during intercourse?”
The wordintercoursenearly busts me up, but I hold my laugh inside because I don’t want to embarrass him.
“Yes.You want to think sexy thoughts, not ‘the light is too bright’ thoughts.”
He nods, understanding, then picks up his bags and heads to his room.I realize he doesn’t have a closet or a dresser in there, and I kick past me for not thinking to get him one.
“Do you… do you want to put them in my room?”I call after him, and Roth’kar pauses.“I can free up some drawers for you.And closet space.”
He pivots, shooting me a surprised look.
“If it’s not an imposition,” he says carefully.“I don’t want to encroach on your?—”
“Oh, shush.”I cross the distance between us and snatch the clothing bag from his hand.“Come on.We’ll get you set up.”
I made sure we bought him plenty of underwear and socks, too, so I free up two drawers for him—one for his pants and one for the unmentionables.The shirts I hang up in the closet next to mine.
“Is this okay?”I ask him, gesturing at the shirts.
Roth’kar appears perplexed by my question.“Why wouldn’t it be?Now they won’t get damaged or wrinkled.”
“Well, you’ll have to come into my room to get them, and…”
He arches an eyebrow when I don’t finish my sentence.Roth’kar takes a step toward me, then another step, until we’re almost chest to chest.Then he scoops up one of my hands with his lower arm and twines our fingers together.
“Yes, I will.And your room smells like you, which is a scent I very much enjoy.”
Wow.Roth’kar has really opened up to me the last few days, and I’m more than grateful.I’m starting to see the real him inside, and that real him is surprisingly flirty and romantic.
“Well, we’d better get dressed if we want to get dinner,” I say, pecking him on the cheek before I start rifling through the closet.He nods, chooses a shirt and a pair of pants, and then departs the room so I can change.
When I’m finally made up and ready, we head out together.Luckily, it’s only a single bus trip to get downtown, and I made sure to call ahead for a reservation.We’re running a little late, so we jog together down the street to the stop, arriving just before the bus rolls up.
We don’t talk much on the way, sitting with our hands linked, my head resting on Roth’kar’s shoulder.I pull the wire when we reach our stop, and we hop off the bus together.
Roth’kar’s lips part in surprise as he takes in our new surroundings.Here, the buildings are huge and tall, jutting up into the sky so far they block out the setting sun.
“The restaurant is up there,” I say, pointing at the top of a skyscraper.“You can look out the windows over the whole city.”
Roth’kar’s eyes get even bigger as he cranes his neck back to see.
“Come on.”I loop my hand around his arm.“Let’s eat.”
We step into the lobby, then take the elevator up to the very top floor.When the doors open, we’re greeted by the hum of restaurant noise—people talking and laughing, waiters stacking plates, and a gentle music playing.A woman glances up from the host stand as we approach, and her brows jump when she notices Roth’kar.
“Oh, hello!”She claps her hands together.“A Karthinian!”
Now it’s our turn to be surprised.
“You know what he is?”I ask.
“Yes!Oh my gosh, it’s so cool to meet you in person.”The hostess is focused solely on Roth’kar, as if I’m not even there.She shyly extends a hand to him, and he pauses for a moment before he takes it and shakes.
