Page 13 of Songbird
“So, we just parade around in front of the Berajbe and do mating stuff,” I surmised.
“Mating stuff?” Tarrick huffed, appalled. “You want me to fuck you in front of them?”
“What?” I blinked at him until his words settled in my brain. “Good Lord, no!” I felt my cheeks burn. “Humans... we do things like hold hands and....” My gaze settled on his full, light brown lips. I had to admit, my curiosity wasn’t for the ruse alone. “Do your species kiss?”
“Stranac nuzzle,” Praxxan explained and proceeded to demonstrate by tenderly rubbing his nose over Jala’s hair and face like a big cat. He raised his gaze and grinned at me. “Although my brother Siemba kisses because he is mated to a human.”
“Okay.”Shit.Why did that tidbit of knowledge disappoint me? “Okay, so we go on dates and....”
“What is a date?” Tarrick had been quietly watching me through all this, his handsome face intent with curiosity.
I felt like I was teaching a Sex Ed class, and not very well. “It’s where two people who are thinking about mating spend time with each other. We can go to lunch… or dinner, take walks, hold hands and… nuzzle, and make sure these Berajbe see us.” A flush of heat spread across my cheeks, and my heart raced with anticipation at the mere thought of it.
Seriously?
Calm down. Just like Sam, it was only for show.
“You must appear besotted.” Jala scolded Tarrick, to which he gave a nod in agreement. Her eyes cut me, and I nodded as well. Personally, I didn’t expect to have any trouble playing the part.
“Completelybesotted,” Jala emphasized, her golden gaze intent on Tarrick.
“I know,” Tarrick grumbled, the light tan of his cheeks growing to burnished copper. Was he blushing? Why did I find it so adorable?
I forced myself back to business. “It’s too bad we don’t have ameet cute.”
Tarrick shifted his large body on the sofa next to me, drawing incrementally closer, and my heart increased in tempo.
“What is that?” His chocolate brown eyes focused on my face with such intensity, I actually felt his gaze tingle across my skin.
“It’s the moment when a couple meet for the first time,” I said, my voice rough and a little breathy. I cleared my throat before continuing. “Often, especially in videos and books, when a couple meet, they do it in a cute, memorable way.”
My meet cute with Sam was backstage after one of my concerts. There were so many flashing bulbs that I barely got through it without going blind. The next day, TMZ declared us the hot new couple.
“The whole restaurant is buzzing over the way Tarrick stared at you while you sang last night,” Jala said matter-of-factly.
I blushed, remembering the way his stare made me feel. “That will work.”
“We begin now,” Jala announced, rising to her feet, her body thrumming with purpose. “We will use the staff atSpace Pearlsto spread the tale of how Tarrick became immediately enraptured when he heard you sing.” She grinned and waved her fingers toward where Tarrick and I sat. “And you two get out and about, find some Berajbe... and mate.”
Beside me, I felt Tarrick’s body tense, his low growl of agreement rumbling through the air. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips—sweet andunderstanding. When we left this room, it would be under the pretense that we were a couple... a couple deeply in love.
I gazed at Tarrick's handsome face, feeling a flutter of something low in my belly. How bad could it be? I might even find some enjoyment in this charade.
Chapter 8 – Tarrick
I paced restlessly outsideSpace Pearls, my eyes flickering to the door every few seconds, eagerly awaiting Izzy’s arrival. We’d decided earlier that Izzy and I would go on something she called adinnerdate, a way to solidify our bond in the minds of those around us. From where I stood, I could hear the moans of displeasure coming from patrons as they found out Izzy would not sing tonight. For a moment, I felt guilty about allowing Jala to cancel the performance, but Praxxan convinced me otherwise. My brother was right. If I truly saw Izzy as my mate, I would insist upon spending time with her over any other form of distraction.
My mind was so consumed with thoughts of Izzy that I barely avoided colliding with a Verdesian couple, holding hands and dressed in colorful robes as they headed toward the restaurant. I mumbled a half-hearted apology, too focused on the night ahead to care for much else. I hadn’t been this nervous since facing my first warrior trials as a youngling.
The line forSpace Pearlsgrew as it neared the dinner hour, and I relocated to a nearby storefront where my pacing and crazily swiping tail wouldn’t be a danger to anyone. After a few steps, I glanced up, catching sight of myself in the reflection of a store window. My stomach turned at the sight of the leather jacket adorning my frame. It was an expensive piece, of course, in keeping with my ruse as a wealthy playboy. What I hated was the padding, which made me look soft and paunchy and hid mylean, muscular frame. I longed for Izzy to see me as I truly was—a warrior who could and would protect her.
As if simply thinking her name sent a spell of conjuring through the universe, Izzy stepped through the restaurant’s door.
She took my breath away.
This had to be the green dress Priemba admired. The silk fabric shimmered emerald in the dimming evening light, clinging to her every curve. Izzy wore her hair loose, the golden strands floating about her shoulders in a riot of waves. I stepped forward, catching the moment she noticed my approach with a widening of her bright blue eyes and soft smile.
My fucking tail lost its mind. Filled with an uncontrollable energy, it swiped back and forth in a frantic frenzy. I gritted my teeth and exerted some semblance of control over the errant appendage, tucking it close to my thigh. The urge to let it loose was almost overwhelming, like a wild animal resisting a cage.
