Page 56 of Eat My Moon Dust
Afterwards, she’d stay and manage volunteers at the break table while I caught up on work orders and put the finishing touches on theKrismistree. We’d walk to the playfield at the end of the day, watch the spats play, say good night… If Zufi was around, she’d take my arm in hers, twine her fingers in my tendrils, press her lips to my upper bicep or the back of my hand.
Every time she did that, I begged the universe that she’d kiss my palm instead so I could taste it.
I couldn’t let myself fall into the coil though, no matter how painful it was to pull back. Zufi wanted to see me hiss and click and posture–all that shit new coils did–but I needed to calm down. I wasn’t a tadpole on the verge of my first frenzy, and this was an arrangement. Tit for tat. I help Tinsley with the Winter Festival, she helps me fool Zufi into renewing my contract. That’s all this was.
Especially the kiss.
I hadn’t known humans could be swayed by pheromones the way shilpakaari could, but it made sense–we could coil together naturally, after all. But it complicated things. I wouldn’t let Tinsley’s hormones lead her to a decision she’d hate later, especially since it seemed like humans didn’t usually have this kind of reaction to whatever human coiling was called…
Did they just call it dating?
Didn’t matter. The point was, any pheromones we caught along the way were treacherous, which meant I had to be even more of a hardass about self-control. But maybe…
After this blew over and things settled down, maybe I could convince her to give us a try. Then we’d both know if being askhroojm’gess hethad ruined my chances before I’d known how vibrant and seen she made me feel.
I closed my eyes and rolled her pen in my tendrils. It soothed my desperation, the taste of her sweat and oils mixed with ink and plas. If she didn’t want to coil for real, then… I’d make sure there would be more holidays.
Bing.
“Tinsley Adams has requested access,”BEO said from above.
I gathered myself, straightened my clothes, and put my mane back in a tight band. It was crawling desperately towards the door, but when I put it up, it was too short to do anything embarrassing. Deep water shils like me preferred to show off our fullsenti,and only used our tendrils in close quarters anyway.
Besides, Tinsley looked at my throat when she thought I wasn’t paying attention. I literally bit my tongue every fucking time to keep from pulsing my colors at her.
Glancing towards the brood’s room to make sure there were no new holes in the walls, I pressed the entrance access by the kitchen and the door hushed open. Tinsley stood there holding a bag in both hands in front of her hips, fidgeting nervously.
Fuck…
She wore a little redKrismishat at a slant and a dark green sequin dress that sparkled around her thin curves. The neckline skirted her collarbones and the hem was mid-thigh, where a pair of sheer red tights hugged her legs. Subtle glitter dusted her eyelids and the brown fringe that framed her eyes was darker than normal. Black and heavy.
“What? Oh no, is the glitter too much?” she winced. “I don’t usually wear makeup.”
I blinked, realizing I’d just been staring, standing frozen in the doorway.
“You’re beautiful,” I mumbled, scraping my calloused palm over my banded tendrils. The brood came running, and Reha clapped as Tinsley entered the kitchen.
“You look so good!!” she exclaimed. Tinsley’s nerves vanished instantly. She held up her hand and Reha slapped it, something I’d seen Bree do with Pom Pom. “And that glitter!”
“You like it? Yes!” Tinsley laughed, opening her bag. “I thought of you when I chose it.”
“Hi ,Tinsley!” Ladh and Tahavir said in unison. They skidded to a stop right in front of her and she held out her hands.
“So handsome, look at those sharp tabards! Can I give you guys hugs?!” she asked, wriggling her fingers.
My throat felt parched as she wrapped her arms around them both, their tendrils tapping her cheeks and shoulders. She reached over their heads, motioned to Reha, and grabbed her bag, rummaging through it as they pulled their tangle of limbs away.
“Before I forget, I brought something for you,wâpos.It’s a-a…” She stalled out on a hiccup of surprise, the bag tumbling to the ground. I picked it up and when I stood again, the wells of her eyes were thick with salt water. Ice shot through my veins. Had my spats done something? Was there something in my unit that bothered her? Had we somehow triggered an abduction memory? Concerned, I set the bag down on the counter and cupped her face.
“Look at me,” I demanded. “What’s wrong?”
Tinsley blinked, the water breaking over her fringe and soaking into my palms. My mane purred, palms soaking up the flavor. I brushed my thumbs over the tracks, selfishly taking it all.
“Nothing, just…wâpos.”She bit her lip to keep it from quivering and gave Reha a wobbly, apologetic smile. “It’s what my dad called–callsme. Can I call you that too?”
Reha, wide-eyed and shocked into silence, just nodded.
“Us too! What would your baan call us?” Ladh asked.
