Page 94 of Seduced By the Mermen
“A male can dream. How—or how else—do you like to relax, Boss?”
“I like to read... Sometimes I watch a movie.”
“We don’t have movies.” I run my hand down her arm. “But I could get some from the university. Students who are planning on doing business with humans take a class in understanding cinema. They’re quite fond ofJaws: The Revenge.”
“Really? That’s the movie they like? Out of all the movies that have ever been made,Jaws IIis their favorite?” Her wide eyes say she’s surprised.
“Indeed. Do you not like it? It really is a favorite of my students.”
“I prefer comedies, and movies with plot,” Blair says. “Or at least some well-written dialogue.”
“We don’t spend much time on literature. There are a few units on it in the lower grades.” Delmar nuzzles up against her. And if he so much as hints at giving her the lowdown of the podlet curriculum in Doria, I’ll pull him out of the room by his ear.
“Right! You’re both teachers. I have so much admiration for teachers.” She cocks a smile at me. I’ve intentionally not told her what I teach. I don’t want her thinking I’m interested in her because I teach human studies and she’s a human.
“Alexei teaches at the university,” Delmar adds. My stomach tightens. I don’t want to explain to her what I teach, not yet.
“Both are so important. It’s hard to teach a young child who doesn’t always want to learn, and teenagers think theyalready know everything. Both are impressive. People don’t give teachers enough credit.”
Clark appears in the doorway with a heaping dish of hedge-tots and a cup of tea for Blair. “You’re right. If it wasn’t for teachers like Delmar, I would never have learned how much I love mathematics.”
There’s some shuffling, and soon Blair has the platter balanced on her lap and we’re all digging in.
Blair takes one from the platter, and we all chew in silence for a while. “These are so good. Thank you, Clark. Before I had Marlee, I thought I might like to be a teacher.” She licks her finger, and I want to do the same.
My heart thuds. Because our former mate was a teacher with Delmar. That’s how he came into the pod. But I’m not comparing them. Not ever.
“But I don’t think I have the patience. I do love literature. I read nonstop to Marlee. She’s her own person, so I never take credit for anything she’s become. But she is a fantastic writer. She’s written a lot of books. And if I could get her to let me read one, I just know they’re amazing.”
“I’m sure you can take some credit,” Delmar says.
“Nope. That’s all her,” Blair says, licking her fingers.
“You are clearly a good parent.” I rest my hand on her leg.
“That’s all I ever wanted.”
A silence zips around the room. That’s all our pod ever dreamed of too.
“But it’s time to move on. She’s all grown up, and I have to figure out what it is I want to do with myself now.” Blair picks up another hedge-tot.
“Once her protector, always her protector,” Clark says.
“I guess you’re right.” Blair finishes the rest of her tea. “That is really good, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“What’s going on in here?” Zion leans against the open doorway.
“Where the hell have you been?” Delmar sits up, pointing at Zion.
He crosses the room and leans over me to kiss Blair’s cheek. It’s everything I can do to not elbow him in his abs.
“That’s a long story.” Zion sits on the edge of the bed, his leg pressed into my chest.
“Do you mind?” I give him a wee push.
“I don’t mind at all.” He leans back on me, squaring himself to Blair before reaching over her and taking the last hedge-tot from the tray.
