The words sounded strange on his tongue. It was a concept foreign to him. On his planet, once you found your mate it was like being married.
“You would do that for me?” she asked. The disbelief in her tone made his heart ache. She had so much to learn about him and his people.
“That and more, my Zash, now let’s enjoy the rest of our first date.”
****
“I can’t believe you brought me to the Festival of Lights,” Zasha said. A wide grin stretched across her red lips as they waited in line at the Cincinnati Zoo.
“Is this not acceptable form of entertainment on a date? “ Phelan asked. Dark head tilted as he frowned lightly. His apprehension was endearing, and she placed a hand on his shoulder to offer comfort.
“No, it’s perfect. It’s just not something I’ve done in years.”
The memories of trips made with her mother rose and caused an ache that was bittersweet. The last week had been one hell of a ride. Along with her acceptance of Phelan in her life, she had aired out the past she’d long avoided. She had done herself a serious disservice when she boarded up her history: lock, stock, and barrel. There was plenty of good she had shut out that way. That was all in the past, because now was a time for a fresh start.
She twined her fingers with Phelan’s and gave a shy smile as she peered at him through her lashes. Since that night in Devou Park, he’d been a model of good behavior. Hands, lips, and dirty words had been kept to himself. She knew it was at her request, but damn did she miss her naughty alien with black eyes and skin that glowed blue.
“Where are your thoughts, Zasha?” he asked.
Amber eyes aglow with knowledge as his lips curved into a smug smile that proved to be too much temptation to resist. Her high-heeled boots provided enough height for her to lean in and capture his soft pink lips with her own. The gentle caress of his mouth was all she allowed before she stepped away. Her face felt like it was on fire as he grinned, and she refocused his attention elsewhere.
“Look, the line moved.”
A tug of her hand put them into motion as they made their way to the booth, and he paid. She’d never asked him where he got his courtship knowledge. But it was definitely old school. He held doors, paid tabs, and gave compliments with an ease that made her melt. She never thought she’d be one for traditional roles. As an agent, she went out of her way to make sure her gender was unnoticed. Maybe that was why the change of pace felt so good.
“I’ve never been to the Festival of Lights.” Phelan admitted as they stepped through the gates into the spectacle of tiny blue Christmas lights that adorned the archway they walked beneath.
“I loved it as a kid,” she said. Her arm tucked into his as she craned her neck and imagined the tiny dots were stars.
“What was it like on Tagget?”
“It was…different. Our skies were the palest pink and the clouds a dusky lavender.”
“Did you have night?”
“Yes, we had night, and it was the same indigo that you have, but our stars are much larger, and brighter than the ones you see here.”
“I would love to see it.”
“I would love to show it to you. We have many holo vids, perhaps our next date could be spent viewing them with popcorn?”
“Smooth, Phelan, are you sure you haven’t done the courtship thing before?”
“No, but my youngest brother, Marsden, has spent many years on Earth, and he’s helped me, get the hang of things, as you’d say.”
The sound of the slang on his refined palate made her throw her head back and laugh. She enjoyed his company more than she should. But Zasha was honest enough to admit this courtship was nothing more than a delay of the inevitable. If they weren’t surrounded by a group of impressionable children with their parents, she’d have pulled him into a dark corner and snogged him senseless. She was way over her head, and they both knew it.
“Who knew Phelan D’Shar had a sense of humor.”
“I forget myself most days.”
His gentle admission made her squeeze his hand. If nothing else, they appeared to be good for one another.
“Heavy lies the head?”
“Exactly,” he said wrapping an arm around her shoulders to pull her close. “But not right now when I’m with you.”
“You do not make it easy to take things slow.”