She accepted and closed the gap between them to let him pull her into his arms. He held her tight, her head tucked against his chest, his chin resting on her hair. “I’m sorry, honey.”
She tipped her head back. “Not your fault.”
He winced. “It kinda was. I didn’t have to antagonize him. That’s on me.”
“Please tell me you didn’t know he was coming back.”
“I didn’t. I promise.”
She sighed. “Part of me wants to go into your room and shut the door just to infuriate him.”
Kester chuckled, running his hands up and down her arms. “Tempting. But no.”
She gave him a fake pout. “You’re no fun.”
“If I took you into my room, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you, and you’re not ready for that. Plus, you have shit to work out.”
“What shit?”
He nodded toward Stu’s door. “That shit.”
“Seems to me like he just shut the door on whatever it was, literally.”
Kester shook his head. “Something’s up with him. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve never seen him acting like this. All I know is that it has to do with you, and I’d bet the paycheck I’ve never gotten that he’s crazy about you and in denial for some reason.”
Ariel smirked. “So, you’re saying usually when he likes a woman, he doesn’t growl at her for three months and chase other men away?”
“Nope. What I’m saying is that I’ve never known Stu to like a woman. Never. Not since I met him two years ago. I don’t get the impression he’s dated a single woman in the five years he’s been living here.”
Ariel gasped. “Oh.”
“Yeah. You probably need to talk to him. Maybe not tonight, but soon.”
Ariel eased out of Kester’s arms and took a step back, rubbing her temples. “I think I’d rather have that tooth extraction you suggested earlier.”
He chuckled and leaned against the back of the couch. “I’m going to walk you home now.”
When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand to stop her. “I’m going to take you back to the Schamas’ because you have a lot to think about and I don’t have a right to take things between us any further by myself. As much as I’d love to claim you as my own and keep you to myself, that would be selfish. People would growl at me for the rest of my life every time they passed me in the hallway.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let them growl.”
“I would if I thought it was what you wanted. But I know better. You have feelings for Stu that need to be resolved one way or the other. You also have feelings for Tarin, and I know they’re reciprocated. In this new world in this society we live in, men don’t swoop in and get all possessive over a woman.”
She swallowed. “Doesn’t that bother you? Knowing you’ll be sharing?”
He shrugged. “Not really. Not anymore. It may have seemed odd when I was younger and first started witnessing loving polyamorous relationships, but it’s the rational solution to a very real problem. You’ve seen what happens when men start claiming women for themselves, forcing them into sexual and reproductive slavery. They end up killing each other while also hurting and killing women. It’s a vicious cycle that never ends.”
“No one is going to kill anyone among The Wanderers,” she pointed out, almost as a question.
He shook his head. “No. Definitely not. And there are monogamous relationships among our people too. Like I said, if I thought that was what you wanted, I wouldn’t hesitate to make you fully mine and tell everyone else to bug off. But it’s not. You’re sweet and kind and fun and smart, and you have a lot of love to share. I can and will share a relationship with you. I can and will wait until everyone is on the same page too. I won’t take what isn’t completely mine prematurely.”
She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him again. “You’re a good man, Kes.”
He slid his palm up her back and threaded his fingers in her hair, his dark eyes smiling down at her. “I try to be. Now, let’s get out of here before I lose my resolve and kiss the sense out of you.”
“Surely kissing is acceptable. You don’t mean to tell me you aren’t going to touch me in any way until Tarin is onboard and Stu pulls his head out of his butt. I might die of old age waiting.”
Kester chuckled. “I’ll talk to Tarin. I told you I would.”