Best Friends (New Species #15)(16)

“Are you old school?”

“Why? Are you looking for a woman who will clean your house, cook your meals, and do all your laundry?” She smiled to show him she was teasing.

He grinned in return and lifted his hand to his chin, tapping it. “Let me think.”

She laughed. “I’m a little more modern.”

He dropped his hand to his lap. “Fair enough. I learned how to cook. My skills are limited but I don’t starve. I do my own laundry and my home is clean. We aren’t big on messes. Dirty laundry and unwashed dishes stink, and we have sensitive noses.”

“Then I’m glad I was awake for a while before you got here and brushed my teeth.”

He laughed. “So am I.”

They regarded each other with smiles. He finally spoke again.

“What else would you like to know about Species? Any concerns or worries about me?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been so fixated on how to get close enough to talk to you that I hadn’t reached the stage of figuring out what I’d say if I did.”

“I really like you, Mel. It goes well beyond just the physical attraction.” He bent the knee closest to her and turned more. “Some females are concerned about our fangs.”

“I saw them. Not yours. You kind of talk with your lips close together. But one of your friends yesterday showed his after the attack.”

“I wouldn’t hurt you with them. It’s possible to kiss a Species without bleeding.”

“That’s good to know. I appreciate that.”

He chuckled. “They do have their advantages. I’m not sure if you’re ready for that conversation yet.”

“Go for it. I’m super curious.”

He glanced at her neck briefly before peering into her eyes. “Light bites feel really good with fangs. During sex…” He paused. “Are you sure I’m not making you uncomfortable? I don’t want to.”

She tried to imagine him kissing her and was glad her arms were covering her breasts. Suddenly it was the rest of her body that started to worry her. “How good is your sense of smell?”

“You buy coconut products. I like the way you smell, if you’re wondering. You aren’t wearing perfume, and I appreciate that. It makes me sneeze.”

“We better change the subject to something else then. I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

“There’s no reason to be. Are you shy about discussing sex?”

“It’s more of a worry about you picking up how I react to the conversation.”

He looked confused for a split second but suddenly smiled again. “Oh.”

“I have a real good imagination. You talking about all that makes me start to picture it.” Her cheeks felt warm, but despite that, she liked their forthright discussion. “I was raised on a farm. Not to be offensive…but I know a male anything can sniff out a girl feeling frisky.”

He leaned in closer. “I’ll control myself. You wanted to get to know me better, so I’ll resist touching if you do start scenting of arousal, no matter how much you drive me crazy. I put my own hand where it is to hide my reaction to you.”

She glanced down at his lap and saw the way he’d angled his hand down and across to his other thigh. His forearm covered his crotch. She lifted her gaze and found him staring at her again, a look in his eyes that made her feel even warmer.

Mel blurted the first thing that come to mind. “We have attraction down, then.”

“We do. You might have concerns about how a New Species would be in bed. Should I go on?”

She nodded. She had always been too curious for her own good. Right now, she suspected that curiosity was like shaking something red at a bull. It was just asking for trouble. Yet, she still wasn’t willing to ask him something safe and boring, like what kind of movies he enjoyed.

“Fangs,” he cleared his throat, “have their advantages. I wouldn’t even have to use my fingers to gain access to your clit. The fangs help with that. Species love the taste of aroused females. We’re very different from some of your males that way; we all enjoy giving oral sex. We need to taste, and nothing is sexier than making a female soaking wet while hearing her moans.”

Her heart rate increased, and she was tingling between her legs. “Now you’re being mean.”

“Why?”

“I admitted my last boyfriend was a dud in bed. Do you know how long it’s been since I had sex? Almost a year.” She smiled, amused. “Mean, Snow. Just mean.”

His nostrils flared as he inhaled. “You smell incredible. You make my mouth water.”

She hugged her body tighter and pressed her knees together more firmly. “Is it hot in here?”

“Yes.”

“Stop looking at me like that or we’re going to be in trouble. I’ll grab you, you’ll end up helping me get naked… Before we know it, we’ll be on the floor.” She breathed harder. “Then after you leave, I’ll hate myself.”

“I don’t want you just once, Mel. I’m different than the males you have known. Not all of them seem to appreciate females the way we do.”

“You’re not helping. I’m trying to resist. Must resist,” she chanted jokingly. Then she thought of something. “I don’t have condoms. I don’t keep any since I’m not seeing anybody. I always make a guy wear those. I’m afraid of diseases and double up on protection, but my birth control pills are also wonky for a month, according to your doctor. If you pull a condom out of your pocket, maybe that means you’d planned to seduce me. Which would make me wonder if you were only trying to use me for sex. Do you have any…?”