Keld chuckled, but didn’t open his eyes. “I’m kidding. It’s the same as someone rubbing your back or something.”
“Dick.” Grayson returned to admiring the smooth, almost velvety texture. “Are you drying out?”
“Not yet. Might need to hose myself down in your shower soon, though.”
“I can start breakfast while you rehydrate.” Grayson attempted to leave the bed, but quickly discovered Mer tails were much heavier than they looked.
“Five more minutes.” Keld’s fingers crept around Grayson’s wrist, thumb brushing back and forth.
Grayson leaned against the headboard and drank in the sight before him. Late morning sunlight lit Keld’s scales with a golden blaze, and illuminated his fins to a glowing amber. His hair tumbled across his pillow in a waterfall of mahogany, and his ear fins lay relaxed among the strands.
Curious, Grayson took the fin between his fingers. It was thinner than the tail, like the smallest accident could tear it.
Keld shivered. “That.Is sexual.”
Grayson hastily dropped the fin. “Sorry.”
Finally, a slit of orange burned between Keld’s eyelids. “Don’t be sorry. Just use your knowledge for good in the future. Or evil. Actually, I encourage evil.”
Grayson laughed and tapped his Alpha’s tail. “Let me up. We have to eat.”
The limb slithered back across the bedding and fell off the other side of the bed. “Fine, but please don’t poison me. I’ll be in the shower if you need me.”
The stupid, giddy smile stamped across Grayson’s face felt permanent. Keld, his boyfriend, the stunning Dom every Omega squabbled over, had just spent the night. His thoughts shifted totheir first date and he cringed. If he’d known what would happen in just a few months’ time…
Grayson opened his fridge and stared blankly at the contents.
What…canMer eat?
No eggs, he knew that. No dairy, no gluten… could Mer eat bacon? Surely salty food wouldn’t be an issue. Grayson grabbed the bacon.
Can they have orange juice? Or is it too acidic? Do they even eat fruit? Shit.
Grayson closed the fridge door and began aimlessly rifling through his cabinets. It was rapidly becoming clear that he did not eat a very Mer-friendly diet.
Black coffee! They can have coffee.
He powered on his coffee maker. The grinder roared to life, filling the kitchen with the scent of fresh beans.
Keld appeared from the hallway, not a droplet of water in sight, though his fins looked much healthier. “So, what’s for breakfast?”
Grayson pursed his lips. “Um. Coffee?”
Keld heaved a dramatic sigh. “You have no idea what Mer can eat, do you?”
“I do!” Grayson protested. “I just don’t have any of it.”
Keld shook his head and leaned down to peer into the refrigerator. “Grayson, do you even eat? All you have is eggs.”
“And bacon.”
Keld shot him a look of annoyance.
Grayson threw his hands in the air. “I never learned to cook, okay? My family was pretty big on the whole ‘men don’t cook or clean’ thing.” Looking back on it now, no matter how his mother had treated him, he felt guilty for letting her shoulder the majority of their family’s burden.
Keld frowned. “How do you feed yourself?”
“Uh. Takeout?”
