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I couldn't believe how quickly she'd accepted her captivity! I jumped into the nest, knocking several pillows around. She grabbed the pillows before I could, her mouth turned up in a full smile.

She was so happy with me!

“Do you want to clutch or cling to me?” I asked, opening my arms. She tilted her head again, then nodded.

“Hugging,” she said, wiggling closer. “You mean hugging and snuggling.”

I hadn't heard those terms, but the way she moved to press herself against my chest told me we were talking about the same thing.

I slowly closed my arms around her. She shifted a bit, but soon her little blanket-wrapped body was secured in my arms.

She let out a long breath. “This is nice,” she whispered.

“It is,” I agreed, hoping she'd want me to hold her while she slept. Humans slept in groups, probably for safety and warmth. I didn't know how long Opal was forced to live on her own, but I was excited to provide her with all the comfort she needed.

My human would never be cold, scared, or alone again.

I could still feel some tension in her body. Was she hungry or did she need to use the cleaning or elimination room?

She lifted her head, and I shifted so I could look down at her. Before I realized what she was going to do, she pressed her lips to mine.

Chapter 3

Opal

The moment our lips met, Tolreum jolted and pulled back. “What are you doing?”

“I'm sorry. That was a kiss,” I said, pulling out of his loose hug. I'd been an idiot. Between the soft bed, his purring filling my ears, and the inviting smell coming from him, I forgot I was on an assignment.

“A kiss?” he repeated. “Is it a sign of affection?”

“Yes,” I said. “It's a human thing. I won't do it again.”

He seemed to think about that some more before making the agreement sound. “It's good that you want to show me affection.”

I let out a relieved breath. Maglia had given me a whole lecture about letting the client take the lead, and the first thing I did was try to kiss him when most species didn't kiss.

“You can lip press if you want,” he said. “I mean kiss.”

“No, we don’t have to,” I said quickly. “What do you like to do?”

“I liked it when you clung to me,” he said, holding his arms open again. I moved back into his embrace, although I didn't let myself relax. I needed to remain focused. He was paying a lot of money for my time, and I needed him to be happy with my service.

He purred and petted my back. I waited for him to tug off the blanket and explore my body, but he didn't. Of all the scenarios Maglia had gone over with me, this wasn't one of them. Did I remain pliant and keep cuddling, or did I push him toward intimacy?

“You're tense,” Tolreum said. “Am I doing something wrong?”

“No!” I said quickly. “I, um, didn't expect to cuddle.”

“But you enjoy the cuddle?” he asked. That's when I remembered something Maglia had said. Some clients wanted to believe the sex worker was enjoying herself. They wanted to pretend the encounter wasn't a transaction.

I needed to be eager and genuine. I could do this.

“I love the cuddling,” I said. “You smell really good too.”

I moved close and rose up on my knees so I could press my nose against the side of his face. I wasn't lying about how he smelled. The scent got stronger as I rubbed my cheek against his.

Pulling back, I noticed his face was a little shiny at the same time I felt something on my cheek. Running my palm over my skin, I found that it was coated in a fine layer of oil that smelled strongly of sage. It must have come from him, probably a vestigial scent-marking gland.