Page 4 of Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection (Amaranthine Interludes #3)

“Jiro?” Kip mumbled muzzily.

“It’s okay.” And clinging to the resolve he’d found earlier, Joe repeated the move, unhurried and unapologetic.

Kip leaned up enough to brush his lips against Joe’s throat.

That definitely made Joe’s heart skip, and Kip definitely noticed. He fumbled around, then lofted one of the crystals that were always close to hand. More for Joe’s benefit than his own. Kip could see just fine in the dark. His expression was curious, but … politely so.

Joe felt caught. And seen. Possibly for the first time in a while.

“That was nice,” Kip offered. “It is okay. You know I don’t mind.”

“I know.” Joe gave a little extra push of the soul-self he knew his bondmate craved.

Kip’s eyes fluttered shut. He cleared his throat and softly asked, “What’s this?”

“Umm. Yours?”

“Mmm.” He slowly opened his eyes, and they held a smile. “My stash.”

Joe mumbled, “All you need, I could be.”

“That’s a very wolvish way of stating things.”

“How does it work for squirrels?”

Kip settled back down, cradling Joe close. “We’ve been over this, Jiro. I’m not a squirrel.” Light and teasing. But also changing the subject.

“For people from the squirrel clans, then. How does it work?”

He angled his head, peering up through his lashes. “How does what work?”

“Affection … I guess?”

“This is good. You know I like this.”

“But … isn’t there … couldn’t there be more?”

“Like what?”

Kip’s complete confusion just about scuttled Joe’s nerve. But this was a good time to ask, when Ash wasn’t anywhere nearby. Joe didn’t want to waste the moment. “Not just friendliness and … and being a cuddler. How do squirrels court each other?”

“Oh. Well.” Kip gave a tiny shrug. “Not much experience there. Kith-kin don’t usually get that sort of attention.”

“But you know about it?”

“Sure. I mean, how do squirrels do anything? Silly pranks. Stupid dares. Sneaking around. Or sneaking off together. And freckles are kind of a thing.”

All squirrels had freckles. Joe knew that much. “How are they a thing?”

Kip propped himself up again, facing Joe more squarely. “Counting freckles.”

“What for?”

“It’s just a game. The sorts of things kids gossip about. It’s probably nonsense.”

“Squirrels love games and nonsense.”

“We totally do.” And with a gusty sigh, Kip explained, “It’s not just counting freckles. They say that if you learn the patterns of someone’s freckles and kiss each one, that’s proof of a bond. Or true love. Something along those lines.”

Joe lightly touched Kip’s cheek. “That’s a lot of freckles.”

“You have freckles, too, you know.”

“Do I?”

“Faint, but there. They gain in summer, fade in winter.” Bumping noses with him, Kip added, “They’re barely there right now.”

“Maybe I should start wearing a hat.”

“You have something against freckles?”

“No. Yours are nice.”

“A compliment!” Kip said lightly. He wasn’t taking this seriously.

Joe determinedly forged ahead. “I don’t think anyone could kiss every single individual freckle on a squirrel. One kiss would capture a dozen at least.”

“I’m pretty sure couples don’t play these games for the sake of accuracy.”

“Nobody’s ever counted your freckles before?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll do it.”

Kip looked amused. “You want to count my freckles.”

“You don’t want me to?”

“I don’t mind.”

Joe thought Kip was just humoring him, but … it was a good start, wasn’t it? He ran a couple of fingertips down the side of Kip’s face. “I think it’s a nice tradition. If I had hundreds and hundreds of years with someone, I’d probably use some of those years memorizing all my favorite parts.”

“And freckles are your favorite.”

“They’re a part of you, and you’re my favorite.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Joe smoothed his thumb up over Kip’s cheekbone. “I do usually pick a project during winter.”

“So I’m your next project?”

He liked the sound of that, so he nodded. It was a lot less daunting, thinking of this as a project. Like hanging wallpaper in the dining room. Or adding more nest boxes to the chicken coop. Getting Kip to fall in love with him was just … an improvement.

“You’re up to something,” Kip accused.

Joe’s heart skipped sideways.

“For the record, I approve.” Reaching up, Kip caught the crystal, snuffing the light before pulling Joe back into his arms. “You definitely have the capacity for mischief. Never underestimate the quiet ones. They’re way too good at long-range planning. And heists.”

Okay, Joe was sort of trying to steal something.

“Hey, also for the record, you’re my favorite beacon.”

That caused a pang that he did his best to hide. But then lips pressed to his forehead, and all Joe could feel was glad.

“Whoa.” Kip breathed. “Guess I should be mentioning that more often.”

He left another soft kiss on heating skin, and Joe needed to distract himself. “Umm … do I have a freckle there?”

“Mmm … nope. I totally missed.” He lightly pecked a point under Joe’s left eye. “There you go. My tally’s off to a good start.” Then breezing on, he said, “Your turn for tending. Okay?”

Joe nodded and let it happen.

Kip might not love him, but their trust was mutual.

“Alder?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Don’t let go …?”

“Never happening,” he promised.

Which was nice to hear, even if it was all part of the bondmate thing. But Joe was more interested in the sorts of things that might happen. If not now, then someday. “More …?” he whispered.

“Gotchu,” Kip replied. Because squirrels might be greedy, but they weren’t stingy.

Really. Joe never stood a chance. Kip made falling in love so easy.

“Wish I could make happy squirrel noises,” he mumbled.

Kip shook with silent laughter, then chirred softly in Joe’s ear until he fell asleep.