Page 12 of Slithery Heat

11

DATING

After years of working in retail, if there was one thing Gideon could be confident about, it was clothes. No matter how nervous he was about his first date with Siurin, he knew he’d dressed well.

Siurin had been candid about his appreciation for Gideon’s fragile looks. To enhance those qualities, Gideon chose a flowery shirt in pastel tones, a cream scarf, beige slacks, and cream leather loafers. He left the top shirt buttons open to reveal his collarbones and a sliver of the delicate lace cami he wore underneath. He used minimum product in his hair and no makeup aside from just the thinnest layer of highlighter under his eyes. Siurin had already seen Gideon at his best and his worst, naked, splayed out, and laying eggs, for goodness’ sake! What would be the point of covering every imperfection?

Patting his nearly flat stomach, he gave his reflection in the mirror only a fleeting final look—better not to let his insecurities swarm him at the last minute—then he pocketed his phone and strode out of his apartment with determination.

Like a true gentleman, Siurin had arrived early and was waiting for Gideon in the reception area of the upscale restaurant. After not seeing him for a few days, Gideon was struck anew by the alien’s impeccable looks in his human form. Besides, he could guess the price tag of Siurin’s lightweight summer suit. Out of his league in every way.

But as Siurin hurried to greet him and pressed a soft kiss on Gideon’s cheek, Gideon forced himself to calm his breathing.

I have no reason to freak out. He likes me and wants me.

“You look lovely, Gideon. I’m profoundly happy to see you again. May I kiss you on the lips?”

The question made Gideon smile. “Always so considerate. Yes, you may.”

Siurin placed a warm hand on Gideon’s nape and brushed his lips gently before softly nipping at the upper one.

“I’m happy to see you too,” Gideon murmured, and Siurin kissed him again.

Then he hugged Gideon somewhat possessively around his shoulders and led him to the reception stand.

A young omega in a white shirt and a black vest watched them wide-eyed before he gulped and glanced at his tablet.

“Good evening and welcome. May I have your name?”

“Good evening. Miraghan Siurin. I’ve reserved a table for two.”

“Thank you. Come with me, please.”

Gideon realized he hadn’t known Siurin’s full name until then. Miraghan . It sounded noble, almost royal. He glanced up at the handsome man by his side. Siurin carried himself with aristocratic grace, and Gideon felt like a prince by his side. The receptionist showed them to their table, and Siurin pulled out a chair for Gideon to sit on. He held his hand until Gideon was settled and tenderly kissed the back of it before moving to his side of the table.

Yep. Like a prince.

Gideon glanced around the elegant yet cozy restaurant and noticed a few curious stares. He struggled not to blush.

“The colors of your shirt suit you,” Siurin said. “I realize we haven’t spent much time in each other’s company while dressed.”

“We haven’t.” Gideon’s lips twitched with a smile. “I think I only had one outfit at the clinic. Most of the time, I wore a bathrobe.” Or nothing at all.

“It feels strange to see you in public where I can’t touch you intimately. But I like it too.”

They should probably change the subject before Gideon started daydreaming about sex with Siurin. They were five minutes into their first date, for heaven’s sake. They couldn’t rush home to fuck—at least not before dessert.

The arrival of their server distracted them for a moment.

“How have you been?” Gideon asked after they placed their orders.

“Good. I worked long hours and spent every spare minute thinking of you.”

He couldn’t dwell on those sweet compliments, or they wouldn’t make it through dessert, and Gideon was determined to accomplish one ordinary date. It couldn’t be too hard. “I don’t know much about your work. What does your company do?”

“I wouldn’t wish to bore you.”

“Try me.”

“I create safe solutions for companies needing to store sensitive data.”

“Oh. Like banks and insurance companies and stuff?”

“Our clients are usually small to medium-sized. Imagine, for example, a dentist’s office or a law firm. Both deal with private client information. Some data must be accessible immediately, and some must be archived, while leaks could have legal consequences. We ensure that the dental records are backed up, safe, and even securely destroyed after a certain period.”

“So you could be, for example, handling the data storage for a surrogate clinic?”

Siurin smiled. “Titanoboa would be a great client, but they are with our direct competitor.”

“You could have staked them out and given them a better offer,” Gideon joked.

“Maybe. But I was preoccupied with you.”

“You need to stop saying these things.”

“Why? Is it unpleasant when I remind you of our previous intimacy?”

“No. The opposite.”

“You like it. Why should I stop, then? I want to do the things you like.”

Gideon leaned forward and whispered, “Because we are in public, and I’m thinking about sex with you. Again.”

“I think about sex with you very often. Even at work, which gets admittedly difficult. I hope I’ll get to touch you again soon.”

The expression on Siurin’s face was so earnest and hopeful; Gideon felt a twinge in his chest.

“Later,” he said. “I made a deal with myself that I have to make it through a full dinner and at least a walk in the park or something.”

“The night is supposed to be pleasantly warm. I’d love to accompany you for a walk.”

“Then you can accompany me to my place.”

“Where we’ll have sex?”

A chuckle slipped out before Gideon schooled his features. “I’m not laughing at you, I swear. I love your directness.”

“But you find it funny too. I noticed.”

“Does it bother you?”

“No. I like making you laugh. Aside from making you orgasm, it’s most rewarding for me.”

Gideon shifted in his chair and sipped his chilled sparkling water. “Siurin, please, we need to stop talking about orgasms.”

Siurin seemed to be smirking. It was an expression Gideon hadn’t seen on his face before, and he found it most charming.

“Very well. But before we change the subject, beware that I intend to give you several tonight.”

Gideon set the glass of water aside and took a deep gulp from the excellent wine Siurin had chosen. “Good to know.”

Siurin then asked about Gideon’s job at the boutique. Gideon was pleased to find that Siurin seemed to be genuinely interested in his mundane occupation. None of the few alphas he’d dated had ever stooped so low as to inquire about his daily tasks and the skills they required.

“See, I get a commission. The more I sell, the more I earn, right? But if I want to sell more, I can’t keep selling .”

Siurin tilted his head to the side in his unique way. “No? Explain what you mean, please.”

“If I’m too pushy, the customer’s annoyed, and bam, they’re out. I can’t treat everybody in the same careful way either because customers have different needs, right? For example, some people hate it when shop clerks talk to them. You can see in their faces and body language that they want to be left alone to browse. I might tell them that I’m available if they need help, but other than that, I stay away. Others need time to familiarize themselves with the new space, a little like wary cats sniffing around. If I approach them too early, I spook them. Then you have the talkers, who will waste your time for hours but never buy anything. And some folks really need advice on how to dress, but if they notice you think they need the advice, they get offended. Then you have those who shop for fun but have no idea what they want. Anyway, I’m rambling. Ideally, I approach every person differently.”

Siurin looked genuinely baffled. “But how do you know? They just entered the store.”

“I pay attention. What are they wearing? What are they looking at… Do they make eye contact or just nod my way? Some will waltz in, right into the center of the room, and some will creep around the walls. Did they just wrinkle their nose at a price tag? Stuff like that.”

“Human psychology.”

“Ha. No. It’s not that advanced.”

“I beg to differ. I also work in sales, and even though it’s business to business, I often wish I could read the other person’s mind. What you’re doing is advanced. Human behavior is one of the most complex topics to study.”

“Maybe. I bet for me, Vaellian society would be complex to understand.”

“No. We’re simple creatures.”

Gideon shook his head. “You’re most definitely not.”

“I mean, we’re less coy with our wants and needs. Don’t you ever have Vaellians come to your store telling you exactly what they need?”

“Well, now you mention it… Yes. We don’t have many Vaellian customers, but the few I’ve met were refreshingly straightforward. Like you.”

“I’m glad you find my straightforwardness refreshing.”

Siurin looked at Gideon earnestly, unmoving, and Gideon didn’t know what to say next. As their conversation quieted, he noticed the soft, sensual jazz music surrounding them. The restaurant lighting was subtle, with a few candles flickering on each table. The atmosphere was decidedly romantic, and he shared a table with the most handsome man in the room. Why did they start talking about work again?

“What’s on your mind, sweetest?” Siurin leaned forward, scrutinizing Gideon’s face.

The endearment warmed him. “It’s…uh…strange. It’s our first date, and we’re talking about our jobs. But I realize I already know you so well.”

Siurin placed a hand over his on the table. “I’m glad. I feel close to you, Gideon. I was hoping you felt the same.”

Gideon felt himself blush. “I do. The days we spent together. That wasn’t just sex.”

“No. I believe I was emotionally invested from the start.”

Grinning, Gideon bit his lip.

“And what is funny now?” Siurin asked with a teasing lilt in his voice.

“It’s just the way you said it. Emotionally invested.”

Siurin’s inhumanly perfect face morphed into the gentlest smile. “Can I say I’m developing romantic feelings for you?”

“Um. You can. I like you too. A lot.”

Suddenly, he felt a brush of warm skin on his ankle. He started, but Siurin placed a finger over his lips and winked. A smooth tentacle circled Gideon’s ankle and sneaked up his pant leg, hugging his calf.

“I won’t tease you, I promise,” Siurin said in a low voice. “I would simply like to feel your skin against mine. Is that acceptable?”

Gideon sighed, not caring if he seemed dreamy. “It’s nice.”

The tentacle stroked him tenderly but did not venture above his knees, which was lucky because he would have let Siurin do stuff to him under the table that could have gotten them arrested.

They made it through the dessert, a lovely chocolate fondant with raspberry sauce. It would have been a shame to miss that. But they cut the walk short, striding hand in hand through the park directly to Gideon’s apartment.

In a darker part of the park, Gideon tugged on Siurin’s hand to make him pause. He looked at the sky where only a few of the brightest stars outshone the city lights. Staring into the depths of the universe, he wondered at the sheer improbability of his meeting Siurin. What an amazing world he lived in.

“Where are you from?” he asked quietly.

Siurin hugged him from behind, his lips brushing Gideon’s temple.

“I hatched in Atlanta,” Siurin replied in a teasing tone.

Gideon laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. Sorry. Um. I could show you, but we would have to be in the Southern Hemisphere. Our sun is a part of the constellation you call Hydra.”

“Oh.”

A light breeze wafted around them, and Gideon shivered.

“Are you cold?” Siurin asked.

“It’s okay.”

But Siurin turned him around and held him tighter, stroking his back. “A cold milieu lowers immunity in humans. I wouldn’t want you to get sick.”

Gideon burrowed into the protective embrace, smiling. One day, Siurin’s worrying might annoy him, but so far, he found it cute. When he looked up, Siurin was gazing at him, his eyes glimmering in the dark.

“We should go,” Siurin said, but he didn’t move. “I feel the urge to kiss you, though.”

“Then kiss me.”

The first brush of lips was tender, but as their tongues touched, Gideon let out a moan. The memories from his heat came crashing down on him.

Siurin seemed similarly affected because he backed Gideon off the sidewalk and under a sprawling tree without breaking the kiss. Leaning against the trunk, hidden in the dark, they licked into each other’s mouths, and Siurin pushed his thigh between Gideon’s legs.

Hard in an instant, Gideon bucked.

“You’re irresistible,” Siurin mumbled before his tongue lengthened and snuck into Gideon’s throat. Closing his eyes, Gideon opened for the invasion. He was being filled and possessed how he loved it the most, and his soul soared.

When he felt smooth tentacles sneaking under his clothes, he shuddered with a wave of desire. His underwear was wet with slick, and he could smell his own arousal. One of Siurin’s extra limbs unbuttoned his pants, and another slid through his crease and nudged his hole. He spread his legs wider. As Siurin thrust his tongue deeper, Gideon made his desire clear with every cell of his being, groaning, pressing closer, and pushing his ass out. Finally, a warm tentacle caressed his rim and slipped inside him.

Ooh. God, yes!

The tentacle in his ass curled, thickened, and pumped in and out while Siurin’s long tongue muffled his cries. The fullness and pressure were glorious.

He was in heaven again. Fucked on both ends, he clung to his unearthly lover, lost in mindless pleasure. It didn’t even take a minute, and he came, shaking in Siurin’s arms.

The tentacles retreated, rightening his clothes on their way, and the kiss gentled.

Gideon could have pretended nothing had happened if it weren’t for the mess in his underwear.

Siurin kissed his forehead.

“I got carried away again, didn’t I?” he murmured. “I missed making you climax. It’s so satisfying.”

“Well, you won’t see me complain. You’re exceptionally good at it.”

“I’m glad. But now I’m afraid you must be uncomfortable with your slick and semen soiling your clothes.”

Chuckling, Gideon grabbed Siurin’s hand and led him toward the lit-up pathway, the shortest route to his home.

“Worth it. I’ll shower when we get to my place.”

“May I join you in the shower?”

“You may.”

When they arrived at the street corner, Gideon assessed the alien’s expression in the light of the streetlamps. Siurin looked decidedly smug.