Chapter 28 #2
“They know they’re being guarded. They don’t know they’re being creeped on.” Alanna said, sending the message before giving them both a hard look. “I’m not mad. This is just one of those things that we’re going to have to talk about.”
Havali turned from her to his monitor.
Sure enough, Scarlet and Peony both checked their combots that must have just gone off. They read the message. Whispered furtively together. Then both turned their heads, looking around.
Scarlet caught sight of the security monitor first. She looked directly at it, at him, a severe frown upon her face, before pointing it out to Peony. Adassani caught sight and glared as well.
Havali and Atem leaned back from the console. Not quite afraid. More cautious. The look on their females’ faces was not one of understanding.
***
“What were you even thinking?” Scarlet demanded to know, looking down on Atem and Havali from her standing position, hands on her hips. Peony stood to one side, arms crossed, nest blanket around her shoulders. Alanna was on the other, shaking her head sadly.
Havali and Atem sat before them like misbehaving younglings being lectured while Tuvo stood to the side, doing his best not to grin at their plight lest he earn their ire in turn. They had all gathered in Peony and Atem’s nestroom after they returned from their tasks for the day.
The females were not happy. Apparently, watching them through security feeds was bad enough, but to do so while they were in the undergarment shop made it that much worse.
“I was making sure you were safe,” Havali stated simply.
“By stalking?” Scarlet asked, her voice low and dangerous. He knew what that word meant to her, and he vehemently shook his head.
“No. That wasn't my intention at all. I wasn’t staring or hunting. I only checked on you every so often. The cameras were already recording anyway. And you had security with you that would have also seen you. I don’t see the problem.”
“Really?” Scarlet’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You don’t consider spying while panty shopping to be a problem?”
Havali did not know what human taboo he just broke, but he did know that to answer that question in any way would not give her the response she actually wanted.
“May I?” Alanna asked, looking between the four of them.
Havali could have embraced her in gratitude.
Alanna knew the most about domini culture on account of the fact that she was actively studying it.
This wasn’t the first time she had needed to interject on behalf of the domini to explain something to the other females.
He always thought it was valuable, but never before had he appreciated it as much as he did at this moment.
“Go ahead,” Peony said, clearly thinking the same as Scarlet glared at Havali, silently warning him that whatever Alanna had to say better be good or her anger would be unmatched.
“Domini don’t consider underwear private,” Alanna said simply, clasping her hands in front of her.
Humans considered undergarments private? His surprised thought must have been reversed and echoed in Scarlet and Peony because both of them sent Alanna shocked looks.
“You’re kidding,” Scarlet said, arms dropping back to her side.
Alanna shook her head, making an odd face.
“You’ve seen people wandering around in basically bikinis, right?
The banana hammocks, the bare chests, the scarves that might as well not be there.
Boobs aren’t hidden by default. Only genitals.
Undergarments are worn for comfort, maybe hygiene.
Not because of modesty. Watching you buy underwear is no different from them watching you buy shoes. Or a handbag. It’s not a bad thing.”
Atem frowned at her. “Alanna, you’re the one who called them. You said it was bad.”
“It is bad. For us,” she gestured to the three of them. “And I knew they would want to be told immediately. Not to wait until it was convenient.”
“She’s right,” Scarlet admitted, already seeming calmer.
“So,” Havali started slowly, his gaze darting between Alanna and Scarlet, “to humans, underwear is something not meant to be seen?”
“Not quite,” Alanna gave him a soft smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. “For us, underwear is… well, I guess you could say it’s similar to looking at our genitals.”
“It’s not though.”
“Not precisely. But it’s near to being naked. Underwear is meant to be private. Hidden. Designed for only those special to you to see.”
Havali made a sound of understanding. “It is meant only for your mate?”
“Precisely!” She beamed more genuinely this time.
“Then, why are you angry at me?” Atem asked, looking at Peony in confusion. “I’ve seen your underwear. I’ve seen you naked.”
“Yeah, but you didn't do it creeper style,” she made a distasteful face.” If you want to pick undies with me, just say so.
We can go shopping together. That’s not a problem.
It was the creepy way you did it, that’s the problem.
And Scarlet was there too. You’re not allowed to see her undies at all, much less see her shopping for them in 4K stalker vision. ”
“What is ‘forkay’?” Atem asked, confused.
Havali didn't bother to inquire as to the English term she used. He was looking at Scarlet who was giving him a stare that dared him to ask her why she was angry at him. But he didn't need further clarification on that.
They had yet to share pleasures. He had yet to claim her as a true or a pleasure mate. He had not yet earned the right to gaze upon her undergarments.
Then, from the wall, Tuvo asked curiously-
“Why is this crime so grave?”
All three females sent him looks like he had just said possibly the dumbest thing they’d ever heard. It wasn’t the first time Tuvo had misspoken around the females and, judging by the way his eyes widened, he was aware instantly that he messed up.
“Because men can be pigs,” Peony said.
“You can’t trust them,” Scarlet agreed, her voice hissing in anger. “Men only look at you buying underwear for one reason, and it’s always bad and it’s never with consent. The only guys who do it are creeps and sickos.”
Havali was getting an understanding of the source of her anger. But surely not…
“You can’t mean to say that your males would be dangerous around you?” He asked, growling through the words. A sound that was immediately joined by both Atem and Tuvo.
“Human males again,” Atem spit. “It seems my normal actions are always being judged because they’ve done something terrible.”
“It’s not like that,” Alanna said quickly. “Not all guys are bad. It’s a precaution against the ones who are. That’s all.”
“Why should it ever need to be?” Havali asked, furious now. “It should not happen with such regularity that it’s something you need to be precautious against.”
“You’re right, it shouldn’t be,” Peony agreed sadly.
“But it is,” Scarlet hissed.
“So, we cannot watch you this way?” Havali asked, pain striking in his chest. He didn't think he could retain his sanity if he had to lose track of Scarlet.
Of course, there were other ways to track her without video. If it was just the watching she protested, then he could find other ways to-
“The difference is consent, Havali,” Alanna said gently, smiling at him. “It’s not bad to watch. If you have our permission to do so. Like the bodyguards. It wasn’t bad to have them there because it was something we consented to. Do you see?”
Actually, he did.
It was exactly what Scarlet had been saying about biting and binding. It had to be agreed upon by both parties. The consent made it okay, regardless of how reprehensible the action might be otherwise. But he had not received her consent first.
“You have my apologies,” he said sincerely, giving her a sad look. “I did not intend to make you uncomfortable. I only wished to keep you safe. It was my mistake for not asking first to do this and assuming that you would be all right with it.”
She nodded once, relieved. “I’m glad you understand.”
He did not really, but he could respect the request.
He smiled a bit, “May I then keep watch on you through the cameras as you go about the city?”
Scarlet and Peony shared a look. Peony arched one of her furry brows – an expression that, unlike the nodding or head shaking, he could not mimic and had no real practice reading. Scarlet then turned to Alanna who gave her a peaceful smile.
She turned back to them, to him, frowning. “Before I answer, can I ask why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to watch me?”
He cocked his head. “To make sure you’re safe, of course.”
“You were watching me the other night, weren’t you? When I was almost taken.”
It wasn’t an unreasonable leap in logic, but he was still somehow unprepared for the soft way she asked – like she didn’t even need his confirmation. He gave it anyway, nodding once solemnly.
“Why?” There was no accusation in her tone. No anger, just a neutral question that made him uneasy specifically because it was so emotionless.
“I have to know you’re safe,” he admitted, heart pounding painfully as he confessed to a crime he knew she would hate. “I watch people. I keep track of them. I need to know that they’re all right. I need to know that you’re all right.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t help if I don’t know what’s happening to you. If I don’t keep track of you.”
“Like the other night.”
He grimaced, jaw tightening as he lowered his eyes from her. “Forgive me, Healer. This is something about myself I cannot change. It’s part of who I am. I keep track of people. Of situations. I gather as much information about everything I can so that I do the most good.”
“I know you do.”
Her soft words brought his gaze back up again as hope punched him in the chest.
“You know?” He whispered. “You understand?”
“I do,” she said like it was a surprise even to her. “I don’t know why, but I trust you, Havali. I don’t understand it. I… This is so strange.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “It’s matehood.”
“Humans don’t do that though.”
“Are you sure?”
She blinked at him, not answering for a long moment before nodding once.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“You may watch me through the cameras. But not while we’re in the bathroom. And no recording anything. And if we message you asking you to stop, you stop.”
“That is more than reasonable,” Havali agreed, getting to his feet and approaching his female, to Atem’s annoyance.
He was growling as Scarlet reached out and put her hands on his shoulders, all of her earlier anger faded.
It had been replaced with confusion over her own reaction, but she still accepted his embrace. She still let him close.
“Thank you,” she said as, behind them, Peony laughingly told Atem to calm down as she approached her mate as well. “For respecting my boundaries, I mean.”
“You need not thank me for this,” he said, holding her by the waist, enjoying the warmth of her body along his. Where it belonged. “If I do something you do not want, I always wish that you would honestly tell me so.”
“I will,” she promised, making him chuckle.
“Communication is important. And I want you to promise me the same in return. Tell me if something makes you uncomfortable. But also, tell me if you want to do something. If you want to watch me through cameras, then just tell me. I can’t promise I’ll always be okay with it, but I’d rather you ask. ”
“My intentions are never bad.”
“I know,” she breathed as though surprised at her own admission.
“I mean it,” he pressed. “I know that you… have had some bad experiences. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.
Truly, I only need to make sure you’re safe.
It’s not about control or obsession. I have done the same for everyone in my life, not just you.
Ask me where my parents are. The youngling I sired.
Anyone in my clan. I can tell you in moments. It is part of who I am.”
Scarlet nodded. “I get it. And I promise not to freak out. Just let me know.” Then, under her breath, she mumbled, “We really need a safe word or something.”
She had brought that up before. He was excited to hear it again.
“Is it time to talk now?”
“Soon,” she promised, chuckling at his enthusiasm even as Atem growled louder. He didn’t like someone looking at his sisters at the best of times. Havali had already proven himself unworthy by drinking Scarlet’s blood, so he was getting his aggression worse than most.
But he didn’t mind, because Scarlet was smiling at him now and he was thinking about the secret safety word that meant he could bite her with her consent.
He really didn’t understand the way humans did things, but the concept was easy enough to grasp and he was willing to do whatever Scarlet wished. Especially since it meant she was allowing him to bite her.
And watch her.
And hold her.
Havali had been convinced that there was no way that his pretty, intelligent, perfect mate would ever see him as worthy. But every discovery she made only brought her closer. She only proved to his heart what his eyes knew the moment they fell upon her.
She was the perfect mate for him.