Chapter 4
Agent Murphy
He was becoming a nuisance.
“Professor Zorin.” Doing my best to remember my manners, I aimed for a neutral expression that didn’t give too much emotion because those made him twitchy. “How can I help you?”
Had I missed a meeting?
They liked meetings as much as the next government, but their favorites always seemed to revolve around meals.
I was confident it wasn’t dinner yet but had to admit I couldn’t remember if I was supposed to be somewhere later.
I’d tried writing down meetings in one of the notepads I’d brought with me, but small children with sticky fingers kept dashing off with the damned things.
My memory was usually good enough to keep track of things, but Klynn was distracting.
“I would like to invite you for dinner.” He’d clearly practiced the sentence because it came out more smoothly than I was expecting. “Please be available in…what we would call one hour.”
Okay, his manners were still lacking.
But time was hard since their day wasn’t the same as ours, so that might’ve been part of the problem.
“That is not enough information.” Klynn said he was going to stay in the background and out of the way if it was something simple, but he clearly hadn’t liked what he’d heard and quickly came into view. “It was also not polite under either culture.”
Was he pissed at the bad manners or was he defending me?
Either way, I really appreciated the way they were both speaking English even if it was just to have some kind of polite pissing contest.
The professor definitely would’ve shrugged if he’d been American. “I require his presence and he is not occupied for the next meal. I checked.”
How had he checked my schedule?
Had he found my notebook?
Was it written down somewhere else?
They were all so weird.
I was pretty sure it was the universe’s way of making me appreciate Mark more and I didn’t like it one bit.
“That is still not enough information and you must ask for his presence. I have him currently and do not wish to give up his attention.” Klynn and the professor seemed to think that wording was reasonable, so I decided it was probably some kind of translation issue.
“That is unexpected.” The professor glanced between us but didn’t seem to think anything was weird. “I must insist but I will allow you to join us.”
Really?
Klynn had to be thinking something similar but they didn’t show emotions the same way, so it was hard for me to be sure. “I must know why to make sure Agent Murphy understands the expected customs.”
Oh, good one.
Even Professor Zorin couldn’t argue with the logic no matter how much he clearly wanted to. “I am starting to understand the human custom of using strong words to show frustration.”
Cursing.
He meant cursing.
“The words are useful.”
So Klynn agreed but he wasn’t giving in?
“I require his presence to make sure I am asking questions about human domination-based relationships clearly.” The professor shifted like he was doing the human equivalent of standing straighter to look more professional.
“I have been told that it is the next logical step but I require…organization.”
He clearly didn’t like that word, so we were patient as he tried again.
“Conversational organization.” Where someone from Earth would’ve started frowning and fidgeting, he went even more still. “I cannot find the right word but that gives the idea of it.”
Yeah, it probably did.
“You’re looking for help keeping the conversation on track and making sure it goes well while you talk about domination-based relationships like some people from Earth have?” Had I understood that part correctly?
Had my question made sense?
Did he understand the on track reference?
He paused then gave a clear and human-looking nod. “Yes.”
Okay.
“Toman and Wren are declining to participate in your questions?” Klynn obviously knew more gossip than I did, but knowing both languages gave him more people to talk to.
“Yes.” Professor Zorin was so frustrated by that he actually did some kind of shoulder wiggle that seemed to indicate how pissed he was about it. “I have questions, but they are refusing verbal cooperation.”
No, they were refusing to help him hide from whatever he was doing and whoever he was doing it with.
“Are you able to have the conversation on your own and are simply doing the human behavior of being stubborn, or do you actually require help in sorting out the wide-ranging data?” Klynn phrasing it in terms of a research project seemed to please the professor because he damned near sighed at hearing it.
“The data is extensive and unfamiliar.” His arms twitched in a way I’d come to associate as a kind of shrug. “The culture associated with the data is also…difficult.”
They were just as weird as the dragons and mages on the other side of the portal, but it came out in completely different ways.
Toman had pointed that out before we’d come through, but I’d been hoping he’d exaggerated their uniqueness.
He hadn’t.
“I will concede to that fact.” Klynn’s ability to take charge of the situation was fascinating too but that was mostly because I’d only seen him going out of his way not to talk about anything related to BDSM and human sexual shenanigans.
“He will not take questions about his own personal life, but we will both answer questions related to scientific understanding and general relationship advice. He has the practical experience to be considered an expert and I have done extensive reading.”
He was sexy when he was confident.
“I agree to those terms.” Going still again, the professor damned near frowned and shifted to their own language. I wasn’t offended because there were a lot of words that just didn’t have an equivalent yet, mostly related to food and social behaviors, but that would come in time.
After a moment, they both came to an understanding about something and the professor shifted back to English and focusing on me. “Thank you for your help.”
When he turned around and left, I realized I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d agreed to help with. I knew better than to ask that with an open door, though. Just because I couldn’t see anyone didn’t mean they weren’t around the corner gathering information.
Not eavesdropping.
They were just being good scientists and academics.
Justification was amazing no matter what world everyone was from.
But Klynn seemed to be on the same page based on how his gaze darted around and how quickly he shut the door. “We shall go back to practicing using your room, Agent Murphy.”
So we had an audience?
“Thank you.” Mirroring his professional tone, I winked since I was fairly certain no one could see us through the closed door. “I appreciate your help.”
Klynn looked pleased but the change in his expression was subtle enough I couldn’t pinpoint why I took it like that. “You are welcome.”
Looking adorably professional, Klynn focused on the flat panel by the wall that seemed to control damned near everything in the room. “You do not seem to have tried getting the magic to react to your will.”
“No.” Should I have? “I was given instructions on how to manually operate the basic things in the room but that was it.”
Like a fucking toddler would.
Everyone seemed to have been born with a small base level of magic, but in children it was slightly unpredictable. So things like toilets and lights were built with what was basically child safe buttons.
I was using the local equivalent of kiddie switches to make shit work…which was why everyone was having fun poking at the human about the toilets.
Klynn didn’t laugh but his eyes got wider and I could see the delight he was feeling over the whole situation. “I am glad you found those useful.”
Brat.
“Thank you.”
Whatever he saw on my face sent another shiver through him, so I played up the stern look and stepped closer. “You have a very different world.”
And they shouldn’t keep mentally giggling every time I had to flush the toilet like a toddler who’d just learned to pee by themselves.
“You are doing very well in adapting.” Whatever he was thinking had him licking his lips and giving very human-looking signals. “We should explore other ways of adapting to our world, though.”
Yes, like spankings and kissing and things that required privacy.
“I would appreciate that.” Because so far it seemed like kids weren’t allowed to set the privacy spells and I’d reached the point where I needed to be able to do that.
My sub shouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting when it came to privacy in intimate situations.
“It might take us time to figure out the best way for you to interact with the spells, but I’m sure we can figure something out.” Looking adorably confident, he turned back to the panel. “Please come closer.”
Whatever my boy wanted.
Stepping behind him, I pressed my chest against his back and fitted my body as close as I could to his. He didn’t moan but I could feel the shiver that raced through him as I wrapped myself around him. “That is…that is correct.”
“Thank you.” Doing my best to sound calm and almost bored, I leaned down and pressed a kiss right under his ear. “I’m eager to learn more.”
About a lot of things.
Klynn seemed to approve because he tilted his head, offering me more of his neck as he rocked his ass back against me. “Education is important.”
So was privacy, though, because he didn’t let my shenanigans distract him too much.
“The simplest way to explain it is that this panel contains the spells that control many of the systems in your room.” Klynn was finding it a bit too easy to think, so I tightened my grip low across his stomach with one hand and started rubbing his chest with the other.
“It…it uses the individual’s will and focus to operate the right system, so your desire must be clear.
” Swallowing hard, he had to work at keeping his voice and breathing even.
“It was designed to operate for anyone with steady levels of magic, even low ones, but I do not know if humans have enough…background magic to make it work.”
“I don’t know if anyone’s tested us for stuff like this, but on Earth, humans can sometimes feel magic going on around them.
” There was just a lot we didn’t know about the dragons and mages because the government had made a lot of dumb decisions in dealing with the dangerous and unpredictable people.
“From what Toman and Wren have explained, our magic is not like any others on your world.” Letting out a slightly shaky breath, Klynn pretended I wasn’t making him crazy. “I do not think many of my people on your planet understand that there are other magic users.”
“Your people there have a tendency to isolate themselves and make interesting decisions.” Was that the polite way to explain it? “Our government added to the problems when they first tried dealing with them.”
Klynn’s puff of air was definitely a sarcastic laugh of some sort.
“Yeah, understatement of the year right there, but it made them even more isolationist. Some understand the wider world on Earth but most don’t, so no one has decided to point it out.” Mostly because they couldn’t predict what would happen without a lot more information.
Unfortunately I was the one gathering more information.
“I will do my best to help you in making those types of decisions.”
My dragon was smart even when I was fucking with him.
“Let us…let us see if you can activate the privacy shield around the room.” Klynn’s breathing got shakier as my arm inched lower, not touching his cock but getting closer to more intimate areas of his body. “I think…I think that will be the most useful spell for you.”
Oh yes.
“What do I need to do?” Stop fucking with him might’ve been his first choice, but he kept that one to himself.
“Place…place one hand on the panel and relax your mind. Think about magic and energy and privacy.” Working hard at sounding calm and professional, he didn’t seem to understand that it just made me want to do even more distracting things to him.
“There are safety spells in place, so even if this does not go as intended it will be fine.”
Perfect.
I didn’t want to electrocute myself before I’d kissed him on the lips.
“I’ll do my best.” The worst-case scenario seemed to be that nothing would happen, so I wasn’t worried about it. “I just place my hand on the panel and focus my thoughts. Energy. Magic. Privacy. I can do that.”
Hopefully without having to let him go because I was enjoying myself at the moment. It’d felt like I’d waited years instead of days to finally have him in my arms, and I wasn’t in any hurry to let him go.
“That is correct.” Klynn closed his eyes, pressing harder against me. “Very correct.”
My needy boy.
We’d fix that in a moment.
After I got the fucking privacy shield up.
Privacy.
I needed privacy to take care of my boy because he couldn’t always be in charge of it. He needed me to be able to take care of him.
I would take care of my boy.
Moving my hand off his hip, I smiled as he whined but I stayed focused on the task at hand. Privacy. The smooth metal of the square panel looked like silver and was cool to the touch, but it quickly warmed as I closed my eyes and focused my thoughts.
With one hand on the wall and one on Klynn’s chest, it felt almost like I was a circuit as I thought about the energy I felt around magic, about protecting Klynn, and about showing him I could adapt to his world.
I needed magic.
I needed privacy.
I needed to protect my boy.
I needed magic.
I needed privacy.
I needed to protect my boy.
I needed magic.
I needed privacy.
I needed to protect my boy.
“You did it.” There was enough pride in Klynn’s voice to make me smile as I opened my eyes. I hadn’t felt anything different that I could explain, but I felt ten feet tall as I saw the light coming from the strange panel. “The light pink color on the panel means it is activated. You did it.”
“I had a good teacher.” And a strong will not to fuck it up. “But now I think it’s time that we test out this shield and see just how much privacy we have.”
Before duty and insanity called again and could interrupt us.