15. Bikar
BIKAR
It does not take Bambi long to get her emotions under control.
The floor is hard on my knees, but I would stay here an eternity if it meant being this close to my mate.
It breaks my hearts to see her suffer, especially when I cannot hold her close and provide the comfort she so clearly needs.
I only dared the lightest brush of my wing claw against her shoulder, so she was not startled when they unfurled and surrounded her.
It is the closest thing to holding her that she will allow, and for now, I will gladly take it. The gods of Ruk know I will bask in whatever minuscule offering she gives me, pathetic though it may be.
Beautiful brown eyes, watery with tears, gaze at me with a mixture of mortification and relief. Racking my brain, I try to come up with a distraction from her upset.
“I have updated the replicator to include every food once available on Earth. My species is not normally one for sweets, but I have to admit I would like to try this thing called ice cream.”
Bambi’s eyes widen comically, and she gasps. “You can make it make ice cream?”
Nodding, I retract my wings and slowly stand up, an indulgent smile pulling at my lips. “Yes, I can replicate any flavor you wish, or any combination of flavors that you can think of.”
Hopping in place, she happily claps her hands together before reaching out and grabbing my hand to drag me over to the replicator sitting on the nearby counter. This is the first time she has voluntarily touched me—I do not count her saving my life as voluntary, as the bond was at work then.
Keeping my inner feelings hidden, I laugh and follow behind her. “I think you and the other human females will be pleasantly surprised with the updates I have added.”
Looking up at me, she grins. Her ability to shake off her negativity and delight in something as simple as a sweet treat is nothing short of extraordinary, and speaks to how genuinely good a being she is. The gods have blessed me greatly with such a mate.
“Have you any particular flavor in mind?”
Releasing my hand, she taps her chin with the tip of one tiny finger. “Hmm. Chocolate chip cookie dough and double chocolate fudge, please.”
I can feel my lip curling before it is a conscious thought, my brain making the connections for the context behind her words. The amount of sugar my mate wants to consume cannot possibly be healthy, and quite frankly, sounds vile.
I must not have hidden my expression as well as I thought because Bambi barks out a laugh. “You should totally see your face right now.”
Shuddering in mild disgust, I tap the replicator’s screen and enter the sequence for what my mate requested. Tics later, a hushed ding signals its completion. Sliding the door back, I grab the frosty bowl and a human-sized spoon before handing it to her.
Bambi quickly snatches it from me before scurrying back to our table, chortling with glee. “Heather is going to be so jealous that I got ice cream and she didn’t. Serves her meddling ass right.”
Shaking my head at her monologue, I type in my order for something called vanilla bean and take it back over to where my mate is shoveling her dessert into her mouth. Settling into my seat, I watch her with ill-disguised fascination.
I wonder if I will ever be the one to evoke such sounds of pleasure?
Surreptitiously, I adjust myself when I feel my pivvy start to harden.
There is a long list of things that I do not need, and right now an erection is at the top of it.
Digging my spoon into my ice cream, I lift a generous bite to my mouth.
The tic it touches my tongue and my taste buds register the sickly sweet flavor… I gag.
I force myself to swallow what is in my mouth—I do not want to embarrass myself—a warrior should never be defeated by a dessert. Sudden silence across from me pulls my attention, so I lift my head to see Bambi holding a hand across her mouth, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
Rolling my eyes at her levity, I slide my bowl over to her. “I think from here on out, you should always have my share of ice cream. It is not for me.”
My words are the death knell on her laughter. She is giggling so hard she snorts.
It is adorable, and her face immediately turns fire red… but she does not stop laughing. Eventually, her laughter fades to the occasional chuckle, while I continue to sit and enjoy her humor. Flattening my spines, I lean back in my chair and wave at her.
“Hurry up and finish your vile dessert. I have a surprise for you in the holo-chamber.”
“This is the first time I’ve had ice cream in years. You’re not going to rush this experience, and I don’t want a brain freeze. Those are terrible.”
Brain freeze?
The concept is fascinating to me. “Explain to me what you mean by ‘brain freeze.’ I must admit that the concept seems far-fetched.”
Blunt, white teeth flash as she smiles between bites, before going into exaggerated detail about the horror that is an ice cream brain freeze.
My hearts fill with joy. This is the best meal I have ever had in my existence.