Page 30 of Blade

Recent movies?

Doing more typing and using his finger to steer something on the screen, my mate went back to sharing everything he was thinking with me. “I’ve dated a lot of guys who were so quiet it was easy to forget they were there. They were all human-looking, though. I even tried asking questions and staying quiet but that was painful and we just ended up sitting in silence. Those were the human guys I dated but I ended up on a few dates with…nonhumans…somehow that’s really easy to do lately…and they were a lot chattier.”

He’d dated men?

In public?

Mates had always come in a variety of pairings but human laws hadn’t always been understanding.

Even with a brain that seemed to be processing reality again, he only made sense to me about half the time. My confusion was probably over small things, but with no easy way to ask him questions, I had to wait until he realized something sounded odd.

“Do you want to sit on the couch or the bed? The couch is really more like a wide chair, though.” My mate looked around again, pointing to a black device on the wall I had originallythought was some kind of blackboard. “We could use the TV to watch it either place. It swings around.”

That was a TV?

Had people done nothing but tinker with electronics since I’d been gone?

Rising, I looked at the bed. That was where I should cuddle with my mate and his smile said it wasn’t unexpected. “I thought you’d say that. I’m not sure you’ll fit on the couch.”

Probably not.

“Okay, we’ve got a plan.” Going back to the computer device, he moved too fast for me to follow what he was doing but soon he had the first episode showing on the small screen.

Just that would’ve been impressive but he picked up a small black stick and pointed it at the TV. “Alright let’s go lie down.”

Somehow he made the TV come on and the image from the computer was now showing on the larger screen.

No.

We were not moving yet.

Poking my nose at the small stick, I huffed and glanced back and forth at the screens, demanding an explanation as clearly as I could.

My mate deflated. “I was hoping you weren’t going to ask. I don’t know how it works. Somehow the laptop sends signals to the TV. I know what to call it but that’s just a name. I have no idea how it gets there.”

That was probably understandable, so I licked his cheek because that always made him squeak and laugh.

“Stop that.”

If he wanted me to stop, he needed to say it more seriously and not smell so good as he pretended to frown.

“We’ll find a show to watch where someone can explain the history of technology.” Running his hand over my head, my mateleaned in and nuzzled my neck. “We’ll learn about it together, but for right now we’re going to relax.”

Yes, because my mate’s day had been incredibly stressful and the immediate future was not looking any more relaxing.

Or less confusing for either of us, but I focused on the most important facts.

I’d found my mate.

I could think again.

We had a means of communicating.

I could finish my show.

CHAPTER 11

HENLEY