Page 38 of Legends and Longing

The ridiculousness of our argument had Shiloh’s shoulders shaking as he tried to hide his laughter. Even when the sound did not escape, his body showed his emotions in ways that were uniquely Earth-like, but I thought I felt something from Zorin before his emotions disappeared from the bond.

“Our Earth mate has to give them. That is clearly the rules.” Shiloh didn’t find my idea upsetting judging by his sounds and wiggles. “The Earth mate always gives titles. I have seen several examples of it.”

So he either had to prove me wrong or give us titles.

That was the Earth rule as I had seen it.

Shiloh must have thought it was logical as well because his wiggles and sounds came faster. “What…what if you don’t like them?”

I pretended to look confused. “Not like something my mate gives me? Ridiculous. Unless you are trying to make me eat something yucky…I heard Wren describing yucky foods and I am not agreeing to the item called brussels sprouts.”

That got more giggles from Shiloh and he slouched back into the couch. “You’re so silly. Names aren’t yucky.”

Shrugging, I still maintained what I hoped was a confused expression. “Then the only negative option is that we discuss other titles. Klynn was speaking with Wren and they were debating the title of badass. I do not want to be called that.”

I wasn’t sure if the conversation had been a reason to argue or real, but either way, the two troublemakers expended a significant amount of emotion on the debate.

Shiloh made new laughter type sounds and put his hands over his face. “No, I’m your good boy. I don’t say that.”

“Then we won’t have a problem.” So good boys did not use the English words deemed grown-up? “He’s pouting. You have to give Zorin a title first or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

He was the type of mate to have a long memory.

“That…that means…that means he’s a Daddy.” Giggling through the sentence made it slightly hard to understand but he got it out well in the end. He even managed to stop hiding and didn’t feel worried as he explained why. “They…they need to go first ‘cause they have to…they have to give their littles ‘tention. Attention. Yeah.”

His cute shrug made it look like he didn’t have a choice in the matter. “That’s the rules.”

There were a lot of unwritten rules for these types of relationships. “I have seen those males give their mates whatever they want and they do require a lot of attention.”

Zorin could not seem to decide if he wanted to disagree with that or not, but eventually he sighed. “Daddy is a good title. I will not debate the other ridiculousness.”

That got more happy sounds from our Earth mate but Zorin was not done. “What is the title for a mate that is stern and frowns very well for someone not from Earth?”

Shiloh didn’t seem to know if he could laugh at that description or not, but it earned me a cheek kiss too and he smiled at me as he patted my head. “He’s a Master. That’s what they do.”

“I do that very well, so I will be a highly adept Master.” As Shiloh laughed at my response, Zorin sighed…loudly. “Daddies seem to be very dramatic.”

Shiloh thought that was highly amusing as well.

As his entire body shook from the effort not to laugh out loud, he did a happy wiggle. “I got two. One of each. One nice to sneak me treats and one naughty to do stuff to big me.”

Based on how he was using the word, big seemed to be a synonym for adult. Nodding, I tried to come up with a little-appropriate way to figure out what being naughty meant and what stuff might entail. “That’s right but I can give treats too. My treats will just be very different from your Daddy’s.”

Sending pleas to the fates and ancestors that my mate would continue to be chatty, I did my best to look innocent. “I might read you a book while he gives you cake. People of Earth like cake. Wren said so.”

That got more laughter from him and he tipped over into Zorin as he laughed. “Daddy…he…Master thinks his…his treats are books.”

Making what I thought was a scoff, Zorin shook his head. “Even I know that is not correct. He is being silly because he wants your attention. That’s cheating.”

“That’s cute.” I shrugged and got more happy sounds from Shiloh. “Besides, if Daddies can’t cheat then Masters can’t either.”

I had heard several stories about how the dominant partner couldn’t cheat when they shifted how rules applied in situations.

Still looking happy and little, Shiloh dropped his voice to a whisper. “Daddy. You got to tell him that Masters…they spank and do stuff. I can’t tell him.”

Why?

The only logical reason seemed to be the rules around what he thought a little could do, and it seemed Zorin at least understood based on his firm nod. “Do not fear. Daddy will help.”