Page 44 of Legends and Longing

I…I was Shiloh’s Daddy.

“Spankings for punishments are not something I’m comfortable with.” For Shiloh or myself. However Raxius could try to justify that. “We will apologize and attempt to correct our behavior if something injures our mate.”

When Shiloh and Raxius both turned to me, it was my turn to express frustration with the long exhale. “Fine. Raxius, I apologize for my previous behavior. When we first met, I did not understand the odd feelings you produced in me and I handled them incorrectly.”

I could see Raxius accepted my words but I wasn’t sure Shiloh did. “Do you see the way your Master shifted his hands and shoulders? That was indicating agreement or acceptance.”

“Oh, your body talk is tiny.” Shiloh frowned and attempted the subtle movements but they were the equivalent of shouting with his body. “That’s hard.”

“Only because the people of Earth like to be very clear and have more variation in their expressions and movements.” Their behaviors were more helpful once they stopped being startling. “I will teach you, but let me be clear, I enjoy your Earth languages and do not want you to become one of us in that manner.”

Raxius went still for a moment before nodding clearly. “You are our mate no matter how you behave, but I agree with your Daddy. An important part of who you are is how you react. We do not need or want you to change that.”

Eyes widening, Shiloh’s worry emotions came leaking through the bond. “What…what if my reacts are something you don’t like?”

What could he want that we would find negative?

“I am going to remind you about the expression Klynn and Agent Murphy used…mates are always compatible.” Raxius reached up and rested his hand on Shiloh’s neck again. What seemed to be steady pressure was all that was needed to produce relaxing effects in our mate. “It just may take us time to understand who is the most compatible with that specific need.”

Blinking a few times in what was obviously conveying his thoughtful confusion, Shiloh took a moment before he responded with a slightly less stressful tone. “So…so some stuff might be a Daddy thing and some might be a Master thing?”

“Yes.” Raxius glanced between us but our bond was so low I could not clearly sense his emotions. “Like spankings. I think those will be a Master thing, not a Daddy thing.”

I did not need to apply pain to my boy to help him.

Keeping that thought to myself was smart and instinctual because I understood manners, but both my mates turned back to me. “I did not say anything.”

Shiloh shrugged. “Your bond thingy went squiggly.”

“I did not go squiggly.” What did that even mean? “Your Master and I are simply in agreement so there was no need to verbally respond.”

Raxius cocked his head. “You went squiggly.”

“See?” Shiloh threw up his hands. “I’m smart.”

“We are all highly intelligent.” Just in different ways. “What are your smarts telling you now, though?”

I was hoping for something cute or a distracting question about food, but the fates had other plans for me because Shiloh leaned closer and whispered again. “That you want to do other things to my bottom.”

Well, he was not wrong.

“You are right.” And he knew it. “You are very smart.”

Shiloh gave me a giggle that I knew Raxius wanted to label as naughty, but he sat up and did another wiggle instead of pushing me about his bottom. “Master’s tummy needs food, Daddy.”

Did he need the distraction or did he think I did?

Not sure if it mattered, I made a very thoughtful look and frowned. It had Shiloh giggling again and pretending to think as well, even tapping his chin for some reason. “Then we must feed him or he will get so cranky he’ll forget to spank you later.”

Ha.

I made him laugh so hard he nearly fell off my lap. Luckily for my wiggly Earthling, he had two mates who could quickly steady him. “Would you like to play at the table while I finish getting dinner ready or would you like to stay with Raxius?”

There were probably other options, but those were the two that came to mind the fastest. Raxius didn’t seem to have an opinion but Shiloh sat up and immediately changed moods. “Color. I got to color and make you pictures.”

Ah.

“Do you have crayons or should I get you something to color with?” Wren’s habit of pulling out crayons to silently explain that a meeting had gone on past the point he considered reasonable made it easy to understand what Shiloh needed.