“Look,” he began. “I didn’t mean—”
“Never mind.” Jodi held up a hand to stop him. “You can come with me if you have to—just stay in the background.” Her face was frozen into a mask of irritation but it was clear she didn’t want to fight.
Which was a relief to Vorn. After their exchange the night before, he was happy to have some peace.
They had ridden to the USF campus together, Vorn driving and trying to ignore her sweet, strong scent that called to him so alluringly. It was like a low, feminine voice whispering naughty things in his ear every minute he was in close proximity to her and it nearly drove him fucking crazy.
To judge from the way Jodi was shifting around in her seat and clenching her thighs together, she was a mass of un-met needs as well. But neither one of them said anything about it and it was a great relief to Vorn when they finally parked and exited the car.
Jodi was a TA, and also taught some of the lower level classes so Vorn sat in the back of the room and just watched her teach. She looked damned sexy in the black pencil skirt and white silk blouse she was wearing but he was listening too—not just looking. He was surprised at how interesting her classes were—especially the Counseling class she was teaching.
Her lecture that day had to do with the five love languages—words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and thoughtful gifts.
“Now, the reason to know about the love languages in couples’ counseling is that you’ll need to teach your clients to show love to their partners in the way their partners can internalize it,” she said, pacing up and down the lecture hall while the students scribbled notes or tapped furiously on their laptops. “Because everyone shows love in their own love language—but it doesn’t always translate to their partner’s love language. For instance, an acts of service husband might take out the trash and mow the lawn but if his wife’s primary love language is words of affirmation and he never tells her that she’s beautiful or intelligent or wonderful or that he’s proud of her, she’s going to feel unloved.”
Vorn thought that made a lot of sense. You had to show love in a way the other person could appreciate it. Though it seemed kind of sad that humans had to be taught this principle. Kindred didn’t have to worry about finding out their partner’s love language because when you had a deep and intense mental and emotional bond to your mate, you didn’t have to ask—you just knew what they wanted or needed at any given time.
“Now, I want you to pair up with at least one other person,” Jodi told the class. “And try to find out each other’s primary and secondary love languages. Here’s a hint if you’re paired with a guy,” she went on, “Almost all of them crave physical touch, if you know what I mean.”
The class broke out into laughter and Vorn smiled himself, liking the easy way she handed herself and managed the class. Truly, she was a formidable female and fiercely intelligent too.
As the students worked, Jodi came over to where he was sitting, “auditing the class” which is what she’d told him to say if anyone asked what he was doing there.
“Well?” She raised her eyebrows, arms crossed over her full breasts. “What do you think? Are you enjoying the class?”
“Yes, I am,” Vorn said honestly. “The love languages thing is fucking interesting.” He gave her a level look. “Though I think it’s safe to say that males aren’t the only once who crave physical touch.”
Jodi flushed, her cheeks going red. But she lifted her chin and refused to look away.
“If you’re referring to my love language, don’t bother, Kindred. I have a fiancé, remember?”
“As if you’d ever let me forget,” Vorn growled. “When do I get to meet this idiot who won’t go down on you?”
“Shhh!” Jodi hissed, looking around to make sure none of her students had heard him. “I told you, you don’t get to meet him. We’re having lunch at the Panera on campus after this class but if you want to come you have to promise to stay at a different table and don’t talk to me or interfere in my conversation with James.”
“Your wish is my command, Mistress,” Vorn growled sarcastically. “The Goddess forbid I should bother you while you’re eating pastry with the male who won’t eat your pussy.”
“Stop it, will you?” Jodi snapped under her breath. “What makes you think that even matters to me? Lots of guys don’t go down. Why is it such a big deal?”
“It might not be if your primary love language was ‘words of affirmation’ or ‘thoughtful gifts,’” Vorn remarked, throwing her own lesson back at her. “But you and I both know that’s not true, sweetheart. And if you’re with a male who isn’t even trying to speak your language, then you’re with the wrong male.”
“Oh, and I suppose you would be the right male?” Jodi demanded, glaring at him.
The thought startled Vorn. He hadn’t known the curvy little Earth female for long, but she’d gotten under his skin from the first minute he’d met her and stayed there. It hadn’t occurred to him to think of Claiming Jodi as a mate because he’d gone into the situation knowing that she was taken. Now that she’d put the idea into his mind, though…
No—no way. We’d drive each other crazy! he thought. But still, the idea of Claiming her, of bonding her to him through a night of passionate sex with his shaft and mating fist buried deep in her soft pussy, suddenly filled his mind.
Not
