Firefly Glen [m] i am a question to the world

She wanted him to stay with her. Talisman wondered if she understood what she was asking of him, how difficult it was for him to be so near to her. Then again, it sounded like she wanted his attention and the offspring that would result from it. If only he could get past his mental block…

What? Of course I’d want to be in their lives, he found himself saying sharply, his patience wearing thin right alongside his better judgment. I want kids too, Kusuma.

But what about everything else she’d just said? And all the words that had come before? Talisman realized he had a headache now, on top of everything else.

Look, he said, this time not letting her cut across him, I don’t think any of that coyote vs jackal vs wolf stuff matters as much as you think. At least, I couldn’t care less. I would still want to bang you if you were—a worm, if you still smelled like this.

He drew in a deep breath, ignoring the dull pounding in his temple. Talis tipped his head upward in the manner of one slightly exasperated, before bringing his pale gaze back to her.

I want kids, lots of kids. If you really want me to, he said, staring straight into her eyes, and you understand that I’ll be here for you as your friend, and the kids as their dad…

Talis waited.