"But..." I looked between them. "You are both men." And I didn't really know what to say after that. I only knew my brain wanted a hard stop right there. They were men. It wasn't done. To show respect, I shouldn't look - and I couldn't get past that part.
"I kiss women too," Drozel said.
"I don't," Omden told me.
I leaned forward for my tea. "I.." Nope, I still couldn't figure out what came next, so I took a sip, yet they kept watching me."I want to say it's not allowed," I admitted. "You said it's not a problem. I remember that. I just can't..."
"Believe it," Omden finished for me, nodding to show he understood. "Sylis, have you ever done more than kiss a man?"
"I..." My face was heating up. "It was only that once!"
"What was?" Drozel asked.
"I thought Tobias didn't want to be married either, so I... And then I just... And he didn't..."
"Him kissing Tobias," Omden told Drozel. "That's all he's done."
"Mm..." Drozel murmured. "Well, explain a few things to him, Ommy. I'm going to find the man a razor. I'm sure Lessa has one somewhere." Then he stood and headed straight out the front door.
Omden chuckled the moment it closed. "He's so bad with these talks," he told me. "Droz tries, but he's a little rough around the edges. It's part of his charm, though. I happen to like my men big and strong."
"Why is he going for a razor?" I asked, deciding that was safe.
"Because you are growing a beard, Sylis. We don't. Scales don't grow hair like that. And this is his best attempt to do something nice for you when he's a little embarrassed."
"Because I caught you two kissing?" I asked.
"No," Omden said. "Because I want to know if you even understand how sex works with men."
"I... But... That's to create children!"
"And fun," Omden said. "You see, when a man likes another, there are so many things he can do to feel good with him. We're going to start easy, Sylis. The first thing you need to know? I will kiss that man. I don't usually do it with strangers around, but I don't think you're a stranger anymore, are you?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Omden or Ommy," he corrected. "Lessa gave me the latter, and I'm starting to like it."
"Sounds like something a man should be angry about, like a child's name."
"Or a term of endearment," Omden countered. "And up here, there's not a single thing wrong with wanting someone to care about you. Sylis, falling in love is one of the most powerful things a person can do. It makes you more of a man than taking a life. It lifts you up, makes you realize who you are, and gives you a purpose like nothing else." And he gently rubbed my leg. "That means it's not something to be ashamed of."
"But you can't have children with him."
"I can't have children with Lessa either," he pointed out. "Tailed women can't. That's why our people don't love like yours. We don't hoard it, Sylis. We certainly are neverashamedof it, and in this house, you're allowed to look, to ask, and to stop trying to hide it."
"Okay," I agreed.
"Even when my partner cups your jaw and makes you want to lean in."
And my face began to burn all over again, but I didn't deny it. He'd just said not to be ashamed of it, and this was me trying. Maybe I couldn't meet his eyes, but I also wouldn't tell him a lie.
So I simply said, "I think I like the big ones too. The problem is all Dragons seem rather large, and muscular..." I had to swallow to keep my voice working. "And beautifully colored."
"Only the men," Omden assured me.
"Those are the ones I seem to notice," I admitted.
"Good," he told me.
