“What is negative about sexual intercourse or defecation?”
He grinned, apparently amused. “Never mind. Can you lift the ship?”
I lowered myself on my haunches and slid my hands under the hull.
“You might want to use your tentacles, too,” Levi suggested. “It’s really heavy. You might hurt your—”
I stood, picking up the ship with ease. It was bulky, but not particularly heavy.
Levi’s jaw dropped.
“Wh—how did you do that?” he cried.
“It’s lighter than I thought,” I remarked, hefting it onto my shoulder.
Levi’s eyes were wide. “Wow, Zat’tor. You’re strong.” He stared at my flexed muscles for a second before clearing his throat and asking, “Are all Maeleons physically powerful?”
“Yes. Are all humans physically frail?” I asked.
He huffed. “Well, we don’t like to admit it, but yeah. Most of us, anyway. I doubt even the fittest human bodybuilder could hold a candle to you.” He paused. “Oh, sorry. A candle is—”
“Ah, I know what candles are. We have many back at the village. They are made of golden insectoid wax, yes?”
He tilted his head. “That sounds right, yeah. But with all the plants around, I thought Maeleons wouldn’t use candles for light.”
“For light? No, no. We use them during intercourse. Many Maeleons like the sensation of hot wax dripping on their skin,” I explained.
Levi’s face turned deep pink. “I see. You’re not shy about that sort of thing, are you?”
“Why would I be shy? Intercourse is natural.”
Levi seemed like he was trying to stifle a laugh, but he failed. I liked seeing him this way—smiling, with brightly colored cheeks.
I couldn’t resist my overwhelming curiosity. My tentacle stroked his cheek. I was surprised at both its softness and its intense heat.
“You can change color, too,” I remarked.
Levi sucked in a soft breath. He froze, then slowly raised his hand to rest on my tentacle. “Yeah. This is called blushing.”
“Blushing,” I repeated. “I like it.”
“Humans blush when we’re shy, embarrassed, flustered... or, um, aroused,” he mumbled.
That was a wide range of emotional responses.
“I hope you feel aroused,” I stated.
That made the color in his cheeks reach his ears. “W-what?”
“I don’t want you to feel shame around me,” I said, stroking his cheek with my tentacle. “Therefore, I hope you are aroused.”
Levi made a strange, choked sound, then began coughing.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Fine,” Levi said in a thin voice. “I guess I should explain that humans aren’t usually so... open when it comes to sexuality.”
“Why not?”
