“Tell him yourself,” Zat’tor replied. Reaching outside with a tentacle, he nonverbally summoned Linn’ar.
The troubled Maeleon rushed inside. The second he saw Jaeyoung, his feelers bloomed. They burst with color and rose shimmering into the air.
“Oh, you’re all right!” Linn’ar cried. He looked like he wanted to engulf Jaeyoung in his arms, but held back.
Jaeyoung averted his gaze from the fussy Maeleon. “Yes, I’m fine,” he said under his breath. I noticed a dusting of pink across his cheeks, and I didn’t think it was from sitting upside-down.
Maybe he was right about waiting. After all, my crew could changetheirminds about leaving, too.
11Zat’tor
Although I didn’t enjoy being separatedfrom Levi while he spoke to his friend, I was pleased to see him in a better mood. Whatever they had spoken about, it must’ve been uplifting.
Still, I saw none of my siblings in the dens. That was slightly concerning.
“Were your friends all right?” I asked Levi as we departed.
“Yeah. Why?”
“They were both alone, and separated. They did not engage in any intercourse. They must be pent up.”
Levi’s cheeks turned pink the way they always did when discussing sex.
“They’ll be fine,” he promised. “Besides, I don’t want you to think about them having sex.”
He wore a slight frown, as if I’d said something to upset him.
“What is wrong?” I asked.
He huddled closer to me, wrapping his arm in mine. It filled my belly with a pleasant warmth.
“Sorry. It’s another stupid human reaction.” Levi sighed. “I just got jealous.”
“Why?”
He pouted, leaning his head against my arm. “Because I only want you to think aboutmethat way.”
“Ah. I understand. There is something I have not yet explained.”
I stopped walking and gave him my full attention. I wrapped my tentacles around his waist, pulling him as close as possible. “You belong to me, Levi. And I to you. For some Maeleons, it is possible to have multiple filum.”
Levi tensed, as if bracing himself for disappointment.
“But not me,” I assured him. “You are my one and only filum. I want to have sex with you alone. I only want to kissyou. Adoreyou.” I brought my maw to his mouth and gave him a light kiss, just like he taught me. “Understand?”
He smiled, his shoulders sagging in relief. “Yeah. Thanks, Zat’tor. I just needed to hear it.”
“I will remind you of this fact as many times as you wish. Now, I must feed you breakfast.”
Levi chuckled. “Okay, but I amnoteating any of that horny fruit again for a while.”
* * *
After I fed Levi a meal that didn’t sexually arouse him, he surprised me with a question.
“Hey, Zat’tor,” he said softly. “Maybe today... you could teach me some Maeleon customs?”
My heart soared upon hearing those words. It was a blessing that Levi wanted to engage in our culture.
