“Mhm.”
“Can you feel it when I touch them?”
“Mhm.”
Sally’s voice lowered to a whisper, “Do you like it?”
“Mmhmmm.”
Xenoth opened his eyes, their gaze hooded. “Z’Sally, my Queen. I am…very close to losing myself and mating you right here and now. You should tell me if you do not want this.”
Sally’s face flamed scarlet, but before she could answer, a polite cough sounded from outside the curtain of Xenoth’s kropek. Sally jumped, clinging to her beau, his grip on her tightening protectively as he identified the intruder.
“What, Urzan?” he growled heavily, his vocal vibrations causing Sally to close her eyes at the places they vibrated through.
Good gawd almighty, he was sexy!
“Zaharash, Z’Sally,” Urzan greeted from behind her. “Forgive my interruption, My Lady, but we should get you both back to the compound before you, er…”
“Before we ‘compound’?” Sally asked brightly, hoping the joke landed across dialects.
Xenoth snorted.
Urzan coughed, “Er, yes, exactly.”
“Sorry,” Sally murmured to Xenoth, running her fingers down his cheek. “Teacher says we’ve gotta get back to class. Put a pin in this till later?”
Xenoth looked at her blankly for a moment. “I am not certain that translated correctly. That is not ‘teacher’, but my brother, Urzan. What am I to stick a sharp metallic object used for sewing into?”
Sally guffawed, knocking her forehead against his muscular pectorals. “Oh mah gawd, never mind! You’re right, it didn’ttranslate. I was just tryin’ to say you should put me down for now.”
“Ah, I see.” Xenoth made a little grumble of protest, but set her down. Helikedhaving her in his arms.
When she stepped out of the curtain of his kropek, Urzan decloaked nearly on top of her. She squeaked in shock. Urzan’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline at the adorable noise. He did his best not to smile.
“Well there’s just anacreof you fellas, ain’t there?” Sally said looking up at Urzan. And up. And up some more. He was even taller than Xenoth.
“My brother has always been the short one in the family, My Lady,” Urzan told her with a cheeky grin.
Urzan had been unsure of his brother’s plan to bring ahuman femaleinto their colony, but after seeing Xenoth’s reaction to her, he knew it was the right call. He swallowed heavily, seeing how well the two of them meshed. He hoped Y’arza would make her own reappearance soon.
He looked over at Xenoth, “I have sent some of the males to pick up Z’Sally’s belongings and Arzog says everyone is waiting to meet her, so we should head back.”
“Fine,” Xenoth let out a huge sigh before trailing behind Sally like a grumpy puppy as she went to pick up her things. He quickly scooped up her bag, allowing her to take her hat and whip, then scooped her up as well, when something large behind the dumpster let out a sibilanthsssssssssss!
“Great, googly moogly! I forgot about that thang!” Sally said, smacking gently at Xenoth’s tentacles until he let go of her. Sheprevented him from hunting whatever it was immediately with a soft, “Don’t hurt it! That’s what the bird boys were pestering.”
She paused for a moment then asked, “What is it? I didn’t think there were any large animals here?”
“Not here, no,” Xenoth replied, scanning the beast in the shadows. His head cocked in confusion. “It seems to be one of the screaming Earth cats, only it is far too large.”
“Screaming Earth cats?” Sally snorted. “What…?”
She stepped forward, trying to get a better look, only to be waylaid by Xenoth’s kropek. She gave him an annoyed look over her shoulder. He let go with a sheepish look.
“Apologies, My Queen,” he muttered, kropek flexing anxiously as she investigated.
Sally pulled her now-useless cell out of her pocket and flicked on the flashlight. She wasnot prepared.
