“I brought you something to drink as well,” Levrix said slowly, sounding out the words, before she reached into the folds of her heavily lined dress.She pulled out a flask and handed it to her.
“What is it?” Cecelia asked curiously.
Levrix thought for a moment.“I think you would call it tea?It is brewed from a Luxirian plant.Very good for your health.”
Cecelia wondered if Rixavox had told her why she was there.When she took a sip from the flask, she found that the tea was still warm.It tasted faintly like green tea, one of her favorites, but it had a black licorice aftertaste.
Levrix smiled when she took another sip.“You like it?”
“Yes,” Cecelia said.“It’s very good.”
“We females used to drink this often.It is good for the…for the womb, I believe you say.It makes the young stronger.”
Cecelia almost sputtered on her next sip.She felt a light flush color her cheeks.“Oh, I’m not…we’re not…” she trailed off, wanting to groan in embarrassment.“I’m not pregnant.”
Something flashed across Levrix’s face at her pronouncement but she didn’t want to read too much into it.“Regardless,” the Luxirian female said, “it is good for you.”
An awkward silence descended between them so Cecelia took another sip and then returned to her meal.After she’d chewed a few bites, feeling Levrix’s gaze on her all the time, Cecelia said, “I’m, uh, I’m sorry I barged in on you and Rixavox the other day.I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Levrix waved her hand in the air, dismissing her words.“Rixavox did not want me that night.You interrupted nothing.”
Cecelia swallowed, wondering how Luxirians could be so, so blasé about sex.It was somewhat refreshing, she had to admit, although it was strange hearing Levrix talk about Rixavox in that way, especially after her jealousy episode earlier that morning.
“Right,” she murmured, staring down at her plate.God, she hoped it wouldn’t be this awkward all day.Or else that day would seem even longer than yesterday had.
“You are uncomfortable,” Levrix realized, cocking her head to the side.“Have I made you so?”
“It’s just a little weird,” Cecelia admitted.“I appreciate you taking the time to come be with me though.”
“I wished to meet you, Sessela,” Levrix insisted.“I told Rixavox I would like to meet with you, that you should have a companion during the span while he goes about his duties.He is a busy male.He cannot expect you to sit here all span with nothing to occupy you.”
Cecelia relaxed a little more and gave her a soft smile.“That was thoughtful of you.”
Levrix returned her smile and scooted closer.“Let us begin again, yes?”
Cecelia gave a little laugh and nodded.“Okay.”
“Good.Then you must tell me all about you.I wish to know everything.”
Cecelia smiled.“That could take a while.”
“It is good that we have a while then,” Levrix replied.
Cecelia smoothed the smile from her lips, feeling the awkwardness begin to drain between them.
“Alright,” she said.“I will tell you everything about me, if you tell me everything about you and about Luxiria.I want to learn, to understand.Deal?”
“Deal?” Levrix repeated, a puzzled look on her face.
“It is a human expression.An agreement on an exchange,” she tried to explain.
“Ah,” Levrix said, her chest rumbling in an excited purr.“Yes, you can teach me these expressions.For now, I agree to your deal.”
“Okay,” Cecelia replied, chuckling, settling in for what would probably be a long, but enjoyable, day.
SIXTEEN
When Rixavox returned to her and Levrix once he had a break in his duties, they were chatting like girlfriends Cecelia had had in college.
