“Oh, sorry, we can come back some other time.” Lumod quickly turned around and walked down the stairs with whomever he’d come up here with.
Julie looked wide-eyed as well and I worried she’d be anxious about getting caught kissing me. Would she be ashamed? Tarak had said the hu-mans did not feel the same about our shifting abilities as the other dekes, but a part of me was still waiting for at least one of the females to look at me with disgust.
“I guess I better get back to bed,” Julie gave me another one of her bashful smiles and I reluctantly helped her off my lap.
“Let me walk you back,” I suggested.
“I’d like that,” Julie replied and held out her hand, giving me all the confirmation I needed that she was not ashamed to be seen with me.
I took her hand in mine and walked her through the dark hallway to her cavern.
“I’m glad I got to see you tonight,” I confessed in a hushed tone as we stood outside the door.
“I’m glad I got to see you too,” her voice was light and happy.
“Bend down for me,” Julie whispered and I did as she asked.
I bent over and felt her soft lips on my cheek. “Good night, Orsu.”
I brushed the back of my knuckles against her cheek and lifted her chin with my finger.
“Goodnight, Julie,” I whispered right before I gave her one last kiss for the night. “Sleep well.”
“I will,” she whispered back, squeezing my hand in hers before she released it and walked into the cavern.
It took all my strength of will to leave that doorway. I wanted to stand there until morning watching over her just in case she needed me again. When I thought I heard her heavy breathing join the chorus of snores of the sleeping females, I left. I would see Julie again tomorrow and I would simply have to wait until then.
Chapter 11
Julie
“Why are you smiling? Got someone on your mind?” Hai teased me. I’d been smiling since I woke up this morning. I’d liked kissing Orsu last night. I’d liked ita lot. It was both exciting and felt natural and familiar, as if we’d kissed each other a thousand times. I liked that. I liked how comfortable I felt with Orsu.
“Oh nothing,” I said as I gave Hai a coy smile.
“Uh huh,” she smiled back with an expression that told me she knew exactly why I was smiling.
We made our way to the main cavern where Orsu was already boiling water for the oatmeal.
He smiled the moment he caught sight of me and I caught myself staring at his lips and wondering when I’d get the chance to kiss him again.
“Good morning,” Orsu bellowed from across the room and waved me over.
“I made this for you.” He handed me a flatbread topped with fruit drizzled in sweet nectar.
“Oh this looks delicious!” I said as I excitedly took the bread.
I took one bite and moaned.
Orsu blushed a dark blue and shyly asked. “Doyou like it?”
“Oh yes, it’s wonderful!” And it truly was. Once again I was impressed with his seemingly limitless cooking abilities. He had so few ingredients to choose from here compared to what I had had back home and yet he provided a variety of perfectly seasoned food.
I finished my bread and got to work on making a large pot of oatmeal. Orsu and I were nothing but smiles as we cooked and served the dekes breakfast.
Once everyone was fed, he and I sat down across from each other at Tarak and Gabby’s table when Orsu made the mistake of mentioning that he wanted to pick berries a little too loudly.
“I want to gather berries!” Talia, who was sitting at the table next to us interrupted.
