Zelli shivered, missing his cloak. He told himself the others could not see his reddened face although he thought they could.
The window had been open. But even if it hadn’t been, Zelli had not been able to hide his desires yesterday and the others would certainly suspect how he had spent the night and who he had spent it with. Because Zelli had feelings and couldn’t seem to hide them.
He coughed. “I apologize if I’ve kept you waiting.” He looked at Let instead of Fy. “I hope you all slept well and had breakfast.”
“We did. Thank you for thinking of us, Tialttyrin,” Let answered.
“Amazed he could think at all, from the sound of it.” Fy’s mutter would probably not have been audible at a different, busier time of day.
Vint reached over and smacked Fy on the back of the head.
Zelli looked down, then up quickly when Mayor Sar came to the doorway behind him.
“I’ve packed some biscuits for you,” she informed Zelli. “For all of them, but particularly for you. Tahlen,” the name was crisp, “asked for them for you.”
Zelli had not thought his face could get so hot outside of a lust-fever. He nodded his thanks and offered her a parting smile before stepping over to where Lemon Blossom stood patiently. Tahlen was there next to her where he hadn’t been a moment ago.
Wain slapped Tahlen lightly on the back. Tahlen didn’t seem to notice. He looked steadily at Zelli until Zelli was close enough, then knelt down to make himself a mounting block for Zelli once again.
Someone made a small noise and was firmly shushed. Zelli did not glance around to see who it was. He was more occupied with trying not to wince as new pains made themselves known.
Tahlen stood as Zelli gingerly settled in the saddle, then removed his cloak and held it up.
Zelli stared at him with wide eyes but kept the cloak bundled to his chest until Tahlen gently took it back from him and indicated Zelli ought to wear it. Which, yes, made more sense. It was large enough to hide any of Zelli’s more embarrassing reactions throughout the day.
Tahlen tugged the ends down to let it drape over most of Zelli’s body before looking up. His expression, and he had one, hot and proud, made Zelli briefly forget the various aches, pains, and humiliations of the morning.
Tahlen had kissed Zelli in between their sport last night. Zelli thought Tahlen wanted to kiss him again now. Zelli wouldn’t mind, even with his embarrassment. But that might not be appropriate. The others already thought Zelli had used him.
“Thank you.” Zelli could not raise his voice. “You don’t have to.”
“With my body.” Tahlen bent his head and put his lips to Zelli’s knee. “Gladly.”
Even at a busier time of day others would have heard him.
“Well,” remarked someone breathlessly. It might have been Fy.
Tahlen met Zelli’s stunned stare and smiled beautifully when Zelli said without looking away from him, “Terribly sorry, everyone, but I think we will need to travel fast.”
A few hours might be too long.
“Understood,” Let replied dryly, signaling to the others.
Tahlen left Zelli then, going to Starfall.
Zelli finally glanced around, bewildered and aroused, and caught a glimpse of Mayor Sar, smiling at Tahlen fondly again at last.
But Zelli’s attention was already skittering back to Tahlen. He gave the mayor an absent nod and urged Lemon Blossom forward when they all began to ride.
Sixteen
Zelli spent the morning trying to think of how best to explain himself to Grandmother. He had to do something to take his mind off everything else, and the issue was pressing. Tahlen seemed to think Zelli was persuasive. Zelli was not convinced.
But even a fleeting thought of Tahlen would make Zelli look for him, and find him, usually riding somewhere close, and then stare at him until Tahlen would look back.
Then, growing hot, Zelli would turn away only to begin the whole process again.
Tahlen must have recognized the problem. He didn’t seem insulted, anyway, when Zelli couldn’t look at him. He did sometimes ride closer and offer Zelli a hand to hold when he must have judged that Zelli’s first problem outweighed the second. Occasionally, he’d also offer water, or say, “Have a biscuit, Zelli.”
