“I’m just so grateful,” she said, pressing her cheek to Nenn’s upper arm.“Now I have my beats and audiobooks.Is there a way I can connect the sound to a speaker?I like my music loud.”
“Music?”He twisted to glance at her.
“Yes, what did you think I meant by beats?”
“Tribal drums?”he said, grinning at her.
“Oh, yes, there’s that, but wait until you hear it all, Nenn.”She jiggled on the spot.
He dipped his gaze lower and lingered on her breasts.In Giniiri, no female danced around the bonfire.Not even during mating season when males offered gifts in the hopes of snaring a mate.All applicants had to demonstrate their flexibility, physique, and stamina before the females chose.Kimgi hadn’t averted her gaze from Tugo the entire evening.
Her open admiration had made Nenn’s heart ache.
He wanted a female to gaze upon him with such devotion.Cupping Tiny’s face, he ran his thumb over her lips.“I look forward to you sharing this with me,” he said.
She clasped his wrist and beamed.“I want to teach you chess, too.”
He laughed.“And we can learn to play the reed together.”
Her cheeks pinkened.She parted her lips to speak.
“Morning,” Drafe said, a plate of tulsig in hand.
She angled her head, lines marring her brow.
“Drafe, would Vic have any human food?”Nenn asked, revealing who stood before Tiny.
“No.”The male frowned.“A good idea, though.”He glanced at the plate.“If we send a ship for Caah, we shall task them to expand the replicate’s offerings.”
“My thanks,” Nenn said and ushered Tiny to the galley.
“Human food?”she asked, sinking onto the bench he led her to.
“Yes, in case none of our choices suit your palette.”
“Aw, Nenn, that’s so thoughtful.I like tulsig and your tisane so far.”She rested her elbows on the table and her chin on her palm.
“We shall continue with Meorri this morning,” he said and turned away.The tisane was the quickest, which he placed before her while the replicate worked on her breakfast.At the ding, he grabbed the plate and sat beside her.“I have not tried all that the Meorri have to offer.We shall taste them together.”
What followed was a memory he’d cherish forever: her squeals of delight, her gags, the smacking of her lips to the licking of her fingers.She hummed when something pleased her, and she sampled all the food between sips of russmar tisane.
“I cannot believe you shared your vile-smelling tisane,” Gusin said, sliding onto the bench with his gaze on the almost empty plate.
“It’s yummy,” Tiny said, flushing a smile.“Smells awful, though.Have you tried it?”
Gusin jerked back.“No.”
“Then no complaining until you do.”She wagged a finger in an odd gesture.“Otherwise, you have no leg to stand on.”
Gusin laughed.“I have two legs.”
“No one likes a smart ass,” she snapped.“It’s a human saying that means if you don’t have experience, your opinion doesn’t matter.”
“Fair enough,” Gusin said, snatching Nenn’s half-drunk jar.After a taste, he stilled, his mouth gaping.“Itis…yummy.My apologies, Nenn.Now, do I have a leg, Tiny?”
She giggled, her shoulders shaking.“You have two.”
Chapter Twenty
