Chapter Six #3
He grinned. “I did.”
“So, as you chose the clothing, what is your penalty?”
“I will think on it.”
“Well, you are ancient and wise; I am sure you will think of something.”
He grinned. “That was an interesting sentence.”
“I thought so.”
They walked to where two guards were flanking a door. Vress said, “The captain’s private dining room.”
The guards stood tense, and the door opened. Aubrey walked in with Vress, and everyone turned to look. She sighed. “How late are we?”
“An hour.”
She smacked a hand over her face. “You could have woken me up.”
“I exhausted you. You needed rest.”
The human ladies were all in pretty gowns, and Alyssa’s male was next to her, speaking softly.
The captain got up and grinned. “Welcome, Overlord, Oracle.”
“I apologize for the delay.” She didn’t give reasons.
They walked to the seat nearest the captain with the back arranged for Vress. Hmrain chairs were unmistakable. Vress held her hand as he settled and then pulled her onto his lap. He whispered, “Traditional seating.”
She blushed scarlet. “Right.”
The serving crew came out with bowls and towels to wash hands before the meal. Aubrey asked, “Are we using hands?”
The captain smiled. “Overlord Vress thought it would be best to begin with the basics. His people work with our hands, and we eat with our hands. It is best you practice here before you do it in public.”
Aubrey looked at Vress. “Demonstrate.”
He grinned. “Clever. Manners?”
“Demonstrate, please, Overlord Vress.”
He laughed, and after his hands were clean and she blotted his fingers dry, she washed her own hands, and he returned the favour.
“Is that a tradition, too?”
He grinned. “We are starting a trend.”
“Oh, good lord. Just what I need, people watching me eat.”
He kissed her temple and chuckled, reaching for a scoopful of something and putting it in his bowl. She reached for a flatbread and used her right hand only.
He tapped it. “Other hand for food. This hand makes your living.”
She nodded and switched to her left hand. It was awkward, but she got it done. She broke off a piece and held it to his lip. “Come on, open up. Here comes the choo-choo.”
The humans were shocked, but Vress ate the bread, and now she was free to try some of the things on the table.
Vress grabbed her wrist and held both of her hands together as he fed her. She felt her cheeks heat but ate and sucked on his fingertips after each bite. Vress was focused but smug.
The captain asked, “Overlord, you aren’t going to partake?”
“I ate earlier, and I will be content for some time. My consort needs to keep her strength up.”
She was mortified but kept eating. Conversation started up, and Alyssa’s male asked, “Oracle, how did you know that we would suit each other?”
Aubrey finished swallowing and said, “Do you want the polite answer or the actual answer?”
Alyssa blinked. “What’s the polite answer?”
“The stars showed you two twined together, happy, smiling, and relaxed.”
Her companion said, “What is the actual answer?”
“The visions showed you two having sex on every available surface. Your eyes were silver with a green glow in several of them, and I am trying not to let everyone I know know that I have seen them naked. It’s creepy.”
Alyssa’s cheeks were bright, and she pressed her hands to her face.
“I also see you a few years down the road, and your gentleman is making a bunch of toys for the kids.”
Alyssa blinked. “Kids?”
“In a few years. No rush.” She smiled brightly.
Vress turned her head and snorted. “She does not mean a few years.”
She put her hands over his mouth and said, “Shush. We just lost our world. Not everybody wants to rush before they have processed the loss.”
His eyes crinkled, and she looked over at the captain’s appalled expression.
“The oracle required silence to work.”
Vress started laughing, and she let his mouth go.
Alyssa said softly, “I am wanting to rush on. I have grieved my family for two years; I am going to lunge into a new life with both hands, and if I have kids, I am telling them about the world that was.”
Her partner squeezed her hand. “I have family who will welcome you, whether we bond or not.”
Alyssa smiled. “This feels weird. Good but weird.”
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. Alyssa went scarlet but nodded.
Aubrey smiled. “Boy, am I glad nothing embarrassing is going on over here.”
Vress’s hand was cupping her breast under the dress and his other hand was between her thighs.
Alyssa’s eyes widened, and then she smiled. Aubrey winked and tried to hold a conversation while arousal was slowly built under Vress’s hands. This was going to be embarrassing, but she would get used to it.
She was on the edge of an orgasm when she got a vision of Whisper with one hand extended and a swirling orb hovering over her palm. The robes the woman wore were moving in a breeze that didn’t have an effect on the people watching her.
Aubrey was about to let Whisper know, but she arched over Vress’s hand and groaned low. Her body pulsed under his fingers. There went the dignity of the oracle.