Page 88 of Ahelno
“All human women are beautiful,” Leo said, “but Andie is exceptional, even for a human.”
“Leo!” I whisper-shouted.
“Oh hush, brighteyes,” he laughed, dimples showing in his cheeks. “You know you’re hot.”
I giggled as Dakleth put his hand on my forehead. “Her temperature feels normal to me. Do you feel ill?” he asked earnestly.
Leo chortled. “Sorry, translation error. ‘Hot’ means sexy. Andie is both beautiful and sexy,”
I blushed, feeling warmth spread through my cheeks.
“Now you are hot,” Dakleth declared. “Your skin is pink and has heated.”
“Kill me now,” I said, as Gafand, Aldrin, and Dakleth all stared at me in alarm.
“It’s nothing, I’m just blushing!” I exclaimed.
“What is blushing?” Aldrin asked Leo.
“It’s a human physiological response. The capillaries open and the blood rushes to the skin, mostly on the face and neck. It usually happens if a human is embarrassed or sometimes anxious,” Leo explained. I was impressed with his clinical explanation.
Gafand stared at me, then looked at Leo. “I have not observed this response in you,” Gafand said.
“My skin is darker, so you wouldn’t see it,” Leo said.
“What are the lumps on your chest?” Aldrin asked. So I guess today was just going to be a whole course in human anatomy. Great.
“They’re called breasts,” I said. “All human women havetwo of them. If we ever give birth, our breasts fill with milk to feed the baby.”
This time Dakleth was the one to choke. He coughed and wheezed for a full minute, then looked at me. “I thought they were a secondary sex organ.”
Oh, I was doing ALL the blushing today, as I carefully avoided Leo’s eye. “Um, yes, that too, but their primary purpose is to feed a baby.”
“Did you say you give birth?” Gafand asked excitedly. “Are humans live bearers?”
“Ahhh, yes. Of course. What do you mean? Are you not? How do you have babies?” I hadn’t really thought much about alien reproduction. I mean, I’d never really thought about human reproduction either.
“Live bearers?!” Aldrin exclaimed. “Why did you not tell us of this?” he glared accusingly at Leo.
“It never came up,” Leo shrugged. “I mean, Andie is the first human female you’ve ever met. She’s probably the only human female you ever will meet. How she has a baby isn’t any of your business.”
“No babies. I’m not having any babies,” I said quickly. Children had never been part of my plan, not on Earth, and certainly not here.
Dakleth had gone very still. “Oh shit,” I said, “Were you expecting us to have babies?” Crappity crap, of course he did. He probably had to secure the royal line or something.
“Ptexari are egg layers,” Gafand said. “You won’t be compatible for breeding.”
“But the Charonu are also live bearers,” Aldrin said, still excited. “You could come to our planet and have as many offspring as you wish. The males of our planet wouldbe delighted.”
Dakleth growled, a low warning rumble.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I snapped. “Just because Icanhave a baby with you doesn’t mean Iwantto.”
“My apologies, Princess,” Aldrin bobbed. “I meant no offense. Livebearing species are incredibly rare. I was just overcome with surprise. I completely forgot that you are already mated. Your forgiveness, please.”
“Do you just go around propositioning all females who happen to give birth to babies?” I asked, genuinely curious now.
“You are the only live bearer I have ever met outside our species,” Aldrin said.
