Page 145 of Tempt

thirty

LUCA

While I wait for Eissa to return home, I spend time lazing around, watching Gerald move furniture around the house at a glacial pace. It’s relaxing in a way.

My mind moves to Eissa, and I can feel his trepidation through the bond, my hand lifting to brush against the bite mark on my neck. It’s barely noticeable now. Eissa insisted that I take some zitha before he left, so that when he returns, I’ll be completely ache- and pain-free. Sadly, it took away the mark he left on me.

But I can still feel it, a low erotic thrum beneath my skin.

My head turns, and I glance through the hazy windows, taking in the changing sky, watching as the leaves sway in the distance.

I blink lazily, letting my eyelids fall, and when I open them, I nearly scream.

A Vyastil is standing over me, head cocked in curiosity, hair a swirl of silver and turquoise. He shrinks back at my shock but then straightens, an almost regal push of his shoulders as he does. It takes me a moment to realize it, but he looks a lot like Quilliyn. And not just in the way that Vyastil seem to all look alike.

‘Hello,’ he signs, and my thundering heart calms as I push myself up into a seated position.

‘Who are you?’ I ask, and the Vyastil blinks at me for a long moment. ‘How do you know ASL?’

‘Vyrian. I am a friend of Eissa. He told me about you, and so I learned to communicate with you. When I saw him in the archives, he said I could come by, but to be discreet. So, here I am. I am very excited to meet a human.’

His signs are smooth and almost fluent, his ears fluttering as he speaks.

He’s no one to be afraid of. If anything, he seems curious.

‘Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. My name’s Luca.’

‘I know.’

His tail, which was wrapped around his waist, sneaks out, touching my leg. I let him, his curiosity making my heart warm. He has an innocent demeanor to him.

‘Your skin is soft, but not as soft as ours. And you have little hairs on it.’ He bends down, his talk flicking away before tightening around his thigh.

‘Yes, it’s different than your skin.’

He nods, and his finger reaches out to poke at it, pulling one from my leg and making me yelp. ‘Does that hurt?’ he asks, holding up a small hair from my leg between his fingers and staring at it.

‘Yes,’ I say and then let out a small disbelieving laugh. So, this is who Eissa was reluctant to bring over. I can see why, but I’m more intrigued than anything.

‘I apologize. I did not mean to cause you harm.’

He tucks the small hair into a pocket in his garment, and he glances down at me once more.

‘That’s fine. Just next time, ask.’

‘I can ask anything I want?’

I shrug. ‘I don’t mind. Sure. I’m Deaf. We like questions.’

He blinks a few times and then points to my crotch. ‘Can I see your penis? I have heard they are very small in comparison to the Vyastil, and I would like to watch it grow hard.’

I choke and shake my head. ‘I think Eissa wouldn’t like that.’

Just as those signs fall from my fingers, Eissa appears through the doorway, his tunic whipping around him. He doesn’t stop as he approaches, just pushes past Vyrian and pulls me into his arms. His face nuzzles my neck, the spot where he bit me, and I feel a pulse of adoration move through the bond we share.

But he doesn’t linger long, pulling away seconds later to look at Vyrian.

‘You must not ask a Vyastil’s companion these questions.’