Page 13 of I Married A Lizardman

“Kissed?” Zoltar asked, the same curiosity reflected on Luped’s face and that of the other people listening in on our conversation.

“It is a human custom where they press their mouths against each other’s as a sign of affection,” I explained.

Zoltar made a disgusted expression. “I would do none of that nonsense. Andturians do not wear clothes or touch mouths with others.”

I tilted my head to the side, giving him a scornful look. “So, you would disrespect your mate? You would spit on her customs?”

Zoltar had the decency of looking embarrassed. Once again, he’d shown his propensity to talk first, think later. But that reminded me that Susan had in fact spared me the discomfort of wearing those strange clothes human males wore and would have also spared me the awkwardness of kissing had I not insisted. She was going out of her way to accommodate me.

“You wouldn’t dress to honor your mate, and yet Susan made a great sacrifice by undressing for the ceremony,” Luped interjected. “Her people do not just cover themselves to protect their soft skin, it is considered offensive to undress in public.”

“Why?” Zoltar asked, echoing the question burning my tongue. “Are they ashamed of their appearance?”

“Not at all,” Luped replied with a sliver of annoyance at this less than subtle attempt at a barb. “Susan undressed to honor our ways and to please Olix. She only covered what her customs deem otherwise highly inappropriate. She says her body is only for her mate’s eyes. Showing her reproductive parts to any other male would be a great disrespect to Olix.”

That took me by surprise, but it also greatly flattered me. Others looked intrigued, while Zoltar also appeared confused. Susan returning with my mother put an end to the conversation. She was wearing a long, flowy white dress without sleeves. I wondered if this was the human wedding dress she would have worn had we performed a full human ceremony instead of the basic one she settled for. Still, it made me look at her with new eyes.

It hugged the curves of her chest and torso, a second layer of semi-transparent, highly ornate fabric decorating it. The long skirt, much wider, swished as it undulated with each of her steps. She had kept the ceremonial paint and hair decorations my mother and sister had put on her. The overall effect was rather pleasing to the eye.

Susan came straight to me, a timid smile on her lips.

“Your dress is quite beautiful,” I said, genuinely appreciating the craftsmanship, but also wanting to make her more at ease.

Her face turned red again, throwing me for a loop. I had meant to compliment her, not embarrass her. Further adding to my confusion, instead of the look of humiliation I’d expected to accompany her skin coloration, Susan gave me a broad smile, showing her blunt white teeth, her brown eyes lighting up with pleasure. Did human skin also redden when they were happy?

“Thank you, Olix,” Susan said with genuine happiness. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I do,” I replied, returning her smile. “Come, let us feast.”

“Okay,” she said in a breathy voice.

We headed to the main table, my mother to my left and Luped to my mate’s right side. We remained standing.

“Thank you, clanmates, neighbors, friends, and family for joining my mate and me on this special day,” I said. “I would extend to you the hospitality of Monkoo, but it is we who benefit from your generosity in preparing this bonding feast. Eat, drink, dance, and let us celebrate not only this union, but the enduring friendships of the Andturian clans.”

The people tapped their tails and whistled in response. The Gatherers began serving the food, bringing large plates of everything to each table so people could pick and choose what they wanted to eat. Ours was served first. To my delight, Susan didn’t act skittish about any of it. She tasted everything, asking questions, especially about the vegetables, but the meats as well. Luped was all too happy to answer her.

Although she enjoyed the berry cider, Susan further pleased me with the restraint she displayed once she realized the strength of its alcohol level. She continued to parsimoniously sip on it, not letting it get to her head.

When the meal ended, the Gatherers—aided by some of my clanmates—took away the remaining food to the kitchen at the back. There, it would be equally divided among the clans. In the meantime, Hunters removed the spits and covered the cooking pits to turn the central area into a dance floor. First, the males and females of each clan performed ritual hunting dances for my mate. The way her eyes sparkled and the enthusiasm she showed in clapping her hands as she observed them earned Susan the approval of the people.

Then, we joined them on the floor. Although she possessed a good sense of rhythm, my mate struggled with reproducing some of our traditional steps. It made me realize how much crouching it involved and the level of lower body strength it required. The absence of a tail to counterbalance some of the movements also increased the difficulty for her to imitate us. But she eventually settled in a comfortable middle-ground that made the steps easier for her while being close enough to the real thing.

One by one, the visiting clans began to leave, those located the farthest leaving first. But the festivities continued well after the sun began to set and long after my mate and I had retired to our dwelling.

Chapter 6

Olix

As soon as the door closed behind us, dampening most of the sound of the ongoing celebrations, Susan’s joyous mood faded, and she immediately looked intimidated. An awkward silence settled between us. I wanted the carefree and talkative Susan from the feast back. As much as I liked hunting prey, I didn’t enjoy my mate looking at me like she was one.

“I… I should go take a shower and wash off all this paint,” Susan said.

Normally, as mates, we would shower together. I almost said as much. But Susan clearly needed some time alone, maybe to gather herself.

“Very well,” I said, repressing a frown.

Her nervousness around me bothered me greatly. Still, the grateful relief she expressed upon hearing my answer convinced me I had made the right choice by indulging her request. My mate grabbed her bag, still sitting on the communal table and headed straight to the hygiene room. I almost offered to teach her how to use it, but I could only presume Mother or Luped had already shown her.

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