Page 14 of I Married A Lizardman

I headed for our nest chamber while removing the adornments on me. The glowstones in the room lit as soon as they detected my presence. I placed the adornments in their respective casings on the upper shelves near the door, then cast a glance at the room. It was smaller now that Luped had taken up a significant amount of space to build a ‘wad-robe’ for Susan.

Kayog had stated my mate would need such a space to store her clothes and footwear. As one of our best Builders, my sister had done high quality work in no time. However, it seemed too big to me. Luped insisted that she had performed research confirming some humans would deem it too small as it wasn’t a walk-in. She suggested we modify the divisions of the house, and maybe add an extension, so we could build Susan a proper walk-in attached to the hygiene room.

I would ask my mate in the morning.

In the morning as well, I would do what I hadn’t had time to do in the past two days since the Temern announced Susan’s impending arrival, and learn everything I could about humans.

I looked at the sleeping nest, hoping she would find it adequate. We didn’t rest in beds, but a large recess in the floor of a more or less circular shape—although some preferred a square one—filled with a large down feather cushion at the bottom and smaller cushions covering the edges. A thick nirka fur lay partially folded at the base of the nest. We used it to keep us warm during colder nights. A set of thin sheets of fabric called blankets and a pair of cushions called pillows that Kayog had sent covered the bottom cushion—that humans would call a mattress.

I didn’t see how such light covers could keep humans warmer than a nirka fur, but the Temern insisted that humans required their blankets. If Susan truly liked them, the Crafters would be happy to weave more for her.

To my surprise, I heard my mate coming out of the hygiene room in less than fifteen minutes. I had expected her to hide there a long time, while working up the courage to face me. The rules of the unions arranged through the Prime Mating Agency stated that the couple must be legally married according to both of their species’ customs that first day, and that their bond was to be consummated that same night. Failing to do so could result in the annulment of the union and severe financial penalties for the couple since the PMA shouldered all the expenses in getting the partners together. While I understood their need to ensure the mates were serious in making a success of their journey, it also placed a tremendous amount of pressure on us.

And even more so on the male to perform.

Having a few days to get to know Susan before moving to that step would have been nice. Technically, the Temern wouldn’t know if neither one of us revealed the truth. For a second, I even considered proposing to Susan that we wait a bit. However, I dismissed that thought. Not only did I not want to risk the penalty, I especially didn’t want my mate thinking I was avoiding my duty to her. I’d failed her enough for one day.

But what if she wishes I did offer?

Susan entering the nest chamber, looking just as intimidated, put an end to my musings. The short, translucent black dress she wore couldn’t offer any kind of protection. I could see every curve of her body underneath it—or would have if not for the bag she was clutching to her chest as if her life depended on it. Her long head fur was cascading down her back and over her shoulders. It curled in far more accentuated spirals than before the ceremony, now that she had removed the metal wires binding them in thick strands. It made it appear shorter, but it still looked pretty around her face.

“I have finished,” Susan said in a timid voice.

I didn’t know how to respond to such an obvious statement.

“I will go wash as well,” I said, not knowing what to do with myself, before remembering the ‘wad-robe.’ I pointed at it. “This is all for you to put away your clothes and personal belongings. Feel free to use the space however you see fit.”

Her eyes lit up, some of the tension bleeding from her shoulders.

“Thank you,” Susan replied.

I grunted in response, then made my way to the hygiene room. Of all the terrible things the Invaders had done to our people during the time they had enslaved us, commodities such as showers, hygienic toilets, and power stones had been a blessing. A part of me wondered how my mate would have reacted had I not been able to provide her with such basic comforts.

But the Vaengi were the last thing I wanted to be thinking about right now. After showering, I dried my scales using a fluffy towel before hanging it next to the one Susan had used. My stomach knotted as I slowly walked back to our nest chamber. I opened the door and found my mate standing next to the shelves of the ‘wad-robe’ where she had already hung her clothes. As soon as she saw me, she stopped brushing her head fur. Looking self-conscious, she made as if to pull the fur that had remained stuck on the brush but changed her mind. Instead, she placed the tool on one of the shelves and closed the door.

She wrapped her arms around herself, as if to hide her body, which the translucent outfit failed to cover. The extremely short skirt didn’t even reach the middle of her thighs. This time, no underwear covered the parts only reserved for my eyes. Despite the folds of her skirt, the exposed slit of her sex was visible. Through the flimsy dark fabric, I could see the round circles surrounding her two tiny teats in the center of the globe-like swells of her chest. What could possibly be the purpose of such a useless garment?

Susan cleared her throat, looking more nervous than ever.

“So… hmm… considering our earlier miscommunications, I was thinking we should discuss this next part to make sure we’re on the same page,” Susan said with a nervous laughter.

“That is a good idea,” I said, both relieved and grateful for her easing us into the topic.

Susan appeared to relax a little, and she smiled in response.

“Maybe we can sit in the bed?” she asked, gesturing at the nest.

“Very well,” I said, letting her lead the way.

My mate circled around the left side of the sleeping nest, which sat right in front of a large window. She removed her flat footwear and descended into the nest, sitting at the edge with her legs crossed beneath her. I settled on the opposite side from her, kneeling on the cushion before sitting on my haunches and curling my tail to the side.

“I tried to read up on Andturians mating rituals, but couldn’t find anything,” Susan said with that same nervous laughter, redness creeping up her neck and cheeks. “I know we are compatible, but just not how your people go about it.”

I frowned, unsure what she was really asking.

“Well, the female usually leans against a wall or over a low surface like a table. More rarely, she will get on her hands and knees. She lifts her tail and parts her veil to expose her slit, then the male positions himself behind and penetrates her with his stem,” I said, as if it was self-evident—which it should be. “The male pumps into her until she is pleasured, then he releases his seed.”

The way my mate stared at me with round eyes, her lips parted in shock, I couldn’t decide if she truly hadn’t known how people mated or if our ways disturbed her.

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