Page 59 of Space for More

“Don’t listen to her,” Fina says, kissing Maerlon’s cheek. His incandescent eyes brighten in what I’m guessing is a mix of embarrassment and affection.

“At least she didn’t get violently ill after she first saw him,” Phelix says, and I tense to see how Mezli will respond, but she snorts and reaches out to pat his shoulder affectionately.

“That was just a…misunderstanding.”

Paul laughs. “And I thought her slapping me when we first met in person was bad.”

Phelix fist tenses on his fork, as it has every time Paul’s spoken tonight.

“Why did she slap you?” Ulena asks, eyes darting between Paul and Mezli.

Mezli shrugs. “Oh, another misunderstanding. Paul’s a great guy! We’ve spent a ton of time together since he relocated to Spire, and he’s easily one of the top three humans I’ve met!”

Fina snorts at her joke, and Paul flushes at her attempt at praise,but Ulena just gives Paul another assessing look. “What are his merits? Why would a beautiful woman like you be interested in him?”

Phelix’s eye twitches as he stabs into his food with too much force. I can’t help my similar reaction, heart sinking when Mezli perks up.

“Oh! He’s amazing! He’s smart, handsome, and funny, and looks like he could really throw you around, if you know what I mean.”

Ulena blinks back at her. “No, what do you mean? Why would you want him to throw you?”

“I wouldn’t throw anyone!” Paul pipes up, pressing a hand to his face.

“You’re not strong enough to lift her? Humans must be weaker than they appear. Mezli, I could easily lift you,” Ulena says.

Mezli shakes her head, and touches Paul’s arm. “Oh, he could lift me! He’s so strong and…virile!”

Ulena raises a brow. “Oh?”

“Sovirile. I’ve seen him in tight pants and damn, he’s got the goods down there.

“The goods?”

“Enormous cock,” Mezli adds, like she’s talking about the weather instead of the penis of the man sitting across from me.

I choke on my water at her words. I can’t believe she’s talking up Paul’s dick in front of Phelix.

Maerlon laughs and shakes his head at Ulena, who just nods and goes back to her wine with a tiny smirk.

It doesn’t feel like a joke to me. Why is Mezli acting like this? I know I told her Phelix didn’t have the files, and we don’t need to keep doing Operation Honey Pot, but I thought she wanted to try for something more with him.

Phelix places his fork down onto the table with a bit too muchforce. His expression is completely neutral as he pushes his chair back and stands. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go send a comm.”

Fina nods, a hint of worry in her eyes at his sudden need to leave. “Of course. You can use the bedroom if you’d like.”

“No, I’ll just go out in the hall.” He leaves without even looking at Mezli. Or me, for that matter. It shouldn’t hurt, but it does.

She stares at his back as he heads to the door, confusion melding with disappointment and anger in her gaze. Her eyes slide over to me and whatever she finds on my face makes her immediately look away, grabbing her wine and taking a heavy swig.

Ulena must not be great at reading a room, because she looks at Mezli and gives her a fanged smile. “I’m not particularly interested in enormous cocks, unless they’re on an attractive woman.”

“Oh! Well, nevermind then. More Paul for the rest of us then!” Mezli awkwardly tries to pat the man’s hand, but he tugs it away and looks down at his salad like he wishes he could disappear.

I wish I could, too. This conversation has gotten way too uncomfortable for me to bear. I thought Mezli wanted something real with her mate, but I guess I didn’t read her right. I need to go apologize to Phelix for convincing him she wanted to make something of their mating.

“I need to go, uh, check on something too.” My chair scrapes loudly against the tile floor as I stand, drawing everyone’s eyes to me.

Mezli’s brow furrows. “Eden?”

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