Page 56 of Cozy Prisons
He pulled back, giving Nataly a hurt look. “I’m only being friendly. Hale, tell Nataly I’m not bothering you. Tell her!”
That was the last push. Hale stood up so violently that their chair went crashing to the floor. Without sparing Cassius a look, they snatched their information square from the table and grabbed the pole from where they’d rested it against a nearby wall.
“Hey, don’t leave!” Cassius said, looking frustrated. “Sima made col-mol pie! It’s really good.”
Nataly turned in her seat to watch Hale stalk out of the building. She was half tempted to follow, but decided against it. Turning around, she addressed Cassius.
“You drove them away.”
Cassius looked hurt. “I did? I didn’t mean to. I only wanted them to feel accepted. They’re always walking the other direction when I see them.”
Nataly thought that was probably on purpose. Cassius was the chattiest human she’d ever met, and that was saying a lot because Riff could talk your ear off, too.
“I know, but maybe give them some space until they’re ready to make friends,” Nataly suggested.
Decard was sitting next to Cassius and bumped the other man with his shoulder. “I’m your friend!”
Cassius grinned at the bigger man. “I know, but I’m not playingFind It, Yell Itagain. My ears are still ringing from yesterday.”
“Yeah, that might not be my best game,” Decard admitted. “But I’m working on a new one.”
While Cassius and Decard started talking about Decard’s games, Daxus leaned over a little. She thought he’d say something about Hale, but instead, he pointed to his food.
“I got too much jorjuk stew, and I know that’s your favorite, would you like the rest? You could sit on my lap and I could help you eat.”
“Help me eat,” Nataly repeated, as if confused. Then she nodded her head, “Oh, right, help me eat. Like Talins like to do.”
Daxus started purring. “I only want to make sure you eat enough.”
She really loved that purr. She’d heard a lot of Talins make that rumble, but she liked Daxus’s purr the best.
“That’s nice of you,” she said, debating about what to do. Part of her wanted to take Daxus up on his offer, but every time shesat in his lap, with his head right there, it was a fight to keep from touching his face. She wanted to rub her palms on his scent glands.
That reminded her that they'd be sharing a bed again tonight. Last night was easy because she’d been so exhausted. Tonight might be more difficult. She might need to do something drastic, like tie her hands to her waist. She wanted him near her, but didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.
She loved his lemon candy smell.
“I’m glad you like my scent, but what is lemon candy?”
She slapped a hand over her mouth, mortified. “I said that out loud?”
He sounded an amused rumble. “You didn’t mean to? Why? I’m happy you like my scent.”
She dropped her hand. “It’s a good smell.”
“Yes, you said it made you think of lemon candy. What is that?”
“Lemons were a citrus fruit grown on Old Earth. My ancestors brought some seedlings with them and managed to plant a small orchard of Old Earth trees. My mom would make lemon-flavored candy,” she said.
Everyone else at the table was engaged in a debate about which of Decard’s games were the best. As usual, they were loud and so occupied that they didn’t notice Nataly and Daxus’s private conversation.
“Did you like the lemon candy?” Daxus asked, his purr going silent. “Or is it a smell you’re not fond of because it reminds you of your childhood?”
She didn’t hesitate to answer him honestly. “I would eat all the candy she made in one sitting if I were allowed. One of the Ugarian sweet bean flavors has a similar taste, so after Mom passed, I’d buy those any time I had spare money.”
Thinking about her mom made her feel a little lonely. As if sensing her shift in emotions, Daxus purred and opened his arms. Wordlessly, she shifted from her seat to his lap, his hands going to her hips to help. Soon she was surrounded by his warmth and sweet lemon scent. She breathed in deeply and relaxed against his broad chest.
“I’ll ask Palathum to put in an order for Ugarian sweet beans,” he murmured.
