Page 82 of The Outcast
Linea smiled back. “You study people.”
With a flirtatious grin, he leaned across the table with both forearms bared and showed off his wide, masculine leather bracelets. “Feel free to study me.”
Linea looked amused and leaned closer as well, shamelessly meeting his direct glance.
“Damn, woman, you have beautiful eyes,” Shiva breathed.
“Would you mind if I touched you?” Linea asked, still smiling.
“No. Touch me all you want. As long as I don’t get in trouble for touching you back.”
I exchanged a worried glance with Sparrow, who shrugged and whispered, “Linea did tell me that she would turn on her sensuality to test them.”
“Thor and Banni aren’t my keepers or protectors,” Linea said. “I’m my own woman.” It wasn’t the words that she said, but the way she said them, that made me angle my head and study her. Linea was like a maestro in the art of flirting, which made no sense since Aubri and Indiana had told me Motlanders were asexual. Her warmth, her sweetness, and the way she gave Shiva her undivided attention was all part of a subtle yet powerful package of flirting that we French were excellent at as well. She did all the things I’d been trying to teach the Northlanders.
The more I watched her, the more it hit me that Linea was someone I would normally be attracted to. So why wasn’t I? The answer came from within and made me smile at Sparrow. I was in love.
Everything that Aubri and Indiana had tried to explain to me about wanting only one partner now made sense to me. I found Linea an attractive woman, but I had no desire to be with her.
Shiva had already answered questions to confirm his name, date of birth, age, gender, and trivial things like work experience. It seemed weird that Linea would waste time talking about things we already knew, but after a few minutes, she moved on to more interesting questions.
“Shiva, tell me how you feel about the French culture.”
He chuckled. “It’s strange, but I’m intrigued. Mostly about the chance to explore my sexuality.”
Linea, holding his hands, let her thumb stroke up and down in a caress. “Will three times be enough for you?”
“It will have to be.” He was still staring into her eyes like a smitten youngster. “Can I ask you a question, Linea?”
She tilted her head with that gentle smile. “Mm-hmm.”
“Is there any chance of you and me ever having sex?”
Her laughter was free and untroubled when it filled the room and then she answered him with a soft voice, “Would you like that?”
“Hell yes!”
“Hmm… it does sound nice.”
The way Shiva lit up worried me. Hadn’t Linea listened when I told her Keith’s obsession began with a flirting session? It seemed risky to flirt so shamelessly with an Nman.
Linea didn’t look the least bit scared and kept holding their eye contact. “And how would you feel if I invited Sparrow to join us?”
Shiva’s head turned to Sparrow and then he quickly looked back. “I would be more than fine with that.”
“So you don’t mind sharing?”
“No.”
“And what if we invited Banni to join us as well?”
That question made Shiva sit up a little straighter. “I would prefer we didn’t, but I guess… wait, is this still hypothetical or are we actually talking about having sex?”
“Either way, how would you feel about sharing me with another man?”
“Hmm… would I have Sparrow to play with while you were with Banni?”
“Sure.”
