Page 2 of I Married Kayog
“Oh, Kai is gay?” I asked, curious.
“I wish,” a sexy male voice said behind me.
I jerked my head around to see a very handsome Edocit male walking past us. He winked at me, which had both of us chuckling as he continued on his way.
“Is he asexual then?” I asked Tala as we walked past the administrative offices towards the library.
She shrugged. “That’s what the rumor says. He’s been here two years and never dated anyone despite every possible type of galactic pussies being thrown at him.”
“TALA!” I exclaimed, genuinely shocked, and my cheeks heating.
She grinned at me, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes as she further prodded me, taking great pleasure in my embarrassment.
“Feathery, scaly, hairy, fleshy,” she enumerated, pinching the brown skin of her forearm as she stated that last word, “Mr. Kai wants none of it.”
“Oookay,” I said, unsure as to what I should respond to this.
“Is it normal?” Tala asked, this time with sincere curiosity.
“Is what normal?” I asked, baffled.
“For Temerns to be asexual? You also never seem to be interested in anyone,” she added, giving me an assessing look.
My brow shot up. “Kai is a Temern?”
“Yes.”
“Oh wow, I had not expected that. But no, my people do not tend to be asexual, or at least not in a proportion different from any other species. We do get aroused, but we don’t tend to do hookups or one-night stands.”
“Why not? Is it a cultural or religious thing?”
I shook my head while giving her an indulgent smile. “Neither. But we’re empaths. We feel what our partner feels. It can be quite awkward and uncomfortable when the other person has great expectations or develops a deep attachment that you cannot reciprocate. The guilt of causing them pain, distress, or discomfort can be quite the deterrent.”
“Damn! So I guess none of us were good enough to make him want to cross that line,” Tala said with a sad expression.
I frowned at her, although my amusement was still visible. “Don’t you have a partner? Aren’t you still with the lovely and very sexy Mares?” I asked.
“Yep!” Tala replied smugly.
“And you’re drooling over a Temern?” I challenged in a slightly reproving tone.
She huffed. “There’s no crime in enjoying the view and having one’s ego stroked by attracting the attention of the popular guy.”
I snorted. “I thought you didn’t do beaks?”
“Girl, that guy would makeanyonedoanything!” she exclaimed as if it was self-evident. “Every rule has an exception, and he is all of them. I mean, you know how humans like kissing. But for Kai, we’d give it up in a heartbeat.”
I burst out laughing. “After so many decades, centuries even, of cohabiting with humans, I would have expected you would all know by now that even species with beaks like mine are able to kiss.”
She made a disdainful gesture. “You guys do the tongue wrestling dance. It’s not the same as a proper, soft, cushioned kiss that people with lips can exchange.”
“Fine, fine,” I said, shaking my head at her. “But you know, fanning yourself over the fact that a Temern has a beautiful voice is a bit silly. Every bird folk can sing.”
She pointed at the cafeteria as we walked past it and indicated the hallway that led to the labs and research departments before leading me down the right corridor towards the lecture amphitheaters.
“I’m aware of that. But Kayog is something different altogether. Beyond the fact that he’s super-hot, he’s an amazing singer and performer, the top athlete in multiple sports, and a genius in class.”
“Sheesh, sounds like he’s Mr. Perfect,” I said with a hint of sarcasm. “But as we both know, there’s no such thing. So what are his issues? Let me take a wild guess. He’s entitled? Arrogant? A bully?”
