Seeing with the Heart Read online

  “Tal’ossi metabolism is very close to both Earth and Kindred metabolism,” Braxx assured her. “It’s one of the reasons I came to Tal’os in the first place seeking possible trade partners. So the food should be safe to eat.”

  “Good—I’m starving.” Molly’s nose twitched again. She appeared to have gotten over her embarrassment and her scent had died down again.

  Good, Braxx thought, glaring again at Drogor. Anything to keep that bastard away from her.

  He vowed to himself that he would keep his pledge to Molly and protect her—no matter how he had to do it.

  Chapter Twelve

  The feast food was rich and varied, served on the broad, flat purple leaves of the gangi bush which grew higher than a male’s head and was as big around as a house—or so Braxx told her.

  He was actually very good at describing things—almost too good, Molly thought uncomfortably as she nodded her thanks whenever a new dish was served to her. She still couldn’t get over his description of what he would have to do if he were to scent-mark her…and how much he would like it.

  It had been a long time since Molly had allowed any man to go down on her—an experience she didn’t find very enjoyable, mostly because it seemed to her that the men who did it weren’t really into it.

  I don’t think that would be a problem with Braxx, whispered a little voice in her head. He sounds like he would be way into it.

  Just the thought of the big Kindred between her thighs, lapping and sucking her open pussy made her squirm uncomfortably. Her nipples got hard too and kept poking out of her negu top, no matter how she tried to cover them. Molly hoped she wasn’t attracting undue attention with her involuntary display but she couldn’t help wondering if Braxx was looking at her, if he could see her pink peaks pressing out between the long, silky strands of grass…

  To distract herself, Molly tried some of everything that was offered to her—even the foods that smelled a little questionable.

  There was a crispy, smoky-tasting meat which reminded her in texture of bacon but in flavor of blueberries—that was interesting. Braxx told her it was deep purplish-blue in color. Then came a small, round furry fruit which felt a bit like an apricot in the palm of her hand. It was sweet and juicy but when Molly bit into it, it had the distinct flavor of buttered toast and hot chocolate mixed together.

  A strange combination but not a bad one, Molly thought. According to Braxx, it was bright pink with pale blue flesh inside. She wished she could see it for herself but she just kept her recorder running, asking him the names and descriptions of all the foods and making quick notes to herself about their respective flavors.

  The only food she really didn’t like was a kind of fermented fish broth served in a rough bark cup. It smelled like sardines which had been sitting out in the sun for a week going bad and had a thick, gravy-like consistency.

  “This is chumba,” Braxx told her under his breath as the serving girl handed Molly a cup of it. “It is…an acquired taste, even among the Tal’ossi.”

  That didn’t sound too promising but in the interest of scientific curiosity, Molly tried a sip.

  She nearly gagged. As bad as the fermented fish broth smelled, it tasted even worse. It’s slimy, rotten texture seemed to stick to her tongue and coat her entire mouth. Disgusting!

  “Oh!” she whispered to Braxx, trying to keep her face from showing the extreme disgust she was feeling. “That’s awful.”

  “I did warn you it was an acquired taste,” he murmured blandly. “Here, let me have it and take one of these.”

  He took the bark cup from her and handed her a small, round, chalky pellet about the size of a peanut M&M.

  “What’s this?” Molly asked, rolling it between her fingers.

  “A pulla berry. Try it—it takes the bad taste out of your mouth. I’ll deal with your chumba.”

  “Oh, I don’t want you to have to drink it just because I won’t,” Molly exclaimed.

  “I’m not,” he murmured, sounding amused. “I dug a little hole in the dirt to one side of me. I’ll just discretely dispose of it.”

  Molly was grateful to him that she didn’t have to drink any more of the rotten fish broth. Carefully, she put the pulla berry between her lips, hoping to cleanse her palate.

  At first it didn’t taste like anything but a ball of chalk in her mouth. Then she bit into it experimentally and was rewarded with a burst of juice that tasted like a cross between fresh cherries and spearmint.

  “Mmm!” She rolled the rest of the pulla around in her mouth, enjoying the delicious, refreshing flavor. It completely took the rancid taste of the fermented fish broth away, replacing it with minty freshness.

  “You like it?” Braxx murmured. “Want another?”

  “Sure—it’s delicious.” She ate several more pulla berries and before she knew it, the feast had ended—the eating part, anyway. The leaf plates were collected by the same women who had served the food and then the chieftain of the clan—Elder, Braxx had called him—began to speak again.

  “Now is the time of pledging,” he called out. “If any warrior wishes to pledge to his female, let him do so now.”

  “I wish to pledge to Belka!” a deep Tal’ossi voice rang out.

  “Very well—make your pledge,” Elder returned.

  Molly was on pins and needles, wondering exactly what was happening with her new friend.

  “Describe it to me,” she whispered to Braxx. “Tell me everything that’s happening.”

  “As you wish. Belcose, the warrior who is pledging to Belka, is motioning to her. There seems to be a choice here—she can either go to him or remain in her seat.”

  “I’m sure she’s going to him—right?” Molly asked.

  “Yes, she is. She was sitting with some other females but now she has crossed over to where he is sitting. She…” Braxx cleared his throat. “She has straddled his lap now and has removed her amulet.”

  “Removed her amulet? Why?” Molly frowned, wishing she could see.

  “Apparently in order…” He cleared his throat again. “In order to give Belcose access to her breasts.”

  “What is he doing?” Molly murmured. “Is she just, uh, showing herself to him?”

  “No. He’s cupping her in his hands. Now he’s sucking and teasing her nipples with his tongue and fingers,” Braxx reported blandly.

  Molly could almost see the couple in her mind’s eye—Belka sitting astride her big warrior’s lap and pressing her breasts up to his mouth eagerly. But for some reason, her imagination kept wanting to show herself and Braxx in that position instead. She tried to push it away but the thought didn’t seem to want to go.

  “Oh my—that’s quite a public display of affection,” she remarked a bit breathlessly.

  “I think that’s the idea,” Braxx murmured dryly. “This is a very public statement that they plan to be together. I’d say it’s a warning to other males to stay away from Belka in the future because Belcose intends to claim her as his mate.”

  “I see.” Molly nodded. “Um…what’s happening now?”

  “They are…” Braxx coughed. “Are you certain you want me to tell you?”

  “Yes—I need to know everything. Please, Braxx—you have to be my eyes here,” Molly pleaded.

  “Very well. Belcose’s shaft is thrusting up through the strands of his negu and Belka has parted her own negu as well. She is…rubbing her pussy against his shaft and…and moaning.”

  “Oh,” Molly whispered faintly. “That’s…uh, interesting.”

  “Now she is taking him within her. I believe they are making love.”

  Molly didn’t need him to tell her this. She could hear Belka’s soft moans and Belcose’s grunts as well. The sounds of sex—flesh meeting flesh in wet, hot friction—came to her sensitive ears as the two participants moved together.

  “I think he intends to finish inside her,” Braxx murmured. “To fill her with his come. That will mark Belka as his in no uncertain terms.”