Page 29 of Code Name: Typhon

I picked up my pencil and began shading the image, more out of nervousness than anything else.

“I thought you said you were meeting your cousin,” said Cora, approaching the table.

“Yes, um, my cousin. He’s not, you know, him.”

“I can see that, luv.” She looked him up and down in the same way I wished I could. “What can I get you, pet?”

He looked at my nearly empty pint. “May I get you another?”

“Um, sure, but I haven’t decided what to have next.”

“I’d be happy to order something for both of us.”

From the corner of my eye, I could see Cora’s mouth hung open, and shut mine.

“Of course. That would be lovely,” I responded, finally finding my voice.

“Booker’s, neat please.”

“Anything to eat?” she asked.

I felt the warmth of his gray eyes on me.

“Not for me. Yet. Thanks, Cora,” I said.

She winked and went to fetch our drinks.

“So, you’re waiting for your cousin, Miss…”

“Fox. Eliza.”

“I’m Leviticus.” He held out his hand, and I shook it, but when I tried to pull away, he held on and stroked the back of it with his thumb.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, looking down at our hands. Maybe instead of working on my studio, I’d fallen asleep and this was just another dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

“Tell me more,” he said as his thumb continued sweeping my skin.

“Um…”

“Which is it?” He motioned to my sketch.

“Which what?”

“Are they dancing, or are they making love?”

My cheeks flushed. “Each person interprets art differently, so it’s whatever you want it to be.”

“Good. I much prefer sex. I’m curious, though. As the artist, what do you see?”

I looked down at the paper. To me, it looked like two manta rays playing beneath the surface of the sea. They could be dancing. Or even mating. Not that I knew a thing about how manta rays mated. I closed my eyes and shook my head.

The pressure of his thumb increased. “I am more curious now.”

“Fish,” I blurted. “Well, not fish per se. Manta rays. Although I suppose that’s what they are.”

“They are, in fact. Have you ever seen them mate?”

I laughed out loud, pulled my hand away, and covered my mouth with it. “No, I have not. You?” The notion of it made me giggly. Like a schoolgirl.