Page 74 of Theirs to Crave

The Quoosalk settled themselves into a comfortable nook out of the way, chatting quietly, happy to be together.

The others started poking through the fabric.

“I’ve only seen flat cloth here—did you see anything like needles when she showed you around, Cass?” Ria asked. She laughed a little, self-consciously. “I’m really not a skirt girl. If we could figure out some pants...oh, man.Pockets. If you can make pants with pockets happen, I will kiss you full on the mouth.”

Cass blushed. Actually, she turned bright tomato red all the way up to her hairline, and Mariano didn’t lose a second before he started in with the teasing.

My avaricious little soul itched to get in there and pick out some new clothes. I had some ideas about a top wrap, if I could find something longer and narrower.

But my back itched with the weight of Saytireka’s watching eyes, and the fear of doing something “wrong” in front of her kept me rooted to the spot. I chewed my lip, trying desperately to see behind me without turning my head.

Finally, I forced myself to move. I didn’t look at her, although I checked my peripheral so hard I might have strained something. I touched Zafett on the arm, trying not to read into it when he tensed.

“Relyat, Zafett.”

After a long hesitation, he placed his hand over mine lightly. “Sahvon, Estrayuh. Sethit. Yekit.” Zafett lead me to a stack of cloths I hadn’t noticed before. It was smaller and had been set aside on an otherwise empty table.

He hadn’t called meLeleshaall day. How could I miss the sound of it so much when I didn’t even know what it meant?

“Vahseh?” he asked, almost bashful.

I really looked at the fabric. It was all shades of dark red: maroon, burgundy, and wine. My favorite color. How had he even known? “Like it? Zafett, Iloveit!”

I was too overwhelmed with soft, fuzzy feelings to translate into Teterayuh, but I figured the giant hug I gave him would be answer enough.

For a split second, Zafett purred, hugging me back.

Then he backed away, almost stumbling, and hurried to Cass. He spoke quickly, each word sharply defined. “Sethit? Zafett hellt.”

I was still blinking as his tail disappeared out the doorway, Cass in tow.

An ache started in the center of my chest. I tried and failed to breathe it away as I looked over the fabric he’d set aside for me. I was feeling more and more like I was pushing myself where I wasn’t wanted.Desiredandwantedweren’t the same, after all.

I picked three, figuring that gave me two outfits if I—or most likely Litha—could origami a top out of them. Although it was cuter now, I really wanted to set my current top on fire. It was the principle of the thing.

One of the maroon cloths even had uneven bands of salmon pink woven through it, making it coordinate with the one Zafett had given me first. I fully intended to wear that one until it started to fall apart, then hang it on the wall of my room.

By the time I’d made my selections, I felt like bugs were crawling all over me. I fought the urge to flip around and scream, “What are you looking at?! What is your problem?!” at Saytireka.

Teeth clenched, I took my new clothes and joined the Quoosalk, who made polite noises about the pretty colors.Mariano leaned against the wall behind me with the look on his face that said he was thinking deep thoughts. Every now and again I caught him looking at Therry, and his expression would darken further.

You might be on your own with this one, mi hermano. I’m not doing so well in the “relating with aliens” category at the moment.

Yin told us about the home xe shared with Aksha and her mates. It sounded peaceful. Apparently, Aksha enjoyed a game played with small, cup-shaped pottery pieces and pebbles. She’d been teaching Yin to play. Xe tried explaining it, but I’d never had the attention span for gaming, so I was pretty lost. Still...

“I’m happy it’s a good place, Abuele,” I told xem.

Xe patted my hand. Xyr skin wasn’t just dry, there were cracks forming in places. I looked, and the other Quoosalk were in the same state.

“Abuele, does this hurt?” I asked, hovering a finger over one of the larger cracks.

Xe bobbed xyr head noncommittally. That was a yes.

“Is it normal? Will it pass?”

“No...” Yin paused, searching for words to explain. “Skin too dry. Need...differentwet.”

Different wet? Like...lotion? The Teterayuh had conditioner, maybe that would work? Or Zafett’s magic ointment? If he ever talked to me again, I’d ask him.