Page 37 of Temple

“Oh. That would make sense.” She blushed. “I was distracted.”

He grinned. “Good. That was the intent.” His face sobered. “You are good?”

“I am good. I will burst into tears at random, but I can tell you from experience that it slows after time.”

Symo stroked her cheek. “I look forward to watching the change.”

Bailey smiled. “Yeah, I think you do.”

Chapter Eight

Sage sat and prepareda tea set while Zell watched. “Overseer, would you like some tea?”

He walked toward her and sat down. “Yes, Sage. I would.”

She nodded and began the dance of heating the water and preparing the utensils.

“Do you enjoy making tea?”

She didn’t look at him. “Others enjoy watching it, so to give pleasure to others, it is worth it.”

Zell paused and asked, “Do you do that often? Give pleasure to others?”

She flicked him a glance. “As a companion?”

“Yes.”

“Apparently not. You were my first assignment, and I failed.” She resumed her slow dance of preparing tea.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you had gotten pleasure, you would have returned it.”

“No, I mean, what do you mean it was your first assignment? You took me to the base.”

Her lips twisted in amusement. “I was told I was Hmrain-compatible, and I thought that my first time with one should be as pleasant for both of us as I could manage, so I went into training. It amused the matron to no end, but it was a qualification she could list if needed.”

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