Page 38 of Temple

“Oh.”

She whisked the tea and poured the cup, picking it up in the fingertips of both hands and offering it to him with her head down. She waited, and when he picked the cup out of her hands, she sighed. She poured herself a cup and sat staring into the foamy blue.

“Sage, look at me.”

She obediently stared at him.

“Why did you leave?”

Sage blinked. “The contract was over. There was no indicator that the time with you was anything other, so I left. If you didn’t want a consort, Matron assured me that she could find me someone.”

Zell’s fingers tightened on the cup. “I wanted you.”

“You touched me to make me orgasm. There were no indications of affection.”

“What would you have taken as an indication?” Zell sipped his tea, raised his brows, and smiled.

“For my species, it is simple. Contact, embraces, remaining with me after you get what you needed, and letting me seek comfort in your body.”

He blinked, and his lids fluttered. “I suppose there was nothing in it on your behalf.”

“I tried. In the beginning days, I tried. I greeted you with smiles, soft words, ran my hands across your chest. You picked me up, aroused me so you would fit, and then preceded to make me cum so you could leave. After week two, I was done. By week three, I was depressed, and week four, I was counting the days.”

He slumped his shoulders. “It was not my intent. There was much to be done.”

“So, you fucked me, literally, dropped me on the bed, and left.” She sighed. “There were also two encounters where you didn’t arouse me sufficiently, and it hurt.”

His eyes went wide. “I didn’t know.”

Sage sighed softly. “I know, and that is the point. I was an energy output with a warm hole.”

He grimaced. “Symo mentioned that I was cold.”

“Your people are cold. That’s fine. Bailey told me to write what I need and show it to you if you wanted to know.” Sage looked at him and saw his calculating look. “But you didn’t ask, so it doesn’t matter. I will ask Matron to find me a frequency-compatible Hmrain with tactile needs. I think that would be nice. I like to be touched.” She sighed. “It comforts me.”

Zell nodded. “That is what Symo said. You are a tactile species.”

“I understand that your people are not.”

He blinked. “No. You are right. They are not. They are appearance-driven, and the more perfect the body, the higher the attraction.”

Sage looked down. “Right.” She looked like a balloon animal in comparison with his previous consort. “So, my body is a turnoff.”

“No!”

Sage jumped at his emphatic statement. “Okay. Well, I thought that’s what it was. It was an easy guess.”

Zell muttered, “This is awkward. Would you please come over here and lean against me while we talk?”

“I don’t know if I am allowed to do that.” She said it honestly.

“What?”

“I am an unassigned companion right now. I don’t know if I am allowed contact with a non-client.”

Zell looked at her and said in surprise, “You are serious.”

“This is the only home I have had in years. Yes, I am serious about it.” She looked at the table and tried not to say the fact out loud. If the Temple kicked her out, she had nowhere to go. It would be back to the bond auction, and she hated the bond auction.

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