Page 77 of I Dated the Lost Song

Sarel laughed. “I think Salat would find it very entertaining.”

She winced. “I don’t want to be on a shirt or in a comic.”

“It is probably too late for that. Salat was taking notes while you were on the pole.”

She groaned. “Of course he was, mind you, he does have the right athleticism for the aerial pole or the silks.” She chuckled. “And they did put the rig on his property.”

“And we have to deliver you there at least once a week. Probably to teach Salat.”

“Not really. I am pretty sure Esme can manage it. She taught me, after all.”

He chuckled and looked at Vinul. “Did you want to learn?”

Vinul smiled. “I am not very good at things resembling dance. Sarel, you would be better at it.”

Sarel grinned. “Yes, I would.”

They talked about the acrobatics and physics involved in the dance until the chef announced that dinner was ready.

Leska looked at the destroyed snacks and was going to get up when a bunch of servants arrived and cleaned up the first table, added a second table, and covered them with dishes. Her stomach growled, and she went up on her knees as she looked over the selection. She made fists on her thighs and looked to Sarel, who was perusing the last of the items.

She waited, and Sarel idly selected some kind of fruit cooked in honey. He turned and fed it to Leska. She took it from him and caught his fingertips with her lips. She licked off the syrup, and Sarel’s eyes grew intent.

She mumbled, “That was lovely. What was it?”

“Roasted fig in honey.”

“That was nice.” She smiled and then realized that all of the staff were staring. “Did I goof?”

“No. I just normally don’t act as the king in these situations.”

“Oh, is that what you are doing right now?”

He picked something else and presented it to her. “I am.”

Vinul sat back and waited with a smile on his face.

The slow feeding continued for half an hour until every dish had been offered to her, and she had licked his hand slowly each time.

He smiled. “Well done, Leska.”

The household witnesses bowed and backed away.

“What was that?”

Sarel raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“Why did they stay to watch and look stunned when we went through them all?”

He kissed her forehead. “Never mind. Eat your fill, and we will go to bed and cuddle so that you are more accepting of us when your heat fires up. There are traces of it in the air already.”

“Ah. I did wonder why Vinul suddenly went non-verbal.” She leaned up and started to take some of her favourites from the sampling.

The tiger in question was eating slowly from the dishes and paused to grin at her. His teeth were shining. The canines were gleaming.

“Oh, right. I forgot about that.”

He reached over and stroked her cheek.

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