“What is your first question?” I turned to her scanning her body with interest.
“So, why do they call you a savage?” Her slit eyes were golden and curious as she looked at me.
“I come from the south. We don’t have places like this. Or, hang ups on covering our bodies so much. I don’t understand why your people cover everything but as soon as you’re in a bathhouse it’s all okay.” I wanted to put my arm around her and see how her scales felt but I held myself back. “What is your name? You know mine.”
“Neferit,” Her eyes looked at my ample chest with some curiosity. “So you walked around mostly bare?”
“It is our natural state. We are born bare and we should be bare under the eyes of the Gods. Why hide our beauty and bodies from the sight of others when they can see our power?” I lifted my hand up, “Can I feel your scales?”
With a nod I reached out and stroked the ones on her shoulder. They were slick and soft in one direction but as soon as I moved against them it was jagged and stopped my fingers in their tracks. I tracked my hand up her neck towards her hair before I paused. I could see her cheeks flush and full of color. “Well, does it displease you?” Neferit asked while looking at me with her lips partly open.
“No, it is strange but not an unwelcome feeling. Are you a taken woman?” I asked, it would be interesting to claim another strange kin.
Neferit’s cheeks went scarlet as she shook her head, “I am not seen as desirable amongst my kin. I have too many feral markers. I wouldn’t birth true kin. Well most likely.”
I continued to stroke her neck and shoulders as my curiosity peaked. “Your question.” As I drug my nails through her hair she shivered despite the heat of the bath. The flush from her cheeks spread down her neck and along her chest.
“Someone said you were a man earlier. Why did they do that?” Those golden eyes looked lost as her pupils widened. Instead of answering with words I took her hand gently and brought it between my legs. I gently closed her hand around my shaft. Her gasp was apparent as her eyes went wider.
Before she could say anything I leaned closer, “My people have both.” I blew on her ear softly as her chest grew dark red. “You’re welcome to come to my home. Are you interested?”
She was looking for something in my eyes as they flicked back and forth. “I don’t know. I… haven’t been with anyone before. What if you find me disgusting?”
Smiling at her I pulled her hand away from myself and set my hand upon the soft inner flesh of her thigh. “I know some kin just can’t lay with one another. I’d be willing to try though.” I told her the general area I was in. I was unfamiliar yet with how they would know where to go. Some unknown system that I’d yet to figure out.
Neferit shook her head and looked away. “I’ll think about it. I just don’t know. I’m scared.” She took her hand back to her lap covering any higher up her thigh. “Lizardkin are just… different. I’d rather not talk about it here.”
Slowly I took my hand away, dragging my nails along the soft skin. “Well you can decide anytime you want. I’ll even make sure you have a nice meal and meet my male. He is a docile man.”
Her eyes looked at me sharply as she frowned, “You are a taken woman? Yet you throw yourself at me?” There was confusion and maybe a little bit of interest in her voice.
“My people aren’t like that. We come together in groups. We don’t limit who we fuck to just one person. Instead people like me, the strong ones, claim the women and men they want.” I clarified.
“Oh, I guess that makes sense. I’ll think about coming to you. Don’t expect it though.” She pulled her towel off the wall behind us and stood covering herself from my view much to my disappointment.
Sighing, I grabbed my own towel and stood. With it wrapped around my waist to hide my cock I went back to my things and redressed. It had been a long time on the road and I was glad to not feel so dirty once more. As everything got into place I did feel that moment of being trapped in clothes once more. I’d have appreciated a more liberating feel.
Stepping out of the bath I looked around and spotted Bongani leaning against the wall waiting for me. His eyes downcast as he cowered from all those around him without my strength to bolster his spirits.
Walking up to him I tilted his chin up and kissed him. I could feel the heat of the bath still on his skin as I plundered his lips for my own delight. He moaned, his hands coming to my chest as I stroked his cheek lightly. Moving my lips to his neck I bit lightly. He tasted of nothing after the rinse and I found myself missing his musk.
I could feel the eyes of all the others around us. Our public display not being appreciated for the claiming it was meant to be. With a snatch I grabbed his hand and dragged him away from the blasted bathhouse and all the people around us. “Let’s go get something to eat and collect whatever winnings I should get from my swift victory.”
It was next to impossible to find the man who had roped me into the arena. I had no idea where to find him and it appeared that his name was more popular than I would have thought. The way these people’s language filtered through my feat still hinted of the strange cadence I wasn’t used to.
With a deep strong breath I gave up on that train of thought and instead followed the scent of foods and the delightful tinge of some unknown scent. Walking through the random streets I came upon a vendor. A grill set with a counter around it. Skewers of meat basted in some sort of sauce sizzled upon the metal and I found myself hungering to taste them. Without hesitation I walked up.
“Four skewers, how much?” I reached for my purse of coins and readied myself to pay the blasted things. My instincts told me to reach out and snag them with my strength.
One of the man’s eyes rolled randomly in his head as he looked at me with the other. The loose one seemed to lack the gloss of a normal eye, I could almost swear it was made of wood but without looking closer I wouldn’t be able to tell. “Four coppers.”
With a quick payment I took the meat and handed a single one to my male before I tore into it with my teeth. A flood of new flavors hit my tongue amongst the normal taste of buffalo. But it was almost like tasting a tart and sweet fruit had coated every surface.
As I leaned back groaning at the flavor I could see the approach of Tala. I slowed down how fast I was eating the food as Bongani sniffed at it with a questioning eyebrow raised. With a swallow I prepared for a conversation with my benefactor.
“You provided a good fight. Ssssuch talent. Now, I can gift you another two sssilversss and five coppersss asss your ssshare of the winningsss.” He produced his purse and we exchanged the currency this place used. It was still such a different way to do things that I still wondered how I would keep from being lost.
Regretfully I had to admit something, “I need lessons. How to count better, write better. My people don’t have as much complexity as your people do. Do you know of someone to teach me between my matches?”
Tala looked surprised as Bongani gasped behind me. It was something I had to lower myself to but I felt foolish every time I was slowly counting money and trying to make sure I wasn’t being robbed. How long it took me to confirm everything made me feel like a dunce and I could not let that stand.
“I could find sssomeone.” Tala stroked his chin with one of his long black nails. “Yesss I will pick you up after your next bout.”
Taking a deep breath I watched as Tala turned around and seemed pensive. At least this time he knew where his place was and didn’t question my decision. I turned to Bongani as he sniffed at the food still. I grabbed it and shoved it to his lips. “Eat,” I demanded.
“It-t-t smells f-f-funny,” He looked at me with wide eyes and I cuffed him on the ear harshly. His head whipping to the side. He tentatively went to eating the food even though his face screwed up.
