"Do you feel you really need burping?"
"Aw, shut up," Zen answered. If she thought he had read her mind, did this mean that she was actually capable of reading his thoughts? Could all of these people read his mind? Had the nude bronze girl going through the rhythmic exercises known what he was thinking about her. Zen felt himself coloring. It was one thing to have the normal libidinous impulses of the male but it was quite another thing to have every woman know what he was thinking about her.
"Colonel, I do believe you are blushing," Nedra said, a twinkle in her eyes.
"I am not," Zen said. "Actually I was wondering—"
"Whether or not I could read your mind? I told you it was not good manners here."
"Good manners or not, you seemed to know what I was thinking."
"It isn't necessary to read your mind to know what you are thinking if a pretty woman is concerned," Nedra said, primly. "Your thoughts are written on your face."
"Uh!" For a moment, his confusion grew. Her understanding was much too acute. Was she playing games, making fun? If so, this was a game that two could play. "In that case, since you already know about me—how about it?" he said, looking boldly at her.
She understood his meaning. For a moment, the violet eyes showed sadness. They seemed to indicate that she was disappointed in him, that she had hoped for much better from him. Then a sparkle came into them. "I told you once before—"
"Yeah, I know. You are going to wash out my mind with soap. But let's not do it right now. I'm still hungry."