Thal-ion continued to smile at her warmly...accepting the twinkle in her eyes as she teased him about gazing a bit overly long at her face.  He enjoyed her voice, and even more the beauty of her.  There were no words to describe how lovely she was...how much she seemed to radiate beauty.  Considering the bond they shared; he was fairly certain she could pick up on his warm thoughts, and how he was seeing her.  Naturally, that was part of the reason she was teasing him.  She knew full well the reason he was gazing into her face.  It was a moment of wonder, but he found himself blushing deeper and went to continue eating his food...gulping a bit hard.<br/><br/>"Yes, well...the only thing on your face is radiant beauty," he whispered to her with exceptional warmth.<br/><br/>Why was this so different?  To eat with a woman across from him should not have been something overly different to him.  Sure, he had never done such a thing except with Master Tionne, but this was quite different.  The attraction...perhaps that was it.  He had never before been attracted to any woman before, but this had finally come with his new view of Alethea.  She was no longer just his Jedi companion.  She was more than that...a great deal more.  It was strange how swiftly this had happened, but he did not argue with such feelings.  He accepted them.<br/><br/>"I have never felt this way for any woman before," he continued in a slightly huskier whisper to his companion.  "Nor had a meal with one in a private setting...even if it is aboard a starship in the middle of the desert," he added with a chuckle.  "Of course, I have had dinner with Master Tionne before, but it was nothing like this.  Your presence is so soothing and warm...even inviting."<br/><br/>After a few bites, he looked up back into her eyes steadily.  His affection for her was open and tender, and in the Force he shared with her all he was...or ever would be.  He felt drawn to her...mesmerized by the link they shared, and the view of her.  Thal-ion couldn't say anything more...though much was on his mind.