So he kept watch while Zehn patrolled. And he waited.
***
Zehn knew Lore had good reason to suspect the humans. Something about them sparked his own senses, and he realized danger would follow. Unlike Lore, Zehn didn’t have an extra special tie to the planet. He shared Lore’s mental pathways because his bond-mate allowed it. The power came from Lore, and Zehn accepted his mate’s differences with ease, though some in the clan didn’t trust it. Though the Vyctore were more progressive than most other clans—allowing human mating, same gender pairing, and work in the resort without a loss in clan hierarchy—some traditions remained. Taint of offworlder heritage came at a price. Lore’s green eye marked him as different, but his telepathic ability was even more so. So Lore kept his telepathic tendencies between them.
Zehn knew he was most fortunate to have a mate with such gifts. As he would soon have another mate with abilities far beyond the norm. He kept his awareness of the administration building at the ready. His future mate had a fire inside her and a passion that burned.
He contained a grin at the bad pun while allowing the humor to bleed through to Lore. Lore needed to lighten up. Always so serious, so edgy. Zehn wondered what Mandy of Earth was really like. He’d seen her be shy and unassuming with her peers, but he didn’t sense that to be her true face.
The passionate female had much more to her than outward beauty and a cautious sweetness. Tired of being ignored, he waited for her to take her standard break, which she normally did by peeking at him from the alcove before darting to a nearby outdoor table.
When he noticed her watching him, he pretended not to see her scurry away. But he left his post to the security bot nearby. “I’ll return shortly.”
“Yes, sir.” The bot recorded his departure.
Zehn walked to the building, ignoring the stares of the resort employees and guests who cleared a wide path for him. He came upon Mandy and her Venetian friend, the female Natla, dining alone under the suns. A nearby fountain trickled, and a few hummingbirds, imported from Earth, lingered close by, feeding off the colorful bells of sweet-sylk vines.
Natla was pleasing to the eye, no doubt. But she didn’t do for him what Mandy did. His cock swelled, need for his female growing. They were already tied, but not nearly as closely as he wanted them to be.
Natla’s large eyes grew even larger as she spotted him behind his female. “Oh, uh, I think I’ll head in for a minute. I’ll be right back.” She darted away before Mandy could protest.
“Well, that was weird.”
Zehn moved from behind Mandy to take Natla’s seat at the table. “Hello.”
She froze, her beautiful brown eyes pleasing. They had a small black center surrounded by a ring of honeyed brown, nestled in an orb of white. She was small, like the clan females, and much fuller in her breasts and hips. Mandy possessed a lush roundness he wanted to sink into, to be surrounded by her grace and femininity.
The woman was made for sex and babes, and he could almost feel their young in his arms. To his satisfaction, her cheeks turned a dusky rose.
“H-hello.” She swallowed audibly.
“Hello, Mandy of Earth.” He nodded in respect. “I have come to ask you a question.”
She darted a glanced around them, and finding them alone, whispered back, “Yes?”
“Do you not enjoy our gifts?”
Her cheeks turned even redder, and he wanted to eat her up. Just kiss her ripe mouth, work down to her breasts, then trail down to the flower between her legs. He could smell her cream, and he worked hard to remain still, his body more than ready to give her what she needed.
“Gifts?”
He nodded. “The flowers and sweet meats. Did you not care for them? We would get you something else.”
“Oh, um. No. They’re lovely.” She coughed. “Thank you.”
He felt heat swell from her being and reached out to touch her hand on the table.
She tensed under him, like a scared flehik not sure whether to flee, frozen in fear.
He stroked her hand, the soft flesh like furven silk. “Easy, Mandy. I would not have you tremble. I offer nothing but safety and comfort.” He paused, his gaze heating. “And pleasure, for you are a worthy female.”
She blinked up at him. “I-I… How can you know that?”
“You work long hours with Natla. You volunteer to take your coworkers’ shifts so that they may spend their extra time with family and friends. You give to others and take great joy from the wonders of our world.” He nodded to the flora and birds. “Ussed welcomes you as a daughter.”
“Really?” She gave him a sweet smile, and his heart stuttered.
He let her hand slide out from under his, though he didn’t want to. “Yes.” He worked to contain a sigh, but let slip, “You are so beautiful.”
