“It is not common among warriors. Most banished live alone.” Most don’t live at all. “Is it common among humans?”
“Some humans like oral sex.”
“You have had all kinds?”
“I have, so I know what I like. But you can’t do anything without risking the mating bond.” She tosses me another bag.
“That’s not quite true. There are ways…” I heard of warriors and their prospective mates getting quite creative.
She lifts both her eyebrows. “Do tell. Because if your solution is for me to jerk you off while I get blue balls, you are on your own.”
I’m glad I’m wearing the whisperer because I don’t catch all of that, but even the translation makes no sense. “You do not have balls.”
She laughs. “It’s a phrase, meaning unsatisfied and horny…in need of release.”
“Ah. Why would anyone do that to their mate?”
“Because they only care about their own release.”
I snort. “That doesn’t sound like fun for anyone.”
“What’s your solution?” She tosses me a bag, which I catch one handed, while closing the door on the machine I just filled.
“You will have to visit me tonight to find out.” I do not want to wait until tonight, but humans like their people at work between breakfast and dinner. They are set times for everything. If we were in a Honey tribe, we could leave for a little and returnlater. If the work got done, when it was needed, it didn’t matter so much.
And when people were getting to know each other, everyone gave them extra room. We will be afforded no such luxury.
15
HARPER
We didn’t set a time, and I haven’t decided if I’m going. Yva never mentioned it again and I think it’s one of those things where they expect the woman to make the next move. I debate about leaving my visit for a couple of days, but I haven’t been with anyone in over a year—and that was only to scratch an itch—and after that kiss I want more.
Plus, if I don’t go, he may think I’m not interested, which I am. But I’m also worried about accidentally causing the mating bond. While I sat with them at dinner, I didn’t have the chance to ask the other women anything, and I don’t want to make it obvious by pulling one of them aside. Nor do I want them reporting back to their mates and Yva.
I’m part of their group, but only just and the longer I spend with them, the more I want to stay in that group. I go to the gym after dinner, to kill some time because I don’t want to be early. He’ll be training with his friends or doing whatever else they do in their free time.
The entire time I’m working out, I’m turning over the idea of having an alien mate. I’d given up on having anyone, so to suddenly having a chance is odd…like it’s all going to be a jokeor something. I don’t like the attention that comes with sitting at their table.
I don’t know enough about the mating bond, only that it is permanent for him, not me.
I’m worried about falling in love again only to lose it. What if he hates me after a year and we’re stuck together?
What if they all decide to go home?
If I’m his mate, I’ll need to go with him, or he’ll suffer and die, and I don’t want to leave the colony. Would the colony even let them leave?
Instead of working out my fears with exercise, I’m more stressed than ever. I shouldn’t have agreed to fake date him. I should’ve lied and said I wasn’t interested. But if I don’t take this chance, there won’t be another one.
I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do as I wash my hair and shower.
There are two positives from going to his room. The first being that he doesn’t want the bond, so he’s not going to chance it. The second being that I get to come with another person for a change, and he gets to come with a woman.
It’s a good outcome for both of us.
I can’t help but feel as though I’m inching toward a decision that has already been made. He chose me. He suggested this arrangement because I was too dense to realize. Or too oblivious to the way he looked at me.
The way he made me laugh with tales of growing up, of his adventures while banished. The way it was so easy to talk to him.
