Because he’d had no other close match--let alone perfect.
He’d entered the change, though, when she was still in diapers and he had zero interest in her or any future that might include her.
That changed, not surprisingly, when she began to look like a woman.
He was more interested in recreation, however, than anything that smacked of responsibility and beyond that, she was still a child and it made him uncomfortable even considering her as a woman.
The biggest mistake he’d made was in believing none of the other males would look at her as a woman either. He’d been so preoccupied with his own concerns, mostly, as she’d pointed out, chasing pussy, that it was too late to prevent what happened to her before he discovered two of her ‘matches’ were stalking her and they weren’t inclined to wait or particularly care whether she was agreeable or not.
She’d tried to fight them off.
He wouldn’t have even known about it--because they covered it up--except that they weren’t certain she would survive and she was his primary. They were required to notify him.
That had been years ago and it still made him sick with helpless fury whenever he thought about it.
She’d been treated afterward. The AI had ‘patched’ her memories with something less traumatic.
Supposedly she didn’t actually remember the assault as it had happened, but she wasn’t the same regardless.
She looked at any male that even attempted to approach her as if he was a monster.
Including him.
Not the fucking weird motherfucker with blue skin, wings, and fucking horns!
He was still smarting over that indigestible fact and Belle’s reaction to his overtures when it suddenly hit him that she’d reared up on her hind legs and given him hell.
A faint smile curled his lips.
She wasn’t indifferent and she wasn’t afraid of him.
It wasn’t victory.
But it was a hell of a lot closer than he’d thought he was.
* * * *
Belle had scarcely settled in the spot she’d picked when she heard a noise she didn’t entirely identify and whipped a sharp look around.
She was just in time see Ryne haul himself up to the top of the wall and then over.
A second alien man followed him.
She was on her feet before they landed, looking wildly around to see if they’d been spotted by anybody and if they had colony security bearing down on them. “Oh my god!” she gasped. “I’m going to be in so much trouble!”
Several emotions flickered across Ryne’s features--both of their faces--and Belle wondered if they’d heard and understood what she’d said or if it was just a reaction to her alarmed behavior.
Both of them glanced around and then moved closer. “Hab hungry?” Ryne asked quietly, extending a blob of some sort of maybe bread-like something toward her. “You no eat wid oddurs.”
Belle hesitated, knowing she shouldn’t do anything at all to encourage them to linger. But shewashungry and it was an offering, and she didn’t want to insult him.
“Thanks,” she responded in a jittery voice. “I am hungry and I really appreciate you thinking about me, but you guys should go before there’s trouble …. Please?”
She was positive she saw a flicker of anger that time, but he merely jerked his head at his companion in a silent communication. Nodding, the second man leapt straight up, caught the edge of the top of the wall and then pulled himself up without any sign of strain--except something like a zillion bulging-flexing muscles--and swung himself up and over the wall like a gymnast.
Ryne lightly brushed her cheek with one long finger, dragging her attention back to him. “Talk next time go out. Yes?”
Dismay flickered through Belle, but she smiled at him with an effort.
