Page 42 of Captain's Companion

“He won’t let you go after the contract,” Mina said.

“How do you know,” Gwyn asked.

“Plav quit because I said I couldn’t leave my job,” Mina said. She looked past Gwyn and her smile broadened. “Even though I was thoroughly stressed, he said he’d transfer to wherever my career took me. When I insisted my career was too important to change for a relationship, he wrote a letter of resignation. He started talking about moving in with me, looking for a job where I was.”

“That’s really sweet,” Gwyn said.

Mina shook her head. “He didn’t take no for an answer. The captain won’t with you either. Once they find their mates, Sinivites are devoted to them no matter what.”

“What’s involved in being a mate,” Gwyn asked feeling heat rush to her cheeks.

“In the beginning,” Mina laughed. “It’s all about the sex. They can’t make you orgasm enough. The more you orgasm the more connected they feel to you. Plav… well our first time together was incredible, and it hasn’t changed.”

“I’m not allowed to talk,” Gwyn said almost whispering. “He holds back.”

Mina laughed and leaned in. “Plav used to count my orgasms. Oh this is naughty. Don’t you tell the captain I said any of this. Ultimately, you are his mate. He will do everything in his power to ensure you stay by his side. If you let him, he will turn himself inside out to make you happy.”

Gwyn raised her eyebrows, swallowed. “If I’m honest, I love that he does but I don’t need it,” she said.

“But it’s so different than some of the other species,” Mina said.

“Yes,” Gwyn said.

“I really love Plav but when he gets that obsessed, I force him to stop,” Mina said.

“Oh,” Gwyn said. “I’ve done that with Ulrik. He says being his mate means we’re partners. Partners means a level of equality and I’d rather be equal.”

“Good for you,” Mina said. “It took me almost four months and still when I ovulate, he goes bonkers.”

“Because they have a hypersensitive sense of smell on certain levels,” Gwyn asked.

“Someone’s been reading up on Sinivites,” Mina said.

“Yes,” Gwyn said. “It’s ridiculous. When he’s not in the room with me, I feel like I’m missing half of me.”

“Pheromones,” Mina said. “You’re not the only one. All human partners are more sensitive to the pheromones though the Sinivite females respond to them as well.”

Gwyn fanned her face. “If he walked in the door right now…”

“You’d jump him,” Mina said. “I feel the same about Plav.”

“Children’s party,” Gwyn said. “Let’s focus on the children’s party.”

“Where were we,” Mina said with a nod.

“How many children with the settlers,” Gwyn asked.

“We have about a hundred with the settlers,” Mina said. “If we exclude the settlers, it seems unfriendly but if we include them, it’s overwhelming.”

Gwyn stared across the room for several moments. “We have experts in all sorts of areas on the ship, right,” she asked.

“Yes,” Mina said. “Why?”

“What if we put out a call to all off duty personnel at the time of the party,” Gwyn said. “We ask them to come up with a mini station to allow the kids to try different things.”

“Like what,” Mina asked scowling.

“One of the cooks could do cake decorating or ice cream making or something,” Gwyn said.

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