Page 28 of His Human Librarian

“Your life on Gravian was perfect? Nothing missing?”

“Well, I'm about to turn twenty-nine years old, and I wouldn't mind having a husband and family in the near future. In my career, when you're younger, you're trying to make your way and then by the time Librarians hit the equivalent of an age within their own species where they’d like to settle down and start a family, a lot of them leave the council and return to their home planets. The recue Librarian lifestyle of traveling all over the four sectors doesn’t fit well with family life. Although I don’t necessarily want to return to New Earth. I am single because I'm busy with my job. I am really obsessed. I like going from place to place to place, but I must admit, it's getting a little old. I have traveled so much all I have are small quarters in the Intergalactic Institute.”

“You are certain you don’t want a mate that is human?”

“I've always assumed, if I had a partner, it would not be someone who was human. I guess I figured it'd be someone who was Gravian. The Gravians are very close in appearance and culture to humans. They literally look like humans except they are much, much stronger. That's why our two species have always been close.”

He squeezes my hand. “Would you accept a mate that was not human, or Gravian, but of another species?”

“Yes, I would. I’m used to being around so many different species that eventually having children that weren’t fully human wouldn’t be a big deal to me at all.” This time I squeeze his hand.

“Okay enough about me.I’m boring. Tell me about yourself. I want to know if you have a girlfriend. There were a lot of clothes in that room where I stayed.”

“Those were left behind by mother and sisters-in-law for guests. I do not have a mate yet because I haven’t found one. On Tarvos we pleasure mate until the we find our bound. The moment we declare for each other and then walk to the courthouse to make it official, then that is our mate for life. We are physically and legally bound to each other. But I had not yet met my bound. I’ve scented and spent time with all the available females in this part of the planet and none of them are my mate.”

“Are you a virgin?” I ask.

“No, I had a few pleasure mates while at university. I was happy to go away to university because I considered it a way to not only learn about art and history, but to also be amongst a larger pool of unmated females. My parents met while at university and my mother agreed to live with my father on this ranch, in the wildlands, even though she’d been born and raised in the main city of Tarvos. But I did not find any females I could build a lasting relationship with and bring back home.”

Our eyes meet.

Then I look down at our joined hands. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“I am.”

“Let me check your bandages.”

A few minutes later, while he’s on his stomach and I’m checking his back, which is almost fully healed, I tell him the problem that’s been weighing heavy on my mind. “Sten, I want you to know that I’m sorry I stood there earlier today, when you were taking your morning shower outside and I stared at your naked body without your consent. That was wrong and I apologize.”

“I understand.”

I finish the last bandage and give him a playful nudge on the shoulder.

He turns over.

“No, it’s wrong Sten. Did you hear what I said? I did not have your consent. I shouldn’t have been looking at you like that.”

“But you did have my consent. I could have turned away or told you to leave at any time. Did I appear angry in any way?”

“No, you did not.”

“That is because I enjoyed your pursual. I wanted you to see what I had to offer.”

“You did?”

“Yes, and I was greatly affected by the scent of your arousal floating in the breeze and entering my lungs.”

“My…what are you talking about?”

“I’ve been able to scent your arousal for me since we first arrived at the ranch.”

Heat rushes through my cheeks. “You did?” I squeak.

“I feel the same.”

“Wait, are you telling me that you’ve been attracted to me too? I thought you hated me.”

“I think hate is too harsh of a word. I’ve been irritated. But I don’t feel like that anymore.”

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