Page 14 of Flower of Seshana

Intrigue lit her eyes, and she smiled as she peered back at him. “What did you have in mind?”

“Pure carnality,” he rasped and then trilled when the sweet scent of her arousal washed over him.

Chapter

Eleven

“Carnality?” Kethan quietly hissed upon returning to their nest. He stared at his nest brother incredulously. He had been correct the first time; the male was crazy. “What exactly are you planning now?”

“Just some encouragement,” Quillen replied without bothering to lower his voice in the least. Alexandra glanced back at them, pushing her glasses up her nose with one finger as she gave them a curious look to which Quillen replied with a flirtatious grin, his gavo fluttering. “Since our Alexandra is feeling a little bold at the moment, it is good to seize the opportunity. Is that not right, Alexandra?”

A bright pink hue rushed into their flower’s cheeks, but her lips curled in shy agreement. “I admit that I’m a little curious to see what you intend. From my perspective this is all a little unexpected.” Her lips pinched together slightly in the fascinating way that only her malleable mouth could do. He wondered how that mouth would feel against his scales and felt his primary cock thicken within his sant. “I’m curious about something, though. As this comes on the heels of yourconversation with Therxian, what did he mean by getting your nest in order… and what is an ashlava?”

Kethan felt an uncomfortable dip in his stomach as Quillen gave him an annoyed look.

“You did not even attempt to prepare her in regard to your intentions when you brought her here—not even a little?” the male demanded. “Even a Seshanamitesh would understand the implications of being carried off by a male of the Vahel but you knew she was unaware of our species. All of our efforts—and she had no idea!”

“I had intended on speaking of it at a later time,” Kethan admitted, his gavo flattening with embarrassment. “The timing just never seemed to present itself. But you are right. As I brought her here, it was my responsibility.” Drawing in deep breath, he turned to Alexandra and held out his hand for hers. He was absurdly pleased when she trustingly placed her hand in his and closed his fingers around her tiny digits. “Ashlava means queen of the nest,” he murmured. “Although I offered to show you the Zir because your interest pleased me, it was not without ulterior motives. We do not keep the unwilling, but from the first breath of your pheromones, I knew that I wanted you for my mate and intended to make every opportunity of our time together to court you.”

To his relief Alexandra did not withdraw her hand, but he did not relish the shock on her face.

“You wanted me to be your mate?” she squeaked, and her eyes shot over to Quillen. “And you?”

“It was my intent from the moment I saw you in Kethan’s arms,” he affirmed with a smile. “And I have only become more certain with every passing day as the bond grows strong between us.”

“Bond?” she echoed in a whisper.

“Our pheromones reacting against each other, drawing us closer,” Kethan affirmed. “We have scented you?—”

“Oh, gods,” she whimpered. “You smelled… that?”

Quillen’s wing extended to brush her back as he gave her a sympathetic smile. “It is difficult to hide things in such close confines, and it is part of our nature to scent and respond. Is it not for your species?”

“Not really,” she muttered. She twisted her fingers nervously in front of her. “I… I am not sure what I am ready for. What you suggest is… well… illegal on Earth and all twenty of its colonies.”

“Illegal?” Kethan blinked in disbelief. “Your people have laws regarding… mating?”

He glanced over at Quillen but even Quillen looked taken aback by such a concept.

“How disgustingly primitive,” the male commented as he bared his teeth in distinct distaste. “The Vahel have not had mating laws since the cataclysm. There are laws to protect those among the Vahel, but mating is the business of each nest alone. As is how they mate. Other than the blessing before the mating flight, no one interferes.”

Kethan’s gavo flicked in agreement but, now that the subject of the mating flight came up, he was suddenly distracted by thoughts of all the possibilities in which they might join with her.

“Focus, Kethan,” Quillen hissed, and he came back to himself with a startled snap of his gavo and an embarrassed smile. The male huffed before turning back to Alexandra. “You are not ready for the mating flight, but there are ways to enjoy until then.”

That caught her attention. She blinked rapidly as her eyes darted back and forth between them.

“Enjoy?” she repeated in another adorable squeak, her cheeks darkening from pink to a deep red of his favorite flower.No, that was not correct—his Alexandra was his favorite flower. “Now I really want to know what you have in mind.”

So did Kethan, though he was beginning to get ideas.

Quillen hissed with the chuff of his laughter. “Do not look so scared. You will only enjoy it, and it can help you decide whether you wish to play by your people’s rules… or ours.”

“I’m not scared,” she denied. “This is just very embarrassing to talk about. I don’t exactly possess a wealth of experience here.”

Kethan tipped his head. “Vahel only gain experience with those they intend to mate. You will be our first experiences.”

“Oh… Really?” she replied in a small voice. “I wish I could say the same.” The last was said so low that he almost did not catch it, but he fought back a frown when he heard the note of regret in her voice.

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