“It’s okay, you don’t have to stop it. I’m glad you got to feel good.” She gives me a shy look. “I wish I could have done it to you.”

I feel myself begin to swell again already. It is incredible what her words can do to me.

“Anytime you wish to touch me, I am yours. I am always yours, my mate.”

My Stee-vee surprises me by tugging me close and kissing me on the mouth. She dips her tongue between my lips, and twirls it around. She does not shy away from the taste of her cunt on my tongue, kissing me deeply while moaning happily.

A deep and powerful sense of pride rolls through me. My mate has good taste. She enjoys the flavor of her cunt, at least while it is on my tongue. I like this very much. A husky growl works up my throat as I cradle her face with my hands, returning her kisses.

Many moments pass before we part. I find her lips shiny and her eyes blazing. She is so lovely and lost for breath that I almost do not let her go. I want to plead with her to lie back down so that I may taste between her thighs once more. I long to stretch her dripping cunt around my finger again, and feel the pulse of her surround me when she comes undone.

I hunger for her, but I do not show it. I will be a patient male for my Stee-vee. I will show her that I desire more than her delectable body. Her mind and her soul must be mine as well.

I must have all of her.

13

Lavandula Angustifolia: A flowering plant that has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Lavender.

Marrec

My beautiful mate tells me that she must return to her dwelling for fresh cunt coverings. She blames me for ‘destroying’ her other ones, but she does not seem displeased by this. They are also not entirely destroyed, only very wet and a little stretched because of my strength when tugging them off of her. I offer to go with her,insistreally, but she says that she will be quick.

It is with a dazed mind, fresh pants, and a pleased soul seed that I find my brothers gathered within our ship. They are on a call with Rem, checking in with him from what I can comprehend at a distance. As I grow nearer, many sets of widened eyes find me.

They would not have seen Stee-vee leave, nor have heard her cries of pleasure from only moments ago since our chambers have sound proofing walls. But I have no doubts that they are able to scent her on me.

“Why’d everyone get so quiet?” Rem’s voice says, loud and playful through the communication device.

Terum clears his throat. “Marrec has joined us.”

“Ohhh,” Rem drawls. “Where were you, my friend? Off with your Stee-vee, gawking at her?”

“Oh he was doingsomethingwith her,” Drak says suggestively. “I’m surprised you can’t smell him from there.”

I take a threatening step toward him, itching to force the comment back down his throat. He lifts his hands innocently, smirking to add a joking nature to the act.

“Dude,” Rem interrupts my semi-murderous thoughts. “You and Stee-vee have chosen each other? That’ssick!” He chuckles. “Sick means a good thing to these hu-nims, by the way. It does not only mean ill. S’rah teaches me many fascinating words on our journey.”

“Dude is his new favorite of the words,” Drak adds, rolling his eyes.

I do not ask what the word means. “It is not a chosen union,” I say instead. “My soul has spoken to me. Stee-vee is my mate.” Though, had my seed not lightened for my little blossom, I cannot imagine that she would still not be mine. I would have won her affections through my friendship and never have left her side. Mate or not, I am undone by my female.

Terum is the first to speak. “Truly?”

“I did not believe it at first either,” I admit. “But it is as true asThe Mother. My existence is hers.”

I allow the light in my chest to glow once more, having only dimmed it to say my words before being bombarded with questions by my fellow Aprixians. We are able to shield the glow for short periods of time after all. It is a tactical bit of our genetics, designed to help our bodies remain concealed in dangerous situations in the dark.

“I am very happy for you, brother,” Terum says, setting a hand on my shoulder. “This is very good news.”

“I thought Rem’s mating to the silver one was some kind of miracle,” Drak teases. “No female of Aprix would ever have his silly attitude as their match.The Motherknew she must outsource for him.”

“Frek off.” Rem laughs into the mic.

“This means we could all find mates amongst these hu-nims,” Drak adds cautiously.

“Perhaps,” I agree. “I believe it is possible. We are all of mating age and isolated with my Stee-vee’s people.”