“We don’t live with
our women. We have to be deemed worthy by the women to sire children. We are
trained by women to satisfy them through highly ritualized procedures.”
It sounded as
horrible as when Retav had described it. “No wonder you acted so shocked when I
jumped you. Is it so mechanical for you?”
Jape considered. “Maybe
not for everyone. The problem might be all mine. Maybe the women have wished
for more too, but I never gave any of them a chance. I don’t know. We arrange
for it, we do it, and we don’t talk about it.”
“I’m amazed you
haven’t given up on sex.”
“I have this year,
for the most part.”
Velia thought maybe
the Risnarish had lost a great deal in separating their genders. Were such
misunderstandings common? Had the females’ pursuit of serenity crippled them in
a sense?
She didn’t voice
any of that. Philosophical conversations were the last thing on her mind. “How
do I compare to what you’ve had with your women?”
“You have been
perfect. The problem has been with me. What I need to share with you is what
Risnarish women expect—respect. And more than that. To show I can be caring.”
Caring. Did he care? Was that what tied her stomach in
delicious knots, that warmth more than mere arousal? “You make it sound more
significant than physical pleasure.”
“Isn’t that what
you were telling me you preferred? To express the act of oneness as the sacred
thing it should be?” His low chuckle sounded self-deprecating. “I never saw it
as such before. I still don’t, not when it comes to others.”
“Why not?”
“They’re
not you. I only want it with you.”
Believing Earthlings had killed his fellow warriors, Jape Bolep is determined to destroy Earth’s access to Risnar once and for all. Grabbing a curvy handful of a human wasn’t part of the plan, but he has no intention of letting her distract him from his need for vengeance—no matter how much he aches to make her his.
Both are ready to do battle over right and wrong and good and evil, and their combustible relationship burns hotter than the sun's surface. But distrust and treachery from all sides leave Velia and Jape in a fight against their own people to keep each other alive—and to ultimately save both Earth and Risnar from total destruction.
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