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He couldn’t get the image of Elena naked and panting as she orgasmed out of his mind. The desire to make her his was riding him hard. His mind kept circling around the dilemma of how he could physically complete the bond and woo Elena into agreeing. He obviously couldn’t do anything at this very moment so the next best thing was discussing it.

“How about this question. Have you ever been mated to anyone? The concept not the physical deed,” she clarified, her gaze narrowing on him.

“No,” he replied, confused by the odd question. How could he bond with her if he was bonded to someone else?

“Oh, okay.” She nodded, then shyly stared at the ground.

He grinned at her bashful response. She was obviously curious if he’d had any serious relationships, though the way she’d phrased her question was a bit strange.

She’s nervous.He tried to imagine himself in her position, with a large warrior expressing interest.

Still, it was encouraging that she was asking.

“Wait.” His steps faltered as something else occurred to him. “Do humans bond and then unbond?” he asked the seemingly ridiculous question.

He kept forgetting she was human, and as similar as they were, there were differences.

“Yes. We get married and then sometimes get divorced, but we also don’t have some mating bite that tells us we’re a good match. We have to make that decision based on how we feel about each other.”

Payim frowned. The thought of his bond being severed with her made his chest hurt, and they hadn’t even completed the union.

She is human.That was a risk he would have to take if he bonded with her.But she is merely asking questions. Don’t get your tail in a knot yet.

“Affection is also a part of our bond.” He attempted to tease out an explanation that might make sense to her. “I guess theconjugoserum adds to it. I have met couples who paired because of affection that didn’t bond until much later. So, I suppose the mating hormone is connected to the feeling.”

“Hmm.” Elena nodded thoughtfully.

As they walked, he wondered how Elena felt about him, since that’s what mattered most for humans to mate. He wanted her to feel affection for him, but he had no control in that, which was frustrating since he was deeply enamored of her. The desire brought up memories from his youth that he still hadn’t quite resolved, and a sort of desperation gripped him before he could banish it back to the corners of his mind.

“You never said what you do when you’re not being a hero.” Elena returned to their earlier conversation, pulling him from his thoughts.

“I pilot cruisers.” He shrugged.

“I thought that was part of your job?” She looked questioningly at him.

He stared blankly at her trying to come up with a response, but the truth was, he spent most of his time in a pilot seat, traveling the quadrants, and was well suited to it. Before he met Elena, that had been enough for him, but now it seemed lacking.

What do I truly have to offer her? I know nothing about having a clan or raising young.A starship was hardly the place for a family.

Payim stiffened at this new obstacle. He could stay on Cadi, making short transport runs, except that lone solution didn’t make up for his utter ignorance about how to care for a clan.

I don’t even have a suitable domicile.He thought about the unit he shared with Faktil. They wouldn’t have an ounce of privacy.

Privacy for what? Elena’s not even big enough for us to bond.His thoughts spiraled further.

“It’s okay. I used to work all the time, too, and after a long day you just want to collapse,” Elena commiserated, and he snapped to, wondering how long he’d been mutely staring at her.

Her expression was sweet and he knew she wasn’t merely patronizing him, but he still felt like an oaf.

Come on. Think. You do other things. What are they?His tail lashed against his leg in frustration.

“I enjoy playingbockum!” he abruptly declared, as if he’d just won some sort of epic battle. The irony of how pathetic it was wasn't lost on him. “It’s a game of strategy with tokens,” he added, a little more subdued.

“I like all sorts of games, although I’m hopeless at chess. My family played Cards Against Humanity and the game would get rather heated,” Elena chuckled.

“Ah, yes. There have been many a raucousbockumgame among the warriors, more so if vinum is involved,” he laughed, relieved he’d dredged up something more than ‘I pilot ships.’

“If that’s alcohol, then I can imagine. Those are the best games. You’ll have to teach me this game.” She nodded.