“Because of his rank? Or because he looks like he can totally kick ass?”
His teeth flashed in a grin. “Both. And because he is usually somber of nature, which can make him seem rather grim and foreboding.”
Really? Dagon was usually somber? She would never have guessed that. He usually smiled and laughed freely when they were together.
“And you’re so small and delicate in appearance,” Adaos continued, “that the crewmen on the bridge were likely shocked that you didn’t fear him.”
“The first time they saw me, I shoved a blaster under his jaw and threatened to blow his head off.”
“Drek, I wish I could’ve seen that,” he said on a laugh.
She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. Sorry about that. About biting you, I mean.”
He waved a hand in dismissal. “You’ve already apologized, and I don’t hold it against you. You’re a soldier. Soldiers do what they must to survive.”
“Thank you.” She pondered what he’d said. “So it wasn’t so much the hug that shocked them but my lack of fear?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me more about the other reason it shocked them.”
He shrugged. “I doubt any of them have ever seen Dagon embrace a woman or freely express affection for one before.”
She stared at him. “Why? I know he isn’t gay.” Kinda hard to miss the fact that her hugs aroused him.
“Gay?”
“Attracted to other men.”
“Ah.” He shook his head. “No. His interests lie only with women. But he’s a solitary sort. And when we dock in spaceports to pick up supplies or make repairs, he doesn’t visit the bars or pleasure houses with the other men. He remains on the ship.”
Seemed kinda lonely. “Then hugs are okay?”
“Yes.”
“What about kisses?”
His smile broadened. “I’m sure Commander Dagon would like your kisses.”
“With tongue?”
“Yes.”
“What about touching? Can I hold his hand?”
“Yes.”
“Can I… hmmm… How should I put this?” She nibbled her lower lip. “Feel him up?”
He clamped his lips together, leading her to suspect he was once more struggling to hold back laughter. “Do you mean fondle him?”
“Yes. I’ll go with that.”
“As long as he desires it, you can touch him like a lover.”
“What about intercourse? Can we make love?”
“Yes.”
“If we do, will we be breaking any laws? Like no sex before marriage? Or…” She thought of some of the sci-fi romance novels she’d read. “If we make love will we be mated for life?”
A look of pure horror crossed his features. “Drek no!”
She laughed. “You look pretty appalled by the idea.”
“I am.” He gave a little shudder. “If I had bonded to the first woman who drekked me, I would have been locked into a miserable, loveless existence.”
She stared at him. “Wow. If you hated her so much, why did you sleep with her?”
“I didn’t hate her. I just didn’t know her well. Once I did…” Again he shuddered. “I pity the poor grunark who ended up with her.”
She wasn’t sure what grunark meant, but apparently he’d dodged a bullet there.
Eliana slid off the table. “Okay. So… no one will think I’m a total slut if I kiss or hug Dagon in public?”
“My translator isn’t defining the word slut.”
She tried to think of a generic equivalent that would translate easily and might be less offensive than whore, which was the term she’d heard the most often in her youth. But all she could come up with was “Someone of loose morals, I guess?”
“Ah.” He smiled. “No. No one will think you’re a slut if they see you hug or kiss Dagon.”
“What if we… become intimate?” She was not exactly comfortable talking about this. She’d been born four centuries ago when women didn’t even mention such things.
“None will seek to shame you for that.”
She relaxed. “Excellent.” She could now act on some of those impulses that plagued her whenever she was around Dagon’s sexy ass. Butterflies filled her belly at just the thought of it. “Well, I guess that’s all I need to know. Thanks.”
“Actually, it isn’t,” he countered.
The butterflies died at his somber tone. “Okay.” She leaned back against the table. “Tell me.” Please don’t let it be that Dagon is engaged. He’d said he wasn’t bonded, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a lover somewhere that the other guys didn’t know about. That would totally suck. And would explain why he hadn’t acted on his desire.
“I’ve been studying the data Sectas have amassed about Earthlings,” Adaos began.
Now he looked uneasy.
“And?” she prompted when he hesitated to finish his thought.
“And there is a very important difference between our two cultures.”
Oh crap.
“Once they enter into a relationship, Segonians are a wholly monogamous people.”
She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until it rushed out in a relieved whoosh. “Oh. Good.” She had never been a playing the field kinda gal and was glad she didn’t have to worry about Dagon doing the same. She had no interest in sharing him.
Adaos continued. “You can’t pursue more than one man at a time.”
She nodded. “Okay. I wouldn’t do that anyway.”
“I wish to be very clear about this, Eliana.” Both his expression and tone were so earnest they bordered on threatening. “If you embark upon a sexual relationship with Dagon, you cannot seek the attention of someone else on this ship. Even flirting that you might consider innocent would be viewed harshly unless you first ended your relationship with Dagon.”
Irritation slithered through her. “I said I wouldn’t do that.” And she couldn’t help but feel insulted that he thought she would. “On my planet we call flirting with one guy when you’re committed to another cheating. And I am not okay with that.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she scowled at him. “Besides, the only man I want to get naked with is Dagon.”
He held up a hand in a placating motion. “All right. I know little of your people beyond what the Sectas have told us. I meant no disrespect.”
Apparently the Sectas knew a lot. Cheating and playing the field was pretty common on Earth. “Okay,” she mumbled.
“You should also know that when Segonians bond, or marry as you Earthlings say, we bond for life. That’s why—like Lasarans—we call our spouses our lifemates. There is no divorce on Segonia.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t really thought that far ahead. She was just so attracted to Dagon and enjoyed his company so much that she’d…
Well, she hadn’t thought beyond the desire to spend more time with him and eventually get him naked. Now that she did though, depression landed on her shoulders like a vulture, digging its talons into her flesh.
Silence encapsulated them, stretching into awkward territory.