Addison's voice was an angry whisper, "You're going to waltz into a church like this?"

With my cock chafing in my pants because you're the most enticing thing I have ever experienced? Yes. "We have time. The Atrium is on the complete opposite side of the ship and it will take us a while to get there."

"But we're going to be traipsing through hallways together to get there aren't we?"

"Yes."

Her cheeks blushed that endearing pink and I considered what other pink bits of hers might blush. Gods, I wanted her. It had almost been too much, tangled together under the shashi trees from the Sumase homelands. She'd responded so sweetly to me and I'd felt a shuddering deep in my soul as it stretched reaching out to hers and as it clamored to knit ourselves back together. I sent a prayer of thanks to Volla'Drannen thanking him for the shred of self-control he'd given me that had allowed me not to drop her down onto the walkway and take her like the animal I had felt like I was in that moment.

"They could see!"

Let them see. We Val'Dornn were not a shy race. For all of our lives, we'd trained in large groups and washed quickly in communal showers. Nudity wasn't uncommon and...we were males. Like I'd said before unexpected hardships were bound to happen. It was biological. No one would judge us. My sweet shy little mate was only worried because she would be the obvious connection males drew to my state.

She was right, but I didn't have the heart to tell her that would likely be able to smell me on her from 20 paces. Mates scents tended to linger longer on the others bodies. Kados could likely give a better scientific explanation for why, but we'd certainly done a good job exchanging the smell of our desire just now. I sucked in a lung full of Addison's sweet and salty flavor. I could die a happy male. "We'll stick to less populated hallways. We can go through the science and medical area if you'd like. The males in those halls regularly deal with nudity so it should be less of a concern for you if we even see any males at all."

That seemed to calm some of her worries because she nodded, "Okay." She kept sneaking glances at me when she thought I wasn't watching.

Silly female. I could never take my eyes off of her, "You can look at me if you want, Addy." Maybe she thought me shameless. And, I was. Let others see what she did to me and let them see how much I want her. Let her look at me and see what she does to me. A fierce masculine pride welled up from somewhere new and unexpected.

She covered her cheeks with her hands to hide her embarrassment, "Close your eyes."

Immediately I closed them.

"I...I can't look at you when you're loo-- I can't look at you when you can see me."

I couldn't see her, but I could feel her gaze on my body like a lovers touch. I preened as I lounged back against an arm support, "You looked at me just fine under the shashi trees."

A flare of lust raced down our bond, so strong I almost doubled over. My cock jerked as if it had been a physical touch. Maybe it won't disappear before we get to the atrium. I wanted to open my eyes and look at her as she felt those feelings. I wanted to see her lusts and desires plain on her face, but I kept them firmly shut. This was for her comfort.

"Shashi trees? Are they from Val--Var'Har--your homeworld?" Her voice was breathy despite the dry topic.

"Var'Hallen. And no they're not. They're from the Sumase homeworld, a small planet in a binary-star system we called Jaiko 23B, but they called it Dair'Shenda." I moved my legs and I could feel the strain of that fabric.

I could hear Addison suck in a quiet breath.

I could suppress the pleased smile I knew was on my face. I liked the idea of her looking at me and liking what she saw. "They're pale trees with incredibly dark leaves. The entire planet is covered in them, making most life that inhabits the jungles similarly willowy and pale. It's a dark planet mostly and the Sumase peoples evolved to look similar to the pale trees they moved through. Their light silvered eyes made it easier to see in the dim to dark conditions."

"Like Vailen?"

"Yes, like Vailen." The doors to our transport opened, "Can I open my eyes now, Addy?"

"Yes."

When I opened them I was disappointed not to see her desires, instead, she'd had time to pull a neutral mask over her features, "We'll backtrack through the science and medical bay and then head up to the Atrium." I reassured her. Despite my inclinations, I wanted her to be comfortable as we explored the Aarond Form.

Walking comfortably was a chore, but I managed. We'd almost managed to make it through the entirety of the medical and science bays without meeting another soul, but of course, we couldn't be that lucky. Surely not with Kados on the same floor, at least.

He must have just stepped out of a doorway on our left. Rounding a corner just in front of us he took a few steps and then stopped. It wasn't likely noticeable to anyone else other than a Val'Dornn, but Kados dragged in a light breath. Addison likely had no idea, no not even likely I'm certain she had no idea.

Thirty-three paces then. Males could smell us on each other from thirty-three paces.

Addison immediately stepped in front of me to block me from view at least from my chest down anyway, but she didn't know the insinuation had already been made.

Kados' quick glance between us had me throwing a feeling of warning towards him. One golden eyebrow arched and he barely suppressed a knowing smile, "Come back for tests then have you?" His gaze raked over Addison, not in a lustful way but more of an assessing look. He was taking in the hair that had been pulled out of its confines and the plum pink lips I'd been abusing this time.

Even without my current state, it was obvious that we'd both been up to something while we'd been off on our own, not that anyone would judge us for it. On the contrary, most males would likely be more than approving of our moment in the gardens. Both because we wish happiness for our brothers that find their mates, but also because each completed mating furthers the mating chances of the others.

Addison cleared her throat. She didn't lie well, bless my sweet little mate. She sounded like a child caught sneaking sweets before dinner. And, of all the males to try to lie to she'd chosen the one most well versed in lying. "No...uh...actually we were, we were just going up to the--the church thing...Esayr was taking me to the church--the damn the...the atrium! The Atrium. Esayr was showing me to the atrium."

I'd never hear the end of this moment from the others. This would be a story that my Riniere would bring up for the rest of eternity. I had no doubt.

His gaze slowly shifted to me. He was enjoying this, "To the atrium? How thrilling that that's your next stop."

"Yes. I'm very excited. He took me to see the gardens earlier and they were very nice."

Too much. If you're trying to hide something don't give away too much.

"Oh yes. I can smell it on you."

Addison seemed surprised.

"The smell of halli blossoms is quite strong," he gave me a pointed look.

Addison sniffed at the soft tunic she wore, "You can smell that from there?"

"Easily," Another pointed almost proud look.

I sent him another warning a pulse of anxiety and he shot me an innocent look that I knew was the pinnacle of fabrication on his part.

"We didn't spend a lot of time near the flowers, though," She sounded confused as the fingered the collar of her shirt.

"No? What did you do then?"

Addison stuttered.

"Kados, thank you for your time, but we really must be going." I stepped up and pulled Addison, skirting around him in the small hallway.

I wasn't completely under control, but I couldn't let my mate walk into any more of his probing questions. That golden eyebrow of his arched even farther into curling golden locks. He scrutinized the abused look of Addison's mouth for a moment.

I did that. My lips claimed that territory.

"Addison. Would you be willing to consent to another cheek swab? It will only take a few seconds. I'd like to run another test on your DNA post-bond assurance."

He's lying. I could feel that skittering feeling along my back again.

Kados glanced to me asking for my permission.

He wasn't entirely dishonest. It was a certainty that he wanted to study Addison's DNA after confirming the soul tether was there. After mates laid eyes on each other the bond would tighten and begin to change the biological makeup of the non-Val' member to more easily match their Val' counterpart. But, what Kados really wanted was a genetic swab of her mouth after we'd been kissing.

He wanted to test how her DNA reacted to mine and he'd guessed rather accurately what we'd been up to.

I'd let Addison what she wanted to do, that was her decision, not mine. However, I had no doubt he'd ask me if she refused.

*****A/N*****

Forgive the late post on this. Posting the next few days may be a little sporadic, but I'm definitely hoping to manage. I'm only about 5k words away from finishing my NaNoWriMo goal and I'm determined to finish my first year :)

Love,

Layla