I wake up warm and surprisingly content. My hands search the sheets next to me, looking for the warmth of a body that had held me tenderly all night long. Esayr wasn't there, but he hadn't left long. The sheets were still warm.

A pleasant chiming bell echoed in the room, tolling a few times. As I dragged myself out from under the covers I wondered if the Val'Dornn used bells to tell time as humans did. I'd made it almost to the door when I registered that I was...unusually cold. The ship was pretty good at setting internal temperatures to specific comfort levels, so the realization was jarring.

You shucked off your shirt while you manhandled him last night, Addison. I scrambled back towards the bed that I'd just exited and ripped through the covers looking for the sleep shirt that I'd carelessly thrown into them. The room was dim and the sheets were all a dove grey color, so it all melded together, really giving me enough time to dwell on the fact that I'd touched Esayr.

Oh my god, you touched him. You really did. You know what his body feels like. Hell, you know what a cock feels like in your hand now, Addison. How will I ever look him in the eyes again without thinking about it? Without him knowing I'm thinking about it? Embarrassment flooded me for a moment, but it wasn't quite in response to what I'd done.

Just as I'd thought about seeing Esayr again a tingle of pleasure started warm and low between my thighs. I wanted to see him again, to touch him again. It was an unfamiliar hunger, not a product of our bond which sat firmly against my stomach, this was entirely my own and that realization embarrassed me.

I want to feel him shudder beneath my fingertips. I want to feel him quake as he swears my name to his unfamiliar gods between declarations of love meant only for me. I want to feel that power, knowing I can drive this perfect male to such a state of blinding pleasure with just the feel of my hand and the heat of my skin against him.

I pressed cool fingers to my heated cheeks. My sleep shirt rested across my knees, nearly forgotten in my realization. I want him. The idea of him seeing me, touching me, being with me in that biblical sense still had a coil of stress tightening in my stomach.

Esayr was all perfect tanned lines and graceful tight features and I...wasn't. I'd never quite been self-conscious of the way I looked. But, I'd also never been offered the opportunity to become involved with a male that looked like a perfect 10 either. I found myself considering all the faults I'd come to terms with years ago.

My chest was smaller than I wanted it to be. I wished that some of the thickness in my thighs had managed to migrate up to them in puberty, but no such luck. My hair was a straight blonde, which was mildly nice. It would have looked better with waves, though. The freckles? They were a nuisance and everywhere to boot. If it had just been a few across my nose that could've been cute, but they decided to have a riot across any and all pale skin they could find.

Just as those negative feelings began to coalesce into something monstrous and nasty inside of me, there was a quiet questioning down the bond and then oddly a reassurance. If you'd asked me days ago what the feeling of reassurance felt like, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. But, something instinctually inside of me seemed to recognize the feeling of a burden being lifted and a bit of warmth and strength drifting into me.

It was a rope thrown into a dark sea that I was about to drown in. I'd conquered those waves before a long time ago, but the ocean was always hungry and its riptides were a little too handsy. It gave me the break to think of those moments when Esayr whispered his feelings for me when we first stepped into this rooms. His declarations of wanting me and only me.

I tugged on the sleep shirt and left our bedroom just as the chiming bells echoed again.

Esayr stood in what amounted to the kitchen, busying himself with something.

If this man is making me breakfast, I'll drag him back into that bedroom. I approached his back, somewhat nervous. Would he expect more romantic gestures? Kissing? This strange relationship moving forward? I'd never had a real relationship so I didn't know any of the protocol for a morning after jacking your....husband...off.

He didn't seem like he noticed me, but something about all of Esayr, in general, seemed to make me believe he was always aware of me. I reached out toward our bond and followed it out toward him. I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't want the moment to be sexual, quite like it was the first time I'd touched our bond. I wanted it to be domestic, like a touch on the back to let the other know you're approaching.

With a touch that was more of a whisper, I focused on that desire that I wanted to convey.

I watched the muscles of Esayr's shoulders tighten for a moment in surprise and then loosen just as quickly as he glanced over at me. There was a raw joy on his face that I don't think he ever could have concealed even if he'd tried.

I stepped up close to his side and marveled at the long dark slab that had come out from the wall.

"You're awake?"

"I am." I reached toward the slab, absently, but Esayr stayed my hand, taking the moment to knit his fingers together with mine, instead.

"Early for you. I hadn't expected you up quite yet." He pressed the fingers of his other hand to the wall, lighting up buttons I hadn't even known had been there, "The shelf is hot and we haven't keyed your signature to it. It would've burned you."

"What are you doing with it?" I lurked around him noting two small cups that were steaming. They had handles on both sides and were larger than a teacup, but smaller than a bowl.

"I was making, Loruma...for us. It's an early day drink that we have before enjoying a larger meal. It's light."

He fucking was making breakfast for me. I couldn't believe it. "What's it taste like?"

Esayr picked up one of the bowl/cups and handed it to me. It smelled faintly like a kind of soup broth, "Is it hot?"

"Not too much, but I would sip it gingerly. I'd expected it to have time to cool slightly."

He watched me eagerly, and I fought the embarrassment that, that scrutiny threatened to bring on. What if I don't like it? I don't want to hurt his feelings if he made it for me. I blew into the cup to cool the liquid, but also to stall for time. When I finally took a sip I was surprised to find that the flavor wasn't nearly as strong as the scent. It was very light and savory.

Loruma certainly wasn't the kind of flavor I would have anticipated enjoying for breakfast, but I found I liked it. Partially herbal, maybe something close to an onion and savory it easily could be substituted into most human soups if it were a little stronger.

Esayr must have noted my surprised expression because he smothered a laugh, "Weren't expecting to like it?"

"I had my doubts." I laughed as I took another large sip. It was hot, but not "burn your mouth" hot. "Humans at least where I'm from tend to make sweeter things for breakfast."

"Oh? Then what about the white and yellow things and the meats with the flat round bread that are common in your media."

It's odd trying to think of aspects of your life that are so ingrained that you don't even think about them. Doubly so when they're described so clinically. Eggs, bacon, and pancakes. He's talking about eggs, bacon, and pancakes. "Pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Pancakes are sweet and have a sweet syrup poured on them. Bacon is meat, but a lot of times will be seasoned with a dark sugar and more of that syrup. Eggs...eggs are usually savory." Honestly, a soft boiled egg in this soup would be amazing.

Esayr nodded thoughtfully as he sipped his light soup. "I would like to try some of your day cycle meals."

I smiled. It was one of the few things I could cook, "I'll make them for you sometime."

The bells chimed again, this time only briefly. I pointed up to the ceiling, "What do those mean?"

Esayr smiled over the rim of his cup, "Another match."

It was a beautiful noise, truly. But, I'm sure for all the other males on this ship it was infinitely more meaningful, "A 100% match?"

"A partial currently. A male will likely travel down to Earth soon to meet the female and see if she's his." He downed the rest of his drink and I sipped the last bit in my own cup before he plucked it from my hand and placed into a recessed shelf in the wall, which closed over the dishware immediately.

Esayr leaned against the heated shelf as if the thing hadn't just boiled these two drinks. He watched me happily for just a moment.

I fought to keep my gaze from sliding down to his bare chest and arms. I wonder if he's fighting to keep his from sliding down to my legs. The knowledge that I'd done something brazen with him last night had me acutely aware that a moment could feasibly turn sexual. I could feasibly make a moment turn sexual. My mouth watered at the idea. I had joked that I'd drag him back into our bedroom if he were making breakfast for me.

But while I was considering it the moment passed, Esayr smiled gently at me, "I would like to take you to spend time with my Riniere today. Would you be willing?"

"Spend time with your friends? Isn't that culturally strange? Since we..?"

Esayr shrugged, "The idea of spending time together with everyone that is important to me is pleasing, and I'm sure the others would like to get to know you. We are free to be in and out of society as we wish, though others might assume us being out will mean something. I don't plan to be caged in this room for however long and I feel like you would be displeased if you were as well. We might as well go out and enjoy our day cycle."

"What if they don't like me?"

"They will like you."

"But, what if they don't?"

"I promise they will."

"That's not a reassurance to me."

"If they don't I'll smack them because surely they'd be fools."

Esayr smiled that gentle smile of his that I'd become used to, and I found that that comforted me. "Ok. Let's go see your friends. Where are they?"

"It is a free service day for most. We are relieved from our jobs for a time. The others like to frequent meal or media halls. We'll find them in the city making mischief, probably."

"Let me get dressed and then lead the way."

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

I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update. My boss changed my schedule so I ended up working 8 of the last 9 days and on top of that caught a bad cold. Trying to gather the energy to write some more before I end up heading back in for my next workday.

As always love you all. I am so grateful for everyone who reads my stories and those that comment and vote. It means a lot to me. I hope you all are having a better week than I have been having :)

Love you lots,

Layla.