Her eyes fluttered and opened. She focused blearily on him, a tiny, sleepy smile pulling at the corners of her eyes, her lips, as she let out a long breath. Melting further into him.
“You’re staring at me,” she mumbled, voice sleepy and soft. Not a single fear or worry tensing her frame. That was exactly how he wanted her to be. Always.
“You’re nice to look at.”
Her body rocked as she giggled. The motion made his cock twitch within her.
“I think that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He frowned. That was probably true. He couldn’t really offer her flowery words. He didn’t have any to draw upon. “I am… Compliments do not come easily to me.”
“Oh, I wasn’t complaining,” she turned, pressing a sweet kiss to his chest. Making a little spark with her mouth. “I don’t expect poems or anything from you. Probably wouldn’t really feel comfortable getting them anyway. I like it like… this. Just like this.”
Tanin relaxed again. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if she needed such a thing from him. He could try, but he imagined it wasn’t something that would come easily, or naturally, to him.
He might not be able to declare all the feelings she inspired in him, but he could show her. She would, he promised, never have reason to question his devotion to her.
“You asked me once about my people’s mating dance.”
She stilled for just a brief moment. It was a flash, over in a blink, before she said, “I did.”
“It’s a private thing. I start the dance. It’s harsh, based on power and strength. You would respond to me by moving in your own way. I don’t really know how s’skree females would typically dance, but it doesn’t really matter to you. You would dance however you liked. I’m told that the female version is more sensual than the male’s, but that’s all I know of it.”
“Hm…” The soft sound made deep in her throat told him nothing. It was totally neutral. But he did notice that there was a slight upturning of her lips again.
That was good… right?
“During the dance, we come together and mate properly. That is what forges the bond.”
“The mating bond?”
“Yes. The dance triggers it to start. Mating at the end seals it in place.”
She turned her head so her chin was resting on his chest, looking up at him. “They talk about that on Earth. Mating. It’s part of True Match’s advertising and everything. So, it’s real? It’s not just some marketing gimmick they made up?”
“It’s very real,” he said softly. “For some, it’s sacred. I can’t say I know the culture of it for myself for the rest of the s’skree, but I do know that a male will dance for many females in his life. But only the female he can bond with will respond and join with him. Our females feel the bond most strongly. So, they are the ones who decide.”
She frowned. “I’m human though. Aren’t humans, like, notoriously bad at recognizing that kind of thing?”
“That’s what they say.”
She continued to look concerned, so he tightened his hands on her ass, making her wince as his cock moved within her.
“But I’ve never danced for any female. So, I imagine, when I do, it will be the only time.”
Her smile started to come back. “Are you saying you want to dance for me?”
He hesitated. Not because he didn’t know, but because he wanted to be sure of himself before he gave her an answer.
“I do.”
She started in surprise.
“What?”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Nothing. Do you, like, want to do it now?”
He cocked a brow. He hadn’t expected her to be so enthusiastic about it. Not after how hesitant she was about fucking him for the first time. His only intention had been to tell her his intentions. What he planned for later.
