ARIANA

A long pause. “No.”

So he is a virgin. Instead of freaking me out, though, I find that fascinating. I’m going to be the first to touch him, to show him how good sex can be. Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

I also realize that I’ve just come to terms with the fact that he’s my mate and we’re going to have sex at some point. There’s no fighting it, I realize. I don’t have the physical or emotional energy for it. And Zolaya’s so handsome and pleasant that why would I want to fight it? That would be like fighting against a rainbow or a basket of kittens, and all the other wonderful things I can think of. Chocolate. Silk pajamas. A hot shower.

Well damn, now I really want a hot shower. I sigh.

“What is it?” There’s so much tension in his voice that it brings me instantly alert again. “You are disappointed that I am inexperienced?”

Oh dear. “No, not at all. I was just comparing you to something pleasant back on my world. Hot showers. That’s like, bathing yourself standing up, but it’s warm.”

“We have such a thing back at the home cave. I will take you there. It is in the center of the home cave and made hot by the ground underneath. Everyone enjoys it.”

“Like a hot tub? I am all about that.” I don’t even care that it’s not private. If I need to skinny dip to get a dunk, I’m totally going to do so. I lean closer to him and then decide to lay it all out on the table. “Do your people kiss, Zo?”

“I…do not know what this means.”

I chew on my lip, because now I really, really want to touch him. I curl my hand into a fist to stop myself. “Before I say more, I should let you know that in terms of experience, I have had my tail touched. In a sense.”

“So you have had a pleasure mate before,” he replies, and I can’t tell if that’s a good response or a bad one. His normally expressive voice is neutral.

“Is that a bad thing? Are you disappointed?”

“Did you have feelings for this male? Is he here?”

Did I say it was just one? I should probably clarify before things spiral out of control. Not that I was a huge college ho, but I did have a couple of hook-ups. “Uh, it was more than one male but no, no feelings for any of them. I haven’t had a pleasure mate in over a year. Just haven’t had time and didn’t find anyone I liked.”

In the dark, he reaches up and caresses my cheek, and the little touch is as thrilling as it is unexpected. “Pleasure mates are not a bad thing, Air-ee. It is just finding comfort in another’s arms for a few nights. As long as your heart is not there, I am content.”

He really is the best guy. How did I get so lucky? I’m so filled with pleasure at the realization that my sexual history isn’t going to be a problem despite our cultural differences that I feel like I can breathe easier.

And having all the sexual experience in this room fills me with a curious sense of boldness I normally don’t have. I can’t hold off any longer. I’m dying to kiss him. I lean forward and brush my fingers over his mouth, finding it in the dark. “So, do you want me to show you how a kiss works?”

He pauses for so long that I wonder if he's going to refuse. Finally, Zolaya says, "Only if you wish to."

Is he worried about pressuring me? That's sweet but unnecessary. "If I didn't want to, I wouldn't have suggested it. But thank you for checking."

He clasps my hand in his as I reach toward his neck, pausing me mid-lean. "How is your avalanche?"

My avalanche? It takes me a moment to realize he means my anxiety. Oh. "It's better. You helped me a lot today."

"I am glad."

"It…won't ever go away, though. It's something I have to fight with on a regular basis." I hope he doesn't think it's a one-and-done sort of scenario.

"Then we will work on it on a regular basis," he says agreeably. "I will get you as much tea as you need."

"The talking helps, too. Just having another person to listen and not tell me I'm overreacting is just as necessary in some ways."

"I am always ready to listen." And his thumb skates over my palm. It's the lightest of caresses, but I swear I feel it right between my thighs. I suck in a breath, my body tingling with awareness at how close he is and how very “alone” we are for the first time since I got here. That really does change things. "I don't know if I'm ready to have sex, Zolaya, but…I'd really like to kiss you."

"Then kiss me," he murmurs. "And I will kiss you, too."

I want to tease him that it's usually a two-person sort of act, but I'd rather just get on to the kissing. I lean in over him and pull my hand out of his grip. This time, he lets go and remains still, watching me. I slide my hand to the back of his neck and move down so our mouths are aligned. "It starts with just a brush of the lips over the other person's mouth," I tell him softly, and then demonstrate.

Even with just the barest contact, I can tell I want more. His lips under mine are warm and slightly parted, and I love the hitch of his breath as I brush my mouth over his. I do it once, quickly, then lift my head to see his reaction. He's still watching me, utterly still, so I move in and give him another quick kiss.

"What do you think?" I ask when he doesn't respond.

"Pleasant," he murmurs, and his cootie seems to be vibrating hard in his chest, just like mine. "Do I do so to you now?"

"Actually I'm just getting started," I tell him, smiling. "There are all kinds of kisses. Light kisses." I lean in and gently brush my mouth over his again. "Nipping kisses." I bite at his lower lip and give it a tug. That gets a jerk of response from him and a low groan. "And my favorite are tongue kisses."

"Tongue…kisses?" His breath sounds raspy and his eyes are half-hooded, the glow dimmed slightly. "Tell me more."

"Easier if I show you," I whisper, and put my thumb on his chin, guiding his mouth to mine once more. This time when I brush my lips over his, I flick my tongue against his parted mouth. He groans again, and I slick the tip against his tongue, teasing and playing in a way that makes me feel bold and aroused all at once. God, kissing him is so much fun. I lick gently at his mouth, deepening the kiss, and when he responds, his tongue drags against mine.

And this time it's my turn to gasp, because his tongue has the same fascinating ridges that the rest of him does. What the hell? I'm both fascinated and aroused by this new turn, and I stop teasing and begin to kiss him in earnest. My hand goes to his cheek and my mouth descends on his, and then his hand is in my hair and our tongues are tangling in a mating dance that makes me clench deep inside with how good it is. Oh god, is it good. I'm lost in the way he tastes, the sultry rasp of that ridged tongue against mine, the low groans he makes in his throat as we kiss—

And the ever-present throb of my cootie in my chest, telling me that it approves of what we're doing.

The kiss goes on forever, and the longer it goes on, the less control I have. As our tongues stroke and dance together, Zolaya grows bolder in his responses. I might have instigated things, but he's a quick learner and it doesn't take long before he's the one in charge, his tongue flicking against mine and delving into my mouth with such enthusiasm that I'm breathless and aroused. I rub up against his body as we kiss, and when his knee presses between my thighs, I straddle it and don't even care that I'm grinding against him. All I know is that it feels incredible and I don't want to stop.

Eventually, though, we pull apart and then gaze at each other. I'm gasping for breath, my mouth feeling swollen and bruised and so, so yummy. He looks as dazed as I feel, and our cooties are so loud with their shared vibration it feels as if the entire ship is shaking. "I can smell your arousal, my mate," Zolaya tells me, his hand sliding along my side and then moving down to cup my butt through my leathers. "Even though you wear so many layers, I can smell how much you like my mouth on yours, my tongue mating in your mouth."

My thighs clench in response, and I bite back a moan. "I…don't know if you should be telling me that sort of thing," I say, and my voice is more prim than I want it to be. What girl wants to be told that a guy can smell her pussy?

"It makes me want to put my mouth there," he groans, fisting his hand in my hair. He begins to frantically kiss along my neck and jaw, rolling our twined bodies backward until I'm underneath him in the furs. "Lick up your taste, revel in how good you smell."

"Oh," I breathe, because okay, he's making that sound pretty damn good. I rock my hips, an involuntary response to his words. "Zolaya—"

"I like it when you say my name," he murmurs. "Almost as much as I like your scent." He buries his face against my neck and licks the sensitive skin of my throat, and I moan, clinging to him because it feels so good. "And almost as much as I like kisses," he tells me.

Right. Kisses. That's all we're supposed to be doing. I'm panting and everything in me is screaming to shuck my leather clothes off and let him take me as his mate, but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. My anxiety is starting to trip, and I can feel a little shudder move through me that has nothing to do with lust. "All we're doing is kisses, right?" I hate the nervous sound of my voice. I want so much to sound confident, but I just don't.

Zolaya hears it, though. He drags his tongue against my neck, sending shivers through me. "Nothing but kisses," he reassures me.

Just to clarify… "And those kisses are above the neck, right?"

He chuckles and squeezes my butt. "The sa-khui have a saying—there is no sweeter taste than a resonance mate's cunt on one's tongue."

Jesus, that's an awfully blunt saying. "Oh."

"But I will wait until you are ready for my tongue." He leans in and brushes his lips over mine in the softest of caresses and I feel like I'm melting against him.

"I like your tongue," I say dreamily, my arms going around his neck once more. "I just want to take things slow."

"Then my tongue will stay near yours." He rubs my butt even as he pulls me closer against him, and I'm fitted along his long, lean body. He's incredibly warm and feels so good to press up against. I don't even mind the hard plating on the front of his chest and along his shoulders, because the rest of him is just so snuggle-able. I move my fingers along the inside of his arm, fascinated at the velvet feel of his skin, and his tail flicks against my leg. I pause. "Should I stop touching you?"

"Never," he tells me, voice thick. "But I wish to kiss you again when you do that."

"You can kiss me."

He tugs on my hair and then his mouth is on mine once more, and I forget all about the world around us. Nothing matters but the sweet taste of Zolaya's lips against mine, and the erotic slide of his ridged tongue.

No wonder everyone's so eager for resonance.