When Hallan decided it was time to make a second attempt to find a partner, he took in his options. No matter what, his next union would be for life. The only issue was none of his female companions ever sparked him.

Knowing he had to get to the act of settling down, he researched an arranged partnership. At least in this manner he could choose the characteristics he wanted and not be judged. Several of his friends and colleagues had taken a similar route to find their partner.

Many of his prospects rejected him the moment he divulged his past and then, at last, he found Amsen’s family unit. They accepted his past failure, only asking that he didn’t discuss the matter with their daughter. Since it was not his favorite subject, he agreed.

Rather than opting for a courtship that could taint his view of his future mate, make him be too picky, he chose to wait until their pledging ceremony to meet his female. The moment Amsen took his hand he was taken with his gorgeous partner. There was something about simply entering the relationship knowing they were committed that deepened his feelings for her instantly.

Now five days into their pledging time, he could barely take his eyes off his partner. Was this supposed to be completely consuming? He had lost sight of everything including the time. According to the time block they were supposed to be relaxing or reading, and all he could do was wait for her to enter the room. Though he tried to adhere to their schedule, everything was off, and he had to get them back on track. They had their Union Ceremony coming up, their life needed to get into a routine, a lot to accomplish.

“Hallan.” Amsen fluttered into the room holding a tub of modeling paste he ordered for her at some point, he couldn’t remember when anymore. “Look.”

He put aside the document he wasn’t reading and motioned for her to sit with him.

“I made this for you.” She curled up next to him and presented him with a little molded bowl.

“You made it?” He gently took the offering and studied the little vessel. She had carved an intricate little geometric pattern on the outside and inside was their initials.

She answered with a light giggle. “Do we still have recreation time?”

Unsure about what time it was, he nodded anyway. “Why do you ask?” She rarely used the time blocks, choosing instead to ask him what they should be doing. Normally, she asked when they would join again. They may or may not have decided that any time was time for joining. In truth, he couldn’t stay out of her. If she were anywhere near her fertile time, they would most definitely be adding an offspring to their residence, ready or not.

“I thought you could make me something.” She took the bowl from him, put it on the side table and then placed the tub in his lap.

He glanced down at the white shapeless mass wanting to be turned into something. The paste he bought her was normally used for repairs, but in her hands it changed into something beautiful. “I’m not an artist.”

“I beg to differ.” She scooped the paste out and placed it in his hands. “If you make me something, I’ll tell you about what I read earlier.”

Around Amsen his world disappeared. They had commitments and goals to hit that were important to their partnership. “Our Union Ceremony.” He tried to remind them both.

“We’ve booked the grand room at the Colonium, we have the finest of meals, we have our outfits.” She slid up to his side and hooked her leg over his. “You said we still had recreation time.”

Her idea of sticking to their schedule and his were completely different, and somehow he had to get them under control.

“Can I tell you about what I read?” she crooned in his ear.

For the first time that day he picked up his time block. “All right, we have a little time. Then we go back to planning.”

“I read that on planet Eronium that the females do something special for their male partners. May I show you?” Her tone was laced with innocence, but something told him it was an act.

The sheer thought of whatever she wanted to do to him made him thicken.

She ran her hand over his erection. “I will take this as a yes.”

“You have three minutes.” The more he protested, the harder he became.

“Start sculpting.” Her tongue traced the outline of his ear and she kissed down his neck.

“Amsen.” Rather than obey, he closed his eyes as she worked her way down his body with light kisses and caresses. By the time she opened his robe he was more than ready for her. With the speed in which she riled him up he could find relief and they would still remain on semblance of a schedule. “Now.”

Instead of mounting him, she worked her way down and took him into her mouth.

“Ah.” He bucked his hips. Though there was nothing compared to being inside her, her soft lips, the way her tongue swirled over him, and the bit of suction offered him something completely different and incredible. “Amsen.”

She bobbed her head up and down his length, allowing her mouth to mimic the actions she would normally make with her body.

He glanced down to watch her igniting his arousal further with the way her hair was splayed over him and how he could catch glimpses of his erection disappearing inside her mouth.

Her unexpected actions, the way she tended to him, the whole erotic act propelled him straight to his end. He needed to release. “Amsen, I’m there.”

As if she didn’t hear a word she continued, in fact she sped up, sucked him with even more vigor.

“Amsen.” He moved with her. There would be no way could he hold on much longer.

Still, she didn’t stop.

In an effort to hold back, he held his breath, but he was far too gone. His partner was spectacular, only she could make him forget everything. “Amsen!” At last his body gave in and he released. He rammed himself into her mouth and let go, squeezing the paste between his fingers and allowing the overwhelming pleasure to encompass him.

She took her time and finished him off, making sure to lick him clean before raising her head and smiling at him. “See, you made art.” Carefully, she took the paste out of his hands and set it on the side table. “Once this dries every time I look at it, I’ll know exactly what you were doing when this was created.”

Dared he say every time he saw it he would envision releasing in her mouth, having a climax that left him weak and slightly dizzy, and wanting his partner even more.

She picked up the time block and gave it a glance. “I’m sorry that took longer than three minutes, but we can continue planning now.”

Speechless, he nodded and reclined back among the cushions. Somehow, he would have to figure out how to combine both of their worlds.