Chapter 5

Dabin's home is incredible. I can't stop wandering around and touching things, marveling at them. This place feels like a medieval cottage, but it has the strangest updates. There's running water, and I have Dabin show me to the washroom so I can use the facilities. There's plumbing. It's not modern, not by any means, but it beats the hell out of a hole in the floor or an outhouse or whatever else it could be.

I test the soap and the water, and I can't figure out how to get it hot, but there's running water. The soap has an off-putting scent, and I scrub my fingers furiously, trying not to inhale. Still, I get a lather, and then I look in the wood-framed mirror.

There are dark circles under my eyes. My hair sticks up in a million directions. A sigh tears out of me. I do not look cute. I splash the frigid water across my face, wishing I had fresh clothes. And a hairbrush, and makeup.

When I look back in the mirror, I'm blushing.

The reason I want makeup? I want to look good. For Dabin. I smack the palm of my hand against my forehead, shaking my head.

There is no way I should start something with him, but my goodness, there is something incredibly compelling about him. He's all muscle, raw power, and he moves with a ridiculous grace that I can't seem to stop watching. I want to run my fingers through his wavy brown hair, rough it up, and the scratch the scruff of his beard against my cheek.

Not to mention the way he looks at me.

It's a heady thing, to be the focus of all his attention. There's no denying he's thinking about fucking me, and every time I notice his stare, fucking seems to be all I can think about too.

I wrangle my hair into a fresher braid, trying to ignore the pulsing heat between my legs. Fornicating with an alien species definitely goes into some kind of ethical no-no land for a dimension-traveling scientist. My mouth twists to the side as I consider, rubbing my hands against the clean cloth hanging from a nearby hook.

There's no rulebook for dimension-traveling, as far as I know.

No, Danielle, I tell myself. Sex would be a bad idea. I purse my lips. Or a very, very good idea.

"Bread is in the oven," Dabin calls, and I shake myself mentally. God, even his voice is sexy, deep, and liquid with a slight rasp. Even his horns, which seemed so alien at first, are charming and different.

I want to touch them.

I blow out a breath and assert control over my rampaging hormones. You're not the boss of me, hormones! The bathroom door shuts behind me, and Dabin's leaning against the entrance to his kitchen, watching me. Heat climbs through me, and I swallow.

Okay, so maybe hormones are the boss of me, after all.

One muscular arm is stretched overhead, the muscles so clearly defined that he could take up anatomical modeling in his spare time. You know, if they had anatomical models here, anyway.

Even relaxed, the man exudes power and confidence, and if that isn't damn sexy, I don't know what is.

I inhale, trying to remind myself that sex is not part of this equation, and get a whiff of what he's baking.

"That smells amazing." My stomach growls. It's sweet and tart, and somehow herbal.

He gives me a pleased grin in return. "I hope you like it." He says it with such boyish charm that it makes my heart do a little flip. I might not be into linguistics, but I can spell trouble, and damn if I'm not in too deep already.

"I thought we could eat outside, under the stars, and I'll tell you whatever you want to know, my mate." He stands upright, handing me a sweater.

"Ah, okay," I agree, tugging it over my head. I'll deal with the mate issue later.

When in Rome, one wears the sweater. It swallows me, hanging down to my knees. It smells like him, and I inhale deeply. I really, really like the way he smells. He watches me expectantly, and I smile up at him. "Thanks."

"It does not fit." He shrugs. "I will make you another."

"You made this?" He talks like I'm going to be here a long, long time, and that alone acts as cold water on my ridiculous arousal.

"I did. But I would be happy to buy you something if that would make you smile, Danielle."

He doesn't give me time to respond, walking away. I stand slack-jawed, staring after him, trying to keep my equilibrium. I think I lost my equilibrium in New Mexico, unfortunately.

"Come through here," he calls.

I follow him into the kitchen, where he balances a huge wooden platter stacked with food, before pushing through a door to the outside.

I make a noise of surprise. There are glowing lanterns all around the outdoor living space, hanging from trees like enchanted ornaments, which, I guess, they are. A fire blazes in a stone pit surrounded by chairs. It's somehow completely familiar and foreign at once. Firepits must hold a certain appeal, no matter the dimension.

He sets the tray down on a gnarled stump of a table, and I sit on the other side of it. It's chilly now that night has fallen. The moons are a wicked reminder of just how far I am from home, and I stare at the three globes, glowing weirdly in the sky. There's something about the stars… I tilt my chin, trying to figure out what I'm seeing.

Dabin clears his throat, looking at the board meaningfully.

"What?"

"I will not eat until you do," he says gently.

"Oh." I shrug, taking in the meal in front of me. My stomach growls again. "It looks so good," I enthuse. It does too. It's the fanciest charcuterie I've ever seen. Dried white meat, fish, I suppose, nestles next to nuts and dried fruit. There's sliced sausages, wedges of cheese, squares of what I assume are this world's version of crackers all artfully arranged. A pot of honey sits next to a round, soft cheese, and then there's a jar of pickled something-or-other, another jar full of what looks like sweet preserves. There are even a few fresh flowers on the board, like Dabin wanted to make it even prettier.

It's nicer than anything a date has ever done for me. Not that this is a date.

"Wow, thank you," I breathe. I help myself to the soft cheese first, scraping it onto one of the little crackers and drizzling honey over it.

He grunts, and I glance up at him as I put it in my mouth. Flavor explodes across my tongue, the sweet of honey with the slightly sour taste of the cheese, the bitter rye flavor of the cracker. I make a low moan, and Dabin shifts in the chair next to me.

"Good?" he asks, his voice strained.

"Delicious."

"Try the fish," he commands, and I eagerly do as he says. It's salty, spicy, and has an umami flavor I'll be trying to find again for the rest of my life, I just know it.

"Well?"

"It's incredible," I say, finally swallowing. He hands me the flagon, and I sip at the spicy red wine. It's strong, and I sputter, eyeing it.

"Good. I am glad I pleased my mate."

I breathe out noisily at the reminder that I mean something to him, that word ringing in my ears. Stars glitter in the heavens above, the moons heavy in the night sky.

"You said you would answer my questions."

"I will." Dabin eats a few slices of meat, then makes me another cheese and honey cracker. "Eat, my mate."

"Let's start with why you keep calling me your mate." It comes out a little more aggressively than I mean it to. I bite my lower lip, irritated with myself.

He doesn't seem put off at all, instead, he gives me that impish grin, pushing a lock of wavy brown hair off his face. "Because that is what you are."

"You're gonna have to give me more to go on than that."

The fire crackles and pops in front of us, drawing my attention. It's brilliant crimson and orange flames are mesmerizing, and I inhale the pungent scent of woodsmoke, trying to relax. There's so much to look at here, from the sparkling lanterns and the breathtakingly huge moons to the undeniably gorgeous man sitting next to me. It's sensory overload, but the fire… it's pretty. It reminds me of home, of Earth. A place I may never see again. I stretch a hand out, letting the warmth curl over my fingers, my throat closing up.

"You are one of the few Starbound women remaining in this realm," Dabin finally answers, and his voice snaps me out of my reverie.

My head swivels to him. The firelight dances over his features, making him even more otherworldly. I sip at the wine he gave me, waiting for him to continue. It burns as it goes down, strong and spicy and full bodied, and like everything else, delicious.

"What do you mean, Starbound? Is it the name of the people here?" I gesture broadly. "What is here, anyway?"

"This world is called Vraya." He inclines his head. "As for the Starbound, we are one of the peoples of this world." He settles back into his chair, frowning slightly.

"Vraya." I test the word out, the consonants and pronunciation strange for all that I somehow speak the language here.

"The Starbound women, you all left when the enemy arrived, centuries ago." He makes me another cracker, and I eat it obediently. Like I'm gonna say no to this charcuterie.

"The enemy?" I manage around my mouthful.

He nods. "The enemy is why we must watch the gates. They arrived, and everything began to go wrong. The Starbound women left to protect themselves, to protect us."

"That doesn't sound good." A shiver goes up my spine, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. I sip the wine.

"I have been alone for many, many years." He says, pinning me with a glance so full of lust that I take another sip to stop myself from squirming underneath it. Ugh. I need my body to get on the same page as my brain. Being attracted to someone is no reason to jump into bed with them. Or maybe it is.

"Why did they have to leave to protect themselves?" I make myself ask.

"Their powers were not enough. Not without mates. None that left had mates, save one."

"Powers?" I stare at him, the flagon forgotten. "You mean magic?"

He nods, smiling slightly as if the question is amusing. "Yes, powers. Magic. There is a reason the enemy wanted the women, you see. The power that runs through our veins, the starlight, is something that he wanted to corrupt."

"I have power?"

"You will."

I stare at my hands as though they'll do something interesting. They don't, obviously, and I blow out a breath. "Let's say I believe this cock and bull story you're telling me."

"There's no cock or bull in this story." He's so earnest.

I guess that expression didn't translate, and a real laugh spills out. He smiles too, seemingly glad I'm amused. It's sweet, and I like how patient he is with me, how he is taking care of me. I like it too much. I take another quick drink of the wine, while he watches.

"It means bullshit. Not the truth." I hold up a hand, stopping him from speaking. "If I do have powers, if I am ‘Starbound' and that's how I got here, then when do I get my powers?"

"When we mate." He shrugs a shoulder, handing me more food.

I stare at him, my mouth round with disbelief. "You've got to be fucking kidding me. You expect me to believe this? How fucking convenient." I laugh some more, but it's mirthless. Does he think I'm some kind of idiot? Irritated, I shake my head as I take a long swig of the wine. The uneasy knot I've had in my chest since I woke here loosens with every sip, and I can't say I'm mad about the sweet buzz it's giving me.

"There's no bull in this story, only cock."

My head turns to him, and his wide grin tells me he's joking.

"Don't make it weirder. Alright, so according to you, we have sex, and I get powers. That has got to be the most ridiculous pick-up line I've ever heard in my entire life, and I have heard some really shitty ones."

"It wouldn't be fucking, my Danielle." His brown and gold gaze glitters in the firelight. "I would make love to you. I would lick between your legs until you cry out my name, wet for me and supple beneath me, and then I would plunge into you, making you mine."

I stare. Heat spreads through me. Dabin talks dirty, and I like it. Something must be seriously wrong with me, because, despite the fact that I can't tell if he's lying to me about this magic stuff, despite the fact he's telling me the most ridiculous things I've ever heard, I am incredibly turned on.

I scrub a hand down my face, side-eyeing the wine.

"It would be good for you." He says it so seriously, the sly smile replaced by something that rings true. "I would be a very good mate."

I need to nip this in the bud.

"Dabin, that's ah, that's a very generous offer, but I'm not your mate. I'm not going to do that. Why me, anyway? Because I'm the only woman in this place?" I think back to the cave. There were women, there, weren't there? But... it doesn't sound like there are many women here at all. No wonder the guy's practically begging to do it. It's not because I'm his mate, it's because I'm the only one with the parts he wants. I take another long drink, and it burns less this time. I follow it up with another cracker. Last thing I need to do is get wasted around this horny, horned dude who wants to eat me out.

"You are my mate," he repeats.

"Why? Why me?" I look to the constellations, as though they hold the answers.

He takes my hand. His touch feels electric, charged. Tingles run up my arm, through my torso.

"You feel it too, Danielle. It is fated. I knew it as soon as I saw you. The Starbound women who left, none of them were fated to any of the Starbound men. That's why they could leave. Save for one, who fled the enemy, who was mated to him. I can scent it on you, it is," he searches my face, and I swallow. "It is the most intoxicating thing I have ever smelled in my life. You are mine. Your magic called to me as soon as you came through the gate. And I know, if I looked on your beautiful skin, if you let me, I would find my mark upon you."

"What the fuck?" My face scrunches up. "Your mark?"

He nods vigorously. My head is spinning, whether from the wine or information overload, I don't know.

"Listen, my dude?—"

"Mate. Not dude," he says patiently.

I smack my hand against my face. "You can't just tell me I have your mark. That is weird as hell. What would it even be? Make it make sense."

"Look," he says, pointing to the night sky. I follow the direction of his finger. What else am I supposed to do? "The constellations are the source of our power. Mine is there. The constellation Capricornus. I am the last of my house, House Capricornus, named after the bright one, right there. It is tradition to name the children of the stars, the Starbound, after their family namesake. Your mark, the mark of the mated, will be on your skin."

I stare at him, open-mouthed, and he pops another cracker in it. I chew the cracker, and I chew over what he said.

"We have Capricorn on my planet too."

"Of course you do, all realms with these stars are tied to ours." He takes the wine from me, swigging it. A pink tongue darts out, licking against the spout, and I wonder if he tastes me on it. Rationally, my modern sensibilities and scientific background mean I think this is all a bunch of nonsense. I mean, Capricorn? Astrology? I frown. Or just astronomy?

But it's a damn good story, and now I'm half itching to see if it's true. If I wear some kind of mark that I've never noticed before. It seems a pretty easy way to call him on his bluff. Either I have the mark, or I don't.

The idea of having some kind of magical powers, is tantalizing. Even if I do have to bang Dabin to get them, who wouldn't want magic? Although, instinct tells me that banging Dabin would not in any way, shape, or form, be a hardship, that he would probably deliver on his incredibly dirty promise, but truly, I don't need to complicate this anymore than I already have.

"Where would it be?" The question pops out of me.

The corners of his mouth kick up, and he stands. "I would very much like to help you look for it."

I frown. "No funny business."

"There's nothing funny about what I have planned for you."

Good grief. My stomach clenches, heat filling me with the devouring look he gives me now. "That means you're not going to try to like, have sex with me."

"I only want what you want." It's a simple thing to say, and all the more sincere for it.

Finally, I nod, my damn curiosity getting the better of me yet again.

"Alright. Fine. Let's see what we can see."

Apparently, I can spell trouble, but I sure as hell can't seem to stay out of it.