Chapter 11

Sophie

Making out with his olules? That was the trigger?

It kind of made sense. He considered touching olules to be as intimate as she did a kiss. Combining them together to trigger the mate bond followed as logical. But she hadn't drawn it into her mouth because she intended to trigger him. She just wanted to suck on the wiggling olule, to feel its sting in her mouth, to feel it reaching for her throat as she imagined it was his cock.

And now he was looking at her like she hung the stars in the sky. Like he was imagining putting her on her knees and ploughing her into the floor. Like she was an angel descended from on high and he was a demon come to seduce her to the depths of hades.

"So, now what?" She asked, when he couldn't seem to decide between pulling back and grabbing her more. She was kind of cool with either.

"What?" He asked, staring at her mouth as it moved.

"What do we do now? Do we like… consummate or something?"

He blinked once before letting out a loud laugh. He stepped back, shaking his head. "Consummate? What kind of weird things are you saying, lov'alel?"

"It seemed like a reasonable question," she grumbled, pouting as she crossed her arms. "I don't know how this mating thing works."

"It works however we wish it to work. It's about you and me. There are traditions among my people, of course. And I know humans enjoy wearing rings to announce their mated status."

"Eh? You know that?"

"The whole universe knows that," he waved away her surprise. "But as for our mating? That occurs as slow or as fast as we desire it."

"What about the royal party?"

Just like that, his eyes sharpened. He was brought back to reality. "Of course, we're still going to that. I might not get another chance to get into the pod or the palace. But I do still need to take you home. Eventually. We'll get there, lov'alel. But you want adventure first, right?"

She brightened eagerly. "You bet I do!"

He nodded once. "Good. Then, you'll like this. We'll go shopping while we're there. You'll wear a traditional Holivair dress. They'll adore you because you're new and human. And while they're distracted, I'll sneak out and find any evidence or information I can."

"Yes!" Sophie beamed, excited. "I get to help?"

"Why wouldn't you help?"

She shrugged. "I guess I just kind of figured that you wouldn't want me involved."

"Nonsense, lov'alel." He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "You are my mate. Which makes you my partner. I will assist you with your videos. You will assist with mine. We will help each other."

She beamed excitedly. "I can't wait."

"Now, are we going to finish our questions for your viewers?"

"Oh!" She jumped, flushing as she remembered everything that had driven them back into her room to begin with. She had cut the Q&A recording short when he had admitted he didn't tell his family about her. But she still had more questions. "Yeah. Let's go do that."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the hall. Although the long tube-like structure wasn't big enough for them to walk abreast, she could still lead him.

"Aren't round tunnels a waste of space?" She asked, looking back over her shoulder.

Serval cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, like, if every room and hallway is round, doesn't that leave a lot of empty space between them? Or is that where the wires and engine or something are?"

"The engine?" He laughed.

She glared at him. "Hey, I don't know anything about spaceships. Don't mock me."

"It's water."

"What's water?"

"The space between the walls and rooms. It's filled with water."

Surprised, Sophie came to a halt and turned back to him. "Water? This is all… Your spaceship is filled with water?"

He nodded once.

"Why?"

"So that I can swim, of course."

She looked at the wall. The yellow light that seemed embedded within the opaque screen. Beyond it was water?

"My ship has Standard connections and controls, but the style is allowee in origin. My entire ship is round. The rooms and tunnels are kept dry, but it's all suspended in ocean water so that I can swim and maintain my health."

"Oh, wow," she mumbled, turning around and trying to see if she could tell that there was water beyond the walls. She just thought they liked round architecture, but it was a deliberate choice so he'd have space to swim in and around all the rooms.

"I'll take you swimming later," he promised.

"I can't really hold my breath as long as you can."

"That's alright. I keep breathers on board. Just in case I have guests and there's a leak into the dry parts of the ship. Or if it's all flooded and it exceeds my ability to stay under."

"So, does that mean everything here works underwater?"

"Of course. My ship is designed for deep space or deep sea. I am allowee, of both the land and the waves. My technology would naturally be suited for both.

"That is so cool," Sophie beamed. "We're adding that to the Q&A. I don't care that no one asked. And then you can show me how you access the water. My sweeties would absolutely love to see something cool like that."

He chuckled as she turned, leading him back towards the rec room where they had set up their cameras. She was going to have to edit out her storming off and that last question, but the rest of the interview was still good. As was what they recorded when they returned. Sliding right back into the questions like they hadn't just had a life changing interlude.

It didn't really hit her until they finished, and she was saying her sign out.

Serval had been triggered. She had her mate. She was a mated woman.

And her adventure was just beginning.