“Yes, but what are the trials—I mean, what do they consist of?” Rarev asked, leaning forward.
“There are only three,” the Mining Director said shortly. “The Trial of Truth, the Trial of Taste, and the Trial of Taking. They will tell us everything we need to know about you. We hold these trials every ten cycles, you know,” he continued. “And would you believe that some planets send couples who aren’t couples at all? Who aren’t even remotely sexually attracted to each other and don’t even care about each other’s wellbeing?”
“Do they really?” Em tried to sound shocked, but inside her heart was drumming and her pulse was racing. Oh God, they were getting in so deep here! She and Rarev weren’t really a couple and as for sexual attraction between them—well, she really couldn’t say about that.
Oh yes, you bloody well can, whispered a little voice in her head. You know damn well you find him attractive.
Yes, she admitted reluctantly, she did find the big Monstrum attractive—devastatingly so. And part of that attraction was the fact that he didn’t look quite human, the way the other Kindred did. His golden eyes and velvety fur…his thick mane which she secretly longed to bury her hands in, and most of all his warm, spicy, wild scent all called to her.
But did Rarev feel the same way for her? He certainly professed to, but Em still thought he might be teasing her—playing some kind of political/sexual game to get the upper hand in their professional relationship. After all, she was much too old for him and she wasn’t exactly as svelte as she’d been in her youth…
“Yes, it’s quite revolting how some couples lie to us just to secure mining rights.” The Mining Director’s words cut through her frantic thoughts. He made a face and the wrinkled his three-nostrilled nose. Then he smiled, revealing a toothy grin. “Now the two of you are most certainly attracted to each other—we can tell by your scent—can’t we, my love?” he asked his wife’s eyes and mouth on his shoulder. Immediately another three-nostrilled nose grew between the eyes and mouth and sniffed.
“Yes—they long for each other,” the purple bubble lips said.
Em almost said, “we do?” but somehow managed to keep the words between her teeth. She had no idea what the Rigellens were smelling, though she supposed she ought to be grateful for it, whatever it was. Maybe it was just Rarev’s wild, spicy scent confusing them—Em knew she certainly felt a bit light-headed when she inhaled it.
“If you can already tell there is a mutual attraction between me and my lovely mate, why must we undergo these trials at all?” Rarev rumbled, frowning. He put an arm around Em’s waist and drew her close to him. “After all, you said yourself the scent of our love is evident.”
Em tried her best not to stiffen at the way he was holding her. Instead, she forced herself to melt against the big Monstrum and put her arm around him as well—just as she had when she shared his personal shield in her back garden.
“Yes,” she said. “If you can tell how we, er, feel about each other, why put us through the trials?”
“Why because, my dear,” the Mining Director said. “We do not only use our noses to find the truth—it must also be presented to the other senses as well. You must show us how very much you love and adore each other—prove to me and my wife and the others in the panel of judges that your people are the most like ours—and thus, the best trading and commerce partners for the next ten cycles for the Rigellen people.”
“Show you, hmm?” Rarev remarked. Ducking his head, he nuzzled Em’s cheek, making her bite back a gasp at the velvety brush of his fur against her skin. “And how exactly do you want us to do that?”
“Why—how does one always show affection?” the Director sounded surprised by the question. “Did you not just see me and my lovely slime-wife loving each other?”
“Er…yes. Yes, we did.” Em’s heart was pounding and she didn’t dare to look at Rarev. What must he be thinking right now about what they might have to do together? She felt like writhing in her chair with shame.
Normally she wasn’t too down on herself, but she normally didn’t have the prospect of making love—or at least getting extremely intimate—with a much younger man. Surely the Monstrum Commander didn’t want to do with Em what the Mining Director and his wife had been doing when they walked in—did he?
Just say it, Em—he doesn’t want to fuck you. Why would he, considering the age difference? You might have been pretty enough in your day but that day is past. Now you’ve got wrinkles and stretch marks and your breasts are saggy and—