“Do all of the warriors seeking brides have that attitude?”
The odd question brought a frown. “I don’t understand.”
“Does your kind think women need to be coddled and cared for?”
His expression cleared. “Yes. It is a warrior’s duty to tend to his mate. Hence why those who bond are given assignments that don’t require them being gone for extended periods of time.”
“Hmm.” Her mien turned contemplative. “That might be a selling point for those worried their alien husbands would be abandoning them on another world without anyone to talk to or hang with.”
“There are other human females to provide companionship,” Beta 690 interjected. “Quite a few of them, actually, who provide a support system to the newcomers.”
“Good to know there’s expat-type services.” The woman rubbed a finger over her lower lip. “I’m going to need to create a pros-and-cons list that I can work with if you’re serious about doing this.”
“Very serious,” Cade stated with a nod.
“Fetch her a tablet that she might begin taking notes,” Jaspar ordered, rather than leave Cade alone with Colette, but the woman shook her head.
“I’d rather do the question-asking in my office where I can input the answers right into my computer.”
“In that case, I’ll have Beta beam us?—”
“Slow down. It’s been a long day, not to mention a shocking one. What I want before we do anything is to go home and sleep. We can meet and discuss how to proceed in the morning.”
“If that is your preference.” Jaspar had no issue with her request, but Cade balked.
“We have stimulants that negate the need for rest, meaning we could start right away.”
She looked at him and firmly said, “No.” She then glanced at Jaspar. “If you wouldn’t mind taking me back to my office.”
“Did you not want to return to your domicile?” he clarified.
“Can you teleport me to my house?”
“Easily. I have your coordinates,” Beta replied, a nosy computer who listened to everything.
“I shall accompany you to ensure safe passage,” Jaspar offered before Cade could.
“Thank you...” She paused. “What was your name again?”
“Jaspar’uilla Var Jannu, but you may call me Jaspar.”
“Thank you, Jaspar.” She neared him and put her hand on his arm, which led him to wonder why until she said, “What are you waiting for? Am I not touching you enough?”
“Why do you need to touch me?” he blurted out.
Cade cleared his throat. “I, ah, might have stated it was necessary.”
An admission that had Jaspar glaring at his companion, and while Jaspar said nothing, his expression told Cade they’d be having words about his lie to the human.
“Beta, beam us to the target’s domicile,” Jaspar commanded.
The quickness of the transport did nothing to him physiologically, but the female groaned and her fingers gripped him tight.
“That was just as unnerving a second time,” she admitted with twisted lips.
“You will get used to it,” Jaspar promised as he took in the surroundings. They stood inside a large chamber, the ceiling quite high overhead and crisscrossed with white beams. The longest wall, which ran a good twenty or more paces, appeared to be made entirely of glass and overlooked the oversized—and dirty—city. Earthlings did a poor job when it came to reducing environmental pollution, but as their cultures began to overlap—which would happen as the rate of intermarriage and alliance increased—the Xamians would provide them with the technology that would allow them to be better stewards of their world.
Colette moved away from Jaspar, heading for a rectangular unit of gray metal, which opened to display food items inside. His studies indicated this was known as a refrigerator, a cold-storage unit for perishables, necessary because humans still made most of their ingestible meals using actual ingredients. Jaspar couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten something that didn’t come from a replicator.
