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She paused, unsure how to broach Altorian gender expectations without insulting him. Did the stern domination only take place in the bedroom or were females expected to be submissive in every area of life? She was almost afraid to ask. Surrendering control during sex was one thing. Bowing to the will of her mates in every area of life would be a much harder adjustment. She had serious doubts that she could ever accept such a passive role. Independence was too ingrained in her basic personality.
Choosing her words carefully, she asked, “Are your sisters allowed to participate in the family businesses or do they prefer a more domestic role?”
He flashed a charming smile then grew serious. “The operative word there is ‘prefer.’ Altorian females are encouraged to pursue whatever life path they find most fulfilling. Two of my sisters focus on running their households and rearing their children. My youngest is an investment banker and sits on the board of three of our corporations. It is likely she will eventually have children, but right now that is not her focus.”
Flora was pleased by his answer, but it surprised her. “Is sexual submission also a choice?”
“Of course.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy half-grin. “It just happens to be the choice of nearly every female on Altor.”
That was easy to believe. Submission ran counter to many human mores, but it felt natural to Flora. Her body responded to Noratu and Draven as if they had been lovers for years. She immediately understood what had been missing in her other sexual experiences. And thinking about it now was making her body ache.
She tromped down her building desire and refocused on the conversation. “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”
“I saw one female exclusively for several years, but neither of us considered the relationship serious. It was comfortable, casual, and ended by mutual agreement.”
Part of her was relieved by his honesty, yet she also found the lack of commitment troubling. “Why didn’t your feelings deepen for her?”
“She was not my mate.” He paused, waiting for the implication to sink in. “I knew Draven and I would eventually find you so there was a very good reason not to commit to anyone else.”
She dragged her gaze away from his handsome face. She could sense his sincerity and knew he meant every word. It was just so new and surreal. Human relationships didn’t come with this sort of certainty. She found it hard to believe.
“What were you like as a teen?” he prompted, likely feeling the sudden rise in her anxiety.
Her smile was tentative at first, but it spread as she thought of her own adolescence. “I dyed my hair green and refused to speak for several months. It drove my mother crazy.”
“I can picture you as a rebellious teen.” His smile was even brighter than hers. “Hostile glares and slamming doors, that side of your personality still flashes through when Draven makes you angry.”
“Draven doesn’t make me angry near as fast as Azar. I can’t believe my mother stayed with him long enough to give birth to me.”
Noratu’s smile vanished just as fast as it had formed. “I agree with you, but be careful what you say around Draven.”
The warning confused her. She hadn’t realized there was any connection between Azar and her mates, other than her. “Draven is friends with that manipulative bastard?”
“It’s a long story, but Azar is the closest thing to a father Draven has ever known.”
“Then I feel sorry for Draven. Azar is a world-class asshole.” When Noratu didn’t respond, she sighed. “Why is Draven’s opinion of Azar so different from ours? Does Azar have a softer, gentler side?”
“If he does, I’ve never seen it,” Noratu admitted. “Azar was one of Draven’s mentors. He counseled Draven through some really dark times. If you want the details, you’ll have to ask Draven. It’s not my story to tell.”
The stipulation was disappointing, but she accepted it with a nod. “Can you tell me about this war? My mother didn’t agree with it. In fact, keeping me out of it was the primary reason she left Altor.” Flora shook her head, fighting off a fresh wave of emotions. She couldn’t even imagine how different her life would have been if they had never fled to Earth. “Disagreeing with the war might have been the only true thing she ever said to me.”
“How much do you know about our star system?”
The main door to the cabin slid open and Draven walked in, looking powerful and commanding. His night-black gaze gravitated toward Flora. “Good. You are ready to depart. We will arrive in approximately twenty minutes.”
She acknowledged the information with a nod, then turned back to Noratu. “My grandmother tried to explain the conflict, but Azar only gave her ten minutes. She said there are four inhabited worlds and Altor is at war with Torrin or Torris. Something like that.”
“Torret,” Draven supplied as he moved closer to where they sat. He remained standing, but rested his hands on the tall back of one of the chairs. “Altor and Torret have always been rivals.”
“The competitiveness was friendly for the most part until both planets achieved the ability to travel through space,” Noratu continued the explanation. “For the first few years both societies were content to explore their side of the star system.”
“But exploration turned to colonization and then there was nothing friendly about the rivalry.” Draven’s posture remained casual, but the formality in his tone made it sound as if he were lecturing a class of students. “The Torretians raced us to every planet or inhabitable moon. They disputed every claim and sabotaged our efforts in countless ways.”
“The star system wasn’t big enough for all that ambition?” She shook her head. Apparently, humanoids were the same everywhere. “Are the planets overpopulated? Are the natural resources running out?” She paused to see if either of the males would offer a defense. When it became obvious that they couldn’t, she went on. “Why can’t people be content with what they have? Or, here’s a novel idea, why can’t we work toward making things better for those who have even less than we do?”
Noratu smiled at her, but Draven seemed annoyed. “You object to ambition, to expanding the reach of a society’s influence?”
“It depends. Were any of the planets or moons you colonized already inhabited?” Living in Alaska had taught her to value indigenous people. She tried to be respectful of other cultures, even those she did not understand.
