One More

Author notes at the end of the chapter!

Chapter 7

Val'jek entered his quarters and was surprised to see Raz'ha and Mah'sic in the sitting area with Amelia. His offspring had a tiny black mammal in his lap, sensor attached to it's side and portable reader in his palm.

Raz'ha had his own black mammal fumbling in his lap gnawing on one of Amelia's hair strings.

He moved closer to see his mate past the warrior. She was reclining on her back and instead of a black mammal, a Yaut Hound pup was curled up on her chest. Val'jek felt a wave of alarm course through his veins before determining the animal was not developed enough to cause her real harm.

Mah'sic clicked a distracted greeting. Raz'ha promptly dropped the hair string and Amelia locked eyes with him. Her hand shielded the Yaut Hound from his gaze. She knew he was not pleased.

"What is this?" Val'jek inquired in English for Amelia's benefit.

"Raz'ha brought them." Mah'sic's response was immediate and edgy. His youngest offspring knew better than to bring deadly creatures near his mate.

"For me," Amelia added quickly. The Yaut Hound stretched and yawned on her chest before slumping and returning to sleep. She cooed at the hound, rubbing its back.

"The mammals are for Amelia. The Yaut Hound was to be put down," the warrior spoke up finally.

"Yet Amelia holds it." He clicked in frustration and Mah'sic translated for her. This was not what he had in mind when suggesting the warrior bring gifts. His mate was already attached and Val'jek was going to bear the brunt of her dissatisfaction when he took the potentially vicious animal away.

"We made a trade agreement actually. One painting for one lame Yaut Hound pup." The set of her jaw told him she was ready for a long fight.

"She made Ooman water with her eyes and the pup has not been aggressive." The warrior shrugged though his claws fumbled with his guilt.

Val'jek clicked his displeasure. Oomans were emotional and giving in every time his mate leaked water from her eyes was a good way to shorten her life span.

"We named them." She was insisting rather than sharing the news.

"The Yaut Hound is dangerous. You cannot keep him." Val'jek grunted and said the first thing that came to mind. It was a dumb thing to say when he didn't have the right to take her property. He needed to make her see reason or the situation would get out of hand quickly.

"He is not aggressive, and we plan to train him to be a guard dog." She elbowed the warrior beside her.

"Tell him, Raz'ha."

The warrior nodded, though reluctant. "I prodded him and supervise as she handles the beast."

"He has no teeth yet. He will get bigger and his play will be deadly for an Ooman." Val'jek towered over Amelia. Glaring, she held the Yaut Hound away from him. The gesture was protective but futile if he chose to take her pet.

"I will let him go at the first sign of aggression. I swear." Her glare disappeared and she bit her lip, looking up at him. The gesture was still strange to him. Yautja did not try to cannibalize their own bodies when they worried.

"The first sign of aggression may be your death," Val'jek warned.

Amelia lifted her chin. "Give him a chance. He is good with the puppies. I have named him Hult'ah. Raz'ha says it means sentry." She was babbling and that was not a good sign for Val'jek. He was starting to believe there was a direct correlation between irrational thought and stubbornness in Oomans.

He clicked his mandibles, silently cursing Raz'ha for this. The situation was asking for trouble no matter what he decided. His mate was technically his property and it would be easy to make his final decision despite her wishes. There was no recourse for her to protect the hound, but Val'jek had never crossed that line before.

He had agreed that Amelia was his equal during their mating ceremony. To disregard that promise was the ultimate dishonor in their relationship. The hound was hers, gifted or traded by Raz'ha, and Val'jek had no right to overrule her decision.

He hissed his frustration.

"They are aggressive even as pups. I will show you." He held out his hand out, expecting her to comply.

"If he doesn't show aggression, will you let me keep him?" She held the hound away from him.

Val'jek paused, considering her words. She was asking permission when in truth she didn't need to. He wasn't going to mention that fact. There was little chance the pup was truly docile and this was a solution to satisfy all parties. "If he shows any sign of aggression, no matter how small, you will not protest when I get rid of him."

"You won't hurt him. You will find him a home and not kill him." She glared at Raz'ha who shrugged.

"I agree to your terms." If formalities got her away from the hound, and ensured he wasn't the "jerk," then Val'jek was all for it. He still wasn't quite sure what a jerk was but his mate only said it when she thought he was doing something unethical.

Mah'sic put on his mask now that an experiment was to take place. His offspring monitoring the pup would give him scientific evidence to back his decision. She would have to let the pup go.

Amelia brought the Yaut Hound to her face. She kissed his tiny head then carefully set the Yaut Hound in Val'jek's palm.

The sleepy Yaut Hound yawned and lazed in his hand. Val'jek nudged it, jabbing it with the pad of his finger to wake him up. The beast presented his belly and stretched out. He nearly rolled himself out of his hand. That woke the Yaut Hound as he righted himself, clinging to him.

Amelia laughed, rising up to see better. She reached to pet the hound but he pulled the animal out of her reach.

He gave the hound several rough nudges. The pup tensed and made himself smaller by curling up. The animal was defective all right. Hounds were bred and trained from birth to be fearsome fighters.

"He is a weakling and fond of Amelia already." The warrior shrugged again.

The hound was still young enough to be impressionable. It was possible to teach a Yaut Hound to be her guard pet. Hounds were domesticated beasts but the risk worried him. An Ooman was no match for such a beast.

Val'jek set the cowering beast on the table, lest the frightened creature urinate in his hand. The hound appeared confused and cowed. The pup's long tail curled by a defective leg.

He knelt down, moving his face closer and the Yaut Hound crouched low. He hissed but the hound remained still. Splaying his mandibles wide, Val'jek gave an aggressive roar. He felt Amelia flinch beside him. The Yaut Hound bolted with fear, running directly to Amelia. Jumping off the table, the hound landed in Amelia's open hands.

Surprised, Val'jek plucked the animal from her grasp. She protested but he glared and she let the animal go.

Setting the animal on the table again, he prodded some more, growling. The animal cowered and moved away. Val'jek was at every turn, poking him. Not one sign of aggression could be pulled from him.

"It is a good thing the Yaut Hound almost ate him. He makes a terrible hunter." Raz'ha trilled with amusement.

"Is that what happened to his leg?" Val'jek asked. Perhaps the experience traumatized the animal since he was so young. The hound may have realized he was not invincible and now cowers. It was all speculation, but he had briefly done research on similar experiences in prey animals.

"A male got into the pup's pen. Hult'ah wasn't fast enough," Raz'ha said while Mah'sic quietly translated the conversation.

"Why would a male do that?" Amelia watched him prod the Yaut Hound again. She was uncomfortable, tensing and chewing her lip.

"So the female will go into heat again with her pups dead," Raz'ha said.

"How awful." She stopped her self cannibalization.

"They are aggressive even while mating." He pulled the hound across the table by his tail. The hound tried to grip the table with nub claws to no avail. The hound squealed and called to Amelia with high pitched whines.

"So are Yautja. You don't hurt me," Amelia countered, putting her hands on the table. She didn't reach out for the hound but he knew she wanted to.

"Bring me food for the Yaut Hound." Val'jek ignored her point. It was not the same. A Yautja's brain was much different from a Yaut Hound's. While he had aggressive instincts he had self control, discipline and more importantly honor. He knew right from wrong and a hound did not.

Mah'sic quickly brought a bowl of white milk. This test was near impossible for a Yaut Hound to pass and Val'jek was confident the beast's time was up.

He nodded to Amelia. "Set it out for him."

The hound wasn't going to accept an offering from Val'jek after he'd threatened the animal.

Amelia pet the Yaut Hound, who latched onto her hand and tried to crawl up her arm.

"He's fine," she said sharply when he reached for the hound. The hound could not harm her so he settled back to watch.

She gently tugged the Yaut Hound loose and set him on the table to eat. The Yaut Hound hesitated and Amelia dipped a finger in the milk.

"Don't," Val'jek and Raz'ha both warned but she smeared milk on the Yaut Hound's mouth anyway.
The animal licked her finger and she tapped the milk. The Yaut Hound lapped at the milk hungrily, deeming it safe.

"Good boy," Amelia cooed.

Val'jek watched him eat, suddenly worried the Yaut Hound might pass his tests. Any other hound would have bitten her finger off, or tried to with his stubby baby teeth.

He let the animal get comfortable before putting his claw in the milk. The animal paused, tongue lolling out of his mouth with uncertainty for a moment. The Yaut Hound crouched lower, tensing. Val'jek splashed the milk and the hound flinched away.

He tried to flick the hound but he skittered away, heading for Amelia again. Val'jek caught him and set the squealing animal back by the milk. The Yaut Hound tried to hide behind the bowl with his path to Amelia blocked.

"Get him to drink again," Val'jek ordered gruffly. The hound was going to pass the tests and he couldn't take back his deal with his mate. Pauk.

"You're going to give him a complex or heart attack," Amelia protested.

"His heart rate is elevated but not at risk for failure or malfunction," Mah'sic said, monitoring the experiment closely. "He is afraid but has no bodily signs of aggression yet."

Amelia picked up the Yaut Hound and she held him to her chest. She took the bowl next, setting it beside her. She pet the hound for a full minute, murmuring nonsense at him before setting him in her lap. She inched the bowl closer. It took more coaxing to get him to drink but the hound did.

"Pet him," Val'jek said. The animal hadn't the teeth to harm her otherwise he'd forbid such a risky test.

Amelia cooed and pet the Yaut Hound down his back. The hound didn't think twice, merely lapped at his milk.

The test result gave him pause. It was possible the animal had somehow managed to bond with Amelia already. That improved the odds of never being harmed, but Val'jek didn't think he wanted to risk it any chance of an accident. Hounds played too rough for his mate to come away unscathed.

"Put the bowl on the table, away from him," Val'jek said.

Amelia tugged the Yaut Hound away and did as Val'jek instructed. The hound whined at her. Amelia pet him. "You have to wait a minute," she chided. More whining followed.

His mate followed half a dozen more instructions and then he repeated them. He frightened the pup but could not pulling a single aggressive gesture out of him.

The pup simply wasn't aggressive, not even when Val'jek prodded his lame leg. The Yaut Hound squealed in pain and Amelia cooed, soothing the animal.

He grunted in defeat to his mate.

"If he ever shows any sign of aggression, one look or hiss, I will add his skull to my collection. Decide now if you wish to keep him or give him away," Val'jek hoped the threat of death forced her to give the pet away now. It would spare him a lot of worry.

"Raz'ha says that he will make a good guard dog. Does that count?" Amelia asked, though she didn't look indecisive.

"Protection is not the same." Val'jek had no expectation of anyone attacking Amelia. Should something happen, a guard Yaut Hound would be welcome. He was struck with the urge to test his surrogate mother theory.

"I would like to keep him," Amelia said.

Val'jek hissed a warning, and the hound tensed in her lap. Encouraged, he spread his mandibles and roared, making himself appear large and menacing. Straddling his mate, he jerked her shoulders roughly.

Amelia squeaked, her green eyes widening with surprise.

Raz'ha was reaching for him with a growl, but Val'jek was focused on the Yaut Hound. The pup's mandibles were spread wide and he gave a raspy attempt at a roar. The hound stopped short of lunging at him but reared up on his hind legs. It was quite a display since standing on the injury must have pained the hound.

He released his mate, who stared as if he lost his sanity. Shrugging Raz'ha's tight grip off his arm, he ignored the tense warrior. He focused on the riled pup in Amelia's lap.

Val'jek grabbed the hound and it hissed at him. Pressing his thumb down the hound's underside, he prevented the angry pup from trying to gnaw or claw at him with nubs.

"Don't hurt him. It doesn't count," Amelia said quickly.

"That was full scale aggression." Mah'sic trilled his amusement, muffled by his mask. "In Hult'ah and Raz'ha."

The warrior expressed his irritation with rapid clicks and puffing out his chest.

"They defend my mate when she is scared." Val'jek set the hissing Yaut Hound back in her lap now that the animal understood he could not hope to win against a Yautja.

"I was startled, not scared," Amelia grouched. She coddled the animal blocking the hound's view of anyone else. The hound settled.

"It is the same, biologically." Val'jek shrugged and Mah'sic chirped his agreement.

"So I can keep him, even though he showed aggression?" Amelia asked, petting the Yaut Hound. Her brow knit together with confusion.

He nodded, moving back.

"Won't he try to attack you again, later?" She sounded worried and tried to cannibalize her fleshy mouth again.

Val'jek considered playing on her fear, but discarded the idea. The Yaut Hound had proven himself protective and otherwise docile. He speculated that Amelia was a surrogate mother to the animal, but he required more time to test the theory in full.

"He will know Yautja are dominant males and I will bond with him once he has settled." Val'jek shrugged.

"You will be careful with him, regardless of these tests. Do not play rough with him, any of you." He spoke to both males.

All three nodded.

"You will not let him nip you, even as a pup. No biting, gnawing or mouthing. You will teach him not to use his mouth on you or I will remove his teeth." Val'jek already worried over relenting on the matter. "If he does these things when he is grown he will maim or kill you. Do you understand?" He was tempted to remove the natural weapons while she slept.

He gave the males a hard glare. They had encouraged this by allowing her contact with the beast. "You will tell me if there are any issues, at once, no matter how small. A Yaut Hound can kill her." Val'jek glared at Raz'ha. "No matter how much water leaks from her eyes."

The Yautja males trilled their agreement.

"Thank you." She leaned over and kissed his shoulder. It eased his irritation but not his concern.

"Show me your gifts, Amelia," Val'jek said. There was nothing to do now but watch and ensure proper hound training.

His mate perked up. "Hult'ah does well with them. We named the male Odin and the female Freya after Norse gods. Well I guess Norse deities were really you guys, but human myths of you guys."

Val'jek listened as Amelia chattered on about her new animals. He nodded appropriately as he made a mental check list to contain the mammals. He needed to examine the hound's leg, but he had little time while preparing for his mission. He preferred to spend his spare time with his mate and not in the lab with a mutt.

Mah'sic was in no position to take on the project either. His offspring was due for his Chiva and had barely trained recently.

Amelia handed him a sleeping puppy. "Be gentle. She's fragile."

Val'jek warmed, all other worries forgotten for a moment. She was protective of her mammals. His mate needed the bond as her friendships were limited to three males who were busy. Knowing Oomans were social creatures, he often worried over her lack of companionship. He handled her pet with care, grateful to have it.

"Where did you come by them?" He traded for Ooman wares to please Amelia. It was well known throughout the bazaar and yet Val'jek hadn't heard of these creatures.

"The small bazaar, in the hall. The vendor with exotic pets had them." The warrior's chest puffed up with pride.

It tended to be hit or miss at the bazaar for Val'jek. The ornament on Amelia's wrist was the final result of a miss. He had bartered a modified mask for a trinket from Earth but upon presenting it to Amelia, he realized he had been duped.

"It's a soda can." His mate had laughed, fumbling with the shiny trinket.

"What is that?" he asked, perplexed at the time. He understood only that she was amused and not happy. The subtle difference meant a great deal to Val'jek.

"It is a container for storing a beverage. I will use it as," she struggled, "decoration. It will remind me of home." She was trying to make him feel better. He recognized the false smile and confused look in her eyes. He also knew Oomans did not prize beverage containers any more than he did.

Grunting, Val'jek had taken the soda can from her. He was shamed for bringing her trash. "I will return, soon."

"You don't have to. It's a fine gift, really." Amelia had been stifling her laughter when she said it.

He returned to the bazaar and smashed the soda can in the vendor's face. The pathetic Ooman trash wilted without causing any harm. The vendor had growled and challenged Val'jek for the insult.

The lame vendor didn't stand a chance. Val'jek walked away with his honor, his mask and one of the vendor's prized dreadlocks ornaments. Amelia accepted the ornament with wide eyes and no laughter. Finding it more valuable than trash, she wore it on her wrist most days. He was pleased.

The warrior had exceeded Val'jek's standards with the organic presents from her home world. Amelia had clearly softened toward Raz'ha, enlisting the warrior's aid against him. With progress being made, it was time to tell her that he was leaving soon.

Val'jek held out his hand and Amelia understood his request. She took his hand and curled up in his lap, placing the puppy with Hult'ah.

He purred quietly for her in low soothing tones while rubbing her shoulders.

"What is it?" she murmured, giving him Ooman kisses around his armor as Raz'ha and Mah'sic watched. She always had a good sense when something bothered him. She called it female intuition.

"I leave in two weeks." He watched for a reaction.

"So soon?" she asked, her chin tilting down so he couldn't see her face.

"The sooner I leave the sooner I will return." He widened the circle, rubbing her back and shoulders. She was tense.

"How long do you expect to take?" She coddled her female pet closer.

Val'jek had to calculate the time into a unit of measurement she understood. "Four months, perhaps longer," he said. It was possible to return in three, if everything went as planned, but nothing ever did.

"I was not expecting something so long. Will you be able to send messages?" Amelia gathered her Yaut Hound closer as well. He got the sense that she used the pets to fortify herself. He understood her worry. She had never been left alone on a clan ship longer than a week.

Mah'sic and Raz'ha both shifted in discomfort at the private conversation held before them.

"Some. The dying star will make it difficult. There will be periods without communications to the ship." And anywhere else. If Val'jek and his warriors missed the appointed time for pickup, the ship was going to leave them.

"But you will send messages otherwise?" she prodded.

"Yes." Val'jek nodded.

"I can reserve comm time for you," Raz'ha added and Mah'sic translated.

Amelia nodded, playing with the Yaut Hound's stubby horns. Those nubs would grow to be as long as her arms one day.

"Time will pass quickly, you'll see." Val'jek thumbed her chin.

Amelia shook her head.

"You will be on a new ship with new places to explore." Val'jek continued when she looked sullen. "You will have your pets to care for. You must train them to be well behaved. Mah'sic will help you."

"From this ship?" Amelia asked.

"Mah'sic will go on the Saracen's ship and finish his Chiva training." He rubbed the soft skin with his thumb. "The arrangements are completed."

"I wish to test your hypothesis. It is a long held belief that nurture wins over nature, but I wish to see if Hult'ah will make a guard hound while his brothers are trained to kill you." Mah'sic chirped happily.

He had similar thoughts but wanted to groan at his offspring's words. The unblood knew more than even Val'jek about Ooman anatomy and language but he lagged behind on etiquette and customs. Most words expressed to Amelia were clumsy or offensive.

His mate was forgiving and gracious, taking the unintended barbs in stride. Once in a while, however, Amelia's face grew red and her vital signs climbed. She would give Mah'sic a murderous look then disappear in her private room for hours. Val'jek assumed she was working off her aggravation but knew better than to highlight the incidents by asking.

"Hult'ah will be a fine companion." Amelia made an Ooman version of a grunt, something she picked up recently. "Will there be problems as a human on the Saracen's ship?"

There had been minimal problems with his Ooman mate on the Tauren ship because Val'jek ensured her safety with a few well displayed fights. Amelia took the challenges badly and feared entering the main halls to eat a meal. He dragged her for many days to ensure his clan understood she was there to stay. Anyone who said a word in her direction got a broken mandible or two for the trouble.

"I do not expect so. You are listed as my property in care of Raz'ha." He made provisions that she belonged to the warrior if Val'jek did not return. That information was kept private.

"Does that mean much on another clan's ship?" Amelia flushed in an instant, uncomfortable with her social blunder. "I mean that I don't understand clan relations, no offense intended."

He smoothed down her soft hair, reassuring that he took no offense.

"Val'jek is honored and feared. The Elders and High Priestess will respect Val'jek's wishes." Raz'ha was watching Amelia was rapt interest as he spoke.

Taurens and Saracens alike would expect to see spines ripped out if his wishes were not respected. Those long ago challenges followed him to this day as both a blessing and a curse. He had been a young blood at the time and given extreme cause to rip out spines. In truth, he had hoped word would spread and he'd be saved from partaking in many more challenges.

The fearsome reputation earned him more fights than it deterred. Being a competitive race, every blooded warrior wanted to test their skill against Val'jek, much to his dismay. The challenges had waned in recent centuries but the whispers and speculation had only increased.

"The regulations are met and formalities nearly finished. Raz'ha will protect you from challenges." Val'jek shrugged.

He was never sure Amelia grasped the significance of Yautja regulations. She was documented as his pet, voiding anyone else's claim or dispute with her. All interactions, friendly, aggressive or bureaucratic must be done through Val'jek. Ignoring such a rule gave him grounds to rip out spines in a challenge. It was the best protection she could ask for.

"I can bring my pets, right?" She was asking Raz'ha, who nodded.

Val'jek clicked to his offspring who nodded his understanding. Mah'sic handed Amelia a sleeping puppy, keeping the sensor for himself.

"Good night, Amelia." His youngest bowed his head. He had taken to the ritual soon after her arrival.

"Night, Mah'sic." She bowed her head too.

"Where are you keeping your pets tonight?" Val'jek asked, wishing to retire.

"There is a box in my studio. Hold them, please." Amelia placed the beasts in his lap without waiting for an answer. Val'jek watched as she flit around the room. She retrieved an empty storage unit and stuffed a pillow in the bottom. With care, she placed her pets into the makeshift bed and carried it to the sleeping chamber.

Val'jek trilled his amusement, following her with Raz'ha. Of course she would decide to sleep near her pets. Oomans were silly.

Amelia settled into the bed, clothed, with the storage unit beside her.

"They will not be sharing our bed. It will be crowded," Val'jek said.

Amelia looked over her shoulder at him and made a show of rolling her eyes. That gesture was common in Yautja women as well. It seemed some things were universal.

"You brought your friend. I can bring mine," she said.

#

Raz'ha stifled his laughter at her barb. He undressed, placing his armor in the proper storage units. Val'jek did the same beside him. Amelia was looking stubborn, her chin out like when she refused his gifts.

He had mixed feelings about his presents. The Ooman pups worked wonders on her temperament, but she spent the day laughing and cuddling her pets instead of Raz'ha. She did include Raz'ha in silly games with her pets as a consolation. Amelia was accepting him.

Her interest in mating was not impacted however. She smelled good, even gave off the scent of arousal a time or two, but she shied away from his advances. Raz'ha resigned himself to not mating this sleep cycle.

She had called it prostitution. He was offended by the implication that he paid her for intercourse. He was trying, desperately, to win her favor. It was not the same. Gifts were a sign of his affection and ability to hunt. It proved he was capable and therefor a good genetic candidate for healthy pups.

If she found immediate mating offensive, he would use his patience and wait an appropriate amount of time. His affection and his genetics would outlast her stubbornness and silly Ooman customs.

He settled in bed beside her, the storage unit annoying him in front of his face. He grunted but let Val'jek be the one to deal with the issue. It was the Elder's bed.

Val'jek turned off the artificial lights and joined them. The Elder lifted the storage unit and set it beside the bed, above her head.

"Hey," Amelia protested. He had heard her use the word several times but his translator said it was a greeting. She reserved it for expressing her dislike.

"No pets in my bed," the Elder decreed with mild irritation.

"I'd be happy to take Amelia to my bed, then," Raz'ha offered.

"Did he just call me a pet?" she grouched. Her language skills were better than he thought.

"I believe so. Shall I challenge him for stating a technical fact?" Val'jek chirped with a laugh as he pulled off Amelia's clothes.

The mood lightened considerably and Raz'ha chirped his amusement in return. She squirmed, much like her pets, when manhandled.

"Will you promise me his skull?" She gave a playful smile. The Ooman version had a remarkable resemblance to the Yautja expression.

Val'jek set the clothes aside. "Do you have a place of honor to display the skull?" The Elder held back the fur for Amelia to slip under.

"Not at the moment, no." She shrugged one naked shoulder.

"Ask me again when you do." Val'jek clicked his approval as she sprawled out over the Elder's chest and shoulder.

"Thank you again for the pets, Raz'ha." Her words were muffled in Val'jek's shoulder.

Raz'ha chirped in response.

"In Yautja culture, accepting a gift is a way of encouraging an invitation to mate." The Elder pet her hair with his claws.

"Human culture calls that prostitution." She sounded displeased.

The Elder snorted. "That is not the same."

Val'jek explained the finer points of Yautja mating. Raz'ha was disinterested in the clinical recitation. He watched the pale bare flesh of her back rising and falling with her even breathing.

"I'm not having sex because he brought me puppies." She was adamant and sounding a little disgruntled.

"Then because you have found some affection for him in return." The Elder was tentative, making the statement more of a question.

"If she finds it offensive, it is all right." Raz'ha didn't want to push too hard after making such gains.

Val'jek clicked an acknowledgment.

"What was that?" she asked and the Elder translated.

Amelia rolled over, facing him with surprised green eyes. She looked him over as if measuring his worth.

Raz'ha endeavored to be stoic, unsure about which qualities won Ooman favor.

"This doesn't mean we're mating. It's just a friendly gesture for your thoughtfulness." She gave him her stern Ooman face, much like her stubborn one.

He nodded, eager for any friendly gesture. Surely she would let him lock his mandibles with her or kiss him. He had watched her kiss the Elder's body many times before retiring.

"Roll on your belly," she instructed.

Raz'ha did as she asked, curious and a little disappointed he wasn't getting kisses. The Ooman gesture really was strangely thrilling.

She sat up, holding the fur to her mammary glands. She moved closer, her leg pressing against his side. He wanted to purr.

Amelia tugged the fur from both males and wrapped it around herself. For someone eager to stay covered, she often looked her fill of his unclothed body. Raz'ha wasn't shy and stretched out for her perusal.

She placed her hands on his back. Her fingers pressed into his flesh and rubbed in slow circles.

Raz'ha purred with pleasure. This he understood.

"No purring," she chided, though she continued to rub his back.

Raz'ha complied.

Amelia's hands were delicate and tiny but she covered every inch of his back with gentle, soothing pressure. Massages were common in his culture, but not like this. Healer assistants were clinical and precise, following a checklist of motions in an exact order.

His Ooman rubbed where she pleased. Her hands moved up, then over, then back and down. The pressure was light and uneven but relaxing with calm and affection. The experience was bliss with tension easing from his muscles. He tried to remain alert, to savor the experience of her personal gesture, but his eyes were drooping closed.


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Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes:
No smut again. Sorry! Next couple chapters might be a little slow on smut but those pesky subplots need to be setup more. I really hadn't meant to linger on those cute puppies so long. ;)

There have been a few question about how I came up with the story. My answer: Uh, I'm not sure how I came up with this. I THINK the base started because I'm working on an original werewolf threesome when I started reading a ton of pred fanfics. Plus I'm all about the smut so I wanted to jump into the sex asap, which means a relationship has to be established prior to page 1. I also like eggheads (Val'jek and Mah'sic).

On a tangent, Amelia is not going to turn into an Amazon but there will be some aliens and action later on, yay.


Thank you to the reviewers (hope I didn't forget anyone):

Capt_Davy_Jones_Lover: I love your name btw. Thanks for the review.

torturequeen06: I love alien puppies too! Thanks for taking the time for the review.

moira hawthorne: Glad you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you like the names!

Death God Dist: Thank you for the compliments! I was hoping someone would get a kick out of Santa Claus as a sex offender. I can think of quite a few sex scenes to slip in here but alas I can't make them work with the plot right now. Sex will have to wait. Bummer. However, Val'jek is leaving very soon and he of course will need goodbye sex.

KatFO: Thank you. And I'm first to admit it. Amelia is a wimp. BUT once in a while she will put her foot down.

Unspoken Lores: Who doesn't love alien puppies? Working on nudging Amelia in Raz'ha's direction ;)

SB Patterson: I'm glad you like the fic. Mind if I ask what you weren't sure about? I'm considering re-editing the first few chapters / description to improve the quality. It would help me a great deal. :)

Kurojin: Thank you for all the compliments. I'm glad you enjoy the story so far! I hope this chapter clears up some of the deadly animal worry. Yaut Hounds are technically domesticated but they are usually trained to fight (the same as some dogs). BTW Fluffy was a tempting name. I really considered it, but I figured a Yautja name would better suit an alien. We can't have the other Yaut Hounds make fun of him now. ;)


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