Authors: Allie Ritch
Whenever he got that lecturing tone in his voice, Pixie had to fight not to regress and roll her eyes at him. “Dad, I know you’re going to check up on him anyway, but you won’t find anything bad. The class instructors did background checks on all the students as part of the final application process. I checked with Xindra, my teacher, the second I realized Zeo was interested in me. He’s safe, he’s never been accused of a crime, his credit history is good, and he’s got a good job. In fact, he’s a lot like you, Dad. He works in security and investigation. His family has their own agency.”
“Huh.” Her father grunted. “I still want to meet him.”
Unable to resist any longer, she finally did roll her eyes. “You will. Do you think maybe you could congratulate me? Act like this is a good thing?”
His head snapped back, and her mother finally quit wringing her hands.
“Well of course we’re happy for you,” her mom burst out. “You finally found yourself a nice young man with a steady job. You’ll have the most beautiful wedding. You’ll have to wear your cousin Tabby’s wedding gown. She got it from your grandmother, and it has the most spectacular—”
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy,” her dad cut in. “I don’t think any man deserves my baby girl, but I’ll try to give this fella a chance. If this Zeo you’re so crazy about passes muster, then you’ll have my blessing. Just don’t let him call me Pops.”
“Don’t worry,” Pixie told him impishly. “My fiancé is very respectful of elders.”
“Elders?” They both said it in unison.
“Love you. Bye.”
Blowing them a kiss, Pixie cut the connection and collapsed on the sofa laughing. Although her parents could be tough, she felt confident Zeo could handle them. After all, everyone knew how stubborn those “aggressive” Nimanians could be.
The Rehearsal
“New Earthling, huh?” That was the first remark Zeo’s father made about Pixie when they got a chance to talk.
Zeo and Pixie had enjoyed a quiet meal with his community in the common dining room. As usual, the food had consisted of organic dishes everyone had prepared by hand, not what his mother called “pickled space garbage.” Pixie had brought a large bowl of some kind of salad made with potatoes, which had won over Zeo’s cousins. Apparently it had been delicious, not that anyone else had gotten to try it. They’d devoured the whole bowl.
Right now, Pixie was standing on the other side of the room talking to Zeo’s mother and aunt. The women clearly didn’t understand his little mate’s shy demeanor, but he could tell they were trying to give her a chance. Not wanting to make Pixie appear weak by hovering, Zeo left her alone, although he was secretly keeping an eye on her.
He returned his attention to his father. “Yes, she’s a New Earthling. And cousin Apax’s mate is a Brachoi.”
“True.” His father seemed to think about that. “This is not Nimania, and we have never forbidden taking a mate of a different race. But a New Earthling woman is not the same as a Brachoi.”
“She doesn’t have four arms.” Zeo couldn’t resist needling his parent just a bit.
His father glared at him. “She doesn’t have the same strength, either.”
“No.” But in this Zeo could defend his future mate. “Pixie has her own quiet strength. She does not prowl the forest, hunting prey. Instead, she lies low in the bushes, silent and safe from predators until what she wants walks right into her path.”
“You believe this?”
“I do.”
“Then you’ve truly chosen.” His father tilted his head. “Why haven’t you mated her already? You could have called us as witnesses without arranging this meeting.”
In some ways, that would have been easier, but again, Pixie wasn’t Nimanian. They both had a lot of adjusting to do, but they’d figure things out as they went along.
“She wanted to meet you first,” Zeo explained. “Apparently, it’s the way of her people to inspect a potential mate’s family before the mating ceremony.”
“A background check?” Now his father sounded approving. “A wise practice. She will see you come from good genes.”
“Are you including Leoni in that gene pool?” Zeo was still irritated with his sister and couldn’t resist the dig. All night, Leoni had remained aloof, only casting the occasional frown Pixie’s way.
“Do not disparage your sister.” Glancing her way, his father sighed. “Not even when she’s being difficult.”
Zeo chuffed out a short laugh. Then he caught who was approaching Pixie, and the sound died in his throat.
“Do not interfere,” his father warned him. “Your New Earthling must learn to fend for herself.”
“She will.” Zeo stalked forward. “But I will be guarding her back.”
Zeo inserted himself into a small cluster of his cousins, who happened to be standing about six feet behind Pixie. They were still waxing poetic about the salad of potatoes she’d brought. He angled himself so he could listen to what was said without being obvious about it. Rinda had just closed in on his little mate, and he could hear the venom hidden behind her every word.
“We don’t often have New Earthlings as guests,” Rinda told her. “Apparently we Nimanians make your race nervous.”
“Probably because you’re all so intimidating.” Pixie said it quietly, but her voice held a note of humor that passed the statement off as a joke.
Rinda sniffed. “New Earthlings are easily frightened. I’ve known Zeo since we were children, and what he needs is a powerful woman who knows how to please him.”
Although he wasn’t looking at her, Zeo knew the exact moment Pixie realized who was talking to her. Tension radiated from her.
“You must be Rinda.”
Pixie’s voice didn’t rise or sharpen, yet he swore her tone had turned steely. It was something he’d never heard from her before.
“So he told you about me.” Rinda’s voice was filled with misplaced satisfaction.
“He mentioned you once.”
Zeo inwardly smiled. He’d been right all along. His kitten had some claws under all that soft fur.
“Did that upset you?” Rinda was clearly seething, and even her façade of civility was starting to crumble. “Zeo and I are very close.”
“Childhood friends.”
“More than friends.” Rinda’s purr made her meaning clear.
“Oh.”
That one-word answer had him turning to glance at his mate. Pixie stared at her shoes for a moment, but then she raised her chin and squared her shoulders again. He was proud to see she wasn’t backing down.
“I’m sorry,” his little mate told her would-be rival. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you wanted, but that’s the past. Zeo and I love each other. You need to find someone else.”
At that moment, Zeo became aware that he wasn’t the only one eavesdropping. Picking up on this showdown, the rest of the room had fallen quiet too. Ulistro looked like he wanted to maim somebody.
No longer bothering with subtlety, Zeo turned to watch Rinda’s reaction.
“Zeo belongs with me. He’s mine.” The Nimanian woman bared her teeth.
Pixie kept her tone gentle, but her voice never quavered. “No, he’s not. If he were, you wouldn’t be jealous.”
The sound Rinda made then was inhuman. Sensing danger, Zeo moved to shield his mate, but he was too late. Rinda had already lunged. It was his mother and aunt who caught her before she could so much as touch his mate. Without a word, they swept the spitting Rinda from the room, leaving stunned silence in their wake.
Reaching Pixie’s side, Zeo stroked her hair before taking her hand. “Are you all right?”
Although he could feel her trembling, she nodded her head. “I’m just a little shaken up. I don’t like confrontations either. And you didn’t tell me she was crazy.”
He hadn’t realized just how bad Rinda’s obsession with him really was. “I had hoped she would finally put aside her fixation with me.”
“Rinda will be moved to another community,” Zeo’s father broke in. “Her attachment is unhealthy. Perhaps finding a mate and having children will settle her. The breeding urge is stronger in some females. Rinda may find a compatible mate elsewhere.”
Personally, Zeo wasn’t sure Rinda should breed, but he was pleased to hear the elders were dealing with her. She’d already caused enough trouble.
“So when do you plan to mount your chosen female?” The question—so reasonable to Nimanians—fell like a bomb from his father’s lips.
Zeo heard Pixie’s sputter and watched a red tide sweep over her whole face. She nearly crushed his hand with her sudden death-grip.
“What?” she squeaked.
“Your mating ceremony.” His father glanced back and forth between them before addressing Pixie directly. “When Apax mated a non-Nimanian, he and his Brachoi female had a small ceremony. Only his parents, brother, and her mentor served as witnesses. I assume you will want your parents, my mate, daughter, and me to attend.”
“Attend?” Pixie’s expression turned pleading as she looked at Zeo. “You … you mean this mating ceremony isn’t just another term for wedding? You expect our parents to watch the actual … to see us when we … to witness the actual mating part?” Her voice lowered to a fierce whisper. “They plan to watch us make love?”
Zeo rubbed his palm over his short hair. “That is the tradition. However, I have taken into account that you are not Nimanian.”
She blew out her breath. “What a relief.”
“We can discuss this later.” Zeo turned back to his father. “You know I would be honored to have you and the rest of the family attend our mating ceremony, but I need to do what is right for me and my mate. I hope our ceremony will blend our cultures the same way we will blend our lives. Pixie could never accept you or her family witnessing our mating.”
“No offense.” Pixie looked apologetic, although she was still crushing his hand. “You and Mrs. dil Kedom seem great, but there are some things I just can’t do.”
“I am not offended,” his father assured her. He smiled and clapped Zeo on the shoulder. “You’re right. She is much stronger than she appears. Already, she gets what she wants from you, and she doesn’t even have to go hunting for it.”
This was true, but his father failed to see the bigger picture. Tonight, his mate had gotten exactly what she’d wanted from the rest of his family too: their approval. She’d won them over with food, shy smiles, and a well delivered set-down. Zeo had never felt prouder.
*
Pixie felt like her mind was still reeling after they got back to her apartment. All those times Zeo had mentioned their mating ceremony he’d left out the most important part. He wanted them naked and making love. In front of their families. There was no way.
“Relax, kitten.” He led her over to her loveseat and made her sit down with him. “We will discuss this.”
“D-discuss?” she stammered. “You … we … yes, we’ll discuss this. When did you plan on telling me about this? Do Nimanians really do it in front of their parents?” She couldn’t help the note of disgust in her voice.
He rubbed her back, but she was too agitated to enjoy it.
“It is the traditional way.” He sounded as calm as ever. “The witnesses do not need to be family, though. They can be trusted friends. I’ve thought of a compromise.”
“Compromise?” She had to stop sounding like a parrot. “What do you mean?”
“We can hold our mating ceremony during our Sex Ed class Tuesday night. Instead of our family members, the instructors and our classmates can serve as witnesses and help us through this first mating. If you are too embarrassed, then we will stop attending afterward and never see them again.”
Her heart was beating overtime. “Why do we have to have witnesses? Can’t we skip that part?”
Although he covered it quickly, Pixie saw the flash of hurt on his face. It told her everything she needed to know. This was really important to him. It was part of his heritage. He’d already given up having his family there, but he wanted to incorporate at least part of the ritual.
She spoke softly. “Zeo, you know I’ve never been with anyone.”
“And I have never mounted a female before. That is why it’s best we have others to help us.”
Whoa!
Pixie held up her hand to stop him. Had she just heard that right?
“What do you mean you’ve never…? You’re a virgin too?”
Zeo shrugged. “It is not a term Nimanians use. We enjoy our sexuality from an early age and play intimately with each other to relieve our natural urges. Mounting—that is, intercourse—is reserved for the mating ceremony. Truthfully, many couples do not wait, but it is better to have witnesses present the first time. They can help ease the pair through the intensity of the first joining.”
She couldn’t believe it. Zeo seemed to exude sexuality and confidence, and she’d thought he was experienced. Yet he’d waited for her. That thought both thrilled and terrified her.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he continued. “You are New Earthling. The loss of your virginity will be painful, and the mating drive will force me to rut vigorously once I mount you. I want you to have females you trust there to help you through it. Also, I have talked to Krux. He has agreed to use his strength to help slow and control my movements so it will be easier on you.”
Fighting the urge to laugh or cry, Pixie rubbed her forehead. Almost all of her classmates had modeled in front of everybody already, so it wasn’t like she’d be doing anything the others hadn’t done. And she did feel safe there, especially with Xindra present. Wait, was she really considering this?
“I can’t.” She was insane to even think about it. “It’s hard enough for me to get naked just for you. I can’t be nude in front of everybody and let them see me and you—”
“You do not need to show them your body. I only need room to feed my cock into you. You can follow New Earthling tradition and wear white.”
Although his bluntness provoked a blush, that idea did make her feel better.
“I want … I want to start out in a wedding gown.” Gods, maybe she was going to do this. “I also want you in formal wear so we can have pictures taken—something we can show other people.”
His easy answer was as reassuring as it was predictable. “All right.”
“But no pictures once we start to … you know.” She wanted to make that clear.