Chapter 43
Atem
“Female, stop trying to distract me,” Atem ordered firmly after releasing her fingers, giving them one last parting kiss. “I must gorge you now. Only once you've eaten can I claim your body.”
Peony giggled as though he told a joke, but he couldn't be more serious.
Atem, as well as others he was sure, had told Peony about the expectations for today. But he got the impression that she considered most of this ceremonial or traditional.
But that was only partially true. Most of it was to satisfy his instincts and to seal the mating bond that his first sight of her had started to create.
When Atem had approached Hattie about human mating procedures, he had been confused when she told him that it depended on the culture a person was from as well as their own personal preferences.
She told him that the rings were pretty standard on their part of Earth, but if Peony hadn't asked for them, he shouldn't worry about it.
But when Atem tried to clarify that he meant biological mating behavior, Hattie had blinked at him, confused, before stating that they didn't have any biological mating behavior.
For humans, it was all down to personality and preferences and culture.
Artificial things that changed from human to human and situation to situation.
Humans had no mating requirements.
However, domini did and he had to adhere to them.
His instincts and very real biological urges demanded it.
The retrieval and claiming might have a veneer of civility on it now, but it was born from thousands upon thousands of years of evolution creating their species with the primal urge to claim their mates in a very specific way to prove to themselves and their mate their adoration and devotion.
He had to follow it through. Not doing so would be like trying to cease breathing.
Achievable for a short time but it would become gradually more painful and difficult and ultimately would be completely futile.
The moment he set his eyes upon her, his sweet watered eyed Peony, his body had started a chemical and psychological reaction that he was finishing now.
First, by stealing her from her protector.
Conquering her in battle. Hiding her away in a dark, cool, quiet place.
Gorging her on the product of his labor.
Then, finally, taking her to their nest, lined with the fur of the very beast he fed her now, and claiming her body until she screamed herself hoarse and he planted his seed deep.
That specific set of steps, followed through with intention and laced with desire, had been scientifically studied and documented in his species.
The end result was something like a biological switch being thrown in his brain.
He would never feel desire for another female.
His seed would not flow for any but her.
He would have the urge to feed and protect her that would be just as strong and vital to him as eating or drinking for himself.
Peony laughed when he insisted on gorging her, but she didn't understand that it was very much a need for him. An important part of this that he could feel building in his chest and head like a pressure that threatened to crush him inside if he didn't complete the task.
He had to feed her.
She didn't argue. She ate the food he offered until half the platter was gone without complaint – some of it having gone to him from her hand.
But she didn't understand. She did it because she wanted to make him happy, and that warmed him inside, but it was a foreign concept to her, as a species without those instinctual urges, the importance of what he was doing.
But she went along with it and smiled, her beautiful water eyes dancing with mirth and joy. And that was enough for him. Knowing that she was as serious about this mating as himself, even if she didn't fully grasp the meaning of it, was everything.
He offered her food until she made a face, shaking her head, too full to have anymore.
But he wasn't disappointed. If she had managed to eat all the food he offered, the process would have failed as it meant that he wasn't capable of fully providing for her.
Instead, he smiled as he set aside the latest bite – which smelled vile to him after the burning process she required.
He stood, offering his hand. Just as he had the first time they met. Only, he asked for nothing now but her and, just as she had then, she obliged and let him pull her to her feet. He kept hold of that hand he adored and worshiped and walked her to the bed.
Pulling her in front of him, he put his hands on her shoulders and whispered in her ear. “Take off your dress and cape. Lay them down. Configure the bed however you like. This is your nest. Make yourself comfortable in it, vi adassi.”
She giggled again but she did as he asked, releasing the pin on the fur cape and tossing it aside. Her clothing didn't have modern sealing strips embedded into the fabric, but she seemed more comfortable with the old-fashioned device anyway.
Atem watched as Peony gently laid the fur down at the foot of the bed. She unpinned the dress and unwound it from her body and did the same.
Then, she stopped. A frown crossed her face as she examined the bed.
He thought humans must have some instinctual understanding of nesting, even if they lacked the one for mating, because she then bent down and began fussing, not just with her additions but with the entire bed.
He smirked, pleased, even though it took her several minutes and trying many different configurations to be satisfied.
He waited patiently. Though his cock ached with the urge to claim his female, he was content to stand by and watch as she fixed their nest. Just like a domini adassi would have done in her place.
Her brow furrowed with the depth of her focus as she used the cushions to create a curved reclining area at the head of the bed, then spread her waterproof dress down below that to protect the mattress – though it was designed not to need such caution.
Then, over those, she put the blanket that was originally on the bed.
Then over that, she put the fur he had obtained and then finally she placed her fur cape over the bottom half of that – which made him smile because he knew that her feet got cold in the night and that was the reason for her doing so.
Only once every pillow was in its perfect position did she stand back, look it over, then, nod once in approval.
“Done,” she beamed, dropping her head back to look at him.
He closed the small distance, putting his hands on her arms. “It is how you want it?”
She nodded quickly, a pleased expression crossing her face as she looked over her work. “That was weirdly therapeutic. I'll have to remember that for next time.”
“Next time for what?” He lowered his head, kissing along her neck.
She moaned softly, leaning back. She didn't answer, lost in the sensations as he ran his hands down her arms, across to her belly, then up to cup her nude breasts.
He couldn't impregnate her, but her heavy breasts gave the illusion that she was nursing, and he allowed himself to enjoy the thought as he massaged the soft flesh.