For some reason, a trill of excitement shivered through him. It wasn’t that he wanted to get caught or for Aevi to witness a private moment, but he wanted. His whole body throbbed, and his sex organs swelled and heated, aching to be touched. That much he knew would offer pleasure, and he yearned to learn more, more about his own form, more about hers. His heart raced until he could hardly think, restraining this overwhelming need.

“Does she sleep deeply?” he whispered.

Qalu opened one of the storage niches and used the nesting material to create a soft space for Aevi to curl up. When Helix set her down, the Pherzul whirred and snuggled in, seeming lost to all sights and sounds. Though Qalu didn’t close the partition, she did shift it so that they’d receive some warning if Aevi stirred, privacy on both sides. Entirely desirable.

“Helix.”

His name had never sounded so beautiful. “Yes?”

“Do you want me?”

“More than anything.”

Qalu removed her swator.

There was no reason to delay, not when his desire radiated toward her, even at this distance, a uniquely Tiralan trait. Then she closed the distance between them, helping him out of his garments as well. Their swator puddled on the sleep platform, and he nudged her back, more aggressive than she had imagined.

“Have you been watching explicit Tiralan holos?” she whispered.

“A few.”

His body was beyond beautiful, sheer perfection down to every last detail, but she’d never expected to experience it this way. Hot skin against hers, their scales shimmering as they moved, touching each other with growing confidence. Each caress sparked fresh pleasure, and his eyes glowed with it as his head tendrils entwined with hers, stroking and sliding, each undulation filling her body with delight.

She rubbed her face against his, drinking in his breath as hers. He smoothed their lower limbs together in a move so fluid that it was difficult to believe she was his first partner. His gynosome was pretty and stiff, quivering and slick. His lower sex showed arousal in the softness, more fluid gathering there as well. Qalu had the same response building, an endless ache that would be quenched only by giving herself fully to Helix.

“This will feel lovely,” she whispered. “But let me know if the sensations become overwhelming.” She remembered even now, how he’d struggled with being touched. And just because she’d touched him once, it didn’t grant consent to do whatever she wanted now. Everything should proceed at his pace or not at all.