But Qalu stepped back. “You…should read about Tiralan sexuality. It would be inappropriate for me to…teach you personally.”

“Why?” he asked, still reeling with the force of those feelings.

“Currently, you rely on me for many things. Allowing an intimate relationship between us would be irresponsible. Possibly, it would also be abusive. You have no one else, and we cannot…experiment while you lack other recourse.”

He considered that as heated impulses cooled. “I understand. But is our relationship not already intimate? We cohabitate and share meals. From my observations of Zylar and Beryl Bowman, continual proximity often leads to attraction between organic beings.”

“Experiencing attraction and acting on it are two separate issues. Just because something feels good, that doesn’t mean it’s the correct choice. Often there are reasons why restraint is the better course.”

“Because you’re afraid of harming me,” Helix said.

“I’m afraid you will regret your choice later, and I won’t indulge myself at your expense. I want to help you learn, not take advantage of your innocence and inexperience.”

Somehow, even though she was refusing him, he experienced a warm glow in that rejection because it came from deep concern. “Then…I apologize for getting carried away.

Such stimulation is novel, and I have no parameters for moderation.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” she said. “I ought to have restrained myself.”

“I’m glad that you’re attracted to me,” he said. That reaction came from a place deeper than desire, a wellspring of wishful thinking. Even if they couldn’t act on it, he enjoyed the fact that she found him appealing; that awareness was satisfying in ways that he had no means to articulate.

“Take pleasure in it then, I suppose. I can’t help it, even if it’s inappropriate.”

Her wry tone amused him. “For what it’s worth, I do not believe that you are capable of harming me, even unintentionally. Yet I cherish your caution.”

“I should work for a while,” she said then. “I’ll leave you to your art. Or however you choose to dedicate your time.”

Helix wasn’t ready to part from her, but she hurried off as if she had an urgent task pressing. Once she’d gone, he wondered if he could assist with her experiments. While he enjoyed indulging a previously unknown creative drive, he also experienced fierce curiosity regarding her research—indeed, for all things related to Qalu. He could conceive of no reason why she would refuse competent aid and it would permit him to spend more time with her.

Yet when he went to her research space, she wasn’t there. He passed Aevi, who was on her way out, off to frolic in the darktide, as she frequently enjoyed. “Have you seen Qalu?” he asked.

“She’s retired for a rest.” With that, the little one darted outside.

Strange. She said she intended to work.