He stood up. Before his shirt fell over it, Sharon noticed for the first time the large wet spot on the crotch area of his pants. Her face bloomed with color. Giving her a satisfied, lazy smile, Tair sat down in the chair across from them.

Liken’s voice rumbled in her ear. “Your reference to Jadik and linking took us by surprise,sherree. “ There was a pause and then he smiled. “You had an interesting conversation with him at the eatery, did you not?”

Sharon rolled her eyes. “It takes a special kind of arrogance to just pluck something out of a person’s head if you want toknowwhat she’s thinking.”

Liken grinned. “I did not hear you complaining very hard earlier when we strove to please you. Did you hear any complaints, Tair?”he laughingly asked.

Tair laughed. “I think I will be going now. Sharon, your thoughts are growing louder.”

Sharon laughed. They were arrogant, but she wasn’t really getting angry. She felt too satisfied. The three of them stood up and walked toward the front door.

Pausing in front of the doorway, Liken reached out and gave Tair a quick hug. When Tair looked surprised, Liken said seriously, “My thanks to you, brother. We are fortunate to have your help.”

Tair shrugged. “You would do the same.” He turned to Sharon.

She wasn’t sure if she should hug him or not. It was awkward. He solved her problem by pulling her into his arms and leaning his face close to hers. One hand cradled the back of her head and he brought his lips down to her mouth.

When she realized he meant to kiss her, she expected a brief, casual goodbye kiss. The heat of the kiss shocked her as his mobile mouth took her by storm. She responded without thought even when his tongue thrust against hers. He pulled back and smiled. She was dazed and breathless again. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

He gave a husky laugh. “Welcome to Shimeria, Sharon. I am honored to be your link.”

She said weakly, “Thanks.” This planet was one surprise after another.

Liken and Tair both laughed. Tair walked through the doorway and headed into the silvery night. Liken pressed the button and the wall slid soundlessly shut.

Putting his arm back around her shoulders, Liken began walking Sharon toward the bedroom. His voice was still amused as he said, “Relax,sherree. The linking relationship is not complicated. Tair will kiss you, but only in greeting, and it will never go further than that. It is a harmless thing, a benefit for providing protection.”

A horrifying thought struck her. “Are you and Tair linked? How did you…”

He couldn’t help it. She looked so repulsed. He laughed. “Yes, Sharon, but two Shimerian males do not link in the way you just did withTair.We simply drop our shields and establish a mutual link. It requires a great deal of trust.”

So, the weird linking relationship was because she was female and notaShimerianmale.She and Tair were linked and that meant they had a kind of casually intimate relationship. Liken wasn’t jealous at all. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Liken and Tair made it seem so natural. Sexuality on Shimeria was very different. Even Jadik had kissed her and that was okay. But, Liken had seemed jealous when other males paid her too much attention, like in the eatery. Could things get any more confusing?

When they reached their bedroom, she sank down on the bed. She wasn’t going to think about the bizarre customs of Shimeria. She’d sort it all out tomorrow. She wasn’t going to worry about it tonight.

Liken sat down beside her and bent down for a kiss. His mouth paused over hers as he whispered, “There will be no worrying,sherree. You will experience only pleasure this eve.” And true to his word,he spent the rest of the night provingit.

The next morning Sharon murmured sleepy objections when Liken gently shook her shoulder. She was exhausted. She heard a low chuckle next to her ear.

Liken said, “Sherree, I know you are too tired for loveplay. Please open your eyes for a moment.”

Her lids felt like lead weights as she gradually came awake and opened her eyes. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling down at her. She smiled back and said, “Good morning.”

His smile broadened. “Indeed it is.” He placed a soft kiss on her mouth. Drawing back, he looked regretful. “I am sorry to wake you, Sharon, but I must leave for a time. A few matters at my workplace require immediate attention. It was unexpected. I am sorry but it is something I must handle.”

“An emergency?”she asked, still half asleep.

“No emergency. Just a few details that cannot wait until after our knowing period.” His voice was filled with regret.

She nodded her understanding. Her sleepy brain was beginning to function. “It’s no problem. I’ll just drop by the library or something.” A thought struck her. “Liken, can I ask you to do something for me today?”

He nodded before she even finished her question. “What is it,sherree?”

Memories of yesterday were beginning to swirl in her head. The lovemaking and the fighting. She needed some time alone to process them. She needed some space. She needed him out of her head, but she didn’t want to disturb their fragile peace. She raised unconsciously pleading eyes to his face.

His eyes turned tender and he gave a half laugh. “When you look at me with those eyes,sherree, you can have whatever you want.”

Sharon said carefully, “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’ve got a lot to think about today. A lot has happened in the last ten days. I really need some time to myself, okay? I mean, I don’t want to be self-conscious worrying about you randomly tuning into my thoughts.”

He sighed. “I understand, but I do not scan your thoughts for entertainment, Sharon. It is the way of my people. It is a special closeness that lovers share. I wish you could become more comfortable with it.”

She said softly, “Maybe I will if I have some time to sort it through. I don’t know.”

He nodded. “I will withdraw and block you if that is your wish. At least for today. You have my oath.”

Sharon knew that if he gave his word, he would abide by it. His emotions told her that he wanted to keep contact, but would do as she asked – for today, anyway. She gave him a smile of gratitude and said softly, “Thanks…It means a lot to me.”

He leaned down and kissed her slowly. It was a sweetly searching kiss, strangely different from any other they had shared. They lingered, mouths seeming to convey things they couldn’t put into words. When they slowly pulled apart, they stared at each other silently for a moment.

Finally, Liken cleared his throat. “I will return before evemeal,sherree, perhaps sooner. Enjoy this day.” His hand caressed her face and then he turned and left the room. She could hear the front door sliding closed a moment later.

She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. Standing, she walked to the far side of the room. Pressing a button on the wall, she stared at a hologram of herself. Like the one at the shop, it served as a mirror. It was nice to have one at home, although she was still growing used to it. More than once, she had been startled by the three-dimensional depiction of herself. It was like having an identical twin mirroring her every move.

Today, the image greeting her didn’t look like her twin. She was staring at a stranger. The woman facing her looked nothing like the Sharon Glaston she knew. Her dark hair was tumbled around a face with glowing eyes and swollen lips. Her nude body had small red marks from a night of passion. She looked rumpled and strangely sexy. The passionate creature staring back at her looked powerfully female and mysterious.

Sharon backed away and sat down hard on the bed. Her image stayed in her mind. She was that woman. Maybe she had always been that woman, and it had taken Liken to make her see it. He had ripped her out of her safe little world and stripped away that protective outer shell that she presented to everyone around her.