Nicole tried to focus on everyone else. She didn't want to look stupid or make some mistake, but all the yautjas seemed to be staring at her, waiting for her to eat. Yautjas used some utensils, but not the fork knife spoon combo she was used to. She tried to look over at Dumala for help, but he was talking way more then he was eating. The last of the meal was served on trays by lower yautjas.

The hostess had been lingering in the kitchen and around the table to supervise the servers, but now walked by to take her seat. She was a stunning female, her body very stripped. Her yellow eyes settled on Nicole, and Dumala abandoned his conversation when she said, "So this is the ooman. She's smaller than I imagined."

Nicole didn't know what to say, but didn't want to feel like she was ignoring the woman, "Hello."

"This banquet is in honor of our gods, Cetanu and Paya, and meant to be enjoyed by only the most esteem warriors who have made the gods proud. Are our deities important to you, ooman?"

Her heart just about stopped and she was sure her face went white. Her mind said to lie, but she admitted, "No."

The entire room seemed to burst into clicks and rumbles and the female said, "You are not a warrior, and our gods are not important to you. Why are you here?"

Dumala finally spoke up, "I wanted her at my side, so she is here."

"Dumala, you willingly abandoned your clan and no one has heard from you in many cycles. I didn't expect to see you at my table, though I always make sure to send an invitation. I did not think anyone could get you out of hiding-but this ooman is responsible?"

"Yes; I wouldn't have come if she wasn't allowed here."

The female raised her voice, making Nicole jump, "This ooman is my guest, and anyone who disrespects her will have to talk to me!"

The female gave a subtle trill in Dumala's direction, making Nicole think that she liked him, then proceeded to her seat. Now, everyone really began to dig into the food. There was tons of conversation, and it surprised her how much grown yautja males actually gossiped. They didn't exclude her from their conversations either. They curiously asked her questions about Earth, and she was happy to answer every little question.

The dinner was going better than he expected. Many of them were warming up to Nicole. The only incident was when Nicole went to take a drink and one of the warriors made a comment about her necklace smelling of mating musk. She swallowed some water down the wrong pipe and Dumala was panicked that she was choking.

Once she ensured them all that she was fine though, she gave Dumala a stern look. He was going to have to explain the necklace to her later. To distract her sudden anger, Dumala dipped a piece of meat in sauce and offered it to her mouth. Yautjas were protective over their belongings, including food on their plates, and sharing was a very big gesture. Nicole didn't know that, but she certainly noticed that everyone had begun staring at her again.

When the banquet was over, they took a ride back to Dumala's house. It was nearing the time he'd promised Me'cre that he'd have her back though, so they started walking back to the brothel. The sky was still a gorgeous yellow-gold. Nicole pressed close to his side, occasionally bumping against him as they walked.

She just had to ask about the necklace though, "So I smell...like sex to them?"

"You smell specifically of my musk, which appears when I am aroused. It has a subtle drug-like effect on females. When my seed dispenses inside a female, it makes them smell of my musk for a time. I integrated the musk into the necklace."

"And why would you do that?"

"I touch you, enjoy your body. You are mine. The fact that we haven't successfully mated is just a small technicality."

"So? Why does everyone else have to know that?"

"A males ability to impress and mate females is important. It raises my status."

"So you put this necklace on me to gloat?"

He clicked his tucks and glanced down at her, "Does that upset you?"

She crossed her arms in front of her, but didn't answer. They walked the rest of the way in silence, and it wasn't until they reached the brothel that she finally said, "You kicked that guys ass."

Dumala puffed up his chest some, "He touched you, a female."

"He didn't hurt me-but that was very hot."

He cocked his head, thinking that the translator needed a little adjustment, "Hot?"

"Yea, hot...meaning sexy."

He let out a lusty purr before picking her up and prompted her for a kiss. They stumbled into the brothel, their mouths still connected. The owner was there waiting for him to return Nicole. However, Dumala extended his palm to her and she stamped it with an ink number. Dumala carried her to the room and they fooled around like usual.

When she grew tired, Nicole laid on his chest, his breaths making her slowly lift and drop above him. Her fingers twirled around the end of one of his dreds as his purrs vibrated through her. Occasionally, as she zoned in and out, she placed soft kisses on his reptilian skin and he caressed her. When his fingers started tracing her scars though, it made her uncomfortable. She wiggled and pushed his hand away.

He cocked his head at her, "You don't like me touching you?"

"Just not there."

He rumbled with confusion, "They are sensitive?"

"No." She pouted.

He brushed his claws on the crook of her elbow, where one of her scars was very blue, "Your marks are beautiful. Yautjas wear their scars with pride. They show bravery and skill in a hunt."

She shook her head, "Wouldn't it be more impressive if you could hunt and not gain any scars? Scars show failure."

"If your opponent is worthy, then scars are inevitable. Facing fiercer prey is more impressive, and scars show that triumph."

"Well I didn't fight anyone for my scars."

"That doesn't make them ugly. How did you get them?"

She shook her head, and tried the subject, "Why don't you have any scars like the other warriors?"

He huffed, "My body became a patchwork of scars. I was showing off scars all the way back from my chiva. So, I decided to erase the scars and only boast the ones I'd earned each new cycle...but then I gave up hunting, so I have no scars now."

"You have one." She slid her hand up his arm and moved his fingers so that she could see the symbol branded on his palm.

Dumala shook her fingers away and his fingers curled into a fist to hide the mark.

"What is that symbol?"

His voice was quiet, "It is a name."

"Who's?"

"One of my former mates. She is dead."

"Oh...I'm sorry...How did she die?"

Dumala was silent.

"I'll tell you how I got my scars if you tell me."

Dumala let out a loud exhale, "That would be too easy. Why don't we play a game instead?"

She sat up, straddling him, "What sort of game?"

"I will torture and interrogate you until you give in and tell me how you gained your scars. If you do not give in, then I will tell you how she died."

Nicole swallowed thickly, "Torture?"

"Do you agree?"

"Ok."

Dumala lifted Nicole off of him, then he swept himself out of the room. When he returned, he had a new number on his palm. He rumbled and gestured for her to follow him. Nicole climbed out of the bed and he led her through the corridors to a room she'd never been in. He ushered her inside, and her eyes went impossibly wide.

It was dungeon, with torture equipment of sorts. There was a bed in the corner, but it was not the main feature. There were chains hanging from the walls, and cages hanging from the ceiling. There was a dresser filled with tools, toys, and other equipment. Strange furniture filled the room, each making for a different position, and providing restraints.

Her body shook with a pleasured tremor, "Your kidding, right?"

The lights began to dim until everything went black, only flashing a dull orange glow every few seconds. Nicole stood perfectly still, unable to see. Dumala's species could see better in the dark though, and he began to circle her like prey. He pulled one of the strings keeping her top on, and she whirled around. Her heart was beating faster, but it was all part of the fun.

He let out an airy clicking as he plucked up another string on her top and pulled. She gasped as her top was untied, and quickly hugged the loose fabric to her breasts. She felt more insecure in the dark knowing that he could see her, but she couldn't see him. His nails lightly brushed down her spine, making her shiver. When she turned and tried to reach out to him, her fingers grasped at nothing but empty air, but his musk was all around her.