Chapter 13

Robin gulped as he entered the oval amphitheater through a large arched tunnel. Two guards broke off from the entourage to stand at the entrance of the tunnel.

It was a massive structure of stone. A large rounded arena was before him, its ground covered in orange dirt. Massive white stone walls edged the arena, stretching up to a pavilion. White stone tiered away from the pavilion in stages, creating giant steps for seats. On opposite edges of the arena two square balconies leant out over the top of the wall, four pillars jutting toward the sky, one at each corner, colourful canvas stretched between them, hiding the balcony in shade and cushions were scattered on the stone benches. Similar guards were posted at the entrance of a tunnel on the opposite wall.

"Wow," Cyborg muttered. "It's like the Roman Colosseum back home."

"This is the xhandal grounds," Galfore said. "We can seat up to forty thousand Tamaranians here at any one time and I do not doubt that we will fill this place before your xhandal is complete." He pointed to one of the balconies. "You will sit in the garak, the viewing box, as guests of honour." He turned toward the group. "You will only be required to be seated there when Robin or Koriand'r are engaged in battle. You do not need to stay for any other the other battles."

"Other battles?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yes. Xhandal is a full day event. It is often used so other Tamaranians can exhibit their skills. There are many duels and sparring demonstrations scheduled for in between xhandal battles."

"In time of peace," Starfire told them . "Xhandal is often used as a form entertainment. The crowd will be given many recreational battles to view while we rest and prepare ourselves."

"So, you're the main attraction. Where are we, the circus?" Raven muttered to herself and Robin gave her a tiny smile.

Tamaranians filed out from the arched tunnel at the other end of the arena floor, striding toward the center. Each male was clad in purple pants, black calf high boots and a gray belt, each wore their chests bare. The six females that also entered wore a tight fitting purple leotard with a diamond hole in the stomach and purple thigh high boots. Both males and females wore gray gloves and a gray gorget around their necks like Starfire's. It was a sea of brown hair, with the occasional blond, none of them sporting the red hair of Starfire or Galfore. Every single one of them wore an e'ara proudly on their arm.

"I'm going to have to wear that aren't I?" Robin muttered. I'm not taking my mask off.

"It is the traditional dress, although ours will be slightly different," Starfire replied quietly. I do not expect you to.

He gave her a grin. "Yours looks pretty nice though." Damn sexy.

A small smile crossed her face. Perhaps you would like a private viewing later?

Robin's cheeks went pink and he ducked his head to hide it.

"These are the contenders," Galfore said, sweeping his arms out as the last of the Tamaranians reached the middle of the arena. He turned and strode toward the center of the arena himself, turning and facing the Titans. He was clearly the largest Tamaranian present, his massive bulk towering over the others.

"Damn Rob, man," Cyborg said. "I so don't envy you right now."

"Oookay," Raven slowly said. "Now what?"

"We run and hide?" Beast Boy squeaked.

"Friends, please stay here," Starfire said, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin. She took Robin's hand and there was ripple of anger amongst the males. Robin narrowed his eyes and glanced at Starfire. She had a peculiar expression on her face, but she smiled for him and squeezed his hand.

Together they walked toward the cluster of Tamaranians in the center of the arena. As one, they stopped a few yards before them.

"This is my chosen," Starfire cried loudly. "Who amongst you dares to challenge me?"

"We do!" the girls yelled, taking one step forward.

"This is my chosen," Robin roared. "Who among you dares to challenge me?"

"We do!" the males bellowed , taking a booming step forward. The sound echoed around the amphitheater, bouncing off the walls and multiplying, until the voices blended together in a thundering roar.

"I am Galfore! Grand Ruler and Koriand'r's k'norfka! I invoke my right of first challenge." There was a brief murmuring amongst the males, apparently Galfore had not made it widely known that he would be challenging as well. "The first xhandal battle will begin at three hours past dawn tomorrow!"

The contenders spun on their heels and Robin could have sworn he felt the ground shake as they stomped from the arena, until only Galfore stood before them. "By dawn tomorrow these grounds will be filled. Your time is your own until the welcoming banquet tonight. Please remember what I have said and do not stray too far." And then he too spun on his heels and left the arena, closely followed by two guards.

Robin ran a hand through his hair before rubbing the back of his neck as he surveyed the arena. "My god, Star."

"Forty thousand people," Cyborg said, coming up beside them. "All going to be watchin' you."

"It's enough to make you puke," Beast Boy said, looking slightly greener.

"We've had audiences before," Raven said. "But never like this."

Starfire was watching him through veiled eyes. "If you do not wish to do this, now would be the time to tell me."

"What?" he blurted turning toward her. "Not a chance. We've come this far. I'm not going to back out now. Besides, I've had more people watching me as Dick. That's not what I'm concerned about. It's the animosity of some of those guys and I'm guessing its because of that no offworlders can touch you rule."

A green streak of light smashed into the ground by Robin's feet, burning a line toward him. The Titans were instantly surrounded in a black dome of power and the eye beams harmlessly dissipated. Raven dropped the shield, her eyes shining. Starfire snarled and took to the sky, two star bolts burning brightly in her hands.

"Torkor! You dishonour us by attacking before the xhandal!" she shrieked at the group of males that floated in the air not far from them. Robin briefly wondered how Starfire knew his name and how she knew they were part of the xhandal before he noticed their attire. Each one wore the traditional outfit he had seen before.

The forefront male floated to the ground before dropping into a kneeling bow, quickly followed by the other four males.

"Our apologies, Princess Koriand'r," the lead male asaid nd Robin guessed this was Torkor. Crouched down, Robin could not tell how tall the man was. He had waist length brown hair tied loosely behind his head. His features seemed fine and Robin was reminded of the Tamaranian male that had been the Glgrdsklech-hh mucus minder, that thought alone gave him an instant feeling of dislike. "We do not mean to dishonour you." Torkor stood, clearly rivaling Cyborg's height. "Perhaps you remember my associates." He swung his arm around behind him and pointed to each male in turn as they stood and introduced themselves.

"Grafnor," the large, stocky man to Torkor's right said . He sported a long goatee and shoulder length brown hair. He had a large 'x' scar carved into his upper right chest. He stared at Robin menacingly.

"Hunder," a short, wiry man added . His face was bare, as was his head, all bar a long pony tail sprouting from the middle of his head. He appeared to be bored and was examining the underside of his fingernails.

"Plyzn." This man was, simply put, fat. His bulk rolled from his stomach, protruding over the belt of his uniform. He was eating what looked like a red jelly like substance with eyeballs, parts of the jelly sticking in his massive moustache. Robin saw Raven curl her lip in disgust out of the corner of his eye.

"Rundn." He was similar to Cyborg's stature and had a cheeky smile plastered on his oversized face. His laughing eyes were fixed on Raven and Robin heard Beast Boy growling and moving to stand before the half-demon.

Torkor smiled pleasantly at Starfire. "My friends and I merely wish to understand why you have chosen such an… inferior offworlder. You and I had such a pleasant experience on Okaara, I would wish to continue that experience if I were you."

A sharp bolt of jealousy surged through Robin. He shook his head, she returned from Okaara when she was eleven; this couldn't be an ex-boyfriend.

Do nothing; we cannot afford to reveal your strength yet. "Torkor, I did not fall for your charms on Okaara, I will not fall for them now. You were a tyrant and a bully and I do not need to explain myself to you," Starfire snarled and hovered just off the ground before the group.

"Unless one of us wins," Torkor said. He smiled disarmingly and sauntered toward her and Robin was glad to see that she didn't react. "And I intend to win you." He reached out a hand toward her face.

There was a mechanical hissing sound and Cyborg's sonic cannon appeared over Starfire's shoulder. "You're gonna back off right now, pretty boy."

Torkor flicked his head toward Robin, but kept his eyes fixed on Starfire. "Shouldn't your chosen be defending you?"

"Why?" Robin asked coolly. He walked to Starfire's side and swung his arm around her waist, pulling her into him possessively. "You don't concern me."

Torkor glared at Robin murderously before he rearranged his face into a charming smile, looking back at Starfire.

"Torkor!" Galfore boomed from the tunnel way. "This is dishonourable conduct. You will remove yourself now or your xhandal intention will be forfeited."

Torkor froze, before sweeping into a bow. "Of course. My apologies again, Princess." The five of them stalked from the arena once more, although Plyzn's walk was more of a waddle. Starfire did not release her hold on her star bolts until they had disappeared down the tunnel.

"What was that about?" Beast Boy asked, turning to see if Raven was all right.

"Someone was trying to get a sneak peek at Robin's skills," Cyborg said, changing his sonic cannon back into an arm. "How you doin', Star?"

Starfire nodded, her eyes narrow as she looked down the long tunnel the group had disappeared into. She turned to Robin in an attempt to explain. "Torkor is of noble birth. There are many castes of nobles on our planet, such as there are on yours. I recognise his friends; they were on Okaara as well. Only nobles may train with the Warlords of Okaara and when we were on that planet, he had the 'crush' on me. It was never reciprocated, for he was a bully to other students, especially Ryand'r. I do not know why he thinks he can win me now." She sighed. "We should return to our rooms."

"Couldn't agree more," Raven said dryly.

TTTTT

Robin and Starfire stood on the rounded balcony that conjoined their common room, gazing out into the luminous nighttime of Tamaran. Four full moons hung overhead casting their light down on the landscape below. The now familiar stars twinkled brightly above, speckling their light across the sky.

If Robin turned his head to look behind him, he knew he would see Raven sitting on one of the black sofas, a small green kitten pressed up against her leg, asleep and a book grasped in her hand. He would see Cyborg working at his makeshift computer terminal. But Robin didn't want to look behind him; his eyes were fixed on the beautiful Tamaranian woman standing by his side, her crimson hair flowing in the breeze.

Starfire sighed and leaned forward onto the balcony railing, her eyes shining as she looked out onto her home world. It is a shame I cannot take you to my cliffs, she said into his mind. It is such a beautiful night. They would be quite vivid, with the four moons awake.

Never mind, we have plenty of time.

The welcoming banquet was quite wonderful, was it not?

Robin hid a grimace. The banquet had been quite a spectacle; so many Tamaranians had come to pay their respects to Starfire. Beast Boy and Cyborg had had yet another argument over what was vegetable and what was meat on the table and it wasn't until Raven pointed out that most of the food was still wriggling that the argument halted. Robin hadn't even tried to lift those huge goblets; there was no point really. He was just glad that Cyborg had stockpiled a whole bunch of Earth food and stashed it in his room. Tamaranian food is… um…

An acquired taste? She straightened up and looked at him, smiling quietly. I realise that. I thank you for sampling some. She giggled. And I know about Cyborg's stash of emergencies.

He grinned and wrapped his arms around her from behind, stooping down so he could rest his chin on her shoulder.

I do believe you are growing, she murmured as she placed her hands over his and leaned into him. You are taller than I am.

"I am?" he blurted, surprised. Well it's about time! Wait, you've only just noticed this?

She giggled. I have not spent much time with my feet on the ground recently, besides soral training. And then we do not usually spend much time standing so close.

He sighed and planted a kiss on her neck. I guess so.

They stood silently for a time, watching the stars twinkling above. A shooting star streaked across the sky in a bright flare before disappearing off into the distance.

"Make a wish, Star."

She reached back and hooked a hand behind his neck, turning her face toward him. I have everything I wish for.

He smiled and closed the distance between their lips.

A loud exaggerated cough erupted from inside the common room breaking them apart and Robin rolled his eyes. We are going have to get him a girl.

She chuckled and dropped her hand from behind his neck. Perhaps we should do the turning in for the night. Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for all of us and we need to sleep.

He sighed and put his chin on her shoulder once more. Yeah, I guess.

Besides, there is a certain… act… that can only be accomplished when we are alone.

His head came up again. Wait, what?

She twisted in his arms to face him, an enticing smile on her lips, her arms snaking around his neck. Need I repeat myself?

Really? You really want to?

I do, she sent coyly. But only if you also wish it.

His hands were suddenly sweaty. Very much.

Then it was certainly an invitation. She made a move for the common room to bid goodnight to their friends, but he held her fast.

Wait. I have something I want to ask you.

She stilled and looked at him expectantly. Robin swallowed, placed his hands on her hips, picked her up and sat her onto the wall of the balcony. She clasped her hands in her lap and wiggled until she was comfortable. He peeled his mask off before running his hands up her legs to cradle her, looking up at her.

Star, he began slowly. We've known each other for two and a half years now and these last ten months with you have been absolutely amazing. I find myself more in love with you every day, I want to spend every waking moment with you and thanks to the a'tiyk valm we are never far apart. I know according to Tamaranian law we are already betrothed, but I want to do things right by how I was brought up too.

She cocked her head at him, a confused look crossing her features.

He gave her a hopeful half smile. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, will you marry me?" he asked as he pulled a small black box out of his utility belt and snapped open the lid.

Starfire's face lit up as she looked down upon the ring in the box. It had a delicate silver band with a large glittering bezel set diamond mounted in the center with six diamonds, three on each side spread out over the ring, each being a focal point for six intricacy engraved stars. "It is glorious, Robin," she sighed in delight, taking the ring from the box and running her fingers over the surface. "But I cannot wear rings. I have tried before, but they are always damaged."

You can. I had it made especially for you. It's made from a special blend of platinum, tungsten and a few other metals that Bruce helped me develop. That means you can wear it always and not worry about damaging it with either your barrage of low watt star bolts or the mega ones. I had the stones bezel set too, which means that the diamonds are set into the band rather than above it so when your fighting you don't have to worry about cutting someone. Does that mean you will?

"Of course I will," she said with a brilliant smile. He took the ring from her and slipped it on the ring finger of her left hand. It was a perfect fit. She threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply. He plucked her off the balcony and spun her around, feeling like he could just die from happiness.

There was a chorus of cheers and clapping from behind them and they turned red faced to find their friends standing there, ecstatic looks on their faces. Robin coughed, embarrassed and lowered Starfire to the ground.

"Woohoo!" Beast Boy cried as he tackled Starfire.

Cyborg walked up to Robin and gave him a high five. "All right!"

"It's about time," Raven said with a small smile on her face. "Let's see then."

Starfire beamed happily and held out her hand for inspection.

Cyborg let out a long whistle. "Man, that must have cost a fortune, to create something that won't melt under her star bolts."

Robin shrugged, trying to feign indifference. "It was worth it."

Beast Boy laughed with glee. "It's got little stars all over it."

"Fitting," Raven murmured quietly.

"We have to celebrate!" Beast Boy cried, bouncing back into the common room.

"Um, actually," Robin said , holding out his hand to stall the excited changeling. "We were going to retire for the night. We have a very big day tomorrow."

Cyborg and Beast Boy stopped and turned, sly expressions plastered on their faces. "Really?" Cyborg drawled with a knowing smile.

"Robin has his first battle with Galfore and following that I will have my first xhandal battle," Starfire insisted. "It is a very important day."

"Uh-huh," Cyborg drawled with a waggle of his eyebrow.

Robin scowled at him briefly before a wicked grin swept across his face. "You got us, Cyborg. We're going go off and have mind blowing, up against the wall, sex. Possibly the roof. All night long." Robin watched in glee as Cyborg's eyes grew saucer-like and his jaw dropped. He saw Beast Boy pale and shrink away and Raven blanch and wrap herself in her cloak to hide. "Seriously dude, lighten up on the innuendos. It's just plain annoying."

"Up against the wall?" Starfire asked curiously.

Robin froze. "Um…"

"I did not know-" Starfire began, with a questioning finger to her lips, her expression all innocence.

Raven bolted with Beast Boy not far behind her. "Goodnight," they called as one as they dashed into their respective rooms.

"Perhaps Cyborg could explain-" Starfire continued, turning to their last remaining friend.

"I gotta go," he said as he, too, bolted to his room.

As his door swung closed Starfire burst out laughing. Robin grinned before quickly securing the common room, making sure all the doors were locked and Cyborg's alarms in place. He took her by the hand and led her off to their room.

Robin quietly closed their bedroom door behind them, snapping the lock in place. He turned to face Starfire, feeling awkward and unsure. She stood just before him, her hands clasped in front of her, looking just as self-conscious as he felt. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. "Um… I guess there is a few things we need to talk about first."

She cocked her head. "Like what?"

"Well… um… Well I guess first of all… um… do you know how humans… um…" What was the word she'd used before? "Couple?"

Starfire giggled and put her hand on his neck. "Robin, do you think I would have invited you earlier if I did not know? Raven supplied me with quite a number of informative books when we first started the dating. I believe she suggested that you might take advantage of my naivete. Human copulation is not so different from the Tamaranian way."

Robin let out a puff of breath in relief. "Oh…wait, how is it different?"

"Tamaranians do not kiss. My people have the ability to learn any language through lip contact. We do not kiss for any other reasons, but I find it quite enjoyable."

He smiled and placed his hands on her hips before another thought struck him. "What about protection? I didn't think about that… I mean… um… I don't have any… and I… er… its not that-"

She smiled. "I am not in morn'lo, so am in no danger of conceiving if that is your concern. I do not know if we are even able to conceive."

"What's morn'lo?"

Her forehead creased slightly. "I believe the translation would be something similar to 'heat'. I have read that earth felines have this and its effects are comparable. We become impassioned with desires and it is the only time that a Tamaranian woman can conceive. I already take zarlathil, a supplement that suppresses it and have done since I underwent transformation."

"Oh." His palms were sweaty beneath his gloves and he swallowed nervously. "Um…"

"Robin," she said softly, shifting her hand from his neck to his shoulder and moved away from him. "We do not have to do this. If you are nervous, we can wait-"

Robin pulled her toward him and attached his lips to hers, kissing her hungrily and stopping anything else she had to say. She responded eagerly, her hands snaking around his neck. His hands slowly climbed up her back to pull her closer to him. She lifted one leg and hooked it behind his knee. He grabbed onto her raised leg, running his hands up the outside of her leg and beneath her skirt to grasp her bottom.

She pulled her hands from behind her neck to snap off his cape and allow it to flutter to the ground, before pulling off her gloves, their mouths never leaving the others. His utility belt soon clattered to the floor. He removed his hand from her bottom to slide it up her neck, reaching for the latches of her gorget. After a minute fumbling, he pulled his lips away from hers to peer over her neck. Okay, how does this come off?

She giggled and dropped her leg to the floor, before reaching back and unlatching the gray neck plate. She tossed it aside while he yanked off his gloves, before reattaching their lips. They kissed heatedly for a while before she tugged his shirt from his pants, running her fingers up the inside and pulled it over his head. He ran his fingers under the bottom of her top and she raised her arms above her head so he could remove the unwanted garment, before he attacked her mouth once more.

He shifted away, scooping Starfire up and cradling her in his arms and carrying her to the bed. Yanking back the covers, he placed her in the middle and stretched out beside her, his mouth never leaving hers. He leaned in closer, partially covering her, his hand gently kneading her breast.

Robin rolled on top of her and she spread her legs to embrace him. He broke away from her mouth, kissing down her jaw. She arched back her head and whimpered at the touch of his lips on her collarbone. His thumb slid under the strap of her bra and he slipped it off her shoulder and down her arm, pulling it down until it exposed her breast. His hands were warm as he fondled her, gently touching her nipple with his fingers, as he slowly kissed down her chest, savoring each kiss. She was so gorgeous and her skin was so exquisite and warm, it was like touching liquid sunshine.

His mouth hovered over her nipple, wondering if he dared. She whimpered in anticipation, her body arching up to meet him as his mouth closed over her nipple. She tasted so good and he felt warmth spreading through his loins. His slid his thumb under the other bra strap, sliding it down over her shoulder until his hand could cup her other breast. Slowly and in time with his suckling, he massaged her breast, his thumb tormenting her nipple.

She moaned throatily, her hands grasping at his head. Her back seemed to be arching of its own accord, pushing her up against Robin's mouth, demanding.

He slipped a hand under her, lifting her upward toward him from the middle of her back. She followed; her head rolled back, as he quickly unsnapped her bra and cast it aside. He lay her back on the bed, giving her a searing kiss, feeling the warm heat of her breasts pressed against his chest.

She latched onto him, her arms around his shoulders, her legs wrapped around his waist. He moaned into her mouth as she ground against him. He shifted, heading back down toward her breast and she sucked in a gasp as he began to suckle once more.

The torture was unbearable. There was a pressure rising within him, a desperation that begged to be fulfilled. She was making such delightful noises as she writhed underneath the touch of his lips and his hands and each noise was sending a pulse of delight through his groin.

Her fingers drifted down his chest and tickled over his hard stomach muscles, before catching onto his green pants. She slid a single finger beneath his pants, sweeping it along the base of his abdomen and he groaned from the tingling electricity she was creating. Part of him couldn't believe this was finally happening, the other part, a much larger part was rejoicing.

"Starfire," he whispered huskily, burying his head into her chest, before moving up to entangle their lips together.

She swept her hands down over his backside underneath his pants causing Robin to break away from her mouth to groan. He saw her smile secretly to herself before she sliding her hands over his hips, bringing them over the front of his legs. As she traced a single finger along the center of the boxers, brushing the hardness beneath, his body stiffened and his breathing hitched at the sensations coursing through him. He leaned into her touch as she slipped her hand inside his boxers began to fondle him lightly, her deft fingers exploring. He'd never known it could feel that good and he allowed her to touch and play while his head spun in anticipation.

When he could no longer stand her teasing fingers, Robin pulled away, sitting up to kick off his boots and pull off his pants and socks. He reached for her, yanking off her boots and tossing them aside. She arched her back, lifting her bottom off the bed so he could slide her small purple skirt off. He ran a hand up her body as he lay between her legs once more, separated only by their underwear.

There wasn't anything holding him back now as he devoured her lips, his hands roaming all over her body. He moved, sliding half off her body, as his hand glided down her stomach and under her lacy knickers to cup her slick opening. He slipped a finger inside, feeling her moist warmth, before exploring the flesh outside the passage as gently as he could. He'd read that human woman had some sort of infamous spot that was incredibly pleasurable and he wondered if Tamaranian women had them too. A shock of delight jolted through him as she groaned against his mouth, her fingers clenching suddenly on his back and he concentrated his efforts around the last place he touched.

His pleasure was building, throbbing, and he needed her and by the feel of the warmth between her legs, she needed him too. At least, he hoped she did.

She reached down and wriggled out of her knickers, casting them aside, before spreading her legs for him. Maybe she was ready and he knew that he was too. But this was his first time and a case of the nerves was starting to settle in. He moved, removing his boxers and nestled between her legs. He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers.

"You have to be absolutely sure," he murmured softly. Please, oh please let her be sure, he silently begged.

"I am." She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him down toward her. "I love you," she whispered, her eyes shining with more love than he'd ever imagined.

"I love you," he replied, staring at the emotion pouring from her eyes. He hesitated, suddenly besieged with doubt, sickened by the strange fluttering in his stomach. Were they really going to do this? What if he hurt her? What if he wasn't any good? What if he climaxed too quickly and she didn't?

You cannot hurt me, she purred into his mind, wiggling her hips against him. Please Robin.

He nodded anxiously before biting down on his lip and inched forward. There was a moment of blindness probing, embarrassing clumsiness, and graceless repositioning before he slipped inside her. He gulped in a breath as her warmth cradled him before nuzzling her neck. Oh, she was so warm and moist and it was like she was touching him everywhere at once. He began to thrust, awkwardly at first, but gradually finding a rhythm that suited. The encouraging movement of Starfire's hips soon matched his.

She floated slightly above the bed, overcome with joyful emotions, allowing him to clutch her back. Her own hands roamed his back, grasping, kneading and encouraging as tingling electricity rocked through them. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she gasped and panted as he buried himself deeper and deeper inside her. Grunting, he had to fight to hold back the deep pressure building within him.

"Richard," she moaned, her hips arching to meet his. The sound of his name on her lips and the desire in her voice for him was too much for the tenuous hold he had and he lost it.

One final thrust and he spilled into her, releasing everything he was into her, before slumping against her neck. "Oh, Starfire…"

He closed his eyes, allowing the feeling of contentment to wash over him. She ran her fingers up and down his back, sending shivers down his spine. He raised his head to look at her, pressing his forehead against hers.

"That was incredible," he murmured. She smiled, her eyes still laced with desire and a sudden thought struck him. "Um… Star… did you… um… finish?"

She blinked. "Finish?"

"Yeah… you know… um… climax." He felt a blush creeping down his neck and cursed his fate. He'd just made love with her and he was still worried about using those kinds of words with her.

"Oh." She shook her head. "No."

He felt the blood drain from his face. "Oh god, Star. I'm sorry. I just couldn't hold back any longer."

She rubbed her nose against his, a sweet smile on her lips. "It is fine, Robin. It is our first time and it was very pleasurable. Surely you did not expect everything to happen at once? We are learning."

"Yeah, well… it would have been nice."

She gave him a sly smile. "So we can try again later."

He grinned. "Sounds like a plan." He shifted, sliding out of her, pulling her back down out of the air and onto the bed. He pulled up the blankets around them before lying by her side, his hand drawing lazy circles on her stomach, his legs entwined with hers. "I love you Star."

"I love you too," she murmured quietly and snuggled in close.

Author's Note: Quick word on morn'lo, Tamaranians are descended from a feline race, so one could expect they would have something like cat heat.