3

Alithya's POV

We moved down into a tunnel, and I walked between the two warriors. I glanced back in the direction we had come from and slowly glanced at the large warrior who was to be my temporary mate.

He had the size of a Celestial warrior and that pleased me. But what was he like personality wise? Is he a firm man, or a man who has no path?

"Your husband and I had fought in many battles together, Alithya." the Armorer told. I looked at her golden helmet now and slowly nodded.

"Yes he has told me many stories of his travels to your home world. I am sorry that it was taken from you." I replied. Paz's helmet turned to look at me.

"We but move forward now as your people are doing." the female said and I nodded. The hall expanded into a room where I could see many different weapons and a work station were set up. The two stopped and turned to me. "My presence will not be needed for this entire introduction. Your husband and I spoke about your responsibilities and for that, that means you will always be welcome to our camp. But if there is ever danger or a need to give you instruction you must follow them without question."

I nodded immediately.

"I understand." I replied, and she looked at Paz before giving a brief nod.

"Once you two have spoken, Paz will be your guide in our camp." she announced and now walked around me and disappearing down the hall we had come from. Now it was just us two, alone in this seemingly dark place. I slowly looked back at him and he looked down at me and now I didn't know what to say.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry."

My gratitude melded with his apology and we both were silent immediately again. He motioned for me to continue.

"Please."

I felt a knot in my throat and nodded.

"Thank you… for taking on this role, I know it must put you in a position to have to give your body and attention to a stranger of a species you are not familiar with." I replied. He nodded.

"This is the way… I am sorry you have to be away from your husband for so long. You are in my care so that means I will protect you and carry out the duties I was given." he explained. I was tensed for a moment before nodding again. He then raised his large arm toward two large rectangular fallen pillars. "Let us sit and talk for a moment?" I nodded and we both moved over to sit down across from each other, his armor causing a somewhat loud clanging noise on the stone.

"I am sure we both have questions." I said, and he remained still almost like a statue.

"I am unfamiliar with Celestials and their mating cycles. Maybe we should discuss that first." he said carefully as if not wanting to offend me. I sighed gently and nodded.

"Yes. For two Celestials who wish to start courting, the male will usually present a gift to the woman. If she accepts she will in return present the male with a gift. That would be the beginning of their courtship. After that, the two then take time to familiarize each other's bodies using their senses."

I was planning to continue, but he slightly raised his hand.

"What does that mean, using the senses?" he asked. I nodded and placed my hand on my chest.

"It is an intimate moment when the two beings stand bare before the other looking over each other's bodies, feeling each other's bodies, tasting each other's bodies, listening to each other's bodies, and smelling each other's bodies so they can prepare to become one-"

"You must know something… Mandalorians cannot remove their helmets for any living being. This means you will not be able to ever see my face." he replied. I winced. So, I would never be able to feel the touch of my new mates' lips. He saw my sadness and looked down. "I am sorry."

I shook my head quickly.

"No, you have your rules, and I will respect them. This is just business so we will do what we must." I said weakly. He nodded.

"Continue?" he asked, and I nodded.

"After that is done, the woman must see how the man reacts to her vaginal honey." I replied. He tilted his head, his entire body seeming to shift.

"Vaginal… honey?" he asked, and I nodded feeling my cheeks warm at the thought of further explaining.

"There are many names for the fluids between a female's legs… we call it honey. A female's honey can have different reactions for a male's cock. She will take some of her honey and place it on his cock and if he reacts well then they will start the first preseason rut, following?" I asked. He just nodded silently. I nodded. "Preseason ruts are just mating for pleasure; a female cannot get pregnant then but once her heat starts then that will be the moment she can." I replied before giving a curt not to show I was done speaking. Paz just stared for a moment not saying anything. I was beginning to wonder what part of my explanation worried him the most.

"For mating do you prefer slow? Are there any other mating customs I should know in order to… please you?" he asked. Now I looked away already feeling my stomach churn at what I was going to say next.

"My husband and I... enjoy both slow or rough mating. Roughness shows the power of the warrior. Each female has markings on her body passed down from her mother and her grandmother and so on and so forth. These markings build with energy from our bodies. If a male does a good job mating and causes the woman to expel her energy when she orgasms, then that will prove he is a good mate and can please her. I have always released energy with husband. You will need to be taught things in order to please me." I said lowly. He nodded.

"I understand… am I allowed…" his voice trailed off, and he looked away now as if feeling embarrassed. I looked at him curiously.

"Please continue." I replied. We needed to have an open conversation in order for this agreement to work.

"Am I allowed to teach you things that would please me?" he muttered, and I felt mild relief at his question and I nodded.

"Yes although as uncomfortable as this situation is, we should both still be able to enjoy the mating and feel good." I replied. He nodded once before looking back up at me.

"Another thing you should know, I have a son." he replied. Now I was completely thrown off and I stood immediately in surprise.

"You have a woman!" I asked. Now many thoughts were moving through my head. Is he being forced to be my mate? Was he given an option and agreed, but if so then why if he already had a woman and offspring? Paz immediately stood up and held a hand up.

"No. I have no woman. She remained in my life only to carry my son and then left. I just thought I would be honest with you." he said quickly, and I was still for a moment looking down. Strange, to mate with someone, but not become a bonded pair and start a family. It was unheard of in my colony.

"I see… I understand." I replied. Paz's body loosened as if he had been very tensed before, and he nodded.

"How often do you go into heat?" he asked.

"Every four weeks. As of right now we have two weeks until my next heat." I answered. He nodded.

"Then we will need to start our courting very soon if we are to be prepared for your first heat then." he said. My eyes brightened a bit. He wanted to do the Celestial courting with me? I was not expecting that at all. I figured we would just be around only for mating and then go about our day. This made me inwardly happy since it would mean actually getting to know each other and not simply be around each other just to share each other's bodies.

"Alright." I said lightly.

"What is to happen if you are to become pregnant?" he asked.

"In a situation like this when a temporary mate is assigned, if the woman gets pregnant she will care for the child until her mate comes back and then he will raise the child as to not inconvenience the other male and it will be accepted into our colony." I replied.

"No." he immediately said, with a firm commanding tone, which made me tilt my head in confusion. "I don't want to give up any child that is mine." I was still very confused.

"Why not? Your job isn't to father, only mate." I replied. He shook his head.

"That is not how I am. Either we care for the child together, or you leave it with me when your mate comes, or I will not continue with this agreement." he said. This male was so… odd. His words confused me more, but I nodded.

"I understand and accept your terms." I replied, and he nodded.

"Good. Is there anything else we should discuss, I will need to show you around the camp and get you acquainted with others before you go back to the town." he explained. I thought about it for a moment stepping closer to the warrior, his helmet leaning down as he kept his eyes on me. I looked up at him and let my eyes roam over his armor for a moment. I even lightly poked at his massive chest plate.

"Are you human under all of this armor?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied lowly. I nodded.

"Do you truly wish to mate with me?" I asked.

"I do." he said lowly. Why? I wanted to know why he would accept. But the why did not matter now. I looked down at his gloved hands and very carefully moved to take his hand in my own. He didn't recoil, and I slowly raised his large arm up and he allowed me to. I could feel the sheer weight of his arm and I wondered how much muscle was under that armor. Slowly I leaned forward and gently ran my fingers quietly over the rough palm of his glove.

"Can you feel this?" I ask softly looking up at Paz now who still remained as still as ever.

"Vaguely." he answered lowly, and I nodded and slowly raised my cloak and placed his hand under the fabric of my loose lace shirt. I pressed his palm to my left breast and closed my eyes and breathed evenly letting the beating of my heart radiate through his glove.

"Do you feel my heart, Paz Vizsla?" I asked. His entire body seemed to rise now.

"I do, Alithya. It is strong." he said, and I nodded slowly at this and gently removed his hand from me.

"Good, then that means you have a heart under all of that armor." I replied before taking even breaths. I took a step back and nodded. There was still much for us to do that did not include words, but I knew that would come in time if he was already wanting to start the courting ritual. He nodded.

"Then let me show you the camp and we can start the journey of our agreement." he said. I nodded.

"Yes." I replied softly, and we turned and began to move toward the hall we came through.