The Gorison Traveler Incident (Veslor Mates #1) Read online

  “I’d only do that again if we wanted to breed a cub.” He led her into the bedroom and steered them to the bed. He lay down and opened his arms.

  She climbed in after him and snuggled close. Brassi liked to hold her, and she liked being held by him. She rubbed her cheek against his silky chest and smiled. “I love that you cuddle.”

  “It’s bonding. Mates do this.”

  “You liked to hold me before we’d officially mated.”

  “I knew you were mine from the start.”

  Her smile grew wider. “We feel right together.”

  He nuzzled the top of her head with his jaw. “We fit perfectly.”

  “We do.” She yawned. “I could go for a nap. I don’t even know what time it is.”

  “You need sleep, but you should eat first.”

  “Later. Right now, I just want to sleep with you.”

  He ran his hand over her back, caressing her. “We’ll eat later. It’s been a full day for us both.”

  “It has.” She kissed his chest and closed her eyes, yawning again. “Good night, Brassi. Thank you for making me your mate.”

  “It’s my honor, Vivian.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Vivian felt a bit shy three days later, when she left Brassi’s quarters with him for the first time. They’d spent the previous days alone, bonding. He’d left to get them food but always returned quickly. Now his crew wanted to see them both together, and she only hoped they would accept her as easily as Brassi had implied. Humans would have a much harder time with her mating to a Veslor. At least, she was pretty sure they would.

  They entered what Brassi called the common room. The males were at a table with plates. Everyone stopped talking to stare at them. Vassi rose to his feet first and ran his gaze over her from head to foot.

  “Hello, Vivian. How are you?”

  “I’m great.” She tightened her hold on Brassi’s hand. Vassi was his brother, family. His reaction mattered the most to her.

  The male came closer and his nostrils flared. He grinned, looking at his brother. “She carries your scent strongly.”

  “She does,” one of the other men agreed. He peered at her with curiosity. “You both showered but your scent is strong. I no longer pick up her Earthling scent. Just yours.”

  “No copulation smells,” another one muttered. “All Brassi. She’s your mate. You did it. Scussusk.”

  Brassi snarled at him. “I warned you, Nessel.”

  Vivian glanced between the two. “What did he say? I really need to learn your language.”

  Vassi waved his hand. “It is a noise we make when we don’t agree with something. It’s not because you mated.” He stepped closer. “We all are happy you are Brassi’s mate. Nessel is unpleasant all the time about many things. He fears all Veslors will automatically mate to your females now, if we copulate with them.”

  She took that in, her mind working it over. “Oh.” She forced herself to look at the upset Veslor. He was a handsome guy, despite the way he scowled…or what passed for one. “I see. That would be a problem, wouldn’t it?”

  Nessel’s eyes narrowed.

  “I mean, humans have sex with each other just for pleasure,” she explained. “It would be scary if we mated accidentally all the time, instead of doing it intentionally.”

  “I volunteer to find out. Do you know any unmated Earthling females who will copulate with me?”

  She jerked her attention to a smiling Veslor male. He was handsome, too. “Not really.”

  “What about that female you were speaking to on your vessel? The one in your ear.”

  “Abby. I don’t know. Right now she’s got other things to worry about.” Like staying alive and keeping Commander Alderson from destroying evidence. Guilt hit next as she thought about the danger Abby could be in.

  “Enough,” Brassi snapped. “You’re making my mate sad.”

  “I’m fine,” she told him. “Abby’s still on the Gorison Traveler. Has anyone heard from her?” She glanced around at Brassi’s crew.

  One of them shook his head. “Not since she asked us to come back for you.” He paused. “I’m Kavs.”

  “Hi.” Vivian waved to him. “It’s nice to meet all of you, and thank you for rescuing me twice.”

  One of them chuckled. “I’m Ruggler. No thanks required. Brassi didn’t want to leave you in the first place. He was happy when the call came and eager to get you back and on our ship.”

  Another male snickered. “Eager to get her under him and claim her as his mate.”

  “Yoniv,” Brassi growled.

  The male laughed. “Truth. You mated her.” He winked at Vivian. “Welcome to the Brar and our family.”

  She took in their faces. Only Vassi and Brassi looked similar. “You’re all related by blood?”

  “No.” Brassi led her to the table and helped her sit. “We grew up together though, like family. Our bond is strong.” He left her to go get two plates of food from a serving counter.

  Vassi sat across from her. “We form groupings.”

  “I’d love to hear more.” She gave a thankful smile to Brassi as he sat a plate of meat, what looked like steamed rice, and some kind of purple veggies in front of her. He left again and came back with two cups of the berry-scented drink before sitting next to her.

  “Groupings are tight relations with close friends who grow up together,” Ruggler explained. “We choose to stay together throughout our lives.”

  “Work together. Live together,” Nessel grumbled. “Even if we don’t want to.”

  Some of the males chuckled. It was Brassi who spoke. “No one else wanted Nessel in their grouping. So we welcomed him into ours.”

  The male made a low rumble sound but that was it.

  Vassi met her gaze. “He’s got an unpleasant outlook on most things. It annoys many. We’re used to it. He’s family in our minds.”

  She nodded. “What happens if someone doesn’t have a grouping to belong to?”

  Brassi stiffened slightly.

  She looked at him. “Was that offensive to ask? I’m sorry.”

  “It’s a sad thing,” Ruggler replied. “The males and females don’t survive long on their own.” He touched his chest. “Alone, we’re empty inside. Veslors are built to be together in groups. It also offers protection. We fight together. Watch out for each other. Care for our grouping.”

  All the males nodded, even Nessel.

  “I like that.” Veslor groupings sounded nice to her.

  Ruggler leaned closer. “Humans don’t have this?”

  She shook her head. “Not really. We have family and good friends but we don’t stay together from childhood to the end of our lives. Only couples stay together once they’re married, but not always for the rest of their adult lives.”

  “Married?” Kavs asked.

  “Mated. But if it doesn’t work out, they divorce. My parents did that.”

  “What is that?” Nessel stared at her intently.

  “Nothing you need to know,” Brassi grumbled. “You’ll just worry Vivian will leave me. But she won’t.”

  “He’ll die if you leave him!” Nessel shot to his feet, knocking over his drink, and snarled at her. “You can’t do that.”

  Brassi stood and snarled back. “Don’t talk to my mate with that tone!”

  “Whoa!” Vivian stood, too. “I’m never leaving Brassi. Please don’t fight.” She glanced at them, then the others. “There’s a lot we need to learn about each other. I accept Veslor mating rules and swear to never leave Brassi. I’m with him for life.”

  “It’s not a rule.” Vassi spoke quietly. “We mate for life, but if our mate dies or leaves, we give up living…or wish we had.” He glanced at Nessel, then gave Vivian a telling look. “The males change inside. Lose their heart if they survive the loss of a mate.”

  Vivian sat down. “I see.” She looked at Nessel, feeling sad for him, pretty sure Vassi was trying to convey that’s what had happened to his friend. S