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Nilia?”
    “A Wyoran in heat is not my idea of a good companion for an evening. If I simply wanted sex, there are plenty of women on my world who would oblige. I want a companion and I would like her to be you.”
    Her hands on her towel clenched. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
    “When I woke, Zeering gave me information on a new trend sweeping the planets. Avatars are choosing mates and he thinks that it might help me adjust to my return to his world.”
    His hand was still on her arm and he stroked her slick skin slowly. The tingles that he was sending through her shook her to the core.
    “Wait. I am a gunner, I am not a mate.” She pressed one hand against his chest in an effort to hold him back. He was suddenly far too close.
    The electric feeling ran up her arm and he felt far too good under her hand. She wanted to caress, to stroke and then to taste.
    “You are not merely a gunner. You are a woman who follows her own instincts. What are your instincts telling you now?” He continued his slow touch.
    “That you are attracted to Nilia and that I should be getting back to my quarters. Excuse me.”
    She didn’t wrench away, but she gave a visible shudder and pulled herself away, heading for the women’s showers. She was going to make the gel as cold as she could. Her body wasn’t going to handle any more heat.
    The showers were on a gender lock, just in case any of the hot-tub antics needed to be cooled off. She slipped through the field just in time to hear the energy crackle in protest.
    Inside the showers, she set the controls for cold and flipped her towel over the edge of the unit. The gel covered her skin and calmed the inflammation in her nerves. It cooled her in the seconds before it shattered and took the liquid from the hot tub with it.
    Breathing deeply to calm herself, she got dressed and left the locker room, sneaking down the hall to her quarters.
    Sneaking around on the ship was all around wrong, but if she was confronted with Issul one more time, she was going to do more than simply walk away. Her instincts were screaming at her to lunge into his arms and find out if he tasted as good as he looked, but her sex drive was the one part of herself she had always kept under the firm grip of logic.
    Merkil was loitering in the hall near her room. “What is it, Merkil?”
    He smiled at her and it was a seductive smile. “I came to offer you another chance. After all, you are of a rare kind, I am of a rare kind…”
    “Selna are not rare.”
    “Male Selna are. There are less than a handful of us out in the worlds.”
    “I am aware. I am also aware that you were booted off your home world for your misbehaviour and that you have not had a serious relationship ever. I don’t do casual sex, Merkil.”
    “With you, it would be far from casual. You have so much passion just below the surface.” Merkil reached his hand out to her, but it never landed.
    Issul stood next to her and wrenched his hand back with a casual shift. “She said no, Selna. Back away.”
    Merkil tried to swing at Issul, but the Avatar just bent his arm and soon, the Selna was on his knees. “You think she will want you instead? That woman is cold. I was merely trying to thaw her out a little.”
    Sebena felt the shame that he instilled in her with that one comment. It was not the first time she had heard it. Men took her analytical approach to relationships as cold, but she merely needed to feel a little spark to fan the flames. No one had truly gotten that spark to flare. Until now.
    “Issul, you can let him go. He won’t try anything. I have already had a complaint listed against him for aggressive behaviour. One more and he is off the Sheppan.” Her threat caused Merkil to wince.
    The Selna rubbed his arm where Issul had held him. “I will be on my way. Good evening to you both.”
    She nodded and watched him disappear before she turned to the Avatar. “Why did you follow me?”
    He looked into her eyes