Ocean's Breath Plateau [m] i was made to love you

She knew it to be true as his words trickled into her ear. Her belly clenched pleasantly at his touch, chills prickling her warm skin. The time for words ended quickly, and she let herself succumb to his touch, relishing in the familiar movement of body-against-body. There was a sweet roughness to the seal hunter's touch that she had felt from no other. What was business last year became pure pleasure this night beneath a waning gibbous moon.

Chakliux understood her culture in ways that others did not—could not. And while she did not think to become wife to him, Sialuk knew deep down that their bond was one that would not break because of it. Sweet smells and warmth embraced her, and for a time, the starwoman lost herself to a man she had once nursed back to health. A man who had not one or two, but three wives to his name (though one was unaccounted for).