Yes, it was true, she thought sadly, as Orion expressed openly his inability to understand her. He never could, unless she spoke up, and revealed her secret, and let him off the hook. Part of this unfathomable attraction he continued to feel for her had be from her mark. That’s what it did to people. She knew this. But he didn’t know, about her…
She couldn’t let him blame himself though, and his next words roused her. “Oh, no, Orion! No! You aren’t disgusting. You…you just want what all men want.” That hadn’t come out quite the way she had wanted it to, so she appended, “I mean, it’s natural, right? When two people find each other attractive? I’m sorry, that I made it seem so wrong. I…I wasn’t thinking. It just, it was…the place. You caught me by surprise, and yes…I felt it too, that longing.” Oh yes, indeed, she had, so very much so. “I felt it too…” she repeated, her voice trailing off.
His hands had gone to the child’s head again, and Basha’ir looked at them, so gentle and skilled. She hadn’t been at all sure that he would come, in response to her note. But he had, because he was a good man. It was sad that he was so full of self-doubt. And she hated that she was adding to it.
Her free hand went to rest on his shoulder. “Orion, let’s…let’s try again, shall we? I like you, vey much. I’ve…I’ve missed you. Once…once Nondi is recovered, maybe, we can meet again. Spend a few hours together? You are a good man, Orion. You should never doubt that. Even when crazy and mystifying women make you think otherwise.” Her eyes dropped but she gave a half-hearted little laugh.
When her eyes lifted again, she said, “I understand, if you don’t want to do this again, but…I would like to. I really would.”