Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,8

only two that could hear a waltz playing.

As that song ended and another began, Synclare stepped back and picking up the pace, started to move rhythmically to the music.

Lo’San watched with wide eyes hungrily devouring her every move. “Yes, it is necessary that you do not dance like this with any other male. Please,” he added for the sake of not wanting to sound like he was telling her what to do.

“As long as you’re here to dance with, I won’t,” she answered, feeling a little flirty and a little powerful now that she understood he was jealous of any other male dancing with her.

Lo’San nodded and began to imitate her movements, dancing opposite her. His body moved in a manner that made Synclare think of the male strippers from the ‘80’s back on Earth. Lo’San could have put them all to shame.

“If you let me know when you wish to dance, I will escort you,” Lo’San said.

“You will have to invite me. That’s how it works. The male asks the female for a date. That’s how she knows he’s interested.”

Lo’San stopped dancing. His brow was furrowed. “On my planet, the females pursue the males, obsessively. They choose the one they want and make their intentions known,” Lo’San said.

Synclare stopped dancing and looked at him curiously. “I’m not from your planet. I will not pursue you like that. If you want me, you’ll have to let me know.”

“I have already indicated that I would like to dance with you. If I am more bold and you do not agree, how should I proceed?” he asked, worried that she’d expect him to leave Command Warship 1 as the females on his planet expected a male to exit societal circles for a year to save them embarrassment if the male rejected them.

“I’ll let you know if I don’t agree,” Synclare answered. “But if you don’t take the lead and make an effort to show me you want me, we’ll never have a chance.”

Lo’San thought about it, then gave her a single, sharp nod. If she required that he make it official, he’d make it official. “I am General Lo’San, second in command of Command Warship 1. It is my intention to have you claim me as your male. It is my intention that you will never have reason to consider any other male. I will never consider another female. It is my intention that we have a bond not unlike Zha Quin’s and Vivian’s.”

Synclare stood there smiling and blushing. When he was finished with his declaration, she didn’t hesitate. She stepped up to him and reached up, pulling his face down to hers, then pressed her lips against his. Lo’San slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her as close to him as possible, pressing his lips to hers for as long as she’d allow. When they finally released one another’s lips, Lo’San stared into her eyes, still only inches from her face. “Are my intentions acceptable?” he asked.

“Yes, very much so,” Synclare answered.

Chapter 3

Synclare and Lo’San spent the evening dancing and laughing. Every time Vivian and Elisha stepped onto the dance floor and Synclare would move closer to them, Lo’San would step back to allow her to dance with her friends. Not only out of observance of the fact that she’d come to dance with them this night, but because he didn’t want Zha Quin or Ba Re’ questioning why he was dancing with their females.

It was during one of these times that Rokai wandered over to where he stood at the girls’ table.

“What do you want, Rokai?” Lo’San asked irritatedly.

“I came to ask how your evening is progressing,” Rokai said, watching Rosie dancing with Vivian and the rest of their friends.

“Sink Lar did not dance with six other males,” Lo’San said, his irritation clear while still staring straight ahead as he watched over the females.

“No, she did not. But, it certainly got you here in a hurry, didn’t it?” Rokai asked, grinning.

“Why would you tell such untruths?” Lo’San asked.

“Because it’s past time for you to claim Synclare.”

“She will have to claim me. It is our way,” Lo’San said. “I’ve made my intentions known, now it is in her hands.”

Rokai’s brows shot up and he regarded Lo’San with a shocked expression. “She is not like you! She is human. You will have to claim her, or you will not be claimed!”

Lo’San snapped his gaze to Rokai and watched him thoughtfully. “I’ve just told her it is my intention to have