would become family heirlooms and personal pieces of joy.
“I don’t think so.” She looked around, shrugging. “I have everything I need. It’s not like I have nothing. You have my trunks.”
“Is there anything you would like to do? Maybe talk to a cute male?” Rain grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “That carpenter was a hardworking, attractive male.”
“Who barely noticed I was there because you were in the room,” she retorted. “You are very handsome.”
“I’m also very unavailable, and he wasn’t my type. I outgrew young males like him a few years ago,” Rain said, trying not to be annoyed she had picked up on the carpenter’s attention to him. I knew she was observant. I don’t know how I figured she wouldn’t pick up on the attention I got.
“You outgrew everyone because you fell in love,” she said with a bright smile. “That’s what the priestesses would say if they met you.”
“And you? Have you ever wondered about falling in love?” Rain remembered her mentioning the skills of Amonora’s most devoted weren’t for her, and he didn’t fault her for that. Not everyone could do what they did. Even Varon, who was in the most committed relationship Rain knew, would offer help to someone in real need and would do so without hesitation. For a priest or priestess of Amonora, that normally meant fucking the person and it was truly healing for those who had trauma or reservations. Nevyn took it in stride every time, but it didn’t happen often, which probably helped. Nevyn had once been one of those people who went to Varon in search of healing, which had sparked their relationship and love story.
“No,” she said softly. “I’ve never wondered about it.”
He nearly pulled her out of the crowd to call her out. The expression on her face, the way she bit her bottom lip, and refused to make eye contact, he knew she was lying. Rain was so desperate to know this female, he wanted to scream for the real answer, but she remained locked away inside herself.
“I didn’t think about love until I met Alchan.” Rain hoped telling her more about himself would bring more from her. “I had plenty of sex, but I never met anyone I wanted forever with. Alchan…he was different from the first moment I kissed him. He plays for keeps, and I had to go into our relationship understanding that when he said forever, he meant it.”
“That sounds lovely, but you and Alchan are different from me,” she said, shrugging. “I grew up in a temple where love was talked about all the time, and beautiful things surrounded me. I’ve never really wanted to have sex, and that kind of kills the idea of love, doesn’t it? There needs to be some attraction, at least sometimes.”
“You’ve…” Rain realized what she was saying and ducked his head down to speak softer. He started them walking again, leaving the bustling market and the village entirely as he tried to find the right way to ask. “You’ve never been with anyone?”
“No,” she whispered. “And don’t pity me, please. I’ve never met anyone who made me want to. I’ve had people ask, so the option has been there. I…like to think I’m a little pretty, but no one has ever interested me.”
Rain stared at her for a minute. The Andinna were inherently sexual people, one of the reasons the Elvasi called them barbarians. Females took multiple husbands more often than not, and most males were very fluid with their sexual interest before settling down. Very few Andinna were like Rain or Mat, firmly in one camp or the other.
He had certainly never met an Andinna who wasn’t interested at all.
“I know it’s strange,” she said in her peaceful small voice. She seemed very secure about her lack of a sex life, which was contradictory to the vibe he got when they spoke about love. She’d been lying when she said she never thought about love, but sex? She couldn’t care less if she ever had it. He could see it on her face, the clear disinterest.
“It’s not…I’m not judging you. I’m only slightly confused.” He didn’t want to offend her. She lived a different type of life, and he wanted to know more. “Even…I’ve met Andinna who were slaves and hurt in unimaginable ways, but they still enjoyed…sex. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t care about it at all. We’re a very…” He waved a hand around, hoping she would catch his meaning without him