Free Shepherd by Piers Anthony Page A

excitement was unabated. “Let's do it again.”
    “Can you?”
    “Let's find out. Maybe if you help me.”
    She wrapped her arms and legs around him and kissed him passionately. Her responsive vagina kneaded his member. Soon a second orgasm formed in the distance, expanded, and erupted in a slow and long culmination.
    It finally faded, and they fell apart. “I never did that before,” he said. “I mean not so rapidly.”
    “I think some of the pheromones remain, facilitating it.”
    “That must be it. Oh, Elen--”
    “Do not speak of commitment. Wait until you have properly considered. We are merely relaxing now.”
    “Merely relaxing,” he agreed. “Stop me when you get tired of it.” He started kissing her, first her mouth, then her face, neck, and breasts. He paused.
    “I am not tired,” she murmured. Then she started kissing him, starting innocently, proceeding to un-innocently. He loved it.
    Soon they were connected again, for a third mutual orgasm. Then they drifted off to sleep, holding hands.
    It was quite a night. By the time dawn arrived, they were both exhausted. So they slept on into the day.
    Meanwhile his mind was going. Could he actually marry her, and qualify her for exchange as his spouse? Or would it turn out to be too complicated? For one thing, this would be the first interplanetary marriage, with the groom not even present physically, only in a native host. Earth authorities might not consider that to be valid. Whose law would govern: Earth's or Colony Jones's? What would be the citizenship of the baby?
    “You are troubled,” Elen said. “Do you wish to tell me?”
    He told her.
    “I think that if we do it, we shall need a lawyer,” she said. “This is further reason for caution.”
    “My father has connections. He can get a lawyer. But it's not just that. You will need a host on Earth. I'm not sure what woman will want to exchange into a pregnant native woman.”
    “I must be pregnant. Otherwise the lout's family and mine will block the marriage. My baby will represent proof of consummation.”
    “Could we return and broach the matter, and go for the baby if that turns out to be necessary?”
    “No. They will isolate us from each other to prevent any such contamination.”
    “Contamination!”
    She looked him in the eye. “Shep, they will oppose this union. There is prejudice on either side against the other, and against Earth. Only a fait accompli will prevent that interference.”
    “So we have to be truly committed before we return.”
    “Yes. To marry me will complicate your life.”
    Yet his love was burgeoning. “Elen, I think I am ready to--”
    She cut him off with a kiss, and followed immediately with sex, preventing him from saying it. She wanted no hasty decision. But he doubted that made a difference.
    Two days later, after more sex than he had ever imagined, she was ready to talk. “The sheep are about to mate. They have settled on their partners.”
    “That means a telepathic barrage of sexual urgency?” he asked.
    “Yes. We will be having almost continuous sex. So now we must decide whether I should allow it to take. Do you wish to marry me?”
    “I do,” he said without hesitation.
    “That was a question, not a proposal.”
    “And an answer, not an acceptance.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you wish me to have my baby, though it will not be of your genetic stock?”
    “Yes.”
    “I can not persuade you otherwise?”
    “Never. I love you.”
    She sighed. “I have tried.”
    “One caveat,” he said.
    She was startled. “This is conditional?”
    “Yes.”
    He could see her brace herself. “What is your condition?”
    “That you allow yourself to love me.”
    She melted. “I will.”
    “Then let's make it formal.” He took a deep breath. “Elen Elf of Colony Planet Jones, will you marry me?”
    “Shep Shepherd of Earth, I will marry you.”
    Then they kissed. They did not have sex at this time, knowing that more than enough