He laughed shortly and roughly.
"Affection is but a prelude to understanding between mates. Tell me," he said with extreme cynicism, "have you laid your egg this year?"
"You—no!" she said quickly. "I was but trying to ease your lot."
He dropped his cynicism instantly. Rhinegallis seemed honestly hurt at his calloused attitude.
"You cannot, Rhinegallis," he said softly. "I am no longer a youth, to whom personal passion and pleasure is the ultimate. I give you a demonstration of affection." He placed both hands upon her shoulders and squeezed gently. He leaned down and kissed her lightly "Not deep, but still a genuine gesture. Do you respond? No, you do not, for your race is utterly alien despite your appearance. Do you then expect me to continue, knowing that you do not even understand why I might derive sensual pleasure from such contact?"
"Even though we be alien," she said, "the fact that you do enjoy contact might give me—"
"Stop rationalizing," he said roughly.
"I'm not," she said. "There is a meeting of minds that far exceeds any crude mating of bodies."
"Then," he said with a queer crooked smile, "let's keep this on a mental basis, huh?"