Gordon’s Surprise
At the beginning of Gordon’s Pride when Gordon lashes out at Hanna with his power for going through his house and gasp, cleaning;” he is shocked when his power touches hers. The reason why is because his power line responds. He might have thought his grandfather told a good story, but that was a detail he remembered. When he showed up at the cabin, do you think he intended to claim her right away?
I think his plan was to wait and get to know her before he made a decision. In the back of his mind, instinct or no, he thought he could walk away if she were completely unsuitable. In fact he leaves to speak to his sister and Tam before going to back to her, so there is some element of free choice involved in the mating bonds that the planet uses.