Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
My human wife is asleep in the pile of blankets I’ve left for her, her arms curled around one of the pillows. Her hair is combed out and neatly plaited, the ends tied with some of the ribbons I gave her. A few strands have come loose, the dark curls fanning over the blankets. My fingers itch to touch one, to see if it’s as soft when dry as it looks, but I don’t want to disturb her. She needs her sleep.
I’m so focused on the picture Vali makes that I almost step on the tray that she’s left for me. Atop a plate, she’s set several dried pieces of fruit, arranged in a flower pattern, and a handful of nuts accompanied by some of the dried meat I purchased for her. Beside it is a cup that has a fruity scent and a pink liquid in it. I bring it to my nose and sniff it. Another tea? I take a sip and the water is tepid but sweet. She clearly left this out for me, and my guilt returns.
When will I be at ease with what she offers? Something has to change between us.
I take the tray she left for me and carry it across the cave so I can eat without disturbing her. Sitting at the water’s edge, I munch on the treats and watch her sleep, considering. The dried food makes me think of the trader and his daughter. She’d suggested that I take Vali to my family, to have a ceremony there. That it will feel like a true marriage if done in front of family.
At that point, if Vali reaches for me, she does so because she knows she’s my wife, not because she feels the need to please me.
It’s the perfect solution—once she feels better, I will take her to the flotilla. We will go before the leader and speak vows in front of everyone, and then she will truly be my wife.
I wake up with a crick in my neck from sleeping on the edge of the pool, and something warm pressed up against my back.
Vali.
She must have woken up and joined me. I roll onto my back, looking over at her, and her eyes are open. She gives me a shy smile, her body wrapped in blankets. “You looked cold. I thought we might share heat. Is that all right?”
My throat seems full of knots. She is so near, her soft skin pressed against mine. “I am not cold.”
“Oh.” Her expression falls.
“But you can join me.”
Her smile returns, and she slips an arm around my waist, pulling the blanket with her. She tucks her chin against my shoulder, watching me. “Is this where you normally sleep when you’re here in the grotto?”
I shake my head. “No. I am only here because I didn’t wish to disturb you.”
“You can disturb me. I’m your wife.” And she beams another smile my way.
I do not know what to say to all of this, so I simply grunt.
Her hand strokes over my side and I freeze. It seems a small, simple gesture and that I should ignore it. I can’t, though, because both of my foolish cocks rise once more. “I hope it’s all right that I rearranged some things to give additional living space,” she murmurs, watching my expression. “I tried to remember where everything goes so if you don’t approve, I’ll move it back.”
“Do what you like.”
Vali grins at me. “Are you just being accommodating because I’m your wife?”
“Yes?”
She chuckles, running her fingers over my skin. “I should complain about that, but I can’t bring myself to. It’s rather nice.”
I just watch her, my heart thudding in my ears. Her nearness is distracting, to the point that thoughts float out of my head and disappear, and I am left with nothing but silence between my ears. All because she smiles and her face lights up.
She pokes my side. “How do you live here with all this clutter anyhow?”
“I…don’t live here?” At her confusion, I elaborate. “I spend more time on Akara’s back, raiding. Sometimes I visit family, but most of the time I just…drift.”
Vali bites her lip. “Am I going to be keeping you from your lifestyle? Or will you be leaving me behind when you go raiding?”
I frown. “Why would I leave you behind?”
She shrugs, the movement nudging her chin against my arm. “I don’t know. I just thought you wouldn’t want me around. You do leave a lot.”
“Because you can’t swim with me.”
“Oh, so when I feel better we’ll swim together?”
I haven’t given it much thought, but I also didn’t think about leaving her behind, either. So I grunt. It seems as good an answer as any.
“I do need to get a fish for Lord Vor,” she says. “I haven’t forgotten my prayer to him.”