Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Ah. Credits. That's a problem. "I have left my wallet in my other trou."
Her brow goes up. "Please, please tell me you're not one of these losers that married a woman because she can take care of you? If that's the case I am going to have you arrested so fucking quickly—"
"I have credits," I tell her indignantly. "They're just not on me."
"Mmhmm. Sounds just like every other hustler."
I sputter. "I am not hustling anything. Maeve and I have a mutually beneficial agreement. She's satisfied. I'm satisfied. You wait and see the smile on her face when she comes here." Scowling, I snatch the box from her. "I don't know what you have against Maeve's happiness, but it is all that I want."
At the moment. I'd also like my throne back but that won't help me win an argument, so I don't bring it up.
Simone looks startled at my vehement reply. "I don't have anything against her happiness at all," she protests. "I just...I want it to be real for her. We've all gone through so much. That's all."
I decide to let this go. It's clear that I've won the argument and there's no sense in pushing it further. We both want the same thing—Maeve's friendship. "Yes, well, I have no intention of hurting her."
I'm a little surprised to find that I'm speaking the truth. At some point in this, I've come to appreciate and like Maeve.
It probably has something to do with her elegant shoulders. Actually it's probably just the afterglow of sex. I'm forgetting all the times she made me sleep in the barn simply because I got my cock wet. Even so, my opinion of the human that is now my wife has changed. Nothing wrong with that. I'm allowed to change my mind.
Simone uses her tongs to pick up what looks like a meat-filled bun, wraps it in paper, and hands it to me. "On the house. New recipe from my friend Ruth-Ann. If you like it, you can go tell her." She uses her head to indicate down the street. "She's with Kazex at the new cantina."
I'm just about to take a bite and I freeze in place. "He's back? Already?"
"Yep. I'm surprised too." She seems happy about it though, her eyes shining. "Really thought they'd be gone for longer."
I did, too. And I find that I'm not quite ready to leave just yet.
This is a problem.
CHAPTER
SIXTY-SEVEN
MAEVE
I end up chatting with Daphne for longer than anticipated. Normally she shuts me down with a few sharp looks and commentary on how busy she is, but today, she wants to talk about Lady va'Rin and her children and the clothes they wear. Maybe she's just proud of her current project, but I don't mind. It's a good sign. Maybe we can become friends. I want to invite her over to dinner for more friendly girl-conversation...
...and then I remember I have a husband and he's a big weirdo who hates this planet. He might scare Daphne off. Hm. Maybe I can have a dinner party after he's gone. I can invite several of the town's ladies over to help me get over him. We can drink wine and talk about how terrible men are.
The thought doesn't fill me with excitement, though. I don't really like the idea of him leaving. It's nice to have someone around at all times. It makes me feel less achingly lonely. It makes me feel like there's someone else around I can discuss my problems with. Like everything doesn't fall on my shoulders and my shoulders alone.
Plus there's the sex.
I'm not attached now that we've bumped uglies. It's just that the sex was really freaking good and I'm going to be disappointed if it never happens again. I should do everything I can while he's here to ensure that I get all these needs worked out of my system. If that means pouncing on him every time he turns around...so be it.
My pussy clenches just thinking about it.
"I heard you got married," Daphne comments after we fuss over the cute yellow ribbon adorning one of the children's dresses she's sewing. "What brought that about? Last time you visited you said you were enjoying not having a man around."
"Did I say that? Okay, that does sound a bit like me." I chuckle, inwardly wincing. I was probably chattering away trying to make her comfortable, and one of my favorite “we should be friends” moments was to talk about how good it was to be single. "I don't know. It was just really lonely and I didn't want the rest of my life to be spent alone. I'd like kids at some point. Now seemed like as good a time as any to see about marrying someone to help out around the farm."
Daphne looks thoughtful. "So you just put out a marriage ad or what?"