Chapter 19

Ellax

" O n how often…" My new wife echoed my words before stammering to a stop. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means…" I caressed her chin with my thumb, testing the feel of her skin against my fingertips. It was silky. Entrancing. I couldn't say I was happy about this odd turn of events, but she was a beautiful female. "…that I am allowed to bed you whenever I wish."

I do not know what I was expecting. I thought I was seducing her. She must not have agreed. In a rapid motion, she reached up and knocked my hand aside, expelling a harsh laugh.

"You're delusional. Get out of my way."

She spun about, heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

She halted. "I don't know. I guess to request my own room for the remainder of this voyage."

Now it was I who laughed. "You cannot do that."

"I can't?" She whirled, facing me aggressively. "Why not? Although you're my legal husband, you don't own me. I agreed to give you a baby in exchange for everything we discussed. I didn't agree to you having sex with me anytime you want. I didn't agree to sharing a room with you and pretending to be a happy couple. The Asterion Council might force us to remain married for a while, but they can't force us to pretend that we're happy together."

"You agreed to feign happiness," I reminded her, walking towards her slowly. I truly thought she was ready to bolt. I had no wish to scare her.

"I did not."

"You did. You agreed to be a diplomat's wife. To make me look good. A portion of that is, if not feigning happiness, feigning that we do not hate each other. Druea, my first wife, was quite skilled at this."

I could see that this gave her pause. She may have momentarily confounded me by making demands I'd anticipated, but perhaps she'd forgotten who I was. I'd not risen to my esteemed positions by knowing nothing of bargaining, politics, or subtle nuances.

"Fine," she said tightly, "I'll concede that point. I won't demand my own room. I'll keep up the charade if you behave yourself."

"Behave myself?"

"Yes." Her nod was short, sharp. "That means no forcing me into sex."

Something dark and ugly seized my chest. "I have never forced a female into sex," I swore, stepping towards her. "How dare you insinuate so?"

"How dare I?" She laughed, short and sharp. "You do realize, Overlord, that when you put human women on your breeder's lists, you're basically forcing them into sex? Some go willingly, true. Others comply because they don't have a choice. That's coercion."

My hands at my side, I clenched all ten of my fingers, one by one.

I could not argue her point. The matter was distasteful, I supposed. Council had decreed it necessary in order to rebuild our population. Still—

"Be that as it may," I said, "I, personally, have never compelled a female to share my bed, no matter her species. I will not break that now with you."

"Why am I not comforted?" she sneered.

Stars, the woman seemed incapable of not exchanging words with me!

"You literally just tried to make it a condition that you got to have sex with me whenever you wanted."

"I did, but where did I imply that I would force you?"

"The implication was there, because I probably won't want to have sex as much as you do."

"Oh?" I tilted my head, appraising her. "And why would you assume so?"

"Why would I—because," she laughed harshly, "I've been married before. I've had sex. I'm no virgin. I know what it's like. And I know I could happily live without it for the rest of my life."

Now, that was odd. Never had I heard a female admit such a thing. Even my late wife had always left our bed satisfied.

Or so I'd assumed.

She'd certainly joined me there often enough, and of her own volition. Truthfully, the bedsport was one of the few things in our marriage that had gone well. She'd had her other partners. I'd had mine. That didn't mean we'd not come together often, though.

"Perhaps that was your experience with your human husband," I said, gauging her reaction as I crept closer. "You are not married to him now."

"No, I'm married to you. Another cheater."

"I vowed to be faithful to you."

"So did he."

Frustrated, I struck one fist into the opposite palm, clenching it to restrain my anger. It seemed impossible to make progress with this woman when she was sober. All she wished to do was argue. Was there another way to change her mind?

"I will be faithful to you," I said, walking over to her. This time, I did not stop until I was close enough to wrap an arm about her waist. I drew her close, whether she liked it or not. "And if you agree to lie with me whenever I wish, I promise it will be well worth your while."

She strained away slightly, but not enough to break my hold. Her focus was fixed on me. I detected a subtle change in her breathing.

"Is that so?"

"Oh yes," I replied, lowering my face to hers. "It is very much so."

Before she could open that mouth in more protests or angry words, I closed it with a kiss.