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She closed her eyes and focussed on the flicks, swirls and twists of his tongue against her. When he slid two fingers into her, she winced at the raw sensation of the touch and whimpered when burning pain swamped the growing pleasure.
He backed away and moved his mouth to her inner thigh, stroking his fingers into her while he licked at the new mark. Her pleasure built and rode the fine edge of pain until she screamed and twisted against him.
He kept licking and sucking at the mark on her skin until she was limp and exhausted, her channel clasping his fingers weakly.
Dirko withdrew his hand and licked his fingers clean of her juices. The dark enjoyment on his face and satisfied smirk couldn’t even make her blush. He had kept her in the waves of orgasm until she had no fight left in her.
“What the heck was that?” She wanted to roll to one side, but her muscles were limp and warm. “None of the other girls’ tags could do that.”
He laughed. “The inks that are used are mixed especially for the Asku. They react with your nervous system in the manner that you just saw. It is why we use our mate’s name for the mark. Few women would ever stroke the name of another.”
She smiled and with a great deal of effort, she put her palm on his chest. “So, if we ever fight, I simply need to touch you here?”
She was smirking until he slid his hand against her inner thigh.
His grin was almost evil. “And I merely need to touch you here and you will gasp and go silent. Well, silent until your body demands more. Thank you for this. It isn’t every woman who gives their husband a trigger to control her mood.”
Teera’s eyes went wide and she started to laugh. She continued laughing until tears coursed from her eyes and he held her tightly in his arms.
She curled against him and idly traced her name on his chest. The tension in his body made her smile and she realized that she had control over this man, almost as much as he had over her.
Chapter Eight
The knock on the door brought them out of their cuddle a few hours later.
“Lord Dirko, we have a meeting with the Verassi Clan to arrange.” The voice was distinctively Leffuo and it came through the speaker on the side of the door.
She looked up at her husband as he glared at the door. “Someone you are not fond of?”
“I wanted a few days with you alone. Stavos should know that.” He sat up and slowly ran his hand down her arm. “Your skin is like silk.”
She blushed again, her eyes warming along with her body. Even his appreciative look sent her blood pounding in her veins.
“Let’s have a quick shower and then we will go and work with Stavos to organize our next clan connection.”
She had never taken a shower with someone before and the logistics were a little mindboggling.
When she stood, she noticed that she was still wearing her tunic. He was wearing his trousers and they both had to strip in the light of day before they entered the lav for the shower.
The showering was easy when she simply let him put her where she would get the quickest bath. This was not a romantic interlude but a genuine effort to get clean before facing the day.
She worked in a small bit of flirtation as she soaped his chest, but he sighed and pulled her hands away, despite the erection that was now hot and eager for her touch.
“Not today. Duty first.”
She sighed but nodded. Duty she could understand and if she were perfectly frank with herself, she would acknowledge that he was right. She was too sore for fun and games.
With quick and efficient movements, she rinsed off and got out of his way. He grinned and soaped up completely before doing the same.
Wrapped in a towel, she waited for him and worked on brushing her hair.
“How is it that your father didn’t send you to the home world to find a husband?” The question came out of nowhere.
She gathered her thoughts and sighed, “My mother’s greatest regret was that she had been unable to pursue her education. The Leffuo don’t believe in women leaving the clans to have a life of their own.
“When I was born, my mother told my father that I had to be allowed to pursue any education that I was interested in at any cost. She told him that if I hit my majority and he tried to marry me off right away, she would leave him and take me to one of the great universities.
“Even though she died when I was still a child, my father honoured her wish and I was allowed to choose my own field of study. I chose law and enjoy degrees in contract and domestic mediation from nine different worlds.”
“Wow. Where did you study?” He towelled off and wandered into the bedroom.
“Kalix. I really enjoyed my life as a student.” She grinned and grabbed at her bag before she paused. “What are we doing today? I mean, should I dress as a Mediator or Leffuo clothes or in my normal clothes?”
“The normal clothing will be fine. We are not doing anything formal and you have not decided on a schedule for Mediation yet. Dress comfortably.”
She laughed and fished out some under things, slipping them into place with a happy sigh. Her breasts were just large enough to appreciate the support.
Teera pulled on deep blue silk trousers and a matching long tunic with an amber sash that matched her eyes. She slipped on a pair of flat shoes and turned to face him.
Dirko was already dressed and was watching her as she finished tugging her clothing into straight lines. “Crassos clothing suits you.”
She chuckled. “It should. I was raised in it. The sunlight is rather harsh, so the tunic and trousers lets all of the breezes be effective while fending off the harmful rays. It is rather comfortable.”
“Well, it still suits you. Shall we find Stavos and then get something to eat?”
“I had hoped it would be the other way around, but let’s go.” She grinned and went up on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek.
Together, they moved through the halls and when he reached back to take her hand, she tried to avoid him. “It isn’t proper protocol to hold hands in Leffuo relationships.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass. You are my wife and you will be at my side.”
His tone was absolute and she blinked in surprise. Oh, this is going to be interesting. With two-thirds of the crew being Leffuo natives, the sight of a woman at negotiations was going to cause a fuss.
Shaking her head and putting herself on guard, Teera let him lead her through his ship and into the refectory where he sat her down and then fetched a tray for her before getting one himself.
She was blushing furiously as the crew stared at the flouting of their traditions. “How many women are on this airship?”
“One. You. A few come and stay the night with the crew when we link to other ships but none stay.” He smiled and dug his way through his meal.
“Ah. I see. Well, that is going to make my presence here even more entertaining.” Her lips were twisted in a smile, but she didn’t really feel it.
“How so?”
“As the only Leffuo woman on board, I will be expected to adhere to a strict rule of conduct. Having you find my food for me is out of the question.” She ate mechanically.
He reached out and took her hand. “Teera, you are my wife now. You are Asku and Asku women only defer to one man. That would be me.”
She chuckled. “Fair enough. I have been trying very hard not to make waves here, so I will have to get out of that mindset and into the arena of holding my head high and walking at your side.”
He laughed. “Exactly. Also, if you choose to continue as a Mediator, there is no room for deference in your attitude.”
Teera brightened. “I can keep going with it? I do so love the laws.”
“Of course. As Skylord of Leffuo, it will be ideal for me to have a Mediator on staff, at my beck and call.”
She blushed and winked. “It all depends on where and when you are calling me.”
He laughed out loud.
A man stood at their tab
le and cleared his throat. “Lord Dirko, we need to speak.”
“Have a seat, Stavos.” Dirko gestured to an empty chair at their table.
“Perhaps we should speak in private, Skylord.” The Leffuo male kept throwing hostile glances at her.
“Anything that you wish to say, you will say in front of my wife.” He pushed his plate away and leaned back.
“Fine. I will just say it. This woman was not a true virgin when you met. She already wore another male’s mark.” He gave Teera another angry glare.
Teera had been sipping at her water and she spluttered with laughter. It didn’t take much to figure out where that theory had come from. After all, Leffuo women didn’t get tattooed for any other reason.
She grinned and leaned back, mimicking Dirko’s casual attitude. “Do you want to explain it or shall I?”
Dirko scowled and leaned toward Stavos. “Do you read High Asku or ancient Leffuo?”
The liaison scowled. “A little ancient Leffuo, why?”
Dirko turned to her, “Teera, my dear heart, would you please show him and let him read it?”
She stood, raised her tunic and edged her trousers down just enough to show him the mark. “Can you read it?”
He frowned and sounded the word out. “Nalika?”
Teera dropped her tunic back into place. “My mother’s name. The Asku wear the names of their loved ones, parents and children on their bodies. This was my homage to my mother after she passed. My father made the arrangements for me and the artist based my design on the mark on his chest.”
Stavos turned red. “You are the halfling of the Mar Clan.”
Teera looked to Dirko and grinned. “I think he is getting it.”
Dirko laughed. “I hope so. I didn’t want to have to get out dolls to explain the rest of it to him.”
For the rest of the evening, while Dirko’s itinerary was planned, Stavos apologized multiple times. Teera accepted each apology but let him know that true forgiveness would come when he let the other men on the ship know that she was entitled to her position as honoured wife of an Asku warrior.
Chapter Nine
Meeting with the Verassi Clan Leader was fun and charming at the same time. He didn’t make a fuss about her being a woman in a man’s conversation, but his wife kept darting around the corner with a concerned look on her face.
“Gentlemen, please excuse me.” She got to her feet and went to speak with the woman who obviously wanted to have a word with her.
Shusha grabbed her arm the moment that they were out of earshot. “Is it true that you are a Mediator?”
“Yes.”
“Will you come with me? There are some women who are having a dispute and we need an uninvolved party to settle it.” Shusha was worried. It showed on her face.
“I will if I can. Lead the way.”
The older woman moved quickly through the halls toward a shouting match.
Two young women were sitting and being held down by the other women of the clan. Claw marks and pulled hair marked each of them and one had a split lip.
Teera straightened and barked out in a cold tone. “Ladies. I am Mediator Velu. Explain yourselves, you first.”
She chose the brunette because she seemed more in control of herself.
“She is pregnant by my man. She is a backstabbing bitch.” Just like that, the brunette was out of control again. She surged against the women holding her and when Teera stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder, she collapsed on the floor as her nerve cluster was disabled.
“Miss, what is your explanation?”
The woman with the red hair was sobbing. “I didn’t know. He tagged me a few months ago and I just found out that it took.”
Teera looked at the brunette, “Are you pregnant?”
The woman frowned. “No. Our courtship has not progressed that far.”
“The law is clear. He has the option to either wed the mother of his child or to pay a lump sum to help the child be raised to adulthood. There is no reason for a fight. If he has been tagging and not using protection, this is the side effect.”
The brunette slumped. “I can’t live here with his bastard onboard.”
Teera turned to Shusha, “Is the male a member of the Verassi Clan?”
The clan leader’s wife shook her head. “No. He is an Ikohar.”
Teera turned to the brunette and raised a brow. “Problem solved. If he chooses the payment option, he and you will be free to live on the Ikohar ship. If he does not, then his new bride will join him on board. Either way, you will not have to watch his child raised.”
The brunette started deep wracking sobs that gave the impression that her heart was breaking.
Teera walked closer and touched the woman’s cheek. “You know he will choose the other woman. That is why you fought and screamed. You cannot keep a man simply because you decided that he is the one you want. Life on Leffuo does not give you that option and you know it.”
The brunette sobbed and got to her feet.
Teera let her go as she went over and embraced the redhead. “I am sorry, sister. I never should have attacked you for something beyond your control.”
“It is all right. I know how you felt about him, but I didn’t know until yesterday that I was pregnant. I am sorry it came as such a shock.”
Teera groaned and closed her eyes. Another solution came to her. “Are you truly sisters? Same parents?”
The redhead wiped her tears. “Yes. Ora is the eldest and I am the youngest.”
Teera took the redhead’s hand. “Do you want this man?”
She shook her head and sobbed.
“There is another option. Will you hear it?”
Shusha gathered the two fighters and ushered them to a quieter room, allowing Teera to speak with them.
“What is your name?”
“Ara.”
“Ara, if you do not want to wed the male in question, you need only do one thing. Give him his child. You will be free and clear. But…”
Ora was blinking in shock. “What?”
“Ora, you will have to take that child as blood of your blood. That child will be your son or daughter and you will have the man you love.”
Shusha blinked. “This can be done?”
“It comes under fostering code of the twenty-third century. When many parents did not survive to raise their children or suffered because of bad filtering systems, the children could be sent to live with a sibling who was able to care for them. The parent did not have to be dead, just unable to give the child as good a life as their sibling. The fact that this child shares a relationship with the male and female fostering parent in question makes it easily ratified.”
Ara pressed a hand to her belly. “I can give it to its father and Ora will raise it?”
“You can. He should be agreeable. Either way, he gets possession of his child and a wife in the bargain.”
Shusha lunged forward and hugged her. “Thank you.”
“You still have to convince him that it is best, but I believe that this will allow Ara to easily find a man of her own.” Proven breeders were always in demand.
The sisters put their heads together as they worked out how best to approach the man who had touched both of their lives in his very different ways.
“Your mother was as wise as you were and I always thought it was a pity that she was not allowed to pursue it.”
Teera looked at the woman. “You knew my mother?”
“Yes. She would be proud of you. She hoarded books, you know, kept them under her bed until they were supporting her mattress.” Shusha smiled.
“She had a huge library on Crassos. No book or data slip passed her by. She did get her geology degree, by the way. Digging in the ground was her passion, probably because there was no ground to speak of on Leffuo.” Teera left the women alone and Shusha came with her.
The airships were all laid out in the same manner, so it was easy for her to find her way back to the deck.<
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Dirko extended his arm and swept her into his lap the moment she was within reach. He whispered into her neck, “How was the Mediation?”
She blinked, “You knew?”
“You get a certain set to your face. It’s cute, your nose wrinkles and brows come together.”
She punched him and then stroked his chest slowly. He reciprocated with a slow hand creeping up her thigh. She withdrew her hand in an instant.
He snorted and they watched as the dancers started streaming across the decking.
She didn’t care if they were dancing for the skylord, she already had him and he was wearing her mark to prove it.
About the Author
Zenina Masters was born in Canada and lives in Canada. She has a regular job and does nothing particularly exciting with her life. She enjoys fishing, silence and the ability to pick and choose friends she can trust. Life is too short to watch your back all the time.
Her writing life is a teeny bit of escapism, she would probably chicken out if confronted by three naked men and looks forward to one day finding out.