Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“What stuff?” I asked, frowning.
“Oh, you know…” Rylee was blushing, her pale brown skin getting darker around her high cheekbones. “Just things we had to do in order to advance in our mission. Which at the time was to sever the Bond between the two of them, though of course after we did that, they realized what a mistake it was and came back to find me and Bond all three of us together.”
“But how exactly did you Bond?” I asked.
Rylee looked around, making sure the guards sitting on either side of us weren’t listening and leaned towards me.
“Well…they both had to…you know, come in me at the same time,” she murmured.
“What? At the same time in the same hole?” I demanded.
“Shhh!” Rylee hushed me, looking at the guards again. “Keep it down, would you? Yes, at the same time and the same…er, place,” she added.
“But how?” I asked. “I mean, you’re not some kind of a porn star. How did you, uh, fit both of them?”
“Never you mind about that,” Rylee said primly. “It’s possible because of their alien biology. But the point is, until we did it that specific way, we didn’t Bond.” She shrugged. “So maybe you and Vik’tor need to find a different way to do things. That’s all I’m saying—all right?”
I didn’t know if she was right or not but at that moment, the ship’s captain announced that we were entering what he called “Female Air Space.” Apparently the royal star cruiser was extremely fast.
“All right,” Rylee reported, after another quick mental consultation with her two husbands. “According to Drace and Lucian, our guys will be landing soon and they’ll meet us in the Female Court.” She frowned and concentrated for a moment. “Apparently the Empress was willing to let my guys in because she was really happy with your guy, Vik’tor for a favor the two of you did for her?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at me.
“Er, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I guess you could say that.”
“What favor, though?” Rylee wanted to know. “Come on, Cuz—tell me!”
“Well…” It was my turn to look at the guards. (Luckily they were so much taller than us, their heads were high above ours and they didn’t seem to hear anything. It was kind of like being surrounded by giraffes, or some other really tall animal, if that makes any sense.)
“Go on,” Rylee urged me.
“Well, she wanted to know about sex,” I muttered. “Because she’d never been with a guy before. In fact, she pretty much demanded that Vik’tor and I show her how to do it.”
Rylee’s eyes widened.
“Oh my God, really? So that’s how the two of you did it the first time? As a kind of demonstration?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Maybe that’s why you didn’t Bond,” Rylee said, frowning speculatively. “I know when Drace and Lucian and I Bonded, we were all really focused on being together. It sounds like you and Vik’tor were just…I don’t know, putting on a sex show.”
“Well, it’s not like we had a choice!” I pointed out. “I mean she pretty much ordered us to show her how to do it in several different positions.”
“Wow, doing it in front of a royal audience.” Rylee shook her head and grinned at me. “I never would have guessed you’d be up for that, Natalie! My baby cousin, getting nasty.”
“Says the woman with two husbands,” I said dryly.
“Oh, you know I’m just kidding you.” She nudged my arm with her elbow. “Lighten up!”
“I’ll feel better when I get to see Vik’tor again,” I told her. “You know, it’s funny—we haven’t even known each other a whole week yet, but I feel such a strong connection to him. I…Rylee, I really think I love him. Being dragged away from him like this has made me realize it.”
“Then you should stay with him,” Rylee said simply. “Bond or no Bond—you ought to stay with the man you love.”
“But what about my family?” I pleaded. “I miss my Moma and Daddy so much!”
“Of course you do.” She nodded. “I remember always being so jealous of you after my own mom and dad died. I mean, I loved Aunt Celia and Uncle Carl, but you still had your real parents and I could tell how much they cared about you. But you know…you can always go back for visits.”
“You can?” I asked uncertainly.
She nodded.
“Sure, you can. I was planning to go for a visit after my guys and I finished this last diplomatic mission we were assigned. I haven’t been back since just before Lucian and Drace and I Bonded. It’s going to be good to see everyone again.”
“But…what will you tell them?” I demanded.
Rylee sighed.
“I’ve been thinking about that. Last time I told them I was going on a trip to Europe with some clients who wanted me for a long time but I hate to lie.”