Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
My stomach twisted at the mention of his beast, something I didn’t have.
Though, I suspected, through his vetting—which at this juncture probably was no longer preliminary, but instead very thorough—he knew that.
And I liked him even more because he hadn’t brought it up.
He, specifically, knew how much it would hurt. Far worse than talking about my parents, and it meant a lot that so far, he’d let it lie.
Maybe one day he’d go there (alas, it was unavoidable), but I loved the fact he didn’t broach the subject or even allude to it now.
“I’ll attend on my own,” he continued. “That way, we can spend time together, because no one would question Sirk and I doing so. But I’ll warn you, there’ll be hawks who note your presence, and when we do go public, they’ll think that was where we met. This has ramifications for Sirk, who it will be assumed is romantically interested in you. But there’s no one else close who I can trust you with, save one of my brothers. And sadly, that trust excludes my brothers. No one but Aleece knows I’ve found my mate, but even if I told them, only Lilith knows what those two would get up to, even with my mate.”
I was feeling all happy squidgy that he’d thought up a way to keep us private, but we could still be out in public, spending time together…not to mention how much of a hit it would be for Cat if he attended.
But something else took precedence.
“Princess Aleece knows?”
He nodded. “She commed me this morning. She’d heard I brought a female to the Catalogues, and she was curious. I’m considering bringing her to the showing, but I don’t want there to be too much pressure on you.”
I weighed the pressure that would put on me (which would be a lot) versus the cachet Aleece’s additional presence would bring to Cat (which would also be a lot).
“If you, Sirk and Princess Aleece show, that would be huge for Cat,” I noted.
“I’m sure,” he agreed. “But it would be tough on you.”
“I’m going to meet her someday, right?”
His eyes warmed (they were back to night, then again, he was on a space station, which was constant night).
“I’ll consider it,” he murmured.
“Is Sirk going to be okay with beings thinking you stole his date out from under him?”
“Sirk gives a shit about food, his restaurant allowing him the means to travel to learn about and eat more food, ring ice, the members of his ring ice team, and last, finding females who will put up with these obsessions, at least long enough so he can bed them. He wouldn’t give two fucks about beings thinking I stole his female.”
“Well then, this sounds like a plan.”
His lips curved up. “Excellent. Do you need me to ask Allain to postpone your instruction with Madam Garwah while you’re in this zone?”
He was so sweet.
“No. I’ll need reasons to hit the bath pod and go out into the world, or I’ll become a vampire.”
“Vampire females are very sexy,” he teased.
“Yes, but they burn to a cinder under the sun, and I like wearing sundresses.”
He chuckled, I enjoyed it, then he said, “I’ll let you get back to it, but I’ll do it suggesting you carve an hour out to get a nap.”
I rubbed my eyes, which were itchy with fatigue, unknowingly flaking off and smearing what was left of the mascara I hadn’t cleaned off.
“I think I’ll throw back a sleep smoothie and crash so I don’t lapse into unconsciousness at my desk at Madam Garwah’s. I don’t think she’d like that.”
“Probably not,” he agreed.
The screen flashed, telling me I had an incoming text comm.
It also reminded me I’d sent some myself the night before, telling my gals we were having a holo conference during their lunch hour (Aleksei brought me home so late, even if the news was huge, I didn’t have the heart to wake them to share it, but also, I was raring to get to my sketchpads, so I flew off some texts, and then got down to it).
But that time was nigh, thus, I’d have to do that before my smoothie.
However, while I had him…
“Quick question,” I said to Aleksei.
“Hit me,” he invited.
And again, he could be cute.
“Madam Garwah explained about the ‘my lords’ and ‘your graces,’ but she didn’t share about this madam and mistress business.”
He smirked.
It was sexy.
And then he explained his smirk when he asked, “Madam and mistress?”
Mm.
He was thinking of other uses of both.
“Be a good boy,” I ordered.
“I’ll do my best,” he purred.
“You’re failing,” I warned.
His lips quirked before he got serious and stated, “You aren’t titled, neither is she, but you both have status. It’s an informal, but important form of address to be certain others know where you stand.” His expression grew even more serious. “Especially for you, darling. At this juncture, even not having a title, you outrank everyone but me and my parents. This is the case even over my brothers and sister.”