NAYTH

  A skirt. My Methela was dressed in a suit with a long burgundy skirt and jacket and a pale peach bandeau, sitting at one of the window tables of Jax’s Bistro smiling at me. She looked as happy as I felt just seeing her face. I didn’t want to ever be away from her again.

  The fabric of her jacket looked like something very soft and touchable— was it linen? I wanted to run my hands all over it, but I bent to lightly kiss her forehead instead. The street cameras probably caught it, but since she was by the window, she’d expect that. Her face leaned towards me as I sat down. So, I wasn’t the only one wishing for a real kiss.

  “You had business in town? You look dressed for a meeting,” I commented. Of course, I already knew that she’d been to the hospital. Everyone on Sturm knew. I’d spent the night out with a Shurwinn woman I’d had a romantic dinner with, and everyone knew. But, she’d already know that too. This lunch date was probably her nodding to my public life.

  She got a wry smile and through pursed lips muttered in a whisper, “Actually I got an IUD.”

  I stifled a laugh, but it came out my nose. I shook my head, grinning. “And this is how you wanted to tell me? In a publicized media frenzy? Should we invite the gossip-casters to sit at the table with us?”

  She barked out a laugh. “Well, I was going to wait, but I am unflappably honest. I couldn’t lie to you about what I was doing at the hospital. At least they don’t allow cameras INSIDE the buildings or within 20 yards of a hospital! I don’t suppose you have my mango seed butter in your pocket, Minister Carmidee. Do you have plans you’d like to tell me about?”

  She got the full force of my sultry voice, “Did you miss it, Methela? Were you lonely?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  I let my eyes travel across her lips and slowly back up.

  She traced her fork with her tongue and savored it, humming softly.

  I chuckled my low, bedroom rumble, and she snickered.

  “So, what else are we doing at Jax's Bistro? Just lunch? What’s the plan?” I asked.

  “Just lunch. I figured we’d give them something to talk about then disappear to LaGrange. How does that sound?”

  All of me rose up in happy satisfaction, “Perfect.” I had plans. I just had to get her home first.

  “I like this fabric,” I said as I pulled Ryst to me, her back against my chest, and slid her floater loaded with luggage through the lift doors. “Rooftop,” I told the autonav, and we started up to the top level of my villa. “Is it linen?” I ran my hands all over her middle like I’d been wanting to do since I’d seen her in Jax's Bistro.

  “I think it might be a blend of some sort.”

  “The tailor who filled your trunk? The same one as The Very Normal Thank You?” I kissed my way down her neck and shoulder exactly how I’d wanted to when I’d seen that chocolate robe slip off her shoulders in the prank video. Delicious skin. My cock was hard against her back when she laughed.

  “Yes, oh stars! Mauren is amazing. And now that I’ve looked through the trunk, I think she’s more wicked than I am!”

  I couldn’t help myself, I had meant to be Minister Carmidee for this plan, but I turned her around and pushed her against the elevator wall, kissing her hard and deep and sliding my thigh between her legs.

  The doors opened. I pulled back, panting, and reigned myself in. A little groan escaped both of us.

  “A tour, Dr. Nova? The arial view of LaGrange,” I motioned her out onto the roof.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Oh! Is there a rooftop garden? It’s so warm and humid here. . .”

  No, there wasn’t a rooftop garden, just a huge covered terrace that looked in one direction to the gardens on the grounds and the forest in the distance and in the other direction over a large lawn that was blocked from the street view by trees.

  “It’s lovely, Nayth. And big. I didn’t realize you had a small town here!”

  “Not a town, really. Just some staff housing. Our staff are family to us, so all of those buildings there are for staff where they live with their families. And this building we’re standing on is mine. The covered shade garden there that leads to the next villa is where my dad lives, and when Mom and Freya are here, that’s where they live. I’ll show you everything downstairs in a bit, but my villa is apartments and conference rooms, and a dojo below ground, one level above the garage.”

  Her face lit up, “You have your own dojo?”

  I nodded and my eyebrows waggled suggestively, “Would you like to put it to good use?”

  She looked at me suspiciously, “Hmmm. I was just thinking of greeting the sun there tomorrow, Minister. I’m not sure what use you were thinking of.”

  “Wait, before I forget, my dad invited us for dinner tonight at 7:00. Dinner at LaGrange is usually formal, if that’s okay?”

  “Of course,” she nodded. Then her brows furrowed, “I do have some—“

  “If you’re concerned about the uncooked diet, it’s not an issue. Chef has already spoken with Juanna in depth and is ready for you.”

  She relaxed. “Thank you, that means a lot. I don’t like to inconvenience other people, but I’ll be a gracious guest and just accept the kindness. I appreciate the thoughtfulness.”

  Did she not know that I would give her the world? That I would give her 27 worlds? “Ryst,” I said, pulling out my pad and hovering it in front of us. “This is a contract that outlines everything I want you to have. It’s important to me to bequeath everything I own to you in case something happens to me. You are my heir, and while that’s in my Last Will and Testament, it makes things easier if you are my next of kin."

  "So, this contract is regarding terms of marriage. One-hundred percent of my assets are yours. If for some reason, you want to end the marriage, then fifty-percent of my personal assets and zero percent of my business assets will be yours. I know that this is fast, but you are all that I want in this world, and I want you to have all that I am.”

  RYST

  “Marriage, Nayth? This is a prenuptial agreement?” I rubbed my forehead with my hand, then remembered that looking distressed was not a kind reaction to his proposal.

  I looked him square in the eyes. “Nayth, I’m not saying no, okay? This is not a rejection. This is just me, just Ryst, trying to work things out. I’m staying with you; I’m not leaving, okay?” He nodded and looked like he regretted everything he’d just said.

  “Ryst, I’m sorry. I handled this all wrong.” He pulled me to him. “Methela. I’m showing you a legal contract, and that is important to me. I want you to have everything in case something happens to me. But my heart, my love, my heart. I just want you. I don’t care about everything else. I just want you. I want to be tied to you in every way that I can.”

  “Ahtah, I know. We’re working on it every moment.” I pulled back from him so I could look in his eyes.

  “I’m not saying no, Nayth. I’m saying give me a few moments to adjust. I made a mistake and got married very quickly in the past. And I’m not comparing you and me to Darwin. It’s nothing of the sort. Because I’ve actually known you, or a version of you for four years!"

  "But I’m still learning to trust again after the last relationship I had was a train wreck— and I’m not saying that I don’t trust you. I trust you body and soul. It’s me that I don’t trust— or at least, that I’m learning to trust. So, I don’t know how long it will take me to work this out, but I promise I’ll give you an answer when I’m ready."

  My fingers traced his cheek, and he leaned into my touch.

  "And in the meantime, I want to know YOU, Nayth Carmidee. Not just the version of you that I met in dreams and whispers in the dark when I was alone in my bed. Does that make sense?”

  He sighed, “Of course, Methela.” His eyes were soft and his voice gentle as he said it. Then he got a playful and slightly sheepish look on his face when he asked, “How about this? When you’re ready, I get a second chance. I give you the real proposal, the one from my heart, not the Minister Carmidee business contract proposal? Hmm? Deal?”

  I grinned, “Deal!” and kissed him.

  At that moment I felt it. The kiss went nowhere because the pressure bore down on me. I’d been ignoring it all day, but it wouldn’t be ignored.

  “Ryst?” Nayth asked softly, but I could no longer see him.

  Were my eyes open or closed? I didn’t know. My breath came in gasps, so I remembered to slow it down.

  “Questions, right. I need to ask you questions,” I heard Nayth's far-away voice.

  I nodded, but this was so vast. Oh sands, it was so big. Where was I? What was this? I had to breathe.

  “Methela,” that word only made it worse. Why?

  “Ryst,” I heard a voice say, “is this about the marriage proposal?”

  I nodded.

  “Is it about trusting yourself?”

  I shook my head.

  “Is it about trusting me?

  I shook my head violently.

  “Is it about signing a contract for marriage?”

  My gasping increased. It was so big, so vast, this thing pressing down on me. “Maybe,” I eked out. “Big. It’s so big. I can’t take it all in.”’

  His voice changed to excited,”Do you have to take it all in right now?”

  Shift. “No,” I said surprised, and blinked my eyes, coming back to myself. I focused on Nayth. “You did it! You brought me back, Ahtah!”

  I grinned at him, and he bent to kiss my lips then paused, “If I kiss you, are you going to go flying off into space again?”

  I grabbed him and pulled his mouth to mine.