Page 45 of The Marriage Bargain

In the soft, pleasant glow of the transport, I studied the lines of his firm profile, his earrings, and wedge-shaped ear. “For sure,” I answered quietly. “I never dreamed that I—”

I cut myself off, not wanting to offend him unnecessarily.

“I never dreamed it, either,” he said, pushing a gear forward. “But here we are. Married. No sex on our wedding night, which I believe is an ancient human custom. Instead, we wait until the children are taken care of.”

“Ancient human custom?” I echoed. “So Asterions don’t do it on their wedding night?”

“Do…it?” he chuckled. “I suppose we do. However, most Asterions do not wait until their wedding night.”

“Neither do most humans,” I said wryly. “Not anymore, at least. That’s pretty much a thing of the past.”

“What about you?”

I blinked in surprise. “What about me…what?”

“Have you…” He paused. “Have you been with anyone…before?”

I wasn’t sure why he was asking. Was he going to be angry if I admitted that I had? Were we going into some male-territorial-jealousy thing? I didn’t have the energy to deal with that, and I really didn’t want to see that side of him, if he had it. Instead, I deflected—not because I had anything to hide. I didn’t. But because if he could ask, I could too.

“What about you?” I challenged. “Have you been with anyone before me?”

He flicked a sober glance at me. “Will you be upset if I say that I have?”

“Nope. Not if you won’t be upset when I say that I have.”

He shrugged. “Fair enough. I will say this, though. There were not many, and what passed with them was nothing in comparison to what has passed between us.”

What has passed between us…

We hadn’t even had sex yet, and he was saying it was better with me. My body warmed from the inside out: a combination of pleasure, embarrassment, and desire.

“Ditto,” I murmured, almost afraid to look at him in case all of this should fall apart. In case he was teasing me or lying to me.

But I didn’t think that he was. Especially when he added quietly, even as we pulled up outside of my sister and brother-in-law’s home, “You are my mate, Delle. I know it.”

No time to disagree or argue. We had to get inside and check on the kids. But I felt those words wrap their way around my heart, burrow down deep inside my brain.

You are my mate…

He believed in fated mates. He believed I was his destiny. Was I?

CHAPTER 26

DELLE

The chaos actually wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. My sister’s kids generally went to bed early, so they were tucked in for the night by the time I got there. I gave my sister a quick hug as Zyn herded her out the door, whispering some reassurance like everything was going to be okay. Her face was screwed up in a grimace. She was actively in labor and hurting. I stood in the doorway, watching their vehicle disappear into the cold, snowy night, and whispered a little prayer to whatever deities might be listening for her and the baby.

Then I went inside.

I didn’t see Caide at first and wondered where he’d disappeared to. Then he came walking out of the hallway, removing his jacket as he did so.

“Two of the girls are asleep,” he said. “The youngest is awake and whimpering. I told her you would go to her.”

I sort of stood there, regarding him with surprise. Of course, he was an adult, even if from a different species. But I guess it took me aback to see him sliding so quickly into the role of uncle to my sister’s kids. Checking on them. Letting me know their needs. Trying to soothe my youngest niece.

“O-okay,” I said. “Thanks. I’ll go calm her down.”

As I started to walk by, he touched my hand, stopping me. “What should I do to help?”

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