Page 50 of The Marriage Bargain

When I returned to the house in the evenings, I tried to step in and help as I could. I felt rather clumsy around the children, who initially regarded me with frank curiosity, not only because of my dissimilar appearance but also because they had clearly been taught to avoid their Asterion Overlords as much as possible, and to show naught but deference when they were present. That was typical human behavior. To have an Overlord brought into their home, especially as their new uncle, must have been beyond strange. However, being children, they adapted quickly. Far faster than adults, in fact. In short order, I learned the girls wanted nothing so much as attention. It did not matter if I read them a story, played a game, or worked a puzzle with them. As long as I was patient and drew their attention from Delle to myself, they were cooperative. And I knew my efforts were appreciated by the tired smiles my bride cast my way.

At night, we both retired to bed after the girls were asleep, exhausted. After the first night, I had followed her back to her bedroom to change clothes and had simply not left. Nothing even remotely sexual had occurred between us. She had made her stance on intimacy with children in the house obvious, and I certainly had no wish to pressure her. If I were to make love to my wife, especially for the first time, I would also prefer for us to be alone. We had enough to distract us. Enough to overcome. We needed nothing to potentially inhibit us.

I did not wish to pressure her, considering all the burdens she was currently bearing either. Despite my joining her in her bed, she almost immediately rolled onto her side and fell fast asleep. Passed out, as humans would call it. She snored softly too, which made me smile the first time I heard it. She would likely be embarrassed, should I mention it to her. I hadn’t. I wanted to prove myself a worthy mate. Patient when needed. Helpful. Loving.

Loving was both the hardest and easiest part of the entire situation. I loved her. Although mere days had passed since our wedding, and despite the unusual circumstances, I was more and more convinced with each passing hour, that she was my mate. My soul cried out to hers even as my body cried out for hers. But I suppressed the urges, reminding myself to be patient.

The third night we were there, waiting on her sister and new niece to recover enough to come home, she flopped onto the bed, throwing an arm across her eyes.

“It took forever for Nerra to go to sleep tonight,” she groaned. “I swear, Caide. We are never having kids.”

I blinked in the darkness, somewhat stunned by this announcement. No children? And she had decided this on her own without consulting me?

“Well, maybe we’ll have them, but we’re going to wait. We’re going to wait a long time. A very long time. Sheesh. These girls are going to be the death of me.”

Oh. Her hyperbolic language indicated that she was being dramatic for effect. We had never really discussed children. I’d assumed she would desire to produce offspring at some point. We were both young, comparatively, for our races, and I think neither of us were in a hurry. But the idea of producing heirs with Delle was not unpleasant. Truth be told, the fact that she had brought the idea up at all—almost as if she assumed we would stay together and we would have sex and we would have children—was nearly as thrilling to me, as simply lying next to her in her bed.

Perhaps she is not planning to leave me as soon as the threat is past after all, I thought excitedly. Rolling over onto my side, facing her inert form, I dared to inch closer to her. Every bit of me wanted to wrap my body around hers. To press myself against the backside I found so enticing, and fit it into the hollows of my body. For warmth and comfort and simply the joy of being physically close to her, every bit as much as the desire to copulate with her.

I didn’t dare. Not quite. Not yet. But I did press myself so near that I could feel the warmth of her body even through the oversized t-shirt and faded flannel pants she wore to bed. And for now, that was sufficient.

* * *

Despite Delle’s obvious love for the girls, I think we were both more than a little relieved to receive the phone call from Zyn announcing that he, Tarra, and the new baby were going to be released from the hospital.

“Do you need me to hang around a few more days and help take care of things?” Delle offered generously, while casting me an anxious glance. I caught it, and kept my expression steady, even though I shared her anxiety. I was ready to return to our home—not just mine anymore—and figure out this new life together, whatever it might look like and whatever it might entail.

Delle waited a moment. Of course, I could not hear Zyn’s answer, but Delle said, “You sure?”

Again, a pause for her brother-in-law to speak.

“Okay, Zyn. Well, you know where I’ll be. See you when you get here. I can’t wait to meet the baby.”

She hung up, and I think she tried to suppress her smile but I caught it.

“He thinks they can handle it,” she said with an almost shy air. “So, I guess I’ll be going home with you. If that’s okay.”

I pressed my palms to my thighs and stood. “Only if you are certain,” I answered, trying to be generous to her and her needs.

She flicked a glance around the topsy-turvy room. “Oh, I’m ready. I’m going to go pack up some things. I don’t see any need to move all my stuff out now. That would be kind of hectic on top of Tarra bringing the new baby home. But I’ll get enough to last a couple weeks until things have settled down for them and I can officially move. Man, I’m surprised by how much I’m looking forward to some peace and quiet,” she added as she stepped past me to go into her bedroom.

I couldn’t stop myself. The children were out of sight, around the corner in the dining room. I reached out and caught her as she walked past, pulling her into myself, turning her in the same motion, gently trapping her against the wall.

“Peace and quiet?” I said, tipping up her chin with my fist. I could hear the huskiness of raw desire in my voice. “Is that the sole thing you’re anticipating?”

Her eyes lit with heat. Rather than pull away, she slid her arms around me to grab my buttocks, pulling my hips into hers.

“Well,” she whispered, lowering her voice. “Maybe there’s a few other things I’m looking forward to.”

She knocked my hand aside, stood on tiptoes and pressed her mouth to mine.

“Something that isn’t quite so peaceful,” she murmured, pulling away.

Again, it was nearly impossible to hold back, especially when she responded in that fashion. To be on the safe side, I took her hand and drew her around the corner into a secluded hallway before doing what I’d done before, this time a little more forcefully. Shoving her against the wall, pressing my aching hips into her softness. I heard her gasp as I took her mouth with mine, but she quickly matched my ardor. Her teeth nipped my lower lip before she opened her mouth. This time, her tongue was in my mouth before I had chance to penetrate hers. The tip of her tongue whisked against mine, drawing a silent moan before she twirled her tongue around and against mine.

I clutched her sides, pressing into her even more fiercely, every inch of my being begging to unite with hers.

“Aunt Delle?”

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