Page 19 of My Human Wife

{Duet}

g.“Everyone leave but Lara.”

l.I’m glad my Imperial is good enough to understand what he’s just said because his tone is commanding and is making my heartbeat faster. And this is an out of character interruption. I feel like I’m in trouble. I keep my face as neutral as possible as he watches me and everyone else quickly leaves their food behind and within seconds the dining hall is empty except for us.

g.I glance around to make sure everyone is gone before I approach Lara. “Are your nipples pierced?”

l.“Excuse me?”

g.“Are your nipples pierced?” I’m using Imperial because it sounds less invasive.

l.“I don’t understand.”

g.I repeat myself in English.

l.I reply in English, “No, they aren’t.”

g.“We must remedy that as soon as possible,” I’ve switched back into Imperial.

l.“I can assure you my nipples are attractive just the way they are,” I say as I cross my arms over my breasts protecting them from being pierced in the dining hall.

g.“This isn’t about attractiveness. It’s about leashes. All of Kamos women are led around by their nipples.”

l.I hold my arms closer to my breasts thinking about my sensitive nipples.

g.“Most women, human pets or Imperial women, have this done soon after puberty. I just assumed since you were human that you also had this done. If we don’t do it Kamos might find you less attractive at Gala. And if he buys you, he might take pleasure in doing it himself.”

l.“Can I take the chance that he might like a woman without pierced nipples?”

g.“It’s unlikely.”

l.I meet Gael’s green eyes. He looks at me like an equal. No man or woman has ever done that. I know he’s honestly waiting for my opinion, but I don’t know. “What would you do?”

g.“I’d pierce them here. I wouldn’t want to make myself look difficult.” I don’t add that as her husband it would be my responsibility to do it. I don’t want to be selfish. She’s already doing enough by going to Kamos. I don’t want to decide this for her too.

l.I consider his opinion and then make my decision. This is the first decision I’ve ever made about my body in my entire life. I don’t want to share that with him explicitly, so I quietly patmyself on the back as I say, “Perhaps different won’t be difficult in this instance. My provenance will be from Lord Juo. Market me as ‘Fresh to the Imperial Market’ without even my nipples pierced.”

g.“That sounds terrible, but good, but terrible. I’m sorry…” I trail off. Can I really send Lara to do this? I’m unsure. I’ve fallen in love with her over these last weeks and every day she surprises me with her pragmatic courage. I’ve never met a woman like her and I’m afraid I’ll never see her again.

l.I hold up my hand to stop Gael from feeling too guilty. “I’m choosing this. You freed me from the sex temple. This is my choice.”

g.I look into Lara’s green eyes and wonder what she’s really thinking. She keeps herself locked up safe. It’s for the better, I tell myself and then make the galactic sign for, ‘it’s settled then,’ and walk out. On my way out I say in Imperial, “Lessons in five minutes in the conference room. Don’t be late.”

Lara

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this.”

Hela looks up at me solemnly. “Think of the others you’ll be saving.” She takes my arm and inserts something under my skin. Then she takes my hand and runs it over where she’s injected the drug. “Press here hard for three seconds when you want the drug. It should last you about six months if you don’t use it more than once a day.”

“How often can I use it?”

“You shouldn’t use it at all if you can avoid it, but I’d say no more than twice a day.”

“Any other side effects other than making me feel invincible?”

“As the drug wears off, after about an hour, you will experience depression, irritability, and possible excessive sweating. If you use this every day, you will become addicted to it and it can cause paranoia and anger.”

“I understand.”

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