Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Trust.
***
Zane strolled out to the little deck and saw the back of her head as she was leaned over her journal, writing furiously from her floating daybed.
She was so involved in what she was doing that she didn’t even notice he was there with her. Chili was sleeping on his back on top of the cage beside her, all four limbs straight up in the air.
Zane climbed into the pyramid and she immediately looked up, smiling.
“Hi,” she greeted, shyly, setting the pen down and closing the book’s cover.
“Hi,” he replied and looked at the notebook she was scribbling in. “What are you writing about?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Are you sure you can’t read my language?”
“So far. I plan to learn. I’m working on software to help read handwriting as well as print.”
“Hm. Well, this is private. Please keep it that way.”
“What secrets do you keep, little wife?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He sprawled out beside her. “Come here.”
She immediately crawled on top of him and rested her head on his chest. She let out a happy-sounding sigh.
“Tell me about your bucket list, Zane.” She ran her fingers through his hair and he smiled. He liked her infatuation with his hair. She seemed like she was always looking for reasons to touch it. He felt the same about hers. He kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve never hesitated to go after what I want. Well, not entirely true. I was stuck in a situation for a while and that was limiting. But, other than those few years, if I wanted it, I went after it. I’m open to new adventures. For now, let’s work on yours. Not to worry, if I want something, I’ll have it.”
She snickered. “Such a man.”
“And that means?” he inquired.
“Nothing. Well, not nothing. More like, typical men. Earth or Phallyxian. Full of confidence and ready to seize the universe.”
He smiled and had no reply, because for him it was true.
“Tell me about your wife,” she whispered.
“You’re my wife.”
“You know what I mean.”
His teeth went tight. “I’d rather not.”
She looked up at him curiously. “You mentioned you were…” she lowered her voice, “manipulated.”
“I really don’t want to talk about that. I think I’d rather take you to bed and fuck you.”
She smiled hesitantly.
“Because I did just get good news.”
“Oh?”
“Joran left a note.”
She gasped. “He did? That’s wonderful. Why didn’t you lead with that?”
“I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I know he’ll tell me when he’s ready. For now, despite my concerns about his involvement in this rogue movement, I know he’s alive. And his note gave me some peace about it.”
She kissed him and smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
“Now, put the pink monster in the house,” he ordered.
She smirked, but didn’t argue. She got out of the bed and carried the cage with her. Chili hopped up her arm and perched on her shoulder. Zane followed her inside where she set the crate down on a table. Chili hopped from her shoulder and went inside without an argument, looking anxious to resume his nap. Zane ordered a bottle from the nearest panel.
“He just ate a half an hour ago…”
“We’re putting this in the cage. You’ll be busy for a while.” He winked.
CHAPTER 31
TANYA
Three Days Later
We were heading to Ollie’s other grandfather’s house for dinner. I was nervous. Zane asked me if I wanted to drive the sky car and I said that I didn’t. I was fidgeting. Biting at my freshly done burgundy tipped French manicure.
He grabbed my hand and held it. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
“Then why didn’t Ollie come?” I asked.
Zane gave me a sheepish smile. “Just because he doesn’t like her, doesn’t mean you won’t.”
“Yes, it probably does,” I returned.
He snickered. “Okay, so you’re going to think she’s a complete elitist bitch. But honestly, I don’t give a fuck what she thinks. I’m doing this as a courtesy to my son’s grandfather and even if he doesn’t like you, I don’t give a fuck. He wants to welcome you to the family fold. He wanted to see his grandson, but Ollie can’t stand Treya so instead, they planned for a grandfather/grandson away trip, which works great because that means we’ll have two days and two nights alone --- which sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
I smiled. “Yeah.” I fiddled with my skirt.
I was wearing a fitted long-sleeved turtleneck suede tan dress that Zane had bought for me. I loved it. At my hips were sparkly rose gold grommets all the way around that had a tan ribbon woven through and tied in a loose bow. The skirt hit a few inches above my knee, and it had tiny pleats all the way around.
This was so me. I mean, it wasn’t me, but I felt like me in it – the me I wanted to be. Flirty. Cute. Confident.
My hair was curled into soft waves, courtesy of the robot in the bathroom. I’d been experimenting with it and it was my new non-talking bestie. I loved it. Not only did it do my hair, but it also did my makeup. It was done in subtle Earth tones, which was funny, because they were definitely colors from home. Brownish, tan, a bit of a grey smoky eye. I thought of Phallyx tones as more pastel. I had on dangling black gemstone earrings with a matching necklace and bracelet because they matched the gem in my ear. I didn’t like that the black represented danger, but Dr. Knox had told Zane it was likely an indicator of the razzleberry levels still in my system. Dr. Knox had hypothesized that perhaps the color would change when I was no longer walking around with remnants of the allergen in my system.