Page 12 of The Bride Auction

He turned a look of surprise on his face. “Summer, I thought you were going to change.”

“I was, but then I realized I didn’t know where your room, um, quarters, were, so I sat and watched.”

“Come here,” he held out his hand. He didn’t have to; I could have followed him, but it was nice. I appreciated the fact he didn’t want me to get lost even though the ship was small. When we passed the boarding entrance, I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and dragged it behind me. Renick opened the door to his quarters.

The room held a single size bed, one end table and a small desk with a chair in the room. “I’m sorry it’s small,” he flushed. “Through that door is a small shower facility.” He pointed. “You can change in there, or you can change in here, the choice is yours.”

“Thank you.” I placed my suitcase on the bed, unzipped it and pulled out a pair of sweatpants, a toiletry pack, my warm gray slippers and one of my comfiest t-shirts. “I’ll be right back.” I hurried into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, washed my face free of the makeup, brushed my hair and threw it back in a loose ponytail before changing. When I re-entered the room I found Renick sitting on his bed, military overcoat hung on a rack which dropped down from the ceiling. He had an empty hanger next to his overcoat I assumed was for the sparkly purple dress. Before I could grab the hanger, Renick took the dress out of my hands and hung it next to his coat. He placed my heels under the dress along with his military boots. I licked my lips at the sight in front of me.

Renick wore a pair of loose fitting gray pants and a matching gray tank top that showed off the muscles on his arms. Hello gray sweatpants season!

Rennick zipped my suitcase and placed it underneath the table. “I’ll contact the GBA and arrange for them to deliver the rest of your belongings to my house. I mean, our house on Tenap.”

“Oh.” I fumbled with the hem of my t-shirt. “That’s all I brought.” Heat flushed my cheeks. “My family didn’t have much, and I left a majority of my clothes with them for my mother to wear. My younger sisters will grow into them eventually.”

Renick nodded. “Then when we arrive on the planet, you’ll get to go shopping with my mother. She’ll enjoy that, and it’ll give you the chance to bond with you.”

“Will you come with me?” Shopping? With his mother? What did I get myself into?

“The first few times if you wish, yes.” He sat close enough to smell my hair.

I held still, unsure what he would do. I didn’t know if his sniffing was part of his people’s mating ritual. I found myself leaning into him, resting my head against his shoulder. In no time at all, I yawned, exhaustion claiming me.

“Here.” He pulled the covers back on the bed, made to military precision with sheets so taut you could bounce a coin off them.

“Are you coming to bed too?” I asked. “I mean, according to the contract we both put our thumbprints on, we are legally mates.”

Renick turned to the side as if headed into the bathroom. Only then did it become obvious he was going commando. Gray sweatpants season is right!

“I can sleep in the recreation area,” he said. “You can have the bed.”

I patted the seat next to me. “Or we can share and get used to it now. Won’t people expect us to share a room or is that not how it's done on Tenap?”

“It is,” he acquiesced. “Fine.”

He headed into the bathroom. He was in there an awfully long time, and I wondered what he was up to. I heard the water run for a long time, then he came out of the bathroom, a towel slung low over his hips, his hair damp hanging down his back. I found his long hair attractive and I’d never found a man with hair longer than mine attractive before. My core clenched, and I tapped down the urge to be so forward and act on my urges.

He bent over to pull a pair of pants on, and I caught a quick glimpse of the globes of his ass. Had he turned even a few inches more, I would have had a view of his cock.

“I’m sorry, we have to share a pillow,” he said.

“That’s okay.”

He rolled, placing his back in my way not that I was complaining. It was a magnificent back. I couldn’t help but reach out and touch the defined lines of his muscle. I felt him stiffen under my hand.

“I’m sorry,” I said, removing my hand instantly.

“If you want to touch me, you can,” he said, his voice clipped.

“I don't know what's appropriate. I'm sorry,” I said.

He rolled to face me. He propped himself up and rested his head on his hand. “What’s wrong, little one?” he asked.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.”

“Of me?”

“No, of what my future now holds. I'm also afraid you don't find me attractive. You haven't really looked me in the eye,” I said.

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