Page 13 of His Human Rebel

“None. You need to know this so that when you do decide to become my bound, you understand what that entails. The both of us will be together forever. And it’s just the way that it is on my planet. Hyrrokin can pleasure mate until we find our bound. Sometimes those relationships lead to a walk to the courthouse and other times you realize you are not right for each other and you move on and continue looking. Some Hyrrokin never find their bound.”

“Thank you for explaining that. It is very important.”

I force myself to tell her everything because I must remain honorable. “You will have the opportunity to leave Tarvos until the moment you take that walk to the courthouse. The child you carry is not mine and you were sent here under false pretense. If you decide you do not want this relationship, I will pay to send you back through the transporter you arrived in. But I’m hoping you will give me the opportunity to show you how this could be right for you. Your arrival on Tarvos was forced, but you are in the midst of a great change of circumstance. Taking me on as your mate could be the change you need.”

“This is a long driveway,” she suddenly blurts out.

White smoke wafts from my nostrils.

“You’re right. I have to move anyways. They kicked me out of my furnished apartment and sent everything to my mother.” She leans back in her seat and crosses her arms. “What if my mother doesn’t want to be separated from me or her grandchild and wants to move here too and live with us?”

“That’s acceptable.”

“What if you hate her and she hates you?”

“I have difficulty believing that that would happen. But your mother does not have to live here on our ranch. She could live on any of the other ranches or in town. Also, she can visit any time she likes using the transporter station.”

Stella snorts with disbelief. “Do you know how expensive transporter stations trips are? That type of constant travel is only for the fabulously wealthy…” She looks stunned. “Wait, you are fabulously rich, aren’t you, and so is your whole entire family? You’ve been trying to tell me that you and your family own this whole corner of the planet. And you’re going to give me half of that portion you own? Oh my gosh, Rake. You’re lucky I am not some other type of person who would take advantage of you.”

I grin again and tap my nose. “I know that you’re not that type. Also, don’t forget that I will also own half of your accounts too. We will share.”

She laughs. “Good luck with that. Those accounts aren’t going to get you very far. Unfortunately for you I don’t own anything except the clothes on my back. The good news is that I don’t have any debt though.”

And then we turn a bend in the road. From this vantage point the barn, the pens and the barracks are on the left and on the right is the domicile on a slight rise.

Stella leans forward, her head turning as she eagerly takes in the ranch.

“There it is. This is the domicile I built by hand for my future bride and family.” I continue toward the curved driveway, bypassing the attached garage because I want to bring her in through the front door. I park and we’re both quiet for a moment.

“Oh, this is a nice house. It’s bigger than I thought it would be. When you said you built it yourself I have to admit I thought it would be a small one story cabin, but it’s obviously two storied.” She sits up, turning to gaze all around at the front of the house, the drive and even at the other buildings in the distance. “It’s wonderful.”

“Everyone else thinks this domicile small and roughhewn because I built it by hand,” I say.

“I think it is beautiful.”

Pride warms my chest. I turn off the engine and we both step out.

“I really am in awe of the entire structure. I cannot believe how many logs you must’ve used.” She puts her hands on her generous hips and gives me a mischievous grin. “You had help, didn’t you? You hired a company and then you’re just telling me now that you built it yourself.”

I rear back, horrified that she would suggest such a thing. “No. Well, I did give my employees cases of extra ale as gifts to help me with the roof because it took a long time. I hired some of them to do detail work because it turns out I have some men who are true craftsmen around here.”

“I was just teasing. It’s wonderful. Can we go in?”

I place a hand on the small of her back and guide her toward the front porch.

“I don't have anything in the house,” I admit to her before I open the door, so she isn’t shocked by the emptiness.

“What do you mean?”

“I finished this domicile a while back, but I never have visitors. My ranch is the farthest out and a lot of us have the same visitors who would always rather stay at the main ranch. I never invite anyone over, nor do I have company.”

She looks at me. “You're a loner?”

“Nowadays I'd rather be alone than be around anyone I don't want to be around. Everyone I've hired I like working with. We work well together, which decreases my stress. I'm the boss and my operation is relatively small and I live where I work, and the beings I hire live here on site too.” I point out the barn and the bunk houses. “Originally when I first came here, it was just me. I worked alone out here. Then eventually I hired Lorn, the ranch manager, and he hired a team of ranch hands. Even though I am the eldest Flagstone brother and ten years older than Sten, my youngest brother, I still have the smallest ranch.”

“It usually happens the other way around.”

“I know, but this is what I like.”

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