Page 38 of Whispering Waves

“What do you do for the chickens?”

“When the storm starts, they head into the coop, which is storm-rated. They will be fine. My garden will be less so.”

“I am sorry.”

“We share resources with the other islands and have a delightfully long growing season. We will recover.” He shrugged. “We always do. When the tourists and holiday makers run for it, we stay because this is home.”

“Why don’t you have more tattoos or any for that matter?”

“I have been waiting for life events. My family believes in celebrating life and those who make it worth living.” He walked down one of the gravel paths with her.

She nodded. “Sensible. I have seen quite a few ridiculous tattoos in my day.”

“You don’t mind featuring prominently?”

“Well, it would have to be an official mating.” She pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Of course.” He sounded confused. “What do you think this is?”

“Fun? I mean, you didn’t mark me, and while we are enjoying each other’s company, I am not sure how things work from here. You, literally, hold all the cards.”

He sighed softly. “You are my match, Nerina.”

“That’s a cop-out; it reduces all free will to written in the stars. It’s garbage.”

He paused and then chuckled. “That is a delightful assessment. Right, well, I respect you and your efforts. I respect your family. I love the feel of your tattoo against my hands and your body rubbing against mine. I do that all with conscious thought.”

She tilted her head. “Well, there have been unions built on less, but what will I be? Mistress? Lover?”

“Definitely lover, but I was thinking wife. Ah, there is the drone with the delivery.” He nodded to a small helicopter with a fairly large box strapped to it.

“Wife?”

“I am an alpha; you are a beta. Marriage is possible.”

“Oh. Right. I guess. I just hadn’t considered it. Sure, there are plenty of groups getting married back in the city. Well, one alpha and the beta get married to give her stability in the eventuality of loss of her alpha.”

“Sensible. Would you sign a prenup?”

“Sure. Why not?”

He chuckled. “It just makes sure that you continue the rental of some of the islands in this chain to certain families.”

“Oh. Right. Okay.”

They walked to the drone, and he unbuckled it and pressed a button that sent the unit back the way it came.

He picked up the box and grinned. “Come on. Most of the contents are for you.”

She followed him. “They are?”

“Sure. As you have stated, you arrived with a limited wardrobe. This will be a step toward remedying that.”

There was another hum in the air, and he grinned. “And those will help as well.”

She looked up, and three more drones were flying in with parcels. “When did you do this?”

“Last night, I woke up in the middle of the morning, I suppose, and placed the orders.”

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