Page 21 of Devin
"That's even better. I hear Etlon is crawling with eligible bachelors with well connected families. I mean, you'd probably be a guest at the planetary palace and have guys dripping over you, not just Mahdfel greenies, even."
Val wasn't sure that would be her bag either. Marrying for money was a pretty wacky thing to do, but security was security. Surely on a planet with a few cities, they'd have at least a few job opportunities for unemployed Earth girls with few skills except being quick on her feet and willing to work hard.
A large green form approached. By the pleading look and the obvious adoration in his eye, Val identified him as Haxit, Charlette's husband. Charlette clearly didn't share his adoration. She sighed.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I got it!" He unraveled a cloth to reveal two bright orange, pear-shaped objects. Val assumed they were a fruit of some kind.
"Only two?"
"That's all I could find. The likidi plant puts up a grand fight." He showed her the large tears in his arms and his lower right leg.
"Oh, holy shit," Val said. "Are you okay?"
"He's fine. Like I said, he'll be good as new tomorrow." Charlette stood up and rolled her eyes. "Come on, then. Youbetter not bleed on me," she said to Haxit then started walking toward a nearby cube.
"I'll see you later, when this thing is done with his bump and grind," she told Val.
Haxit didn't seem to mind being called a ‘thing’. Instead, his face lit up as he followed her like a puppy, still holding the fruit outstretched in his hands.
Val had seen some frigid behavior before, but this woman kinda put them in their place. She was literally trading herself for some fruit with the cold calculation of a seasoned pro. Val tried not to judge. A woman had to do what she had to do to survive. But Humility had just told her that sex was a thing that a Mahdfel wouldn't push, wouldn't forcefully take from his mate.
A pit formed in her stomach. For her, it was the other way around. He'd been forced to put up with her. And she was no prize. Would she be forced to trade something every time she wanted a little affection from her husband?
No, it didn't work that way. The Mahdfel were naturally attracted to their mate.
Only Val could find herself so resistible to hers.
Maybe it would just take a few tries. Once he got to know her, surely he'd overcome his misgivings. After all, this situation wasn't what Val had in mind for her future. Honestly, she hadn't thought much of the future. The money from waitressing gigs had always slipped out of her fingers just as soon as she made it.
Out of the corner of her eye, Val caught a bit of green moving past one of the cubicles. It was Devin. Strangely enough, she already could distinguish him from the other greenies. Start simple, she told herself. Introduce yourself again. Have a conversation.
"Hello!" she called and sprinted forward. He turned and flashed her a deer-in-headlights look. He was already about to bolt again.
"Wait a second!" she cried out.
He turned away and Val sped forward, overlooking the tree root that was sticking up right in front of her. She knew she was going down, but there was nothing to stop it. Val threw her hands out in front of her and braced herself for the pain. Her knee scraped against the ground as her wrists jolted as they dug into the forest mulch. Without looking, she knew she was bleeding. Again. She took a deep breath as she rode the wave of pain. Before she could get up, Val found herself up and in Devin's arms, being whisked off across the compound.
Her cheeks burned. This was not what she had intended. It only proved that she was a useless klutz.
Once again, she found herself on the med table with him standing over her, but this time, he was examining her knee with great intent.
"I'm okay." She sat up and examined the heels of her hands. The left one was fine, but the right had a small slice under her thumb.
"Your thin Terran skin has torn with the slightest friction. Even your hardened hands have sustained damage. Lie down."
"I'll be fine."
"Lie down."
Val thought about objecting, but the pain in her knee gave her second thoughts. "Seriously. It's nothing."
Her knees began to tingle and her palm buzzed. Whatever medical magic he was working on her made her pain melt away. In a few more seconds, it was as if she'd not hit the ground at all.
"Thank you," she said.
"Terrans are such- I do not understand why they prefer such-" Devin started.
