Page 27 of Bought and Shared
I tilt my head with confusion. “Mate?”
“We’ll talk more about that later tonight,” he tells me, bestowing a final kiss on my lips.
I didn’t want to talk tonight. I wanted to talk right now. What was this “mate” business about, and why couldn’t he explain himself before he left for work?
“Can’t we talk now?” I press, even though I know I shouldn’t.
“I’m already running late,” Oren tells me as he stands to his full, towering height of six and a half feet. “I laid about in bed for far too long this morning, but I couldn’t help myself. You look so cute when you sleep”
I’m miffed, but I can’t exactly strong-arm the man into compliance. “Alright,” I grudgingly concede.
“Besides, I’d rather Knox be present when we talk about such things. This is a conversation for the three of us to have together.”
I blanch, a mask of shock settling over my pale features. “He’s coming home tonight?”
I feel so ill-prepared for this. If my second master returns, there’s nothing standing between me and two men taking my virginity. Though I know this is my fate, it’s crept up on me faster than I thought. It’s all too much to deal with in so short a time. I need a moment to process, absorb what’s happening.
“Yes, Kitten. And when he does,” he tells me, heading for the door, “he’s going to expect you to lose the gown when you sleep. We both prefer our women naked in bed.”
When the door clicks shut behind him, I grow hot and dizzy. The walls of my new world are closing in around me, and I have no idea how I’m going to react once I’m utterly trapped.
“You have to use your tongue. It’s no good without it.”
I was trying, but the man was damn hard to please. “Like this?” I visually demonstrate.
“More pressure,” he complains with a sigh. “I should be able to feel each stroke.”
“But it’s so hard!” I choke out in frustration. “There are so many sounds in Voltanese that aren’t in English. How will I learn them all?”
Colton, my tutor, smiles with clear understanding. “Patience, Aurora. You’re doing fine. Within six months, you should be able to hold entire conversations with your Voltan masters. Won’t that be fun?”
Six months! Oren said he’d learned English in almost the same number of days. “Is there any way to speed up the process?”
I’m not ashamed to admit I’m looking for a shortcut to help me with this new project of mine. Language acquisition is no easy feat. The more tools in my toolbox, the better.
“I’m afraid not,” Colton answers. “However, it is very admirable you wish to learn our beautiful mother tongue. Your masters will be so proud of you for taking the initiative.”
I like the sound of that, though I won’t openly admit it. “Colton,” I begin, wondering what the man would be willing to share with me about my masters. Especially Knox, who was a complete mystery to me at this point, “May I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” the agreeable man replies.
“I haven’t met my second master yet. Do you know him? His name is Knox.”
I shouldn’t involve the man in my troubles, but he’s so kind that I thought he actually might help alleviate some of the anxiety I’m experiencing.
Colton chews over my question for longer than I would like. “Yes, Aurora. I know him.”
That wasn’t exactly a glowing review. “Are you two friends?” I push, needing more info before the male returns tonight and expects me to immediately become intimate with him.
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Colton continues in the same vague manner as before. My face must have portrayed how terrified I was, because he quickly adds, “Captain Knox is renowned for being an exceptional Voltan warrior, Aurora. He was a part of the elite unit known as the Drattma back on Voltan. He’s agreatly respected member of Fort Kent, and much admired for his skill both on and off the battlefield.”
His little speech doesn’t exactly ease my fears, either. “But is he,” I consider how best to phrase my question, “a gentleman to the women he dates? Kind and patient?”
It looks like Colton could swallow his tongue, he’s biting it so hard. “As I told you, we aren’t friends, Aurora. I’d be lying if I said I knew the man on such a personal level.”
My conversation with Oren this morning came to mind then. Perhaps having a native Voltanese tutor could be useful in more ways than one. He knew the culture after all and would understand the meaning behind a simple word like “mate”.
“I just wish to understand your culture better,” I explain, buttering the man up some. Though not too much, or he might catch on to my ruse.
