Page 80 of The Ruler
“It would be a scandal of epic proportions.”
“That we marry?” He turned his head and frowned at me.
“Yes. My people wouldn’t understand. They would think I’d gone insane.”
My words made the carefree kid I had gotten to see a glimpse of disappear. Instead Khan grew serious and his eyes darkened. “I don’t want you to go back. If you’re right, they might try to protect you from my influence and keep you from coming back here.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “I think they would.
“You’ll have to win them over from here.”
I shook my head. “That would take a miracle.”
“Don’t overthink it. Just choose me.”
“I need time to think, Khan.”
“No.” He sat up and leaned his forehead against mine. “Pearl, I love you.”
I sucked in a deep breath.
“I know,” he whispered. “It scares me too, but it doesn’t change the fact that I would go bat shit crazy if you walked away now.”
“You’re going too fast,” I said to slow him down, but he wasn’t listening.
“What do I have to do to make you see that we’re meant to be together?” he asked.
“Khan, I just need time.”
He let go of me and I started dressing, using leaves and moss to wipe off his sperm.
“How can you be so cold?” he asked.
“I’m not being cold, but you’re asking for a lot and I need time to process it.”
“It’s too late to hide that we’ve slept together,” he said and looked back in the direction of the school.
“I know,” I muttered.
“Are you embarrassed?”
Closing my pants and putting on my left shoe, I faced him. Khan was still sitting completely naked on the ground watching me.
“Clearly you matter a great deal to me,” I said. “I’m sorry that I’m not as quick to declare my love or agree to marry you, but if you’re serious about this then you’ll give me time to process it.”
He looked away and I could tell he felt rejected.
“In the Motherlands,” I said and reached my hand to him, pulling him up to stand in front of me, “people don’t marry but some couples live together for a lifetime. Could we let that be enough?”
“No. I want you as my wife.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head against his chest. “I’m not saying no, but I need time to think.”
He stiffened so I continued. “But I promise that I’ll stay with you and take my time to figure out what I’m feeling. And tonight…” I looked up at him. “I’ll sleep in your bed and not on the sofa.”
The edges around his eyes softened and he planted a kiss on my forehead. “Thank you.”
After Khan got dressed, we walked back hand in hand. The others were gone, but Magni had left his drone for us, which we took back to Boulder’s place.
