Page 5 of The Pleasure Contract

I-

Hoo boy! Someone from the palace needs to come retrieve their golden prince, because I’m either about to chew him out or climb him like a tree.

“Stop that,” I snap, hopping down from my makeshift stool so I can get away from him – and that bubbly feeling he makes me feel in my belly.

It’s no use, though. Az follows me out into the foyer.

“Stop what?” he asks, as if he doesn’t know.

“Flirting with me.”

I’m about to flee back up the stairs when I’m stopped by that huge, gray, horned beast of a man getting his grip around my wrist again. He spins me back toward him, making me feel a little light-headed.

“Why?” he grins, a hint of fang still showing. “Is it working?”

“No!” I lie, ignoring the way my defenses rise. “And what was all that nonsense at the door?” My words are accusatory as I jab Az in the chest while I not so deftly change the subject.

His pretty brown eyes narrow, and I swear there are flecks of pink in them. “What do you think it was?”

When I don’t answer, his massive hand releases me and disappears into his tight pants pocket, reemerging with that velvet ring box.

“I can try again,” he offers, getting down on one knee, making our head height level once more… Well, except for those shiny black horns of his. “I think I got the wording wrong last time. Is that why you refused me? I did not speak the correct words?”

I can feel my cheeks glow with warmth. “I refused you because I do not want to marry you, Az. Where on Earth-…” I clear my throat and correct myself. “Where on Xaavia did you even get the idea that I would?”

His mouth does this little downturned smile before he answers. “Everyone can see how well this human-style bonding is working for K and his Niska. Vel and her human fanatics said-”

I throw my hands up in the air. " You and I are not Kiahn and Niska, and Vel and her little club say a lot of things, Az. I don’t have time for this.”

But when I start to walk away, he stops me again. “Why? What plans do you have?”

I freeze.

None.

Absolutely none.

I’ve been about as useful as titties on a bullfrog since I got here. They won’t let me clean the house or change my sheets. I make a mess of using the nutrient replicator, so cooking for myself is off the table.

And honestly? It’s not like I particularly want to do any of those things, either. Hell, back on Earth, when I was spinning multiple jobs just so Mom and I could keep our heads above water, we’d fantasize about being in a scenario like I’m in right now.

But being absolutely useless makes me feel… uncomfortable. I’m not used to it. I’m waiting for all the Xavianns to collectively realize that I don’t contribute anything and send me back to Mama Z’rykby.

But instead of saying any of that, I force an obviously fake smile and say, “None of your business.”

This time, I don’t even get as far as turning my head away even slightly when his hand is cuffing my wrist again, keeping me there with him before I can flee back upstairs. “But it could be,” he says, standing back up to his full height. There’s a moment or two where we’re just staring at one another as he crowds me, him with his head bowed, and me with my neck craned. Blessedly, he steps away, walking backward as if he can’t bring himself to turn. “I could be very good at inserting myself into your business, Lois,” he tells me with a lazy grin.

As he’s still backing up, Az walks past the foyer table, the strange alien tulips in the huge vase reaching with desperation for him as he passes. Without taking his gaze from mine, I watch as Az meets the creepy flowers’ efforts with his thick fingers, gifting a gentle tickle to the petals of the bustling crowd of blooms and-…

Did they just fucking ‘sigh’?!

4

Lois

So, swooning flowers are a thing here.

At least, that’s what I thought I witnessed a few hours ago, just before Az left. It had been like they were a braying mob of his fans, and he’d thrown them just enough attention to make them that kind of giddy that tips over into being light-headed. After he’d left, I had approached the vase to see the once lively and responsive flowers lounging around limply like they were hungover from the high of Az’s touch.