Page 36 of Breaking Ties

“Why?”

“Because my sister had used our resemblance to each other our entire lives to declare that her actions were mine. Our parents were no longer with us; I didn’t care to be associated with her after she left me for dead, so I made us different in a way that could be seen from a distance. I didn’t know how tall I was going to grow. That took care of the differences right there.”

He tensed. “Left you for dead?”

“Yes. Tied me to a vehicle in the elements with no food or water, my neck against steel.”

His voice got velvety. “Where is this sibling now?”

“In a five-year companion contract for one of Eliana’s grandsons. Eliana agreed not to allow them to offer renewal until the fourth child is born.”

He frowned. “The permanent contract is usually offered after the first.”

“I know. She will have twenty years of being with a good man and mild embarrassment, as well as social ostracism. She will survive it, and then she will settle as a consort to an overseer.”

“I see. That is something.”

“You really wanted to smack her around.”

He looked at her smile and nodded. “The thought of you sad or in danger is not something I am comfortable with.”

She blushed. “That is... sudden.”

“It is, but it doesn’t feel awkward.” He trailed fingers over her cheek. “We should change for dinner. You have been asleep for hours.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Sleeping in the station where you can feel your people calling you is difficult.”

“Is that what that was?”

“Yes, but there were millions of them. You could not rest. Now, come and take a shower so that you may look lively and beautiful for the dinner.”

“Is it important?”

“It is part of the personal presentation part of the contract.” He trailed his fingers across her jaw and down her neck.

She eased away from him, and he grinned. She muttered, “I am going to take that shower. Any preference for my clothing?”

“I will have something for you after your shower.”

“Hm. Very well, Vress.” She got off the bed, straightened her legs, walked across the room, and went into the bathing room.

The sonic shower took care of any exterior stickiness, and her hair fluffed out a little.

Her waist had finger-grip marks, and her thighs had racing stripes. She looked at the punctures on her inner thigh, and there were two specific pink marks. They had started. That much was easy to see.

She steeled herself and walked into the room where Vress was standing with a dress draped over his arm. She blushed. It was the one that was Vress’s colours. She had ordered it with whimsy.

He smiled. “I see you anticipated me.”

“Well, yes. You were the only one in my mind, so I looked up consorts, and they are very often dressed in matching clothing.”

“That is true. This looks appropriate for dinner. Do you need help getting into it?”

“I think I can manage it.”

He smiled. “I will change, but if I finish before you, I am helping.”