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Dar wasn’t looking at her when he said it, but his tail did wind tighter around her wrist.
Emilia felt a contented smile split her face.
“Come on, pumpkin. Time to see the fabrics section of the market.”
Turned out ‘section’ was an understatement. A ‘neighborhood of tents selling fabrics only’ was the more accurate term. She and Dar walked and walked, and there seemed to be no end to the shops to choose from. Fabrics of all colors imaginable were displayed left and right. A material as delicate-looking as a spider’s web? A cloth large enough to wrap a two-story building in? You named it, they had it. And the sellers declared what they were offering loud enough for everyone at the other end of the street to hear.
The bright colors galore made Emilia’s eyes hurt; even the fabrics placed overhead to offer shade were colorful in this area. She found herself craving the simplicity of the all-brown part of the market; its calmer atmosphere as well.
“See anything you desire?” Dar asked after they had walked for ten minutes or so without entering a single tent.
“The exit?” A nervous laugh escaped her when his side tensed against her. “I’m sorry, Dar, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s the multitude of colors and the noise that are getting to me, not the market itself. Can we… uh… simply get the same orange cushions as the ones you had before?”
His posture relaxed immediately. “You liked those? Orange, every single one of them?”
“Well, yes.” She wasn’t as crazy about orange as he was, but she didn’t mind the sunny color. Particularly in a gray room. “Anyway, it’s your bedroom, your design.”
Dar stopped so abruptly in the middle of the busy street that she nearly tripped in her own feet. A grumpy comment in a language her translator didn’t know, sounded from behind.
“Lia.”
He turned to face her and for a second there, she thought he was about to burst into tears – his eyes were so watery. Then she remembered his words about the sunlight bothering him, andphew-ed inwardly.
“It seems I have not said it clearly enough. I want us to decorate the nestroom together because it’s going to beournestroom.” He bit his upper lip before adding, “If you choose to stay with me forever, I mean.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Dar…”
“But?”
“But moving in with someone is a big step. On Earth, at least.” Emilia couldn’t help thinking that if she had gotten to know Brendon some more before moving in with him, things would have gone a lot more differently. “I know, I’m already living with you on theDickion. But furnishing the bedroom together? That’s putting pressure on me.”
Dar sighed. “You’re right. I’m pressuring you, I’m imposing my traditions on you while being ignorant of yours, and–”
She cupped his cheek. “Stop being so hard on yourself, Dar. If anyone is at fault here, it’s both of us. Communication is key, as my parents say is the secret to a happy marriage. We’re both new to each other’s worlds, so how about we talk more before acting?”
That brought the smile back to his face. “A cunning, patient, and smart female – I’ve hit the interstellar jackpot.”
Emilia snickered and blushed simultaneously.
“Get a nestroom, you two!” someone grumbled from nearby.
Dar chuckled and returned his arm around her waist. “How about we go grab something to eat and continue with the shopping after? That way we can communicate some more while I feed you.”
“Deal.” Now that he mentioned it, she realized she was starving. “What are we shopping for after? Just the cushions?”
“The cushions and some natural outfits for you. For the gala.”
Oh. Right. The gala.
“What do you mean bynatural?”That’s it, Emi, focus on the non-scary bits.
“Non-replicated outfits. No male worth his tail would dress his female in replicated clothing.” His tone suggested he was using terms different than what he actually meant.
Only the best quality of clothes for a slave on display, got it. She shuddered. That was one part of their upcoming shopping that she wasn’t looking forward to.
Emilia shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. She had to focus on the here and now. And that was a restaurant with good food and good company on a moon orbiting the planet Agora.
This was going to be fun.
