Calm by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

you have not learned it yet.” He winked and put a plate in front of her.
    Meri was dressed again, but he had not seen the need before he made lunch. She had to admit it would have made a high-rated cooking show back on Earth.
    “I will ignore that. What time do we go to pick up Niika?”
    “I will go and fetch her in an hour. Will you come with?”
    “Of course. I didn’t think you wanted me with this morning. It was a family day.”
    He sighed, “Meri, if you would simply agree to it, you would be family.”
    She paused on her fourth bite of whatever he had made. “What?”
    “I am offering you the chance to be my life mate. Have I been unclear?” He frowned.
    “Um, a little. Yes. I thought you just wanted me for a bed mate and I would go on to my next assignment.”
    “No. You are not leaving Reepha. Not now, not ever. I will not give you a reference for your next assignment, and you will remain here with me.”
    She tried to summon her normal anger, but it wasn’t there. She reached out and touched him, trying to gauge his mood, but he was calm.
    “If you are looking for your fury, it burned off during sex. It wasn’t anger, it was frustration, but they become interchangeable after a time.” He smiled and took the seat next to her.
    Her mortification was all consuming. “How long have you known?”
    “Only since the decanting. Until I touched you, I could not get a reading.” He ate his own meal and smiled. “Now, what will it take to make you mine?”
    Meri blinked. “What?”
    “It is traditional for the Lahash to buy their brides. Since you are no longer near your family, I cannot offer them a bride price.”
    She frowned. “The Alliance usually handles that end of things on behalf of the Terrans.”
    He fidgeted and focussed on his plate while he mumbled something.
    Meri scowled, “What?”
    “I bought out your contract when you had the gills installed. The Alliance would not authorize the procedure on a person of your talents, there was no urgency for the change, so I paid for it myself, and at the same time, I bought out your contract.” He looked up at her with his eyes sincere. “You are now sponsored to live on Reepha for the rest of your life, including a small house in the city if you want it.”
    “You are just mentioning this now? I have had the gills for over a year.” Laughter bubbled up in her.
    “Well, yes. I didn’t know how to bring it up. Arranging a negotiation underwater was hard enough, but insisting on you accompanying me took all my effort and quite a few favours.” He sat back and fiddled with his plate. “I was unsure how to approach one of your species, and my research didn’t proceed properly until I spoke with one of your representatives.”
    Meri quirked a smile. “Which one?”
    “An ex-Negotiator. Amanda Tyrell, currently the Consort of the Emperor of the Haldis Imperium. She explained a few of your quirks that had me baffled and offered me a consulting voice when I needed one. She is quite sharp.”
    “She’s one of our Champions. She is indeed very sharp.” She chuckled at the understatement. “The other ones are as well. They are the best that humanity had to offer.”
    “I beg to differ. They may have been exceptional, but all they did was surpass the expectations of the Alliance assessment council. You are the best that humanity has to offer, in my opinion.”
    She grinned, “I like your opinion. It’s very flattering.”
    “So, Meribeth, what will it take to get you to formalize our connection?”
    She looked at him, stared at him as her vision took him in from head to toe. His long, dark hair was tousled from her fingers. His eyes were bright. The curve of his lips was hopeful, and the rest of him made her mouth water. Aside from the physical, she had spent two years working with him, and his mind was as keen as his body was enchanting. He also appeared to have money, so he was the complete package, tall, dark and alien.
    She smiled. “What