I Dated a Mob Wolf by Viola Grace

Chapter Twenty-One

Vallu put her shoes on and was still snickering at that mental image of debutants presenting for an alpha when she opened the door.

He was still chortling, and she asked him, “Liked that thought, did you?”

“If they had been presenting when I was eighteen, I might never have met you.”

“Aw, but I bet they weren’t of legal age, and that would have gotten you into all kinds of hot water. The screams alone would have deafened onlookers. And I would have had to find another male for my nefarious plot.”

He growled and pulled her in close. “And when I finally did meet you, I would have had to ditch the woman I was with because I had found my mate. It would have been messy.”

She swallowed. “You wouldn’t have met me. No married men are allowed as patrons.”

“On the street?”

She smiled. “How often were you seen on the streets of the city before we started playing together? If you showed up to try and kill my brother, that is about our first and last possible interaction.”

He scowled. “I would never.”

“You wouldn’t now, so would you then?”

He sighed. “Probably. Being in charge was more important than being responsible.”

She ran her fingers over his brow. “And now?”

“Being responsible for those around me is more important than anything.”

She rubbed his cheeks, pursed her lips, and murmured, “Who’s a good alpha?”

He growled, and his beast started to alpha up. She grinned, and Emma gasped, “Vallu, maybe you shouldn’t...”

Vallu kissed him and whispered in his ear; his arms were tight around her. “So, what shall we name the baby?”

He whined and shook his head in confusion. That redirection had hurt his reflexes.

She looked at Emma, “We will be downstairs in a minute when he isn’t endangering his suit.” She hauled Etgar into the bedroom and closed the door. She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his trousers. “Sit on the bed. We have to have tea with your godmother.”

His pronounced muzzle and furrowed brow still showed confusion, but when she shoved him back to the bed, and he sat down, he began to understand when she dropped to her knees. He stopped her. She frowned. He lifted her to her feet, set a pillow from the bed down between his feet, and she laughed as he helped her kneel again. The rest of the blowjob went off without a hitch.

They all sat around and discussed her uterus and the pregnancy as well as Etgar’s announcement of, “It’s a boy.”

Lady Daycross started shopping immediately.

Emma poured tea for Vallu and winked. “Delivery weight will be about eight pounds. He is going to go all the way.”

Vallu winced. “Good to know.”

Etgar smiled. “I will help you find your shoes and rub your back every morning and evening.”

She gave him a look. “Or you will have Rejik do it when you get too busy.”

He snickered. “Or that, but I think that I will enjoy helping you with your shoes.”

Oh. Right. The foot thing. She had woken to him licking her toes twice in the last three days. “So, I am going to be getting regular pedicures then.”

He grinned. “That is something Rejik and the guys can take you to.”

She rolled her eyes and sipped at her tea.

Emma nodded with satisfaction. “I like her. She takes no shit.”

Lady Daycross spluttered into her tea.

Etgar snickered. “No, she doesn’t. Even when I am in a temper, she can still calm me down and then give me hell immediately afterward.”

“So, she’s smart, too.”

He nodded and took his mother’s teacup from her. “And nearly a peacekeeper.”

Lady Daycross stared, and Vallu shrugged.

Emma asked, “What stopped you?”

“Biology. I could pretend to be close to human most of the time, but twice-annual heats would make me... unpredictable. Hormonal supplements stopped being effective after a few years, so I would just work a number of jobs between heats and then lock myself inside for a week. Then, I was fired from my job and started over.” She chuckled. “Just what every girl dreams of. Another cycle to deal with. That lasted a while.” She smiled. “Then, I met Zera, started exams and training, and soon was part of the growing BDC family.”

Emma nodded. “When did you meet Etgar?”

“Um, he was my patron on my first date. We were both nervous, so we stated that we would be nervous together, and then, we got on with it.”

He chuckled. “She takes charge with a delightful amount of flare when she needs to.”

“I think I used your belt to tie your hands.”

He sighed with a low rumble. “That is my recollection as well.”

Emma was grinning. “Aw, you became a man by crawling between a good woman’s thighs. Who would have thought it?”

Etgar laughed. “Once I met her, I knew I had to become better than a thug. So, let’s see if I can continue to upgrade myself.”

He got up and picked her up, carrying her away from the other two. She winced. “That wasn’t subtle.”

“You want not subtle? I am not even going to try and be quiet, and I aim to get you to go along with me.”

She smiled slightly. “You are going to have to be very persuasive.”

He rubbed his fingers against her marks. “I don’t foresee it being an issue.”

Heat spilled through her. She pouted. “Dammit!”

He laughed and set about summoning as much sound as she could. He must have been a wizard because that wand of his summoned all the sound she could muster.

* * * *

Emma glanced upward where the sounds of loud and enthusiastic sex were making it through the stone walls. “So, you are going to move into town?”

Lady Daycross chuckled. “Yes, I don’t want to dampen their fun, but they are at it fairly constantly. I know people say it will fade, but with the look in Etgar’s eyes when he sees her, I don’t see it fading anytime in the next decade. Excellent news about the grandson, though a little girl would have been nice, too.”

There was a howl that sounded smug.

Lady Daycross held up her hand and said, “That’s one.”

Emma looked startled. “What?”

“Oh, with it being first thing in the morning, expect him to go off three more times. I am both really proud and mortified.” Lady Daycross chuckled. “His father is impressed with his progress. This will have him strutting in the yard.”

Emma looked at her. “You still correspond with him?”

“Yes. He is still my husband; we had a son and a marriage. It is only proper that I continue to speak with him. He is surprisingly happy with what Etgar has done. He worried about the trend toward less overt violence and where that would leave the family. Now, it isn’t an issue. The young men can still start in the rough and tumble portions of the family and work their way into something more lucrative.”

Emma nodded. “It’s good. I hated patching up the young ones. Vallu said she has family?”

“Yeah, she has a brother and a niece. The girl is sweet and a natural on a horse. The brother is a captain in the peacekeepers. So, since Etgar wants to keep Vallu from a conflict of interest, he’s going to keep his transactions legal in the city.”

Emma snorted. “And anywhere else?”

“As long as they don’t travel much, it should be fine.” Lady Daycross shrugged. “The Daycross family has a new son coming. He’s going to inherit an empire.”

Emma smiled and asked, “What will you do with Vallu if she doesn’t want to have her son in the family?”

“She won’t be a problem.”

There was a chuckle from the doorway, and Vallu was wearing a wide-sleeved robe and smiling at them. Emma looked at the wild creature, who did not resemble the prim lady she had seen earlier.

“I am glad I won’t be a problem, but I really want to be.” She chuckled, and there were a lot of sharp teeth showing. “Lady Daycross, you do know that I am going to make sure that my son has a well-rounded education. That includes all aspects of the family business, but he will choose the direction that his life takes. If you interfere, try and guilt him into following the family pathways, or even try and introduce him to a convincer, we will see if my teeth are faster than your eyes. I know for certain that my fists are.” She walked over to the antique table, and as Emma watched, she slammed her fist down, sending the china and oak flying. She brushed off her hands and smiled. “Nice meeting you, Emma. I have to go and get some whipped cream. Etgar would have come down, but he can’t keep his robe closed.”

She nodded and left, heading for the kitchen.

Emma turned to the stunned Lady Daycross. “Her son will decide. Your grandson will have his choice. She’s going to be interesting at the PTA.”

Lady Daycross looked at the table. “I didn’t know she could do that.”

Emma chuckled.

Lady Daycross’s expression turned proud. “My grandson is going to be a monster.”

“I love how you can roll with the punches, but if you goad Vallu into punching you, let me know so I can arrange the funeral.”

They got up and went into another room, the request for a new table from storage and the disposal of the one in the day room was arranged, and the sounds coming through the walls had a lot of giggling.

Emma smirked. Etgar had chosen a good woman, and he was marrying her. Lady Daycross was gradually getting used to the idea of a stronger woman with a quieter personality in her territory. The next few months were going to be interesting. Emma could hardly wait for the wedding.

* * * *

The day of the wedding was bright, the ferry company was busy bringing the guests over. It was only a hundred people, but the ferries were small.

Vallu was dressed, her hair was done in a loose cascade, and Lii looked at her with huge eyes. “Aunty Val, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Do you think that Etgar is ready?”

Zera chuckled. “I have heard that he alpha’d up this morning and hasn’t calmed down since.”

“Ah. So, currently fuzzy and naked.”

“No, he’s just wearing a larger suit.”

“Oh. Glad he planned ahead.”

Zera laughed.

A soft knock at the door sent her friend downstairs. Lii squeezed her hand and handed her the bouquet that had white roses, silver ribbons, and was studded with tiny charms from their dating history. Boats, horses, piles of whipped cream, tiny hotdogs, they were all studded with rhinestones and shimmered as she walked. It counter-balanced the half a million dollars in gemstones that she was wearing everywhere.

She thought about the call from Khytten and Salat. They were ensconced with their healthy triplets and rapidly developing twins. Baola was happy to be a half-sister, and Lyric had been folded into the Khytten’s family as well. It wasn’t a bad thing to have two moms and a caring but scary stepdad. Her college fund was already in place, and Lyric was looking into moving back to Aksalla so that Baola could be near the other part of her family.

Baola had been manning the guestbook with her mother. When Vallu and Lii were on their way down, all of the family and friends scattered and found their places as Vallu fist-bumped her way through the house staff.

The wedding planner held them as the music started. Smooth harp music flowed, and Vallu smiled. Her dress was exactly what Etgar favoured, a tight bodice, small draped sleeves, it was tight through the torso, and then, it flared into a waterfall of fabrics around her hips with a stone-studded sash wrapped at the midpoint of her hips, making the bump extremely obvious.

The mask she was wearing let her see things in the black and white scale, as well as the heat spectrum. There were literally a lot of hot guys around the corner, but there was a big one at the end of the walkway. That inferno was hers.

The planner sent Lii off, and the “Awww” from the crowd made her smile. Denner was seated. It had made the planner twitch, but she was walking on her own. Etgar was her choice. He always had been.

The planner nodded, and the music changed pitch. Vallu walked with her head high, shoulders back, chest out, flowers forward, and her mask pointed toward Etgar.

There were gasps at the heavily jewelled mask, but it was going to serve a purpose. She walked the aisle and paused at the front, and she turned to face Etgar. She looked him up and down, and he threw his chest out and let out a low rumble. “Yeah, you look pretty good.”

The ripple of laughter ran through the crowd.

He lowered his head so that one larger-than-normal eye was looking into the sensors. He snuffled down her body and up again, howling. She laughed. “Fine, I look good, too.”

A Hyreno man in the front row of the groom’s side rumbled. “The exact translation is that you smell like a hot mate. He isn’t wrong.”

Etgar growled at him and took a step. Vallu grabbed his arm. “Ah... tut-tut. Not yours yet. Calm down, and let’s do this.”

He harumphed and pressed his nose to her neck. Inhaling against her calmed him somewhat. She took his hand, and he clutched hers in his giant fist.

The official looked a little pale. She nodded to him. “Shall we begin? Don’t worry. He won’t get much bigger.”

The official started, and Etgar slowly reduced to a more reasonable size of seven feet with very little hackles.

When they faced each other, he reached out, and her mask lifted off and away. He handed it to his best man. The guests sighed and smiled as they held hands for the ceremony, looking into each others’ eyes.

They were about to say their vows, and Lii produced the ring that she had picked out for Etgar. Vallu held it, and with the pledge, she slid it onto his finger. He growled, and his tail wagged. He did the same, and they beamed at each other.

“I now pronounced you mates for life. You may ki... never mind.” The official laughed.

Etgar lifted her off her feet, up until they were equal, and their kiss was intense, but she kept Lii’s curious gaze in mind.

She was pulling back when he cupped her head and rocked her into a dramatic kiss, his other hand supporting her thighs. She continued the kiss, but her feet were kicking a little, and it drew a laugh from the guests.

When he set her on her feet, they went to the register and signed the documents. Denner signed as her witness, and the best man signed for Etgar. They put their names down with their family names listed for recordkeeping purposes.

They returned to the front of the guests, and it was announced, “Vallu and Etgar.”

She clung to his arm as they walked along and got plenty of photos taken. It was time for photos with family, and then, the party was going to start. This was going to be good.

Two hours and hundreds of photos later, Vallu took pity on the man with the scorpion’s tail that was the best man. “Riithan, I would like to introduce you to my friend Ylara.”

Ylara smiled shyly and inclined her head. His nostrils flared. “You are... enchanting.”

Ylara grinned. “Well, I am called a witch rather frequently, so I will take enchanting.”

He laughed and offered her his arm. “I have to sit at the head table, but perhaps you would like to dance?”

Vallu chuckled as she sent her friend off with a venom-filled man in a tux. Baola was spending the night with Denner and Lii at the guesthouse. Lyric was free to socialize, as was Ylara; they were both booked into the bed and breakfast a few blocks away.

The dinner and speeches were hilarious and embarrassing. Denner’s finding of her teen diary and her list of the characteristics she wanted in a guy was particularly mortifying, but everyone laughed.

“Taller than me. Check. Stronger than me. Check. Eyes I can get lost in. Check. Puts me first. Check. Buys me hobby stuff. Check. Nice to my family. Check. No venom. Check. No hairy back. Uh-oh,” He looked over and said, “Well, sorry, Etgar, you aren’t the perfect man for her, but you are seriously close. Welcome to the family, little brother.”

The laughter was extreme, and when Denner and Etgar hugged, there were cheers.

Vallu got a little weepy, but then, she reached out and snagged her diary from when she was fifteen. She promptly stood up and then sat on it.

Etgar sat next to her, and he said, “Can I see it?”

“Hmmm. Nope. And I am not going to be drunk enough to let you for another eight months or so until I can pump enough for the little dude to go out for drinks with the ladies so that he isn’t drinking high octane.”

He sighed. “Can I try to persuade you in the meantime?”

“You can try, but it is locked with a teeny little key, so there is no way you can get past that security.” She snorted, knowing that her privacy wasn’t long for this world. She finally sighed and got the book out from under her thigh, handing it to him. “Go nuts.”

He grinned and picked up the diary, popping it open with his thumbs. He had gotten his claws filed for the wedding night. She shivered and finished her meal, still hungry.

A roasted chicken was brought to her with a finger bowl and some towels. “Compliments of the chef, Miss. He thought you might have missed a meal or two today.”

She looked at Etgar. “Time me.”

She ripped through the chicken with ferocious speed and had the carcass bare in record time. “What was the time?”

“One-minute forty-five.” He was laughing. “A personal best!”

She laughed and cleaned up while not trashing her makeup. The carcass was removed, and she glanced over to where the alphas were seated. They looked appalled.

She looked to Etgar. “Oh, dear. I bet they are imagining their junk as the chicken.”

He glanced over and nodded. “That is a safe bet.”

The cake was brought in with a tiny Etgar and Vallu perched on the top, the small wolfman clasping her to him, and it looked like Vallu was trying to get away. “Oh, that is super cute. If anyone steals that, I am going to hunt them down.”

Etgar came up behind her and held the knife with her. “Yes, dear.”

She laughed, and they cut the first slice and fed it to each other, neatly and politely until she put some icing on his nose, and he licked it off with tongue to spare. She pulled him in for a kiss, and the guests laughed.

* * * *

Ylara walked up to Riithan and said, “They are having the first dance. Do you want to take a spin?”

He grinned. “I would. My partner is going to dance with her dad.”

“She’s a good dancer. You are missing out.”

The other dancers were invited to the floor. Zera and Torun were there, as was Arcady and her triad. They had a constantly moving mix and match, and it was pretty and dizzying.

Gorith and Tirra were moving gracefully, and there were a few of the soul reapers and harvesters in the mix, dancing with BDC escorts off duty.

“So, you know the bride through her niece?” Riithan asked politely as they started to move with the crowd.

“Yes, and through work. We overlapped by a few months.” Ylara winced as his hands tightened, but they relaxed a moment later.

“You work for the BDC?” His black eyes focused on her.

“Yeah. A few times a week.” She smiled. “So do most of the ladies here, but I would really recommend you checking first before you say anything off colour. We are used to it, but others might not appreciate it.”

He looked around and then back to her. “There are a lot of you.”

“There are. Avoid the bonded couples, triads, and that quad over there. They would tear your face off and then spit down your neck.”

He looked around. “There are a lot of heavy hitters in here.”

“Yes. There are. Salat and Khytten are at home with their new babies, or they would be here, too.”

“So, the ladies of the BDC are pairing up?”

Ylara smiled. “The ones who engage in mutually agreed-upon primary patron contracts are. There is usually long exposure, though. If Vallu hadn’t retired, it might have been that situation between her and Etgar.”

“He would have continued to associate with her.”

“Yes, and so would her other clients. She is the first escort to actually formally retire. We had a party. It was amazing.”

“When was this party?”

“It was the weekend after she retired. She just sat there and drank fruit juice. It was up to the rest of us to harass the strippers.”

He laughed. “Strippers?”

“Sure. We have guys working for the BDC as well. They needed practice. We corrected every move and got to practice a few of our own.”

Riithan looked intrigued. “You dance?”

“We are all given extensive training, but this is sounding like a commercial, so how long have you known Etgar?”

“You didn’t listen to the speeches.”

“Nope. Tuned them out and went to make a call to Khytten so I could share some photos from the wedding.”

“I have known him for fourteen years. We were here at the alpha school together.”

“Oh, so you are an alpha? Wait, sorry. Obviously yes.”

“What gave it away?”

“Um, the tail?”

He grinned, and his eyes glowed white. “Good catch. Not all alphas have tails, but quite a few do. The demon over there is one.”

“Oh. Dr. Krizt. Yeah, he definitely has a tail, too. Arcady gossips. He can do fun stuff with it as well. Your tail looks... less fun.”

He sighed. “Yeah, but I can tailor the venom for different effects.”

“Oh, like Khytten, but again... less fun if you have to get jabbed.”

“The venom can be milked.” Riithan’s expression looked suddenly embarrassed.

“We can stop the discussion any time.”

“No, it’s fine. I am just surprised at how forthcoming I was. I don’t normally talk like this.”

“We are also trained for discretion and to be good listeners. We are approaching fifty escorts now, and there still aren’t enough of us.”

“But pole dancing?”

She chuckled as they moved around the dance floor. “Yes, we know how to pole dance. Our physical specs determine how successful we are at it.”

“What?”

“Not every girl was designed for climbing a pole. Some are just suited to grinding on it.”

He shivered. “You are not helping my equilibrium.”

She grinned. “Too bad. I am not here as an escort; I am here as a guest of the bride. Worrying about what the men around me think is better saved for when I am in a mask. Tonight, I am here for fun, and verbally sparring with you is fun.”

He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “So, you are taunting me on purpose?”

She leaned up close to him and whispered, “Damn skippy I am.”

The music ended, and before he could say anything, she had stepped back and was swept away by another of the alphas. “Uh-oh. Did I ring a dinner bell or something?”

The man who held her had green skin and a shock of hair so dark it was nearly black. “No, but you and Riithan started pumping out pheromones, so we are all interested in a closer look or smell. So, precious, what’s your name?”

Uh-oh.She looked around and met Vallu’s gaze, and the bride was laughing at her.

* * * *

Vallu danced with Etgar, and she smiled at a few of her friends who were looking startled while pinned to an alpha with excellent dancing skills. Ylara looked shocked when she went from Riithan to the green guy. Laughing was the only option Vallu had.

Etgar looked to see what she was laughing at. “Ah, right. Baola’s aunt. Yeah, I thought I caught a scent of something particularly tasty around her but not my particular flavour.”

Vallu looked at her husband with his adjustable suit and adjustable wedding band. “Really? What is your flavour?”

He leaned down. “You with whipped cream.”

She laughed and swayed against him. “Aw, I like you straight up or down, or behind me, anyway I can get you.”

“That is pretty bold talk for a bride.” His tone was rumbling. “What do we have left to do?”

“Dancing, thank our guests, table by table, and then, you launch the garter, and I launch the bouquet.”

“Then what?”

“Then, you and I take a flier to Aksalla so that we can spend time at the new honeymoon suite that Zera has set up for escorts and patrons who lock-in.” She blushed. “I meant, get married or bond pledge.” She walked her fingers up his arm. “We can be as loud as we want.”

He shuddered. “Whipped cream?”

“Already stocked. We just have to bring ourselves and any clothing that you want to destroy. Mind you, if you tear off this dress, I will punish you.”

He grinned. “How?”

“They have a lot of tools at the resort. I am pretty sure I can find something from a paddle to riding crop and everything in between.”

He sighed. “I love you.”

She laughed, and they spun on the dance floor. She slammed back against his chest. “I love you, too.”

Their kiss got the guests clapping, and they broke the kiss to start doing their rounds.

“Wait, did you have reapers as clients?”

“Yup. Three of them. Did you see Ylara’s face when she caught the bouquet?”

He nodded. “It was a combination of astonishment, hope, and horror. When you yelled that it was legally binding, I think she passed out for a second.”

“That was her having a vision. If her future was in the room, she would know it.”

They were in their shuttle with the resort nearly in sight. Vallu’s com lit up. “Oh, speak of the devil.”

Ylara was somewhere in a dark place, and she whispered, “Vallu, they are stalking me.”

“So?”

Ylara blinked. “What do you mean, so?”

“So? If you want to be prey, be prey. If you want to be a predator, be a predator. Choose what you are and choose now because if you don’t rap them on the nose with something, they are going to continue to push your boundaries until you either rise to meet them or cower in a... closet?”

“Oh, shut up.”

“You are a precog. See where they are going to be, and don’t be there. Leave your scent around the house and make them chase you, then go into town and have a sandwich at the deli. They are open late.”

Ylara blinked. “Just like that?”

“Don’t overcomplicate it. These guys aren’t letting loose, and no still means no as long as you aren’t grinding on them. In that case, it is a little muddled.”

Etgar snorted. “If you say no and mean it, they will leave.”

“See? From someone who knows the entire pervert collection. How many are after you?”

“Uh, three. Riithan, Shavore, and Denier.”

“So, scorpion, aquatic guy, and... Denier is one of the reapers.” She blinked at Ylara’s slightly wild expression. “Right. Repeat after me. My body, my life, my choice.”

Ylara muttered it softly and nodded. “Got it. Hit them on the nose, and stand my ground.”

“Good luck, and keep me posted. I might be busy for a few hours, but I will check in tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow,” Etgar murmured.

“The day after tomorrow. Stay strong and stick to your guns, and if you want one... take one or more than one.” She quickly hung up and locked the com except for emergencies.

He laughed. “You are encouraging her to dive into a relationship with one of them?”

“No, just have sex with them. Denier’s very careful. I would not have pegged him for an alpha. He was always so careful with me.”

“He probably knew you weren’t for him, but you were closer than any other woman he had been with.”

She looked up at him. “Is that what happened with us? I was close enough?”

He smiled and stroked her cheek. “You were perfect from the moment I first touched you. You simply caught me by surprise, and I look forward to being surprised for decades to come.”

“You like surprises?”

He nodded. “When they are wrapped in you, I love them.”

She grinned, and they landed. Tirra and Gorith got out, and then, it was their turn.

Tirra kissed her softly, and Etgar inhaled sharply. Gorith watched as luck was exhaled into Vallu, and she slowly closed her eyes and enjoyed the kiss.

Tirra lifted her head and smiled. “You two have the full run of the resort with the compliments of management. The bookings started coming in thick and fast during your wedding. Next weekend is going to be really busy.”

Gorith chuckled. “I will be on standby if you need me, angel.”

“I might, but I can usually calm them down.”

Vallu’s mouth opened to offer to help, and a furry hand covered her mouth. “No, you will not help calm down horny actives who are waiting for their dates. Yes, I know you can do it.”

She bit his hand, but he didn’t move it.

Etgar asked, “So, where are we staying?”

A small car pulled up, and the answer appeared. Tirra grinned. “They will take you to the suite, and your bags will be unpacked for you while you enjoy a nice hot soak at the hot spring.”

Vallu perked up. “Hot spring?”

“Not too hot. It is within preggo parameters.” Tirra patted her own belly.

Etgar grabbed their bags and set them on the car, pulling her with him. “See you when we surface for living interaction.”

Vallu laughed and was settled on his lap for the drive up the mountain. It wasn’t the way she thought things would turn out when she left him five months ago, but she had to admit, she wasn’t unhappy about the turn of events. Instead of being a single mom with an uncertain probability of having a baby, she had a husband, and her friends and family had locked around her to help. She would have been fine, but with Etgar, she was just better. There was also the bonus of regular sex, which was really helping dampen the cravings for blood.

She settled against Etgar. “It was a really nice wedding. Thank you.”

“You are welcome. It was a small token of my affection for you.”

“Was the two-pound necklace necessary?”

He grinned and stroked it. “It was a larger token of my affection. It suits you.”

She shivered. “It has been running me hot all day.”

He smiled. “I know.”

“Perv.”

“Yup. And you married me.”

She laughed, and their driver snickered. “You two are the first actual honeymooning couple from the BDC.”

He pulled up at a lovely resort set high in the foothills. It was Asian-themed and had a lovely wide deck out front; access to each suite was off the deck, with bio-locks for the doors.

Vallu was worried about the transmission of sound, but when they entered their suite, there was no carried sound.

The driver smiled. “All food deliveries will be left in the vestibule. Sound dampening tech is in all the walls, floors, and ceilings, and the spring behind your chambers is warm but not hot. There is a service com inside, and we can provide anything for a craving, including another escort for you if you want someone to join you.”

Etgar shook his head. “I am more than satisfied with my new wife, and I am sure that I am enough for her.”

“Is Thirty-three here? He gives the best back rubs.”

The driver nodded. “He is here for the week. One of his patrons is coming in tomorrow.”

Etgar growled low. “Vallu. No playing with others.”

She grinned. “But his back rubs are so good.”

He grabbed her and pulled her in close. “I will do any and all rubbing necessary.”

Their driver left them, and they looked at each other then giggled. The laughter turned to hugs, the hugs to kisses, and then the moaning started.

Life as Etgar’s wife was going to have its challenges, but there were definite perks.