“I wanted to mark you, leave something of mine on your body, I think. I will try to never bite you again. I didn’t break the skin.” His attention went to the slightly throbbing area where he’d struck with his teeth, his frown deepening. “You will have bruises for a while.”

“I said it’s all right.” She lifted her hand and let her fingertips play with the hair on his chest. “I missed you.” She looked up, staring at his face, and sighed. “What’s going on with you and Alluwn? Is she staying? Are you leaving me here? Is it over between us? Don’t fuck around with me, Berrr. Just be honest so I can deal with this.” A look akin to horror twisted his features as a low grumble came from him. “You are mine, I will never give you up, and you are only here for your protection until she is gone again. I spoke with her yesterday about why she was present in my house. She heard about her second daughter and wanted to meet Destiny.” Relief washed through Shanna. “So she just came to do the grandma thing and now she’s gone back to where she came from? Are you taking me home with you?”

Flinching at his hesitation, she knew what the answer was going to be before he said it.

“She wishes to stay until Ariel is medically cleared to go home. She has demanded use of my home, which is her right as my bound, until she has her fill of the offspring.”

“Why doesn’t she stay at your son’s house?”

Berrr snorted, a grin spreading across his face. “She would never stay in Ral’s home. His home is not big enough to suit her and she has no status in his home except guest. Alluwn must always be the leading female of any home that she stays in. It would also not be good for Ariel to spend too much time with Alluwn if she stayed in their home because Alluwn doesn’t like humans. She resents that she is not Ral’s most important female in his life anymore.”

“She’s high maintenance and a drama queen in other words.” His eyebrows rose.

“Trust me, I’ve got her pegged. So how long is she staying for?” His massive shoulders shrugged. “I don’t have an answer, my Shanna. I will come visit you every day.” His hand reached out to curl around her hip. “I wish I could stay here with you but I have guests in my home so I must be there often.”

“This sucks.”

“I’m very apologetic, my Shanna.” Berrr looked sincere as he gazed into her eyes. “I am sure Alluwn won’t stay long. She grows bored easily and being near me puts her in bad moods.”

“Why can’t I just go home with you? I can totally hang out in your bedroom if you don’t want me running into her.” Shanna’s eyes narrowed as she closely studied Berrr’s features looking for signs of him lying. “She doesn’t have any reason to go to your bedroom, does she?”

He shook his head, total looking sincere again. “She will never come to my bedroom, Shanna. Even if she changed her mind and wanted me I would never want her. You are all that I want.”

“So let me come home with you and I’ll just stay in your room. The house helpers can bring me food and then we’ll be able to sleep together and spend every minute you have free with each other.”

Berrr hesitated. “I am tempted but if you were under my roof than you would be at Alluwn’s mercy. She is legally my bound, the official lead female of my house, and you are just a house helper under Zorn society rules. She would be able to order you to do her bidding.”

Understanding hit Shanna as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. “That’s why you got me the hell out of there, isn’t it? She can order me around, can’t she?” He nodded. “She could punish you as well. She could have you do harsh chores or send you out to do shopping unprotected by guards if I were not there, putting you in great danger. I won’t allow her to use you against me to cause harm and she would take great pleasure in that.”

Sighing, Shanna curled tight against Berrr’s warm body. “I hope she leaves soon. I slept like shit last night without you.”

Black eyebrows rose. “Is this another Earth saying?” A grin split his lips. “I get the meaning that you didn’t sleep well.”

Her gaze lifted, staring into his eyes. “How did you sleep? I hope it was alone.”

“My house helpers aren’t allowed in my bed anymore. The only woman allowed touching me or sleeping with me is you.”

“Just checking.”

He gave a sharp nod. “I have to go now. I will come back tonight if you don’t mind me coming to you very late. I have a dinner to go to with my many guests where we are going to plan how to rid the districts of the wild Zorn males who are attacking them.” Depression hit her. “You can’t stay longer?”

“No. I am already behind in my plans to meet with some of the warriors. They wait so that I could come see you.”

“Okay.” At least he came to see me. She was grateful for that instead of another messenger coming to the door to tell her that Berrr wouldn’t be showing up. “Just come back tonight no matter how late it is.”

“I give you my vow.”

Nodding, Shanna released him, and rolled on her back to put a few inches between them. “And you always keep your word.”

A grin split his handsome features. “I always keep my vows, my Shanna.” She watched him get off the bed and slowly dress. She didn’t bother to put on clothes. She hadn’t been lying about sleeping horribly when Berrr hadn’t shown up the night before. She’d tossed and turned all night wondering if he and Alluwn were together and she instantly decided to take a nap until he returned.

Dressed, Berrr eyed her with intensely blue eyes. “It may be very late but I will come to you.”

“I’ll be right here in this bed waiting for you.” She licked her lips and let her hands run over her stomach and breasts, knowing that those sexy eyes of his were watching every movement she made. “Hurry back to me.”

A soft growl tore from Berrr before he turned away, walking for the doorway.

Shanna let her hands stop roaming on her skin as Berrr left her room, the door closing behind him. She sighed loudly, blowing out air in frustration, and then rolled over onto her stomach. I had to go and fall in love with a damn world leader with a busy schedule. Why couldn’t I fall in love with an out-of-work alien who has all the time in the world to stay in bed with me?