Erra saw Ariel when she walked out of the bedroom. Ariel smiled at the woman and slowly did a full circle turn. She eyed Erra with raised eyebrows. Erra let her eyes take in the altered dress. Erra grinned. She met Ariel’s eyes and raised her hand. She stuck up a thumb. Ariel laughed. She’d taught Erra that gesture.

Ral worked six hours a day, four days in a row. He got three days off. He was some kind of judge. Ral explained that he listened to his people and dealt with their issues.

He swore he loved doing it. Ariel missed him when he was at work. Erra barely let her do anything around the house. Mainly Ariel napped or followed Erra around to watch and learn what the woman did.

Since Ariel wasn’t allowed to leave the house enclosed the area. It was the only fresh air she was allowed to have. Ral avoided questions when she asked why she couldn’t go shopping with Erra or why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house. He always distracted her. Ral was damn good she spent time in Ral’s backyard. It had a pretty red creek and black and purple trees. A high wall at doing that. He would just carry her to bed. After a few hours with Ral she was too worn out to keep questioning him.

She eyed the clock. She’d learned to tell Zorn time with Ral’s help. She knew he’d be home soon. When the little arrow hit the bird-looking symbol he would be home.

She bit her lip. What was Ral hiding? He had to be hiding something. Was she in danger from his people? Is that why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house? Maybe it was just a simple case of him worrying about her. She couldn’t communicate with anyone.

It had been just over a week since the medical center visit. The Zorn still hadn’t perfected the Anzons translator program to work with Zorn translators. She sighed.

Maybe they had wireless computers, uh, conis, that she could walk around with. A conis was the size of about a thirteen-inch TV. She wondered if Zorn had wheelbarrows. She laughed at that idea of lugging one around with her.

Ral was late. She watched the arrow go from the bird symbol to the wiggly snake-looking one. She frowned. He was always home when the bird symbol hit. She went in search of Erra. She found the woman doing laundry. Ariel waved at Erra and did the sign for “we need to talk”. Erra followed her through the house.

“He’s late. I’m worried.”

Erra eyed the clock. “Perhaps he went out with men. They like to drink amond while they talk of male bonding things.”

Amond was probably like beer. Ariel didn’t bother to have Erra explain. Men were men on any planet. “Wouldn’t he have used the device to call you to tell me he wasn’t coming home?”

Erra grinned. “The males on your world do that?” She laughed. “Women rule there, do they not? The idea of one of our males asking for permission to bond with other men is funny.”

Ariel sighed. “Great. So on this world men don’t call to say they’ll be late?”

“No. Ral spoils you, Ariel. If other males saw the way he spoils you he would be teased unmercifully. They already talk about how he removed his two home helpers and refused the female his father sent to bound with. She was greatly wanted by all males. That is why she was offered.”

Ariel eyed Erra with a frown.

“It is true. He refuses all females. They are attracted to him and come on to him when he is outside. He is first son, Ariel. It means he will lead this world when his father hands over the position or dies. He is very powerful and wanted. Most men in his position have at least three women in their bed if not more. He is bound to you but males always share sex with other women besides their bound. A bound is a male’s favorite female who he gifts with his seed. It is a deep honor to be bound. Our men have strong sexual needs one female can never fill. Ral refuses all but you.”

“I fill his all needs.”

Erra grinned. “I have heard.”

A flush stained Ariel’s cheeks. “Sorry about that.”

“Do not be. You make Argis Ral very pleased. He spoils you this way and in many other ways. Most of our females work. He doesn’t want you to leave his home. He is very possessive and protective of you. I have seen him with you and he gives you all of his attention. Our males tend to only seek out attention from their bound during sex. He is always with you.”

“Maybe he doesn’t think there is a job I could do.”

“You are very smart. There are jobs you could do where you wouldn’t have to speak or be spoken to. He wants to take care of you and keep you to himself. All bound men are possessive and protective but he takes it to a new level. Everyone knows this.” Ariel sighed.

“You have been with Argis Ral long enough to conceive. Do you know that bound men release their bound if those females do not conceive? It is one of the few reasons it is allowed. Argis Ral has no intention of giving you up. He means to keep you until death.”

Ariel’s anger slipped away. So what if he went out with the boys? He’d given up a lot for her. He wasn’t a human guy. She realized there were going to be culture differences. He’d given up a lot of his culture already to make her happy. She nodded.

“I guess I’ll play with the conis and try to learn more.” Erra nodded. The doorbell rang. Ariel sighed. Ral wouldn’t use it, he’d just walk in.

Erra hurried away to see who was at the door. Ariel hesitated and then followed the woman. What if something had happened to Ral? Fear pricked at her. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t come home.

Four large males were at the door. Erra snarled at them. Ariel hugged her body. She prayed the men at the door hadn’t told Erra bad news about Ral. Was he hurt? Dead?

Her knees wanted to buckle under her at the thought. She loved Ral. He was her entire world. She couldn’t lose him. She’d die inside if she could never be with him again. She loved him that much. As the realization hit home, she wasn’t shocked by the depth of her love for Ral.

One of the males at the door snarled back at Erra. He shifted his body and his eyes met Ariel’s. He suddenly shoved at Erra. She snarled, trying to push the man back. He was too strong. He shoved Erra hard enough that she went sprawling to the floor. Ariel gasped and instantly stepped in Erra’s direction to help her up. The three other men walked into the house. The last one in slammed the door shut behind him.