─ And do you flirt with your customers? –he asked picking up the bat.

He was preparing his first move. He played and hit.

─ Ah only the prettiest ones – the boy replied jovial – This week I saw a lovely one.

─ Is it? ─ Played again and hit again. ─ Enchanting?

─ Beautiful. Incredibly blue eyes, long black hair. Shy but with an iceberg melting smile. She looked like a princess.

─ You are certainly a princess ─ he did not contain the dry tone in his voice. He played and hit.

On the next shot he pocketed the missing balls.

─ Damn, for those who have never played, you are a beast ─ Saul smiled at the arrival.

Maybe it wasn't a good choice for Ruth's husband. It melted into smiles for any pretty woman.

─ Hello, Saul ─ Becky smiled, but her eyes glared at Leigh ─ Can I play with the winner?

─ Of course ─ Saul replied. ─ I'll have something to drink. He said and walked away noticing the tension between them.

Leigh just stood there as the girl walked past him to get a bat. Close enough for him to breathe in her scent. Swallowed dry.

With a smirk Becky made her way back to the other side of the table and opened a game. She turned him on and she knew it. He leaned back to take the shot. Right. turned around and stopped beside him

─ I've been waiting for you for hours. ─ she played and missed.

─ I had problems at home. ─ Leigh replied playing. Right.

─ Did the little wife get sick again?

─ Something like that. ─ played. Missed. The girl distracted him.

─ And is she already better? I hear you'll be a father. Is the baby okay?

─ Yes… ─ His expression closed even more.

─ So why didn't you look for me more? ─ she stopped confronting him.

Becky was leaning her body toward his sensually.

─ I couldn't ─ he took a deep breath. Yes, she was beautiful and knew how to use it.

─ And will you? ─ She languidly ran her hand over the lapel of the jacket he wore.

─ What? ─ Leigh took her hand.

─ Look for me? ─ was a whisper as he approached offering his mouth.

─No ─ he pushed her away a little abruptly. ─ I am married now.

─ You know it doesn't bother me that you're married. ─ Becky replied mockingly.

─ I don't think you understand. What I wanted was a bachelor party. ─  He laid the stick on the table, ignoring her outraged expression. ─ What happened was a mistake. I can send you a check to make up for the time you wasted waiting for me.

─ A check? ─ she laughed offended. ─ What if I send your wife the gifts you gave me? What will she feel if she sees the card with her handwriting and signature? I think she'll like the dress... or maybe she likes the lingerie more. Maybe she uses it for you. ─ I was talking loudly. People stopped to look at the two.

─ Wouldn't dare – Leigh took her arm angrily.

─ No? You don't know who you messed with.

─ You don't know. Get close to my wife and I… ─ He squeezed her arms angrily.

─ Do what? ─ looked around satisfied.

All eyes were on the two. He followed her gaze and led her away. They ended up in a dimly lit corner at the back.

─ What do you want? ─ he asked in a strained whisper.

─ It's not what I want, but what I can give you! – she said, clinging to him.

Leigh tried to resist the cheeky kiss, but she joined her body to his, pinning him by the lapel of his jacket and rubbing herself against him languidly. With a husky moan he hugged her and kissed her back. They cling in frenzy. They leaned against the wall. Leigh ran her hand over the dark body, completely aroused. Quick and sassy Becky reached into his pants and stroked him firmly.

He stopped, panting, letting himself be touched.

─ Does your little wife do this to you?

─ No ─ he moaned.

She continued the massage knowing full well what she was doing. She kissed him, nibbling on his lower lip.

─ Let's go somewhere where I can exchange my hand for my mouth. ─ whispered, continuing the massage in a rhythmic way. – Let's go before your sweet wife gets sick again – she asked hoarsely.

─ Sick again… ─ Leigh pulled away suddenly and quickly composed herself. He ran a hand through his hair. He glared at Becky. ─ No. This is not right. Will not happen. Never again understood? Never!

He left her there and went back to the bar. He took a deep breath, heading straight for the counter. He paid the bill and without paying attention to James who was following him, he tried to get a taxi on the way out. The friend has caught up.

─ Hey, wait!

─ I shouldn't have come. I have to go home. Now.

─ I'll take you. It's my time! ─ walked to the parking lot. They got into the car and James accelerated. ─ Do you wanna talk?

Leigh shook his head. They drove in silence. Leigh smoked nervously. James parked the car in front of his house. Ruth's bedroom light was on. Leigh eyed the curtains swaying worriedly. He hesitated to go down.

─ Before going up, it is better to get ready. Don't let her see these clothes. ─ slid his fingers in the air in front of his own mouth. ─ There is lipstick on the lips and on the collar of the shirt.

─ Ah... damn...

─ Take a shower. You are impregnated with her perfume ─ James suggested sympathetic.

─ Thank you ─ he said leaving.

─ And… Leigh, do not worry. No one will comment on what they saw. What happens at the bar stays at the bar.

Leigh nodded gratefully and walked into the house with quick steps.

 

As soon as Leigh entered, he took a quick shower and, wearing only a robe, went to Ruth's room. He found Madame Lanfond sitting in the armchair beside her.

─ Did something happen? –He whispered touching the sleeping wife's face.

─ She had a nightmare onset, but soon went back to sleep ─ the housekeeper said looking at her fondly. ─ Luckily I was still downstairs and I heard the first moans. Monsieur took longer than usual today.

─ I ended up dating James Keller  ─ he sat on the bed beside his wife. ─ Go ahead, Lady Lanfond. I stay with her.

─ Yes, no… good night monsieur

─ Good night. Mrs Lanfond, please take the clothes I wore today and take them to the laundry.

─ Yes, monsieur ─ wondering the request , the lady left the room.

Before going to the house, he looked for the clothes that the boss had asked him to collect. The cheap perfume on them and the lipstick stains gave away what she had done. He hesitated a second. Madame needed to take action.

 

In the dim light Leigh just watched her wife sleep. Ruth rejected him and it consumed him from day to day. He wanted her as a wife, as a companion, as an ally in the long battle ahead. No one knew she had been a Koryak. Salastiel assured that only both knew his true origin. He assured them that it was hidden and that the Chancellor did not feel it. Just as I didn't feel...

No. You shouldn't think about him.

If Ruth were by his side, it would be easier to defeat everyone's enemy. But she didn't want to risk the life of the child she was carrying. Son of the violence of the one they fought for years. How could you love someone from the worst moment in your life? How could that being be a gift? Ruth shifted on the bed. Leigh lay down and curled up beside her. He hugged her carefully. A slight shiver of pleasure coursed through him as she approached him, muttering something.

It felt really good to have her face brushing against his skin. He kissed her silky hair. Asleep, she brushed her lips over the chest that hugged her. Leigh lost her breath and waited. The ring was repeated. Ruth slid onto the bed and her mouth trailed a gentle path back and forth over her body. Leigh gasped lightly letting herself be kissed. Slowly she nibbled one nipple, then the other. The small hands pushed the robe aside and he didn't object to taking it off. He was naked, leaning over her, feeling her soft mouth slide over his chest as his gentle hands explored the muscles of her back.

The front bass throbbed. She pushed her body forward slightly and her mouth began to explore her neck. Once, twice, three times and it made him delirious. She pushed her body a little further and found his lips. Trembling. Thirsty. The kiss was long, soft. The tenderness of the touch thrilled him.

Overflowing with excitement, he was unable to remain still any longer.

Slowly he ran his hand down the small body. The simple cotton nightgown was short. The firm thighs accepted his touch. He pulled her nightgown up and slipped her hand forward. He wanted to touch her, feel her femininity, feel her wet and warm for him. She stopped kissing him when tender fingers began a slow, gentle exploration. He moaned as he parted his legs. Daring he invaded her with his fingers slowly.

She sprawled on the bed with the pleasure of the touch. Happy with that surrender, he wanted to take her to paradise. Slowly he slid onto the bed, parted her legs gently and replaced his fingers with hungry lips. For several minutes he sucked, licked, explored every fold, every secret corner. He focused on the main point. She moaned and gasped. After a few minutes she shuddered into a long, delicious orgasm. Feeling her shudder filled the voids in his soul.

He stopped in ecstasy. The body was tense. He settled down beside her and pulled her along.

Ruth snuggled up to him and... snored.

He kissed her again. It has not been returned. He turned on the lamp light. She slept.

He called her fondly several times. He shook her slightly. She slept. And by the movement of his eyes he was in the deepest stage of sleep. The dream phase. half frustrated, half amused, Leigh snuggled into her arms. At least this time he wasn't part of a nightmare

 

After her bath Ruth stopped in front of the mirror and dropped the towel. Naked watched the body. It was no more than six feet tall. The skin was white but not milky. Her very black, straight hair reached to the middle of her back. The legs were shapely, the thighs firm. The swollen breasts and the nipples, which used to be pink, were darker. Touched the belly. A small being was there. He smiled. It felt good. He stood in profile, watching her firm, plump buttocks.

He had already observed himself, but something was different that morning. Surprised, he noticed a small tattoo at the end of the column. He couldn't make out what was drawn or written. Strange. It was against the law of the Koryaks to be marked as slaves so like her... No, that body wasn't hers. It had not been given to him by nature, but by a violent departure... What surprises would that body bring him?

The belly had a slight ripple. He touched it reverently. I would have that child. No matter how he got inside her, nothing would stop her from having him.

Touched sex. It was turgid, slightly swollen, and strangely sated. Panting, he closed his eyes. He knew he had dreamed of Leigh. Was it just a dream or were you reliving yet another memory that wasn't yours? And there were so many, so sharp and intense. Ruth and Anton Leigh loved each other too much. It wasn't fair to them what had happened. He touched the body again. A dream.

 

Leigh had already gone for a run when she went down to breakfast. The table set for two was decorated with flowers as he liked. He had a juice, looking at his watch. He was about to arrive. They would have breakfast together, talk about the house, the garden, anything. Afterwards he would shower and then go down to the library for his studies. She would go to the garden. After lunch he left and she went to rest. That was their routine. He left every afternoon and never said where he was going.

He left the distrust aside. Today I didn't want to take care of the garden. I wanted to be close to him. Leigh dominated his thoughts. I needed him. The presence, the touch, the kisses. The memories were dominating her day to day. It took away any feelings of fear or insecurity. The sated body asked for more. He shook his head, not understanding. It had been a dream. Or not? She was about to remember every second of the night before when the front door opened and her husband entered.

The smile died at his closed expression.

─ Good morning.

─ Good morning ─ he replied dryly, rushing in.

Contrary to routine, instead of going to the dining room, he ran upstairs.

─ Aren't you going to have breakfast? ─ Ruth almost had to scream.

─ I'm not hungry. ─ was the dry answer from the top floor.

Nice arrived with a tray of freshly brewed coffee, pancakes and warm eggs. Ruth went to the table.

─ What about monsieur?

─ He is not coming. Said he's not hungry ─ she began to eat bored.

Leigh was down in minutes. He was ready and carrying a small suitcase.

─ Don't wait for me. I'm not coming back today ─ he said in cold tone, then left without looking at them.

─ Leigh ─ Ruth still called, going after him.

The car left screeching.

Ruth went back inside shakily. A bitterness gave him the feeling that he was going to have a bout of nausea. He returned to the table. Needed to feed. Failed. He took a breath and the malaise increased. Shocked, she realized it wasn't physical. His body felt tense, his chest burned with a pain he couldn't identify. She imagined herself in her husband's arms. Little by little, the figure itself was replaced by one without a defined face. He remembered the faint odor coming from his room through the connecting door.

─ Ms. Lanfond, have you already fixed the upper floor?

─ Not yet. Do you need anything?

Without answering Ruth climbed slowly up.

As an intruder entered the room. The bed was made. No sign that he had ever slept there. So where did he sleep? She went to the bathroom. The pieces worn in the morning were in place of dirty clothes. Just them. There was a strange smell in the air. Closed the door. Behind her the white shirt he'd been wearing when he'd gone out the night before was lying on the floor as if hastily removed. She took it without quite knowing why. The strong, sweet odor made her nauseous. She threw the shirt into the hamper. It fell away exposing the front and collar. The lipstick marks were clear.

Thick tears clouded her eyes.

While she dreamed of making love, he lay with another woman, explored another woman's body. He was steeped in another woman's cheap perfume.

The insistence on consummating the marriage, the words of love, everything was false. He just wanted his strength from Koryak to bring down everyone's enemy. I didn't love her. He didn't want her. Lied. If he loved her, if he wanted her, if he wanted her as a wife, he would not be able to sleep with another. When they loved the Koryaks they didn't cheat. If he loved her as he said he would have waited as long as he needed to have the child he bore. He would have tried to win her over and not walked away like that. He lied. Ever. Always lied. In that cycle and in the previous one.

 

Leigh called but declined to speak to his wife. He asked Lady Lanfond if everything was in order and asked her to sleep in the house. It was after midnight when Ruth managed to fall asleep. She woke up twice to see if he had come back. Nothing. I knew his appetite. Liked to make love in the morning, Oh, how she remembered and how she wanted to forget. He went out for a walk early in the morning. The absence of the car in front of the house revealed to neighbors that he had slept outside.

She thought of Annette Keller who was always watching them, she felt that everyone knew that Leigh had another woman. She had already noticed the neighbor's hints. But she should continue to be the foolish and deceived wife. In the near future they would separate and she would be free to rebuild her life with her son and even another husband. She knew that, by custom, Leigh should choose a new husband for her. It wouldn't leave her financially or emotionally helpless.

She was happy about it. It was exactly what She wanted. Forget.

She walked slowly through the streets feeling the morning chill. Leigh would be fine too. He would have many milenecs, palvelijas and wives. He would become a powerful man and fight with his father for control of his country. Western newspapers perhaps revealed a little about this battle for power, without really understanding what it meant to the world.

She would be far from it all, raising her child. Leading a quiet life. She smiled.

And wiped the tears that bathed her face.

The husband returned for lunch. He went to his own room. Ruth listened to him bathe and perform the Koryak prayers. The purification rituals necessary for family life. He came from a long and intimate contact with a milenec. Who would she be? Where did she live? Was she already occupying the apartment he bought and that Mr. Morris made her sign the purchase without knowing what it was about? The worst thing about a small town was this. Everything was always known.

He soon went down to lunch in silence.

The meager attempt to have a harmonious life was broken again. Right after the meal Leigh took refuge in the library. He spent hours there. Ruth thought about tending the garden, but the cold put her off. She returned to the house and not quite knowing why she went to her husband. She excused herself, entered and stood in the middle of the room not knowing what to say.

Leigh looked up from her books and stared at her for seconds.

─ Need something? ─ he questioned indifferently.

─ No I... what are you doing?

─ Salastiel brought the books with our... ...with the Koryak history so I can guide myself in how to regain my rights. ─ Ruth made an “ah”, having nothing else to say. Leigh waited.

─ Can we go out today? – she asked suddenly.

─ Where do you want to go?

─ I thought about buying some things for the baby. I haven't provided anything yet and... Will he receive the trousseau like all the Koryak? – she asked thinking about it for the first time.

─ I believe so. ─ he looked down at his books, annoyed. ─ Salastiel has him as a descendant. You must give him the family name.

─ I can drop you and Ms. Lanfond off at some mall. Or if you prefer, you are allowed to go with the friends you made here. I'm sure they would like to accompany you. ─ went back to taking notes.

─ I wanted you to go with me. I wish that...

Leigh dropped the pencil she was using.

─ I can't. ─ he said in a suffered tone. ─ I have been looking for strength to accept that you wished to have a child from my enemy, I have protected, protected you, but I can't do anything for this being.

─ I already told you that I didn't – she said angrily. ─ But he is here. He is innocent and I love him for this innocence. He is not to blame for his father's actions, just as you are not to blame for yours.

─ Didn't you wish? ─ he stood up with a larg  ancient book in his hands. He went to her with the page already open. The inscription was old and in a language she was slow to understand. ─ Read!

─ I don't understand... no...

─ Pay attention. It's your native language. Read. Ruth struggled and little by little the understanding of the text was revealed.

"A Koryak Female only splits once."

“She gestates for nine months like an ordinary one. It can divide itself and generate its legatee without a partner, but the human seed is needed for a legacy to form. When he joins a common one, he can make a Koryak responsible for his legatee and he will have to catch him at birth and breathe life into the little one. This will be the protector of the being who supports and will accompany him throughout life.”

“If the union is with Koryak, her seed must have human seed. The female will be able to gestate it while under the guardianship of a Koryak, which may be the parent or the chosen protector. This one will have to take the legacy at birth and breathe into it the part that it lacks for it to survive on this earth”.

 "A Male Koryak will split three times."

“If the union is with a Koryak Female, just leave your seed in her. They will split together and form a joint legacy. In this case, the human seed must be from a human female”.

"A Koryak can give his legatee to the female he has already spawned along with the human seed and gestate together, but the legatee will only be for the male."

“If the union is with a human, it will have to keep the legacy alive while it is generated, dividing its essence three more times. At conception, leaving its seed in its partner, during pregnancy, giving the little being its status as a child, and at birth, breathing life into the little body, making it a legatee of its essence."

“Human females do not have the strength to generate legatees alone. If the shares are not made until the third period, the new being must be migrated to a palvelija. In case of absence during pregnancy or birth, a Koryak protector may be accepted, but the new being will be the legatee of the one who accepted him as his own”.

"It is always necessary for the human seed for us to procreate in this world."

"The only one that can replace the parent or responsible Koryak in breathing life into a legacy is our matrioska." "Without the full breath of life the little legacy will not survive."

"It is advisable for both of them to protect themselves from the impurities listed in our laws while they are pregnant.”

“One rule prevails over all. A legacy will only come if it is intensely desired by a Koryak, whether male or female, before, during, and after conception. In the case of union between Koryaks, the female will prevails.”

“Inviolable Law: Bad fruit does not breed”.

“This is our Law to procreate. Fulfill yourself”!

─ You desired Ruth. At least acknowledge that ─ angrily , Leigh closed the book and returned to his chair. ─ I know you suffered the pain of losing your legatee because of me, but wishing for the child of my enemy was a cruel way of getting revenge.

─ Do you really believe what is written in this book, Leigh?

─ Of course you do. It's our laws. It's what governs us. Without them we do not exist.

─ In every word? Is there no way there can be a contradiction?

─ No. It's our base.

─ So more than ever I feel free to assert that I did not wish to conceive with your enemy. The laws guarantee me that.

─ I don't know how… ─ she moved closer. The pent up fury shone with the beauty.

─ Read. ─ he opening the book again. He thought the page and pushed at it. ─ Read and explain to me how I act now. In front of his confusion she shouted ─ Read it. ─ Leigh took the book, read it and reread the text.

Ruth trembled beside her in indignation.

─ I don't understand how the law guarantees you that...

─ Do you remember, Leigh, when I went to meet your family as your bride? Remember what happened that day?

─ I'll never forget... ─ He stood up. The memory constrained him.

─ You forgot ─ she yelled without holding back. ─ Completely forgot!

─ I never forgot that I wasn't able to protect you.

─ So tell me what happened.

─ No! ─ he opened the door ─ Exit. This is my space. Not allowed...

─ Screw your permissions! ─ she pushed the door shut tightly. ─ Tell me what happened that afternoon. Tell me in your words what you remember. ─ approached him defiantly. ─ Be honest and tell me what you did, or rather, what you didn't do when you saw me freezing and bleeding after taking me out of the lake.

─ I... I went to get help...

─ What happened, Leigh... with my baby? – she whispered wounded.

─ I let him die ─ he admitted sheepishly. ─ I didn't know how to divide myself to give him the strength to stay in his body. ─ there was more than pain. ─ I didn't know how... I hadn't listened to Salastiel's lessons... I drank too much, I wandered too much driven by jealousy and anger and I didn't pay attention to the things I needed to know when I took her as my bride. When I took it out of the lake I despaired. I thought you had drowned. I thought I would die. I did not know what to do. I needed help.

─ And that's why he left me there bleeding until my son left me seven months too soon.

─ I didn't think... ─ He looked at her in pain. ─ I knew you never forgave me...

─ I forgave him Leigh. I always knew you left me there to keep me alive.

─ No. He never forgave me and wanted the child he is bearing today to get revenge on me. Allowed him to take her. You wanted his son.

─ I didn't want to and I never wanted revenge on you. I didn't allow the monster to take me. I didn't want his child. But this one ─ touched the womb ─ This being I desire with all my heart and I pray to God that he lives! I would bed any Koryak, if need be, so he can graduate and see the light. But I didn't wish to have a child when... and even if I had wished I wouldn't, I had already been divided before and there was no human seed. ─ stared at each other for minutes. ─ And there's more: Bad fruit doesn't breed! And he is, of course, the worst fruit we have in our people.†Ruth wiped a stubborn tear and walked out of the library, closing the door softly.

 

Leigh spent two days in the library. He devoured the books trying to find an explanation for Ruth's pregnancy. How could she be pregnant without wanting to split? How could she be gestating a second time without the human seed? How could he have gotten her pregnant if he was a remarkably bad offspring of the Koryaks? It didn't come out for nothing. He ordered sandwiches from the housekeeper and dozed on his books. His mortal limitations irritated him. Before, I ate or slept just for pleasure. Now he couldn't keep his eyes open. Two days with no response.

He closed the book and looked at his watch.

Almost midnight. He went out onto the porch and lit a cigarette. The November cold surprised him. Another human weakness he didn't like. Being subject to cold or heat.

How was Ruth pregnant? Smoked. Like? An inner voice questioned him. What does it matter?

In her bedroom, after her bath, she sat in front of the TV. Switched channels without interest. He stopped at a newscast interested in weather news. A second report reported the crimes solved by a policeman decorated by the arrest of another serial killer.

 

“Homicide agent Dennis Blake has an excellent success rate in catching criminals. The only case that he has participated in the investigations that has not yet been resolved is that of the Doll Killer who acted in San Francisco between the months of August and September of last year. The criminal was thus known, as his victims were young models. This serial killer has been described as one of the most vicious ever seen. Police do not reveal details of the crimes, but insider sources revealed that he raped, savaged and mutilated the living victims, causing a cruel and painful death. Inquiring about this one unsolved case, Dennis Blake replied: (the officer's image popped onto the screen)

Investigations into the case are continuing. We don't know if he stopped or moved to another region, or how to proceed. The crimes are still being investigated and we will not rest until he is captured. We have ways of identifying him if he ever gets to be detained for any misdemeanor, even a simple traffic ticket. Sooner or later he will pay for the lives he destroyed."

Leigh switched channels without interest.

A program on how to prepare a barbecue received his attention. He jotted down some details. He liked meat. Maybe he could get some people home with a barbecue. Ruth would like it. Pastor Johnson had been urging them to join the community. The Thanksgiving picnic was also a fundraiser for the construction of a new hospital wing and would be the next day at the community park. It was a good opportunity to start. He knew the wife and housekeeper wanted to go. Reflected a little. They couldn't live in isolation as they were.

Decided. They were going to the picnic.

He heard Ruth moan. Worried, he put on a robe and went to her room. She had thrown away the blankets and was shivering. He straightened the covers and she threw them back in agitation. He moaned again. Worried Leigh took off her robe and lay down beside her wrapping her arms around her. She curled up for protection. Carefully he covered them both. He kissed her hair, cradling her until she snored peacefully. He stood there for several minutes to make sure she was okay. I was already thinking about getting up when she moaned again.

The body was stiff. It wasn't a moan of pain. She glued her body to his. The small hand slipped over her ribs and down. Leigh gasped when she touched him. She moaned and parted her lips in an innocent offering. Slowly he kissed her. Ruth responded fervently without opening her eyes. Leigh stared at her blankly.

Again she was dreaming of him. It was her name that escaped her soft lips. The body was tense next to hers, her small hands gliding and exploring him. Leigh even tried to stay still. Unable to contain himself, he whispered a touch to me and waited. She snored and a few seconds later obeyed him slowly. The caress was firm and it was he who moaned low. She slid into bed and opened up for him. Leigh kissed her. She was still sleeping. He held back. It couldn't be that way. He walked away even listening to Ruth asking him not to leave her.

─ I will never leave you, Lyubov. ─ He kissed her tenderly and began to caress her, exploring her corners gently as he kissed her. Between one touch and another poured out in vows of love and fidelity until he felt a gentle orgasm. Without waiting, he came with her. He lay beside her, feeling her body warm and relaxed in his arms. He was happy to see her sleep. He had to go back to his own room. He closed his eyes as he drowsed. I was so tired. I had to go... to the bedroom.

Ruth watched Leigh sleep. She hadn't seen him since the discussion in the library and now she found him there in her bed. He threw the covers to the floor. She didn't wear panties to sleep, but at least she was wearing a nightgown and he was wearing underwear. Interesting. He hated sleeping wearing anything...

─ What are you doing in my bed? – she asked irritably. She remembered the dream. Had it been a dream? Leigh. ─ she shook him carelessly.

─ Did something happen? ─ He sat on the bed scared. ─ Are you alright?

─ I'm great. I just want to know what you're doing in my bed. ─ she was angry and he thought for a moment before answering. The hesitation infuriated her. To Leigh...

─ I came because you were agitated. I thought it was a nightmare.

─ I didn't have any nightmares.

─ I noticed but you got agitated and... I... I lay down beside you. I ended up falling asleep. I was tired. Sorry. ─ he raised. He put on the awkward robe, trying to disguise the explicit arousal in his body. Ruth ignored her despite the heat rush through her. ─ I'm going to take a shower. We can go to the picnic. ─ Flee.

Ruth hesitated only a few seconds to follow him. When he opened the connecting door and caught him naked in the middle of the room.

─ Why are you doing this? – she asked looking at him fully.

─ This what? ─ Leigh pulled a towel to cover herself. I was still excited.

─ Sleeping in my bed, invading my dreams. Have you... been touching me?

─ Yes ─ he dropped the towel ─ That's what you want! That's what you want too.

─ It's not! ─ she tried to retreat. Leigh took her by the arms.

─ You opened up to me. I touched you and you touched me. Do you know!

─ I had no right!

─ No? I have every right in the world. I am your husband and you allowed it.

─ I didn't allow it. I had no right, sharing a bed is not part of our alliance. You have a milenec.

─ I don't have any milenec! You have my word as a prince!

─ I'll really believe it! ─ she countered mockingly.

Another voice saying the exact same words resonated in her mind, hurting her soul. The eyes darkened, the expression turned into a mask of anger. Ruth backed off a little. He knew that doubting a prince's word was a great offense.

─ Forget what happened. – He said cold and controlled opening the door – It won't happen again. You better get dressed. Let's go to the picnic.