Last night his new bride had been too frightened and exhausted for him to even think of touching her sexually. But it was clear she had recovered today. That was, if the way he had caught her touching herself was any indication.
Mmmm… The sweet, salty flavor of her juices still lingered on his tongue. Brand knew he couldn’t touch her under her clothing—not yet—for the Holding Week mandated that all touching must be done with some kind of clothing on. But maybe she would want to touch herself again and then he could suck her juices off her soft little fingers once more…
Stop thinking like that, he told himself. You’ll give yourself a hard on which is going to be damn awkward if anyone sees it!
At that moment, Selena arrived with a smile and an apology for being late.
“I’m so sorry,” the Earth woman said. “I’m still learning my way around this place. I was here yesterday, admiring all the Kindred instruments, but my sense of direction isn’t great, so if course I nearly got lost coming back again.”
“Please, don’t worry about it,” Brand told her. “And thank you again for being willing to give Allara lessons.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Selena smiled easily. “It’s what I do all day down on Earth. The string quartet is really just a side gig—I’m actually an orchestra teacher for North Haven High School.”
“Well, I’m sure my bride is in good hands.” Brand looked down at Allara. “Sweetheart, I have a little business to take care of while you have your lesson but I promise I’ll be back here in an hour.”
“That’s fine, husband.” Allara sounded distracted. She was already eyeing all the various musical instruments which were scattered around the large room with wide, hungry eyes. “So many instruments,” she murmured, as though speaking to herself. “I never dreamed there could be so many.”
Brand grinned to himself. Did he know his new wife or what? It was only their first full day of being married and already he had gotten her something she’d probably dreamed of all her life for a wedding present! He didn’t want to pat himself on the back too hard but well…just look at the glow on her lovely face! She was enraptured at the idea of finally getting to touch an instrument and learn how to play it.
He was beginning to get the idea that the Q’ess were an extremely repressed and repressive society—and pretty clearly a misogynistic, sexist one as well. It was going to be a pleasure to teach his new bride that she could consider herself an equal now to any male—to let her know that she could reach for new goals other than just the drudgery of housework and childrearing.
“This is truly wonderful, husband,” Allara said, breaking his train of thought. “Thank you from the deepest part of my heart.”
She put her hand to the right side of her chest and looked up at him with sincere appreciation in her gorgeous indigo eyes.
“You’re welcome, baby,” Brand murmured. “I hope you enjoy yourself.”
Seeing the wonder on her face, he wished he could stay and watch her first lesson. But he didn’t want to make her feel self-conscious and he did have to attend a Council meeting. Commander Sylvan had offered to let him have time off for what the humans called a “honeymoon” but Brand had only just been made a member of the High Council and he took his new responsibilities very seriously.
Leaning down, he kissed her gently on the cheek. Allara’s eyes widened—it seemed to surprise her every time he kissed her for some reason—and she smiled at him shyly.
“Should I…kiss you too?” she asked hesitantly.
“If you want to, baby,” Brand murmured.
“I…I think I do.” She sounded surprised at the idea of wanting to kiss him, which made him smile. He got the idea that the Q’ess didn’t do much kissing—or show much affection to their spouses at all, for that matter.
To make things easier for her, he got to one knee and held out his arms. Allara came to him, smiling shyly, and put her arms around his neck.
Brand enfolded her gently, loving the feel of her warm, curvy body in his arms. Gods, she was just so adorable.
“Should I kiss your cheek, husband?” she asked, looking into his eyes.
“Or my mouth—if you’d like to,” he murmured.
“I do not know if I will be good at it. Men and women do not kiss among the Q’ess—especially not mouth-to-mouth,” she admitted.
“You’ll learn,” Brand promised her. “I’ll teach you. Here.”
He leaned his head forward and was pleased when Allara met him halfway. Her lips were every bit as sweet and soft as he remembered from their wedding kiss the day before. The kiss lasted longer than he’d expected and when he broke it reluctantly, he was surprised when his new bride came back for more.