whole body flushed with the reminder of every scolding she’d ever received.
As a young aide to an Earth-Erta’Aklann trading official, she’d been shocked to learn of the backward traditions embraced by this otherwise advanced alien civilization. As a result, she had initially resisted Zak’s attentions, unwilling to fall for a man who would expect her to submit to his authority and his discipline, even if he was the most handsome Aklannian she’d ever seen and a prince of a formidable alien kingdom. Her resistance had waned over time, of course, and before she knew it, she was being whisked far across the galaxy to become his wife and his princess. Though she often struggled with submission and accepting a spanking after she broke one of his rules, she didn’t regret her decision to marry Prince Zak of the Kingdom of Traa. Despite the occasional clash of cultures, her heart continually swelled with tenderness for the stubborn alien.
“The berries are delicious.” She popped a plump, ripe raspberry into her mouth and moaned her satisfaction. “You must try them.” She breathed a sigh of relief when his eyebrow lowered and most of the sternness left his face.
“Are you certain nothing is bothering you, Minnie?” He reached for a raspberry. “Because if you’re keeping something from me, I will find out, and then my sweet wife, you will find yourself in trouble.”
An exasperated sigh built in her chest, but Minnie held it back, donned an innocent guise, and shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.” She bypassed her glass of water and reached for her coffee—the most necessary imported good from Earth—and savored a long sip while wishing to become better at hiding her feelings. Zak never failed to notice when something was bothering her, but she refused to confess her upset about his forgetting Valentine’s Day.
A servant tiptoed to the doorway with a tray of champagne and heart-shaped cookies Minnie had baked herself. She gave the young Aklannian girl a slight shake of her head. The girl backed out of the room and luckily Zak didn’t witness their interaction. Minnie was too dejected over Zak’s forgetfulness to go through surprising him with the cookies. Maybe later, after the burning in her throat subsided.
“When will you return from Parliament?”
“Late. Don’t wait up for me.”
Her spirits sank to the floor.
Zak remained uncharacteristically quiet as breakfast drew to a close. He seemed more interested in his fried cemma than in holding a conversation, only giving one word answers and noncommittal grunts whenever she attempted to engage him.
Anger simmered and flared in Minnie, despite her attempts to forget today’s date. It wasn’t fair that he expected her to keep up with his calendar and every major and minor Erta’Aklann holiday if he wasn’t going to keep up with hers.
Bold letters and circled with hearts . He read English as well as she did. How could he have missed it?
Zak pushed away from the table and moved to examine his side of the screen, completely ignoring hers. Red flashed in her vision, and before she realized what she was doing, she fished the lemon slice out of her water and squeezed it into his untouched dresman juice. Yanking her hand back, she let the lemon slice plop into her water just before he turned and reached for his juice.
Her heart thudded a wild rhythm in her chest. What had she done now?
* * *
Zak finished his juice and placed the glass back on the table. Minnie peered at him with the same shocked expression she’d worn the first time he’d cornered her on Earth. Wide blue eyes, lips slightly parted, and all the color drained from her face. He pretended not to notice her surprise over his failure to call attention to the event highlighted on her calendar.
“Well, my sweet wife, I must be off to Parliament now. I do hope you’ll behave yourself today. Do you have any plans?” He was a— what was that human word?— ah, a bastard
As a young aide to an Earth-Erta’Aklann trading official, she’d been shocked to learn of the backward traditions embraced by this otherwise advanced alien civilization. As a result, she had initially resisted Zak’s attentions, unwilling to fall for a man who would expect her to submit to his authority and his discipline, even if he was the most handsome Aklannian she’d ever seen and a prince of a formidable alien kingdom. Her resistance had waned over time, of course, and before she knew it, she was being whisked far across the galaxy to become his wife and his princess. Though she often struggled with submission and accepting a spanking after she broke one of his rules, she didn’t regret her decision to marry Prince Zak of the Kingdom of Traa. Despite the occasional clash of cultures, her heart continually swelled with tenderness for the stubborn alien.
“The berries are delicious.” She popped a plump, ripe raspberry into her mouth and moaned her satisfaction. “You must try them.” She breathed a sigh of relief when his eyebrow lowered and most of the sternness left his face.
“Are you certain nothing is bothering you, Minnie?” He reached for a raspberry. “Because if you’re keeping something from me, I will find out, and then my sweet wife, you will find yourself in trouble.”
An exasperated sigh built in her chest, but Minnie held it back, donned an innocent guise, and shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.” She bypassed her glass of water and reached for her coffee—the most necessary imported good from Earth—and savored a long sip while wishing to become better at hiding her feelings. Zak never failed to notice when something was bothering her, but she refused to confess her upset about his forgetting Valentine’s Day.
A servant tiptoed to the doorway with a tray of champagne and heart-shaped cookies Minnie had baked herself. She gave the young Aklannian girl a slight shake of her head. The girl backed out of the room and luckily Zak didn’t witness their interaction. Minnie was too dejected over Zak’s forgetfulness to go through surprising him with the cookies. Maybe later, after the burning in her throat subsided.
“When will you return from Parliament?”
“Late. Don’t wait up for me.”
Her spirits sank to the floor.
Zak remained uncharacteristically quiet as breakfast drew to a close. He seemed more interested in his fried cemma than in holding a conversation, only giving one word answers and noncommittal grunts whenever she attempted to engage him.
Anger simmered and flared in Minnie, despite her attempts to forget today’s date. It wasn’t fair that he expected her to keep up with his calendar and every major and minor Erta’Aklann holiday if he wasn’t going to keep up with hers.
Bold letters and circled with hearts . He read English as well as she did. How could he have missed it?
Zak pushed away from the table and moved to examine his side of the screen, completely ignoring hers. Red flashed in her vision, and before she realized what she was doing, she fished the lemon slice out of her water and squeezed it into his untouched dresman juice. Yanking her hand back, she let the lemon slice plop into her water just before he turned and reached for his juice.
Her heart thudded a wild rhythm in her chest. What had she done now?
* * *
Zak finished his juice and placed the glass back on the table. Minnie peered at him with the same shocked expression she’d worn the first time he’d cornered her on Earth. Wide blue eyes, lips slightly parted, and all the color drained from her face. He pretended not to notice her surprise over his failure to call attention to the event highlighted on her calendar.
“Well, my sweet wife, I must be off to Parliament now. I do hope you’ll behave yourself today. Do you have any plans?” He was a— what was that human word?— ah, a bastard
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