Sebastjan left his new “wife” asleep as he left his room to face his father. Despite his desire to dislike the choice his father had forced upon him, he found his step lighter than it had been in weeks. Though a little quiet, and with what he could only assume was shyness due to the newness of their situation, Ariella was quite sweet. She tasted like decadence and looked like the model of medical perfection. He‘d seen the way her eyes took in everything around her, the depths of them filled with an astuteness not said with words. It made him wonder what secrets she held, what mysteries.
“Where is she?” Supreme Walter asked his son as soon as Sebastjan sat down at the long, narrow, metal table for his morning sustenance.
“Sleeping,” Sebastjan answered drolly. “Would you like me to wake her for your inquisition?”
“Why? Is there a reason I should need to question her?” His father began to stand up, his brow knitting just as it did before a long lecture.
“Not that I would know,” Sebastjan said. Had he been in the mood, he would have tormented the man, stringing him along with his worry. But somehow, discussing the completion of his marriage with his overbearing father didn’t seem like a topic for…well, for ever.
“Ah, good!” His father clapped his hands. “I see I did very well grooming her for you. You will not be disappointed. She’s a perfect societal gem—meek, controllable, not like your willful mother before she died. Ariella will be perfect for this family, and with the unique genetics from her plane, she will give you magnificent children—beautiful, physically perfect, strong, smart.” Then grinning, he said knowingly, “And there is nothing like untouched, trainable fruit, eh?”
Sebastjan frowned, eyeing the bowl of cream-colored gruel set before him by a maid. “Untouched fruit?”
“If you insist on being indelicate,” his father scolded, “then I suppose you’d say there is nothing like a pure woman untouched by man.”
Sebastjan’s frown deepened and he refused to eat. Out of the two men in the room, he was hardly the indelicate one. Standing, he said, “Excuse me.”
“I expect you to greet your guests!” the Medical Supreme yelled behind him as Sebastjan hurried to go back upstairs. “This match will be made official!”
Coming to his chambers, he went inside. Ariella stood in the middle of the room, concentrating on her buttons. At his entrance, she glanced up. Sebastjan didn’t go to her, instead choosing to stare. Hair tumbled around her shoulders, messy from the night’s sleep. Wide eyes watched him, seeming to grow wider with each passing second of silence.
“Is it true?” Sebastjan managed, well aware that his voice sounded faint.
She furrowed her brow and carefully asked, “You mean to ask if we are truly married?”
Sebastjan took a step forward, noticing how she took an involuntary step back. “Why didn’t you stop me? Why didn’t you say anything?”
She paled. “Your father warned me never to speak of it. I wasn’t sure how you would react if you discovered the truth or if you already knew. I couldn’t trust that you would do the right thing. I still don’t know if…”
“Of all the meddling,” he muttered. Then, going to her, he touched her cheek and forced her eyes to meet his. “You should have told me you were untouched. I would not have acted… Women on this plane are not…I didn’t even think that you would be.”
“Untouched? Oh, you mean…” She laughed nervously and began picking at her buttons. “I, um, it is fine. The goddesses say that with a husband is when a woman must—”
“Goddesses?” Sebastjan tried to keep the superiority out of his tone, but the confession took him by surprise. The woman clearly had primitive beliefs. His people had abandoned such thinking for the logic of science and the tangibility of facts.
“The guiding spirits,” she answered. “My family served in their house.”
“Ah. I see.” He let her go, moving to sit on the bed. She continued to pull at her buttons, her fingers fumbling. He wondered if he made her nervous. “How did you come to be on this plane?”
“Divinity Corporation’s inter-dimensional portal.”
“I assumed that much since they have control of all of the portals. I meant why did they bring you?”
“I was sick and needed medical attention. My father was a political official, a very important man. Divinity Corporation wished to please him. They brought me here for a cure. When my family was murdered, they left me here for my safety. You father took me in as his ward.”
“How altruistic of him,” Sebastjan mumbled sarcastically. “Undoubtedly he found something in your genetics that would make you highly compatible to mine. Medical Supreme Walter only thinks of himself and the continuation of his legacy.”
The overhead air-filtering sterilizer turned on, misting the room with its light fragrance. Ariella looked up and breathed deeply several times. After a few seconds, she turned back to her task, fastening her clothes with steadier hands. Finishing, she turned her full attention to him. “I need to get back to my chambers. I can’t greet your guests looking like this.”
Sebastjan let her leave, despite his urge to draw her back to his bed. He couldn’t touch her, not after what he’d learned. Women on his plane were not shy when it came to sex, and often by the time they were well into adulthood, they had experience. Adult virgins were practically a myth. He’d never even considered meeting one, let alone marrying one. When he’d come back up and looked at her face, remembered the hesitance he’d taken for shyness, he wanted to kick himself. He should have seen it. He should have known. She should have told him.
* * *
Ariella raced toward her chambers, feeling physically stronger now that she had her medicine. She’d almost made a big mistake. She’d almost told Sebastjan about her “forced illness”. By the stricken look on his face when he walked into the room, she’d just assumed he’d been told about her entrapment. Instead, he was worried about her lost virginity.
The door slid up automatically as she neared. Once inside her chambers, she took a deep breath. She barely had time to process what had happened—the wedding, the wedding night, a husband—when a maid walked in holding a syringe.
“Sans Ariella,” the maid said, “your lidic levels are high and your plytomikin and homytobin levels are low. I’ve been instructed to—”
“I know,” Ariella grumbled, pulling her hair aside and tilting her head. The maid injected medicine into her in the neck. She didn’t need the long explanation that came with her shots—half of which she didn’t have the background to understand. If she didn’t take them willingly, they’d be forced on her by Chiron’s medical laws.
“There is a little extra in there to help you smile for your guests,” the maid added, “and to take away any pain.”
“Pain?” Ariella repeated before noticing the soreness between her thighs lessened. After a lifetime of chronic pain from her bones, she didn’t even think twice of a little sexual discomfort. “Oh, never mind. Thank you for the shot.”
* * *
The finest of Asclepius society filtered past the newlyweds’ receiving line. Ariella felt herself smiling and nodding politely at each individual doctor. After some time in Asclepius, she recognized many of them. Women in fine-cut cotton and linen clothing intermingled with the dignified men. The soft sound of laughter and muted amusements created a constant background to the “thank you for coming” and “it is so kind of you to say” phrases she was forced to repeat like a trained animal.
Many of the guests looked at her with vacant eyes, seeing past her as if she were unimportant. The only exception was a few of the men. She didn’t need a lifetime of sexual experience to know what they were thinking about. In fact, she overheard one of them offer to buy her from the Medical Supreme. The exact words were “I would be most honored to give the darling woman a place in my home, if you would be so good as to part with her” to which Walter answered, “Not this one. Not this time. She is not like the others.”
“Congratulations, Dr. and Sans Sebastjan Walter,” a woman said, looking down her hooked nose at the new bride. Ariella couldn’t remember her name, but she’d talked to her often. The woman’s disapproving demeanor never changed. Taking the offered gift, Ariella handed it over to the waiting maid to be set on the mountainous pile behind her.
“It is so kind of you to say,” Ariella said politely.
“Thankfully it is almost over. I abhor these events,” Sebastjan whispered in her ear. She glanced at him, surprised. It was the first thing he’d said to her in nearly three hours of standing in the front hall.
“Congratulations, Dr. and Sans Sebastjan Walter.”
Ariella glanced away from her husband, about to answer when Sebastjan laughed and said, “Dr. Fauchet, how good of you to come.”
“How could I not?” Dr. Fauchet answered. He had an easy smile with lively brown eyes that seemed to laugh at some sort of private joke.
“Couldn’t miss my reception?” Sebastjan asked.
“I couldn’t miss the Medical Supreme’s summons,” Fauchet corrected. “You didn’t think everyone was here to see you, did you?”
Ariella gave a short burst of laughter in surprise at the insolent joke.
Fauchet winked at her but continued talking to Sebastjan. “Apparently, I am to host two off-plane dignitaries coming here to learn our secrets. However,” he turned his full attention to Ariella, “while I am here…”
“Sans Ariella,” Sebastjan introduced, “my childhood playmate and local lawbreaker—”
“That is distinguished gentleman and dignitary host,” Fauchet corrected.
“Dr. Gerard Fauchet,” Sebastjan finished.
“A great pleasure,” Gerard said, his playful eyes studying her face. “And it was only one tiny law fourteen years ago. There was a medication mishap, it was hot and it was only the male chairmen who complained about my nakedness. I swear I am a reformed man.” Ariella laughed again before catching herself. She couldn’t help it. The man was just too likeable. Sebastjan cleared his throat. Gerard chuckled, not showing a single second of remorse at having been caught flirting with the new bride. Leaning in to Ariella, he whispered, “An even greater pleasure to see you’ve managed to make Sebastjan jealous over you.”
Ariella blushed. Sebastjan frowned at them. Gerard bowed his head and moved on.
“What? No present?” Sebastjan mumbled after him. Gerard laughed, but didn’t turn back around. “What did he say to you?”
Ariella didn’t answer as another guest came to offer her congratulations.
When the woman passed by, he repeated, “What did Fauchet say?”
“He said he was trying to make you jealous,” Ariella answered, hiding the first genuine smile that day.
“He always did have a strange sense of humor.” Sebastjan stiffly turned back to their guests.
* * *
Five hours. That’s how long it took the procession of his father’s guests to pass through the hall. Thousands of presents stacked behind them, each one demanding to be opened, each one demanding a thank-you message to be delivered.
Sebastjan grimaced. Ariella hadn’t spoken to him since Gerard whispered in her ear. He liked Dr. Fauchet well enough, but didn’t appreciate the fact the man made his bride blush, or that he’d winked at her on his way out of the house. “It will take us ten hours just to deliver a personal message to each gift and another thirty days to discreetly throw half of them into the incinerator.”
“I’ll have the maids go through them and make us a list. Perhaps a few generic messages will suffice for the bulk of them.” Ariella lifted her hand, suppressing a yawn.
The Medical Supreme said farewell to the last guest. Before he could turn to them, Ariella had turned to the stairs and was walking toward the bedrooms.
“Ariella, won’t you join us?” his father asked.
“I should begin organizing the gifts,” she answered, stiffly turning. Sebastjan watched her carefully, noting how her eyes didn’t look directly at the Medical Supreme. He had a feeling it was more than respect that kept her from the man’s company. “I wouldn’t want to be remiss in my duties and you have so very many friends.”
“Of course,” Supreme Walter agreed. “Very well.”
Ariella glanced at Sebastjan, briefly meeting his eyes before turning to rush away. He wasn’t sure whether to be frightened or amused by her quick handling of his father. As he’d suspected before, the woman appeared to be much smarter than the pleasant expression on her face would have people believe.
“I told you, societal perfection,” his father said. “She knows her duty.”
Or perhaps her reaction was merely societal training.
Sebastjan watched his father walk away. There was more going on here than he’d been told. He’d bet his medical license on it.
* * *
Ariella waited for her husband to come to her and rescue her from the endless opening of packages. She was obliged to watch, even if she didn’t do the unwrapping herself. Over a dozen maids worked, several opening, others carting out the garbage to be picked up for incineration, another keeping record. Fine cotton scarves, marble figurines, linen robes, money—all of it beautiful and elegant and rich. But Ariella knew it to be more of a testament to her father-by-marriage and her husband than to herself.
Looking at the door, she willed Sebastjan to come for her. He didn’t and she was not saved from her duty.
“From Dr. Darcin, an urn,” one of the maids announced.
Ariella sighed, turning her attention from the door. She folded her hands in her lap and nodded her head in acknowledgment.
* * *
It took two and a half days to go through the gifts, another to record the messages necessary, two seconds to send them all out, and still another day to have them packaged and sent to Sebastjan’s home at a faraway research facility. Just the idea of that facility gave Ariella cause for excitement. Finally, she would be free of her mansion prison.
Only one thing worried her. Sebastjan had not come to her as he had their wedding night. He was polite when they spoke, let her walk through doorways first and even made her laugh a few times. But she always felt as if he was watching her, waiting, searching, wondering. Several times she wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but refrained. Her favorite part of the day came when they were alone outside in the garden for her afternoon walk. Though glass containers covered all of the greenery, the air was fresh and the company handsome.
“This was my mother’s favorite plant,” he said, pointing at a small leafy bush. “She used to say it was the sturdiest of plants, the quiet ones, that truly made the garden. They were the ones you could depend on.”
“She sounds like a wise woman,” Ariella had answered.
“She used to sneak me into the garden boxes to touch the trees. My father found out and that is why all the doors now have locks. My mother hated my father and he hated her because he could not control her.”
“But I am sure she loved you if she wished for you to see nature,” Ariella assured him.
He didn’t look comforted. “She was committed to five weeks in a mental care facility for having tried to kill me with plant allergens. She was not the same when she returned.”
Ariella had no answers for that.
Each night, as she lay in bed, Ariella thought of what had happened between them on the wedding night. When he touched her, her skin had been on fire. She wanted to feel the flames again, the tense rise and trembling fall.
It was with that thought she slipped from her chambers into the dimness of the hall. Her feet whispered over the stone. The wall monitors detected her, turning on to light her way as they let her know her heart was racing a little too fast and her breathing had become hitched.
Coming to Sebastjan’s door, she tried to hesitate and catch her breath, but the sensors didn’t give her a chance. The door opened automatically, like a veil passing over her vision to reveal his bed. Her eyes found him easily in the dim light. He lay on his side, his back to her, bare, strong. The long line of his spine led from the shock of black hair to the tight curve of his ass.
“Sebastjan?” she whispered to see if he would awaken. He stirred, slowly coming around to look at her with sleepy blue eyes. Ariella tugged at the string holding her new robe closed. The wedding gift slithered off her shoulders. Sebastjan instantly pushed up, his gaze going to her naked breasts. Light caressed his naked flesh, contrasting the hard lines of his muscles. The limp member between his thighs stirred, straightening with interest.
Ariella had thought of this moment a lot, of what she would do and say. Words failed her and she found it hard to move when he looked at her with those smoldering eyes. She slowly stepped toward the bed. Her knee hit the mattress. Sebastjan didn’t move.
“Sans Ariella,” he said, the tone like an acknowledgement, but his look made it feel more like a game.
“Doctor,” she answered, her voice not as strong as she would have liked. She lifted her knee, placing it on the bed to slowly climb on.
“How may I be of service?” he inquired.
Ariella leaned forward and lifted her second leg onto the bed. “I thought I might be of service to you.” She felt heat rising over her features but didn’t back away. She sat back on her legs. Ariella’s flesh tingled and she felt the gathering moisture between her thighs. “You have not been to see me and I thought perhaps…” Her voice failed.
His breathing visibly deepened and his member lifted and firmed. He lay back on the bed. “After…” he paused, studying her, “after our wedding night I thought it best to give you space.”
“Space?”
“To wait for you to come to me. I know that I did not behave, that I did not take care of you as I should have. Had I known you were a maiden, I would have been…better.”
“Better? You mean the pleasure we felt could be better?” She arched a brow in surprise. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Ariella blushed. “That did not come out right. It was too forward. That is not how I meant to say…”
“Oh? What did you have in mind?”
She opened her mouth, but couldn’t think of anything clever to say.
“An examination, perhaps?” he prompted, rolling slowly onto his stomach. “With your consent, of course.”
It took her a moment to realize he meant for her to play the doctor and he her patient. She smiled, nodded and reached to touch him. Shaking fingers met warm, hard flesh. She followed the length of his back, pressing along his spine. Mesmerized, she cupped his ass, massaging the cheeks. He groaned, his hips flexing into the bed. Ariella explored his legs before coming back to his hips. Every time she worked her fingers, he groaned and thrust his arousal into the bed.
“Mmm.” He turned back around, faster than before, to rest on his back.
She drew her hand over his chest, following the valleys of his muscles. He bit his lip and closed his eyes. She traced her way down the center of his stomach, following the dark trail of hair leading to his cock. Before reaching the imposing shaft, she changed course, moving back up to his neck.
Ariella touched his silky black hair, caressed his cheek and traced his firm lips. He opened his mouth, sucking her fingers against his tongue. He moaned, loud and deep.
“I ache for you,” he whispered seconds before he opened his eyes in surprise, as if he hadn’t meant to speak.
“Would you like me to relieve that ache?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around his cock.
Sebastjan reached for her breasts, massaging them in his palms. “Very much.”
He urged her to come over him. She let go of his shaft, moving to straddle his thighs. He caressed everywhere he could reach, letting her take the lead. Ariella rubbed her sex against him, getting used to the feel. When she didn’t move to take him inside her, he lifted her up by the hips and flipped her onto her back. He threaded his legs between hers, parting her thighs.
Then his lips met hers, sweet and easy. Gentleness poured into her from that kiss. It took her by surprise. Against her mouth, he whispered, “You set the pace. I will do it however you wish. I don’t want to hurt you.”
His cock brushed against her pussy. He took her slowly, groaning as he rocked into her. Sebastjan continued to kiss her, tracing her lips with his tongue, distracting her senses. Her eyes drifted closed. She held onto his neck, kneading the muscles she found there. He took her in shallow thrusts, his hips working in small circles. Despite his offer, Ariella simply enjoyed the pace he set, letting him slide in and out. It was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
Tension built and she eagerly awaited the finale. The excitement made her pant into his mouth. When he thrust, she pushed up harder than before and was rewarded with a jolt of sensations. And then it happened, a complete explosion of the senses. Her body shook as tremors racked over her. His release joined hers. For a long moment, he stayed frozen above her, breath held.
Sebastjan rolled next to her, his arm touching hers. “I’m glad you came to me. I’ve been waiting for you every night.”
“I think you put too much guilt on yourself for the wedding night,” Ariella said. “The pain was really nothing to the bone pain I grew up with. I know people here like to treat me like I’m a delicate piece of silk, but I’m not.”
“Mmm,” Sebastjan moaned, reaching for her. He palmed a breast. “Are you sure? Your skin feels like silk.”
She reached for his hand, touching it briefly before touching her shoulder. “It wasn’t always. I used to have these scars everywhere. There was a long one across my shoulder. One of my sisters hit me with a ritual candlestick.”
“I’m sorry you lost them.”
“I was told it was quick.” Even though she’d started the subject, she didn’t want to talk about that. Not right now.
As if sensing her desire to change the topic, he said, “I know we are supposed to leave in a week, but I’d rather go sooner. I find it hard to breathe here. Would you mind?”
Ariella couldn’t stop the grin from coming over her features. “I would really like that.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, why are you here? What happened to your family?”
Ariella stiffened, her smile fading. Perhaps he hadn’t read her mind in that regard. “I told you. They were murdered on my plane. I was here, so I survived.”
“We don’t have murder,” Sebastjan said. “What reason would someone have to do that?”
“There was a rebellion between the two ruling houses. My father represented the House of the Goddesses. The House of Gods attacked and killed him and my older sisters.”
“Why?”
“It was discovered that my sisters were not pure. Vessels of the goddesses are meant to be pure. And the most ironic part of it all was that it was the sons of the gods who took their maidenhoods.” She sighed, dropping her hand from where his fingers lightly rubbed her breast. “It all feels so far away. I was only supposed to be here for a few weeks. My bones were fragile. They broke all the time despite the precautions everyone took. That is how I got most of my scars. When Divinity Corporation came seeking to copy our sacred texts for inter-dimensional analysis and comparison, they offered to bring me here in return. I never saw my family again. Divinity brought pictures of the aftermath as well as a faithful servant to tell me the news. I couldn’t go back. I don’t know any other planes and had nothing to trade with Divinity to take me anyway.”
“And we fixed you.” Sebastjan drew his fingertip down her arm. He sounded so certain of the fact. They all did on this plane, as if they could cure everything—even death by old age. But the truth was, they had only managed to prolong life, not find the cure for the ultimate death.
“The Medical Supreme fixed my bones and took away my physical scars,” she corrected. “He instituted my health regimen.”
Suddenly, Sebastjan sat up on the bed. He turned to study her. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, touching the side of her face, he asked, “Is that why you agreed to this? Gratitude?”
Gratitude? Ariella suppressed the urge to laugh, though she felt no humor in the idea. It wasn’t gratitude. She hadn’t even agreed. Not really. Still, as she looked at him, for all his newness to her, she couldn’t help but think there could be more between them. He had a brooding quality to him. It shone in his eyes, as if he was trapped in the same cage she was in. Still, after less than a week, she didn’t know him well enough to trust him.
Closing her eyes, she said the only truth she could, “I am grateful to no longer carry the sickness I had when coming here.”