Chapter 30: Native Customs Part 1

"There." Trals unclenched his teeth, removed the wrist-thick braid from his mouth, and tied the front to the back to make a ring. "That's the last one."

"Good," said Njrea, "Now put that thing down and come do some more husbandly duty."

"Face of God, woman, aren't you satisfied yet?" The seduction had not proceeded as Trals had planned.

"Not by a long shot." Njrea coiled toward him in the neat little caravan tent they'd pitched, a vision of love and peril in soot-stained skin. "But if you want your turn..."

Trals held the wreath, considering. Njrea had proven immune to his control with two forms of love already. Would the third prove the key to unlock her trust? But on the other hand, getting her with child would put a complicating time limit on his plans...

She grabbed him in a place Trals Scarback did not like to be grabbed. "Unhand me this instant!"

"Look, you've got to learn to calm down. Let off some," she smiled and made a suggestive motion, "steam?"