He nodded. "The alert was to bring you to me, sweetheart. Not to confine you."

"Oh." She settled back in his arms. "No wonder they were all so respectful."

"And now may I ask you a question?"

She looked fearful, but nodded. "Ask me anything, and I'll tell you the truth. Always."

What did she think he planned to ask? No matter; her assurance of truth was all that mattered. "You never need to fear speaking truth to me." He curved one hand around her neck. "I may not always enjoy your truth, but I will honor you for sharing it with me."

She nodded. "Ask me anything," she repeated.

"How many men have you slept with, Daria?"

She blushed a little. "Including you?"

He nodded.

Her eyes gazed upwards as if she counted to a great number, hesitated, then met his.

"Four."

On Prendara, a woman would have at least four men in her first month of sexual activity. No wonder she still blushed.

"I'm pleased," he admitted. "Pleased to learn that all but four of the men on this world are blind."

She pushed at his shoulder in a playful gesture. "I think you're the blind one." Then she frowned. "You've probably been with dozens of women."

Dozens? No need to tell her the answer was closer to hundreds. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "Do you not remember? On Prendara, partners are monogamous. And even though I live on Earth now, that culture is still my culture. I will sleep with only you from this date onward."

"If you say so." Her voice sounded cautious.

"I swear it."

She didn't look convinced.

"You doubt my fidelity? Is this the reason why you won't formally partner with me?"

She bit her lip in that endearingly hesitant way of hers. "No. I'm just... I'm afraid you'll regret it."

"Never."

She rested one hand on his chest. "You don't know that. Just look at what happened with Henry. I might be bad for your career."

She'd bring him far more joy than trouble. She already had. "I will deal with any worms like Jamison quite efficiently, you may be certain. As for you and me -- we will be stronger together. You will help my career, Daria, by making me happy. By helping me see differing opinions... and by educating me when I don't understand your concerns."

Her fingers idly stroked the hair on his chest. "Speaking of your career... shouldn't you find out if the constitution passed?"

He tipped her chin up and kissed her. "I'm more interested in convincing you to partner with me."

"Come on, Gray. Hento must be chomping at the bit for you to contact him."

He laughed. "Chomping at the bit? Your expressions will always entertain me, dahsh'kara."

For the rest of our lives. Whether you formally partner with me or not.

Ah, but she would agree someday. Someday soon. When faced with a difficult opponent, he never accepted no as an answer.

Epilogue.

The huge spaceship came in with a roar and a blast of air so fierce that the pre-fab walls of the space dock rattled. Daria covered her ears with both hands, squeezing her eyes shut against the wind. Her hair whipped around her face, stinging her chin with a harsh slap.

When the engines stopped, she let go of her ears and pushed her hair back with shaking fingers. Useless. Why hadn't she brought a hair brush? She must look like a mess.

At least the slow dying whine of the cooling engines didn't hurt her ears.

Gray took her hand, and she looked up into his smiling face. Even after all these months, her knees went weak whenever he smiled at her.

The excited, boyish glow in his eyes made her smile back. She loved being happy just because Gray felt happy.

She loved Gray, pure and simple. And he seemed to love her. What a miracle.

"I can't wait for you to meet them," he said, probably for the fourth time today.

She squeezed his hand. "I can't wait for you to see them again. I know how much you've missed them."

The sound of clanging metal came from one of the corridors of the space dock -- the ship's loading ramp being lowered. God, they'd be here any minute.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Don't worry, sweetheart."

"I'm not worried."

He smiled tenderly. One thumb stroked the corner of her mouth. "You're biting your lip.

You always do that when you're worried."

Damn, he could read her like a book.

"Here." He framed her face with both hands. "Let me give you something else to do with your lips."

He kissed her, and she smiled against his mouth. "Your English is nearly fluent now. But I'm glad you haven't lost that sexy accent."

A light breeze blew through the corridor, stirring his hair. "And you're speaking Prendarian very well yourself. My aunt will be pleased you made the effort."

"I'm so nervous, I'll probably forget every word."

He absently rubbed her finger -- the third finger of her left hand. A habit he'd adopted after learning that most Earthers wore wedding rings on that finger. "They'll love you, Daria. Simply because I love you."

Typical Gray, assuming that everyone would just fall in with his plans. "You don't know that. They could hate me just as easily."

"They won't. But even if they do, I'll still love you."

Footsteps sounded from far down the corridor. Oh, God.

"Billy?" A woman's voice.

They came around the corner then -- a tall Prendarian woman in uniform and an even taller man with graying hair. Gray's uncle and the Premier Leader. She saw Gray, gave a little cry, and ran toward him.

Gray dropped Daria's hand and ran the last few steps to meet his aunt. They hugged each other fiercely, murmuring greetings in rapid Prendarian. When they parted at last, the men hugged.

Maybe she could sneak off in all the commotion. Tempting, but the embarrassment wasn't worth it. She still had her pride. Hell, she was every bit as worthy as the Premier Leader. Having wealth and power didn't make Rigah a better person than anyone else. It just made her more powerful. The most powerful woman in the galaxy.

No wonder her knees felt shaky. Even worse, these people were the closest thing Gray had to parents. And she was an upstart rebel who lived with their precious nephew. They'd probably wonder what the hell he saw in her.

She still wondered herself. Sometimes.

"Prefect of Earth," Rigah said in Prendarian. She took a step back from Gray and made an odd alien gesture, thumping one fist against her chest. "My nephew, Prefect of Earth. I could not be more proud if you were my own offspring."

Gray bowed his head. "My thanks to you, Senhab Rigah."

Senhab? Damn, she'd never asked Gray what she should call this woman. Was Senhab only for family members?

They turned to her then, as a group. Rigah and Jason looked at her curiously. Judging her. At least Jason's eyes were warm, the same warm amber brown as Gray's eyes. Rigah's eyes were a cool, assessing silvery color.

Gray came to her side and slipped one arm around her waist. "This is Daria," he said, in English. "Daria, my Uncle Jason and Aunt Rigah."

"I am pleased to meet you," Rigah said stiffly, as if she wasn't pleased at all. Or as if she'd rehearsed the words.

Daria's palms felt sweaty, but she couldn't wipe them on her skirt and show it. "Welcome to Earth."

"Billy tells us you're going to be partners," Jason said in English. "Welcome to our family."

"Oh, but we're not going to -- I mean, I haven't agreed to --"

"Daria doesn't wish to marry me," Gray supplied. Then he repeated the words in Prendarian. The wretch.

She nudged him with one elbow. "Thanks a lot," she hissed.

Rigah gave her a sharp stare, raising one eyebrow. "You dare to refuse my nephew?" she asked, in Prendarian. She must practice bullying on a daily basis. That icy tone would make a battalion of soldiers tremble.

She'd sooner die than let this woman see how much that supercilious attitude intimidated her. At least she knew enough Prendarian to answer in the same language. She raised her chin. "I have my reasons."

"Relax, Aunt Rigah." Gray stepped into the breach, also speaking Prendarian. "Daria's afraid that partnering with her will damage my career."

Oh, great, now she'd want to know - "Why?" Rigah asked.

What could she say? Never the truth.

"She used to be part of a rebellious faction," Gray said. "She once plotted to kidnap me."

Daria gasped. "Gray!"

Rigah waved one hand dismissively. "A trivial matter. Why, Jason once plotted to murder me."

Jason rolled his eyes. "I did not plot to murder you." He took Daria's hand and shook it, grinning at her. "She tells everyone that story," he said in English. Then he held her hand between both of his and winked. "She doesn't really speak any English at all, so it can be a secret language of our own. Use English anytime you want to flirt with me."

No wonder Gray was so charming -- he must have inherited a family gene for it. He chuckled behind her. A quick glance at Rigah met with a fierce glare.

"She's mad because she can't understand me," Jason said, again in English. "And because I'm holding your hand for so long. She gets insanely jealous. Don't worry, though, she won't hurt you. I know how to control her."

Daria laughed, as he no doubt intended.

"Welcome to the family," he said again, in Prendarian this time.

"But... I haven't agreed..."

"You will," Jason said, releasing her hand at last.

"You will," Gray echoed.

Rigah smiled at her then. Much, much better than the glare. "Best to accept their plans, Daria. They are exceptionally stubborn men." Reaching out, she laid her hand on Daria's shoulder. Her flesh felt cool, but her silvery eyes seemed sincere. "Billy tells me you have no relatives. If you choose to partner with him, I would be pleased to welcome you into our family."

Family. If she married Gray, she'd have a family. Maybe even children.

Gray gently pushed his aunt aside and took both of Daria's hands in his. "Everyone's touching you but me."

He rubbed her ring finger again, smiling down at her tenderly -- as if they were alone. "Marry me, Daria. Marry me while my aunt and uncle are here to see the ceremony."

At least Rigah didn't understand him, since he'd spoken in English. Still, she felt a blush heat her cheeks.

She gripped his strong, warm hands. The expression in his eyes looked so compelling. So loving. He'd keep asking until she said yes. Or until she dented his pride with her constant refusals.

For the life of her, she couldn't think of a single reason to keep refusing. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

She took a deep breath. "Well, then... As you will."

A brilliant smile lit his face. He wrapped both arms around her, lifting her off of her feet for a deep, thrilling kiss. Right in front of his uncle and the Premier Leader.

The crazy, wonderful, uninhibited man.

She kissed him right back.