“What? Why would I do that? What if she asks me something about the kids?”
True. Talking to Mara about them would be useless.
She glanced at the screen in my hands. “Great. She hung up already. Now you’ll have to call her back.”
“I will.” I handed the device back to her. “How was your trip?”
“Fine.” She moved her attention to the bed behind me. “Why are you in bed? It’s not even dinnertime.”
I glanced over my shoulder at my rumpled bed, my panties lying discarded on the covers.
This wasn’t a situation of Xavran and me sneaking around on Mara. She’d made no secret of having zero feelings for him, and I’d been open with her from the beginning about how I felt about him.
Still, I felt the need to explain.
“I...” I took my device from under my arm. “I had a call with Xavran.”
“In bed?” She arched one perfectly groomed eyebrow.
I nodded. “Yes.”
She slid her gaze down my front. I had straightened my bra and shirt, but my buttons remained opened to my waist.
Understanding spread on her face. “Ooh... Are you two finally fucking?”
I cleared my throat, shoving a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Well, not in the direct sense of that word. Not yet, anyway.”
She glanced at the device in my hand. “Starting with online sex first? Can’t blame you. It couldn’t be easy with that one. It must take a while to get used to the idea of him touching you.” She made a face.
“Come on, Mara. He’s not even remotely repulsive.” Everything about Xavran’s appearance was nothing but pure hotness to me, lately.
She rolled her eyes, a shudder running across her shoulders. “I really don’t get what anyone can see in that. But whatever rocks your boat, sister.”
“Right.” I stopped arguing.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter. I found Xavran insanely attractive, and I didn’t care what the rest of the world thought about him.
I buttoned up my shirt. “How was your trip?”
“Wonderful.” Her expression lit up, then fell again as she plopped her butt on my bed. “Sadly, Zeigan is leaving for Tragul today.”
It took me a moment to remember the name.
“Are you talking about the Ravil Ambassador Zeigan Ussai? You saw him in the city?”
She gave me a look as if I’d said something completely stupid. “Why do you think I keep going to Arqa?”
“To shop?”
“Well, that too.” She nodded. “And to go to the restaurants. And the parties. Life has definitely been more exciting since Zeigan came along.” She giggled. “Honestly, Susanna, if you want good sex, don’t bother with fugly Aldraians. Get yourself a Ravil.”
“So, you’ve been...seeing Ambassador Ussai all this time?”
“Seeing.”She nodded again. “And fucking.”
“Are you dating?”
“Dating? That’s not what I said. He’s cute. The sex is great. That tail....” She bit her lip with a guttural moan. “He really knows how to use all his appendages, if you know what I mean.”
“Why don’t you want to get serious with him, then?”
I didn’t recall Mara ever truly falling for any man. She’d been so good at not letting her heart get involved, it’d made me wonder whether she even had a heart. But Ambassador Ussai met some of Mara’s most important requirements—he held a position of power, which probably meant he had money too. Him being handsome and good in bed obviously didn’t hurt, either.
She winced at my question.
“He invited me to come to Tragul with him.”
“But you don’t want to go?”
“God, no! His country is still recovering from that war they had...” She waved her hand in the air. “It’s not fun there. He lives in...in like a log cabin in the jungle somewhere.” Her features crumpled with disgust. “It’s just sooo not me.”
It certainly didn’t sound like it was.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing that he’s gone, then.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’ve had the worst luck with men. And now I’m stuck here again, with you and those little brats. Oh, that reminds me. One of them wants to know where her bathing suit is.”
“Who? Ene or Illal?” I put my communication device on the grass mound by my bed.
Mara shrugged. “How am I supposed to know? It’s the one with the hair. She was looking for you in the kitchen when I got home.” She got up from my bed and headed to the exit. “I’m so tired. I need a bath.”
I followed her out. “Just to let you know, the kids and I are leaving soon. We have swimming lessons.”
“Whatever. Just don’t forget to call the school principal. I don’t want her to hound me with her calls.”