Us.The word hung in the air, waiting for him to reach out and grab it. He wanted to.
“You’ll get to see Kettura. Listen, for women and children, it’s one of the safest worlds there is. But it doesn’t mean men won’t try to seduce you. They certainly will. You don’t have to be afraid to say no though. A long time ago, there was an attempt to destroy the tribe by abducting and killing the women and children when the warriors were gone. The tribe’s survival has depended on its ability to draw women to it, so rape or any assault on a woman, no matter how small, can be punished as a capital crime. It’s never come to that because the community has had no crimes against women or children that I’ve ever heard of. The men will flirt and try to seduce you. Just say no. They won’t hurt you for rejecting them.”
She tilted her head. “Am I—on my own?”
“You won’t need me nearby for protection.”
“Where will I stay?”
“Wherever you choose. I’m sure Lana and Varse will offer you a room. Detrey will. Independent women will come forward as well. I think when a woman comes here alone, other women help her get settled. I don’t know the details. I haven’t paid attention in a long time. When we came as refugees, we had a lot of offers, but there were only a few places with enough room for all of us and we refused to be separated.”
“Does your family have a home together now?” she asked.
“My mother and youngest sister live together in one house. The middle sister moved out while I was gone this last time. She lives with her boyfriend. They’re studying architecture and apprentice under a friend of his uncle’s.”
“They’re not married? Do you mind? Her living with her boyfriend?”
He shook his head. “By all accounts, it’s a good relationship.”
“I’d imagine he’s nice to her since she has a warrior for a brother. But what about her reputation? Don’t you care about that and how what she does reflects on your family?”
“Kettura values different things than places like Orius and Endricane.”
“So what if I decided I wanted to stay with you until Zawri gets here? Would anyone stop us?”
“Not for the reasons you’re talking about.”
“Then why?”
“They might think I’d done something to coerce you into staying with me.”
She smiled. “Do any of them have any knowledge of you whatsoever? Have they ever spoken to you? At all?”
He smiled. “I’ve been paid crew on a pirate ship for years. And I’ve never had more than a night or two of sex with any woman on Kettura.”
“Are you saying I know more about your character than they do?”
“Much more. You know how I act when I’m filled with lust and there’s no one to stop me from taking what I want most in the world.”
After a long pause, she said, “What’s best for you? If they offer, should I stay with Varse and the princess?”
“That’s fine.”
“Would it be fine if I stayed with Detrey?” she countered with a challenging smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
“I’d deal with it.”
She laughed, her smile breathtaking. “How would you deal? By showing up unannounced to supervise? The way I did when my classmates with crushes on you sought you out?”
He shrugged, the corners of his mouth curving up.
“Did you like it?” she asked. “My showing up to chaperone? Seeing that I was jealous?”
“I liked it for a lot of reasons.”
She flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t stay with Detrey or any other man. You’re the only man alive I trust. Which I think you already know.”
“I like hearing it.”
