A Desconian Marriage of Convenience (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free PDF Page B

at work in less than an hour, not really an efficient use of his time.
    “Why not come with me?” Jenelle suggested. “Most of the ladies at the compound have only met Desconian soldiers and official medical personnel. It would be good for them to meet a man who does something else.”
    “I think that’s a great idea,” Tosh said with a smile.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jenelle smiled at the natural way Baylen had of putting people at ease. They’d gathered in the dining hall for coffee and chatter, and a small group of women had circled Baylen and thrown dozens of questions his way. He’d answered them all openly and honestly with a smile on his face. He’d even spent time offering some of the different viewpoints that Desconian people held. Not all people participated in voyeurism, some actually called it distasteful, but none tried to stop others from having the choice.
    Baylen must have noticed a reaction she’d missed, because he excused himself, moved to a table not far away, and asked one of the women if she would like to join their conversation. She glanced at the woman sitting beside her and shook her head with a haughty disdain. Considering their conversation earlier this morning, it probably hadn’t been all that hard to identify the two women she’d been talking about, but Jenelle was interested to see that he’d approached the more vocal of the two.
    It wasn’t until she glanced at her friend nervously that Jenelle realized which one really held the opinions. She was very grateful for Baylen’s insight. In this case the strategy of “divide and conquer” was probably a good one, so she moved to distract the other woman as Baylen finally convinced his target to join the conversation at the other table.
    Without her vocal mouthpiece spouting opinions for her, the other woman settled for glaring at everyone. Fortunately, thanks to Baylen’s casual, friendly attitude the other women were happy to ignore her. By the time lunchtime came around the rest of the women were actively asking questions of their own. Completely comfortable surrounded by people he’d never met before, Baylen entertained and charmed the entire room into seeing Descon and its people in a whole different light.
    Many women who’d seemed fearful of the things they’d been told about the Desconian lifestyle were suddenly more comfortable with the idea of exploring new options. Hopefully, they’d now have the confidence to meet Desconian couples via the fertility council.
    “He’s definitely a charmer,” Tosh said as he came in the door behind her.
    “That he is,” she said as she watched yet another question come out of a woman who’d barely said two words until today.
    “I often wonder why he didn’t marry a couple of women. He’s certainly got a personality women respond to.”
    “Perhaps now that the marriage laws have been changed, you, Jax and Baylen might consider claiming a mubella of your own.”
    Tosh grinned. “Only if you’re the one we’re claiming.”
    “As if,” she said, shoulder bumping him the way she’d seen other Desconian friends do. She really hoped it hid her sudden fluster. Tosh was only joking. He, Baylen, and Jax were just her friends. Just friends. She wasn’t a good candidate for a mubella, and she wouldn’t hurt any of them by seeming to want more.
    Now if she could only stop herself from dreaming it.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jax came into the door of his apartment and smiled at the laugher he could hear coming from the kitchen. For years he’d believed his life with Baylen and Tosh was absolutely perfect, but Jenelle had become such an integral part of their homelife that he could barely imagine life without her.
    It made him think about things he hadn’t considered in a very long time.
    “Good news,” Tosh said as Jax stepped into the kitchen. Considering the general direction of his thoughts, he felt confused for just a moment. Tosh smiled and reached over to cover Jenelle’s hand with his