Morgan Selwood 3: A Victory Celebration Read Online Free PDF Page A

number of things. To be honest, I
expected it to be out there on the sofa, fast and furious."
    "It did cross my mind," he
admitted.  "But I wanted rather more than a quick release." He wanted
to own her. He wanted for her never, ever to countenance dancing for anyone but
him.
    "So I gathered. I love you, Ashkar. But
you’ll never own me. What I give you, I give willingly."
    He nodded. "So you'll marry me?"
    She half sat up, staring at him. "Marry
you?"
    "Yes. It's a Manesai custom. A man and
a woman bind themselves to each other in front of family and friends." He
couldn't keep the irony out of his voice.
    "But your marriages are arranged.
Family to family. It's got nothing to do with love."
    He shook his head. "I'm a grown man,
my parents have no say in who I wish to marry now my wife has passed on. And
I've done my duty to the family line, produced a son and a daughter. I want to
marry you."
    She sank back onto the bed. "I love
you desperately, Ashkar. But I'd be the wrong wife for you. You'd offend all
those admirals offering you their daughters."
    "I've already done that."
    "Oh."
    "Yes. Three out-and-out proposals. And
I've ignored quite a number of indirect propositions. I'm not in the
market." He grinned. He'd said those words and they were so right. The
woman he loved lay beside him.
    "Ashkar, you can't be married to an
alien. Imagine what a field day the gossip mongers would have."
    "I don't care."
    She tilted her body so she could meet his
gaze. "I do. You'll be grand admiral, I'm sure of it. If I'm not holding
you back. Look, they accept our relationship because we don't advertize it. But
marriage?"
    He slid an arm around her, holding her
tight to his side. She smelled of sex and sweat and a hint of her favorite
perfume. He'd never loved her more. "They'll get over it."
    "Please, let it go. I'm very happy
with how things stand. Please?"
    He felt the tension in her body. She meant
what she said. But so did he. This was a subtle form of warfare, or perhaps
diplomacy. He would have to persuade her, win her over to his position. Time to
retire gracefully, and regroup. He gathered her up, aware of parted lips close
to his, her breast against his chest, her beautiful, silver eyes imploring him.
"If you're happy, I'm happy."
    He met those luscious lips with his own.
     
    ***
     
     Ravindra stretched his shoulders and
wished the chairs in these conference rooms were a bit more comfortable. He'd
fielded the questions from his senior admirals, anxious to know what had
happened the previous evening. He hadn't gone into detail but the knowing
smirks said it all. They were happy; only President Assarta to go. Speaking of
which, here was the man himself with his entourage of lackeys. Ravindra stood
and bowed.
    "Good morning to you, Admiral,"
said Assarta, returning the gesture. "I trust you all enjoyed your
evening, officers," he said to the room at large. "And I understand
you retrieved your lady safely?"
    "I did, Mister President."
    "There was some… ah… fuss, I
understand? Armed troops in an innocent nightclub?" He waited, clever eyes
on Ravindra’s face. He already knew all this.
     If he was expecting an apology it would
not be forthcoming. "Unfortunate, I know. We had reason to believe that Suri Selwood was in danger. But my public relations people have already explained
this have they not? And apologized for the inconvenience caused?"
    "Mister Trimpathi—the owner of the
nightclub—is a well-respected businessman here." Assarta’s voice held a
note of reproach.
    And a generous supporter of Assarta’s Mirka
faction. "I assure you, his business won’t suffer. Quite the reverse. The
place will have added popularity. And the lads Suri Selwood danced with…
they’ll have a story to tell their grandchildren."
    "True," conceded Assarta, lips
pursed. "Not every man can claim to have danced with the Orionar
Queen." His eyes glittered with a hint of malice. He knew what had
happened on Krystor and he probably knew about