Lindsey's Rescue: A World Beyond Book 3 (5 page)

Everything would be covered and reviewed again within an inch of the smallest detail when the Senate Leaders gathered for their weekly meeting tomorrow. Some things would be argued if the vote appeared skewed or others wanted to question the results, more events would be scheduled to fill his calendar with monotonous meetings and dinners. It was a vicious cycle but one Zadal felt suited him best and enabled him to bring about good things for the citizens of Garulax. He’d worked hard all his life for the prestige and dignity the position brought.

Bickering letters from the public and angry messages from his fellow senate members trickled in throughout the day as Zadal tried to catch up with the work he missed by taking a few hours off this morning and the day before. Though he tried to ignore it, the reason for the time off led his thoughts to his new wife Lindsey Ferra. Or Lindsey Laars-Gatar as she would now be known.

Thinking of the blonde beauty and her winsome smile stirred his loins and his trousers predictably tightened. Zadal pulled up the official image file on his computer of their Triad marriage. He stood to the left of Lindsey and Baruk to the right with the Honorable Sye a little behind the group. Lindsey held the registered marriage contract in her hands and her eyes danced with happiness.

Zadal traced his finger over her smiling face. The holo and the notice were public record now. Qual wouldn’t be the only one pulling these documents to look for a hidden story. 

Zumei poked his head in during the small break of silence. “Senate Leader Baruk is here to see you.”

Zadal cursed and his headache returned with a vengeance. He wasn’t prepared to deal with his spouse partner yet. Had barely thought of how they’d conduct the Triad aside from his needs for equal sexual access to Lindsey and waiving his rights to genetic knowledge of any children they fathered. Baruk included the same stipulations and a few others concerning the distribution of his wealth and benefits should he die.

Zadal pushed away from his desk and stood. “Send him in.”

The heavy, traditional red robes he wore for his marriage slid from the corner of the polished wood to the floor and Zadal debated whether the cost of placing them about his shoulders to meet Baruk on equal footing was worth the discomfort. Short bursts of pain across his scalp decided for him as he scooped them up and folded them neatly next to his comm unit. He preferred the light weight pants and shirt he’d changed into.

Baruk entered behind the flustered Zumei dressed as casually as Zadal. “You’re dismissed, first assistant. I will speak with Zadal alone.”

Zumei didn’t dare give Baruk the back talk he often gave Zadal. Instead, he bowed nearly to the floor, an ingratiating smile about his mouth. “Yes, Senate Leader.”

As soon as Zumei left, Zadal snorted. “Very bold of you dismissing my employee, Baruk.”

Baruk didn’t waste time and closed the door behind Zumei. “We didn’t have a chance to discuss residency this morning.”

Zadal tensed. “I have a residence.”

The smug
briot
raised a brow and gestured around the office space. “You have a single dwelling in the city. Is it large enough for a Triad?”

Pivoting on his heel, Zadal turned his back on Baruk and faced the minuscule window with a view of the neighboring building behind his. Anything to avoid the look in Baruk’s blue eyes.

A heavy sigh came from behind him. “Listen. I’m not trying to be highhanded in this. A Triad marriage requires the work of all parties involved especially the spouse partners.”

“What do you suggest?” Zadal asked without turning. He already knew what the other Senate Leader would say and while he had to agree, Zadal hated it. One more thing to highlight the differences between them. Would the Earth woman see it as well?

“I live and work at my estate in the country as you well know. It’s been in my family for generations and has room to house a Triad and the family we will one day have.”

Zadal stiffened. He hadn’t thought far enough to consider children beyond knowing they would have them.

“Also,” Baruk added, “As Senate Leaders, we both need our own offices and office space for our assistants. There will be the necessary parties and required dinners. My home can easily accommodate this.”

“Agreed.”

Baruk stumbled in his obviously prepared speech. “You do?”

Zadal turned. Their eyes met across the desk. “I agree, Senate Leader. How soon should I have my things moved?”

Baruk dropped abruptly into the seat Zadal had refused Zumei. “
Verat
! I thought you’d be stubborn about this.”

A small smile played about Zadal’s lips at the man’s disgruntled tone and profanity. Perhaps this could work. “I’m stubborn when you try to push forward land development on a plot of sinking mud, then wish to increase fines to the citizens to cover the cost of the inevitable repairs.”

Baruk snorted and folded his arms over his chest. “Important cost increase to offset the important benefit of an educational center in a remote city.”

“We will agree to disagree.”

A grin flashed over Baruk’s face. “As your vote on that agenda already reflected.”

Zadal found himself chuckling in return. “At least you know I’m honest, where as the others tend to vote in whatever direction you appear to lean.”

“I have my own detractors. Nevertheless, I came by to show my faith in our Triad. I would not have agreed if I wasn’t prepared to have this work. Whatever happens during our business hours should not impact our personal life. Truce?”

“Truce,” Zadal agreed. “I can have my things packed and moved this evening.”

Baruk’s brow shot up. “So soon?”

Zadal waved a hand around them. “I rented the place furnished. I only need to bring my personal possessions.”

“Very well. Tonight I thought we’d dine together. Our wife messaged that she’d be there no later than five.”

Zadal glanced at the timer on his desk. It was almost three. It would be tight. “I’ll be there. Zumei can pack and send my things ahead.”

Baruk nodded and rose to his feet. “One last thing. As my spouse partner you now have the power of the Laars name behind you. Use it wisely.”

Zadal grimaced much to Baruk’s amusement as he laughed on his way out but inside Zadal’s heart soared. The Triad would give him what he’d always desired and gain him entry into the next level of society and force them to accept him as their equal.

Chapter 7

Her home suited a King. Or Queen. Lindsey stared in awe at the mansion sprawling across the green lawn.

“The Laars estate,” a mechanical voice intoned.

Lindsey hopped from the transport, tennis sinking into the rich grass. She took a deep breath of the lush, fragrant air as she made her way toward the paved walkway. Rich, green towering trees dotted the edge of the property line, separating acres of manicured lawn from what looked to be a forest.

The house if it could be termed so humbly stretched as far as her eye could see with small crops of buildings attached to the side. Her steps slowed as Lindsey tried to take it all in. A multitude of windows gleamed. Three, no, four spires she counted, which soared from the multi-level roof tops and at the center of it all, brown double doors trimmed in gold beckoned.

Lindsey fell in love with it immediately.

She stood a moment longer, enjoying a cooling breeze as it wafted over her skin. Garulax had two definitive seasons year round. Falta which included a bit of rare snowfall when cold enough and Sies which included biting heat and torrential rain storms. Lindsey looked forward to experiencing both to the fullest. She skipped up the white stone, front steps and knocked on the door. It jerked open.

 “I see you’re late once more. Is it a habit of yours?”

The gruff question came from the reserved husband as she’d designated him. Zadal.

“I’m not late, it’s only a little after five.”

Zadal stepped back from the door, allowing her to enter. “Twenty after and Baruk stated five.”

New husband, new life. Be nice, she cautioned. “You’re right but hopefully it hasn’t disrupted things too much.”

Zadal’s mouth twisted, his blond brows an annoyed slash across his face. “On the contrary, I’m now needed on an important call.”

“Welcome, Lindsey.” Baruk walked in from one of the many rooms off the foyer of the entryway. “Is Zadal keeping you from entering?”

The wry amusement in his tone relaxed her. A little. Zadal huffed and stormed down a never ending hall and around a corner, obscuring his tall frame from her gaze.

Lindsey peeked up at her second husband, breath held. “Hi.”

Baruk touched a strand of her loosened blonde hair. “Welcome to your new home, wife.”

Ping
. Lindsey sighed in homecoming. This husband she was going to love right away. “So, do I get the nickel tour?”

His mouth tipped up on the side and his blue eyes twinkled down at her. “If that’s Earth currency then the tour I will give is by far of higher value.”

Then he waved his hand before him for her to proceed. “Allow me to show you the
liko
tour. Garulax currency is worth five times your home worlds.”

“Great.” She blew out a breath, swinging her bag. “Show me all.” 

***

Bemusement kept Baruk off balance as he observed his new wife. Lindsey’s eyes widened with each room he showed her, starting with the rooms on the upper level and ending with the one he assigned as her bedroom. He’d given her the tower room, thinking the circular balcony off the sitting room would appeal to the glimpse of whimsy he’d sensed as she begged so prettily to form a Triad with him.

“This is freaking amazing. Off the charts like a castle.” She pushed back the sheer white curtains over the double-glass doors and opened them to the patio inlaid with bronze and gold stones from the Zorona Mining sites. His best friend, Riun, had been all too eager to have his family provide the stone work for the renovations Baruk made some years ago. Not to mention the project added a nice bit of
liko
to the Paer family coffers. 

The tiny balcony only had room for a small table and chair set, which he thought Lindsey would approve of. Her squeal of delight had him biting back a smile. She hurried back into the room, leaving the doors open behind her and dove onto the bed which dominated the room. The white sheets and covers consisted of the highest quality fibers.

Her arms and legs spread as she swished them about though he couldn’t fathom the reason for her gyrations. She leaped to her feet before he could blink and opened the closet doors and gasped.

“Holy fuck!” She peered over her shoulder. “Do you say fuck here?”

Baruk pursed his lips, holding back another smile. “We say fuck. Although I reserve the use of it for behind closed doors.”

Color splashed on her cheeks and she quickly turned away to enter a closet easily the size of the smallest room in his home. Baruk leaned a shoulder against the wall in the outer bedroom. “Someone will be here tomorrow to take measurements and order your clothes.”

Women liked clothes and if her dress the other night was any indication or the weird blue pants she now wore, his Triad wife would need all the help possible in the selection process.

Lindsey’s head poked around the closet door. “Take measurements? Don’t you shop?”

His brow creased. “It depends on your definition. My measurements are on file with the clothing providers here in Teeve. When I’m in need I make the necessary selections online and they arrive custom fit.”

She re-entered the bedroom and unlike the balcony doors, closed the closet doors behind her and leaned against them. “Custom?”

Her voice squeaked and what should have been an annoying sound, intrigued him. Tugged at his heart strings actually. Baruk straightened. Falling for his wife this soon wasn’t in the plan but Lindsey of Earth might break through his carefree façade sooner than he expected.

“Custom,” he confirmed.

She dropped her brown luggage to the floor then crawled on her knees to tuck it under the bed. If she kept twitching her bottom and bending over, he wouldn’t be able to resist a touch. Sex would come later. He wanted her settled in the house first. The marriage contract stipulated both husbands’ presence on their wedding night. Standard language Baruk didn’t bother questioning.

Sharing her with Zadal wasn’t going to be difficult. Another person in the bed would enhance Lindsey’s pleasure and ensure she achieved as much satisfaction as they could give her.

Lindsey hopped to her feet. “A girl might get used to all this luxury.”

What she took for luxury, Baruk took for granted. His entire life was filled with the finest things from as far back as his childhood memories could recall. Wealth surrounded him at every angle and he thought no more of it than he thought of what he ate at each meal.

Suddenly uncomfortable with the thoughts she pulled forth, he sharpened his tone. “Come. There’s still the lower levels.”

Undaunted, she skipped behind him, her strange shoes with the stripes tapping on the floor behind him. Did she ever simply walk?

At this time of day, most of his household servants settled in to their own suites off the main building of his estate. Those remaining worked in the kitchen for meal preparation and clean up. Baruk showed her the kitchen area with its bevy of helpers and cooks.

His chief cook used a towel to wipe at the sweat on his brow, flustered at Baruk’s unplanned presence. “Master Baruk, we weren’t expecting you.”

No doubt the man wanted to die in his tracks since they had an unspoken agreement that Baruk wouldn’t enter his domain.

“Chief Everly, this is my Triad wife, Lindsey. Lindsey, Everly heads the team who prepare the morning, noon and evening meals.”

All of the cooks came to a halt. They knew he sought a Triad marriage. Expected a spouse partner and wife to join the household but probably not this soon. He wondered how Zadal would handle things once he settled. So far his spouse partner had arrived in a rush, set up his office, then closeted himself away with his first assistant, Zumei.

Everly and the others bowed toward Lindsey in respect. “Let me know if you have any special request, Lady Lindsey.”

“Master Baruk? Lady Lindsey?” She snickered in a whisper, then gave his servants a bright grin and wiggled her fingers. “Hi, everyone.”

Shock dropped their mouths open and silence reigned, broken only by the hiss and sizzle of food in mid-prep.

Everly recovered his senses first, brown eyes hesitant. “You’re not from Garulax?”

Her shoulders shrugged, drawing Baruk’s gaze to her bountiful breasts beneath the shirt she wore. “No, from Earth.”

Frowns crossed several faces. Everly cleared his throat. “I see.”

But he didn’t. Others would have similar reactions to his wife and partner. Let them ponder. Baruk had every intention of enjoying himself at their expense.