A moment later, he’d caught the sight of my practically naked body and...well, all hell broke loose.
If this was his bedroom, the Colonel hadn’t barged in with the intention to assault me. He simply was coming to bed last night. Then, he found his new “wife” dressed in hardly anything, twirling in front of the mirror...
I rubbed my face.
To the Colonel, it must’ve looked like I’d been waiting for him in his bedroom. I’d even changed into something sexy, as if just for him. He didn’t know that for me, sex couldn’t happen without forming a true connection first.
“Oh God,” I groaned.
That had been the most awkward misunderstanding. Of course, the Colonel’s tendency of acting without clarifying things first didn’t help, but he wasn’t a predator as I’d feared he was.
“You should’ve told me it was his bedroom, too,” I reprimanded Omni. “Where did he end up sleeping, then? In the spare bedroom?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to put him out.” Setting the tray aside, I jumped out of bed. “I should be the one taking the spare bedroom.”
“The Colonel’s instructions were to let you keep this one.”
“And his orders override mine?” I asked.
“Yes.”
That didn’t surprise me.
“Fine.”
I moved to the closet, thinking about what to do next. I’d promised to call Nancy this morning, and I needed to tell her that all was well, for now anyway.
Now, that I no longer felt in immediate danger, I’d decided not to speak to the Committee about last night, for the time being. At least not until I’d spoken to the Colonel first.
He and I needed to have a frank discussion. I wanted him to explain his expectations of me. And I needed him to listen to what I hoped to have in a marriage. I didn’t want to give up on my dream of building a happy life in Voran after less than a day spent in the house of my “potential spouse.” However, I didn’t know how long I should be trying to pursue this dream if the reality was so very different from that.
So far, the Colonel in person had proven to be even more terrifying than his picture, and it had more to do with his attitude than his looks.
What if getting to know him better only made it worse?
I would’ve liked to chat about everything with my mom or my sister, but they were far away. I could only write to them once a week, and a lot could change in seven days.
“Can I make a call?”
“Interplanetary calls to your family are only possible from the headquarters of the Liaison Committee,” Omni reminded.
“Yes, I know. But I’m supposed to call someone from the Committee.” Nancy was largely still a stranger to me. However, since I’d promised to call, I should at least let her know that I was doing fine. I’d told her I would be, after all. “Or did the Colonel forbid me any calls at all?”
“No, you can call the Committee any time you wish. Would you like me to connect you?”
“Just, wait a moment. I’ll make myself decent first.”
I took a few seconds to browse the collection of the dresses in my closet. With tailored bodices and flared skirts, they all were my preferred style and cut. Judging by the pictures I’d seen, all of them were done in the latest fashion of Voran. Their pretty trim, gorgeous prints, and cheerful colors made me smile. The section of floor-length evening gowns was especially glamourous.
In the end, I chose to wear one of my own dresses. The familiar feel of its cut and the red-and-white checkered fabric made me feel comfortable, which was important as I was certainly out of my element in the Colonel’s house.
After the quick call with Nancy to assure her I was alive and well, I came downstairs.
My thoughts rushed to last night’s dinner and to what happened afterwards. Then I remembered what Omni said about the purpose of my rich wardrobe and that I would be required to accompany the Colonel to “high-profile public events.”
If what the Colonel really wanted from a wife was just a glorified escort to take to balls and galas then fucking her against a dresser afterwards, then maybe we should just talk about dissolving our contract sooner rather than later. This wouldn’t be the life I’d hoped for or wished to have.
Sadness filled me at the thought of going back to Earth with nothing but another failure under my belt.
I wandered through his grand, beautiful home. Its cheerful