I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(28)

I gaped at him disbelievingly. “No! I mean, sure, you’ve seen me, but that’s not a reason to continue ogling me!”

“But what’s the problem? You see me and everyone else naked all the time,” he argued, sounding a little annoyed.

“Women don’t walk around with their boobs out. We—”

“That’s not true,” he interrupted forcefully. “On your beaches, human females often walk around with their breasts bare.”

I groaned in exasperation. “Fine. Some women do. But not me!”

A million different expressions flitted over Cedros’s face. The last one truly bothered me. I couldn’t quite define it, but the underlying sadness screamed of a sense of rejection, disappointment, and crushed dreams. It dawned on me then that Cedros had likely fantasized for years about what having an Ejaya would be like. But I just kept bursting his bubble over things that made no sense to him.

In truth, what was the big deal about him seeing my boobs? Cedros and his people didn’t look at nudity the way humans did. I wasn’t self-conscious about my body, and I trusted him not to randomly assault me from a lack of self-control. So why was I making such a fuss?

“I’m sorry I’ve upset you. I thought it was a normal human ritual that would help our bonding. I will leave.”

Another wave of guilt surged through me at the sight of his defeated and dejected expression as he turned to exit the room.

“Cedros, wait!” I called out.

He looked at me questioningly over his shoulder. I took in a deep breath and dropped my arms, baring it all.

“Like you said, you’ve already seen what I look like. You might as well stay,” I said with a stiff smile.

I didn’t know what response I had expected, but not for him to stare at me with a face devoid of any expression, his fiery gaze intense.

“No. You do not mean it. I can see that you don’t really want me here. I will leave you alone.”

With that, he walked out and closed the door behind him.

“Well, shit,” I muttered under my breath.

I hated that I’d caused him any kind of distress. This culture clash business was turning out to be even more complicated than I expected. Then again, it had been na?ve of me to hope it would all be smooth sailing, as long as I let him hug me for a few minutes every day. I quickly rinsed and dried myself.

Once again, I found the bedroom empty when I came out of the hygiene room. As I went to pick what to wear, my gaze landed on Kayog’s wedding gift. First, the oddest Derakeen compass that, according to Cedros, Kayog had gotten adapted specifically for me. Second, the sleekest, fanciest, most advanced jetpack in the galaxy. And last, a ridiculously cool-looking visor. While I knew what to do with the jetpack, the other two gifts left me perplexed. Cedros was supposed to show me how to use them in the void later this morning.

And that only increased my guilt about this situation.

I took my sweet time getting dressed while trying to figure out my next move. For the next six months, Cedros and I would have to live together. Beyond the entire political bullshit that had semi-coerced me into coming here, I had committed to be the best Ejaya I could reasonably be for him. Cedros was bending over backwards to please me. Granted, he needed me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t meet him halfway.

After coming to several decisions, I walked out of the bedroom wearing a braless tube top and a bohemian skirt with a thigh-high slit. All black, obviously…

I found Cedros sitting in the living area, a deep air of concentration while he read intensely on his tablet, a frown creasing his brow. On the kitchen’s island, food sat ready to be cooked for me. As soon as he perceived my presence, Cedros all but jumped to his feet, a contrite expression on his face.

“Please, accept my apologies again,” he said in a repentant tone. “I didn’t think coming into the room for showers was wrong. I have to remember that you are not a Derakeen Ejaya. With them, there aren’t so many boundaries and limits. I am trying very hard to learn your ways. Just please be patient with me. I will do better.”

I walked up to him, and he seemed taken aback when I took his hands in mine. “Please don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. I should be the one apologizing to you.”

“What?”

“We are different species, with very different cultures and customs. You’re going out of your way reading about humans to try and please me, and I just keep complaining about this and that because it’s not the way of my people,” I said, feeling embarrassed. “You and I may not be a traditional couple, but we’re still in an exclusive form of relationship and living together. It cannot work if only one person is making concessions and trying to meet the other person halfway, which you have been doing. I need to do my share, too.”

“I do not mind making the concessions, my Kaida. I want you to be happy,” he argued.

“But then you will lose yourself and your own identity in the process. It will inevitably make you miserable, and me as well in the long run,” I countered gently while giving his hands a squeeze. “We have a saying on Earth: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

He tilted his head to the side with a curious expression. “Meaning?”

“Meaning that it’s illogical for me to come settle on your world and expect to continue living my life according to my human ways,” I explained. “Which means, when on Dramnac, I need to do as the Derakeens do instead of berating you to make you act like a human. And it starts with this.”