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Ayala heard murmured voices and felt an uncomfortable warmth at the back of her skull. She shifted with a groan, a steady pulse in her temple let her know that she had a headache making its way down her skull, across her jaw, and wrapping around the back of her neck. She sighed deeply, hating everything that could possibly have dragged her back into consciousness at that moment.

"Oh, look who decided to join us," said a voice with a discernable grin in the tone.

She knew that voice all too well, she heard it almost every day. Ayala squinted as she turned to look at who was hovering over her. Or maybe it was who she was hovering over. Apparently, she had been laying with her head on Pride's lap, but she didn't remember being in this position, especially since this really wasn't a position, she would choose herself. The last thing she remembered was going into the restaurant.

Which it seemed like they were still there, just his back pressed against the wall and she was resting on him. Who had he been talking? Her eyes glanced around, and she saw a waiter standing by the door.

"You chose a good time to wake up, still want to eat?" Pride's question was polite but the hand that was pressing against her hip was anything but.

"Once the room stops spinning that'd be fine. Please, remove your hand though," she said coldly.

It was hard to stop her voice from actually shaking, the butterflies in her stomach seemed to want to make her quiver under his touch. But she needed to keep her wits about her, and the last thing Ayala wanted was to become another notch on his bedpost. He couldn't conceal the way his smile grew nor the way the gold in his eyes sparkled at her sharp reprimand.

Pride looked to the waiter, nodding once, before slowly removing his hand, dragging the tips of his fingers along the sliver of her bared waist as he did so. She currently regretted not wearing a one piece. Especially when the edge of his nails caught her at the last moment and her entire body shuddered against his thigh.

He scoffed and then quickly clear his throat in what she assumed was an attempt to cover it up. Perhaps he wanted to give her a reprieve from the embarrassment she felt flooding through her. Perhaps he was merely trying to save his ass. Either way, Ayala shoved herself into a sitting position and instantly hated her pig headedness.

The swirl of dizziness that overwhelmed her head was enough to make her stomach swoop with nausea. She slumped back against his shoulder, and his arm curved around her body to steady her.

"You, ok?" he asked, for a moment he seemed genuinely concerned.

"Apparently not," she huffed. "But it'll be fine in a second. What I'm more concerned about is that I seem to have a bit of memory loss."

"Oh?" his head tilted as he helped her lean back against the wall with hands that barely touched her, apparently he had the ability to be cordial.

"Yeah, I don't remember coming into this room. So, unless I fainted right after walking in the door... and you carried me?" she glanced at him curiously even as her fingers rubbed at her temples.

"Ah...," he frowned and pursed his lips. "No, there was definitely somethings after that. I think what made you faint was shock."

His eyes darted to the side and for once her unflappable boss looked uncomfortable, as if he didn't want to talk about this subject.

"Shock from what?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Oh, you know, when I asked you to marry me and such," he coughed, though he looked at her now with a steady gaze.

"Oh right..." Ayala said, blinking slowly. "Yeah, I guess that would shock just about anyone."

She really could only think about the fact that she'd agreed to eating with him now. That, though she kind of loved him, or at least had a hard-core crush on her boss that had not left for years, she had absolutely no desire to marry him out of the blue. Especially with how much she knew about him and yet how little at the same time. She was so distracted about how she was stuck here, and now all she wanted to do was run.

Pride's lips quirked in an awkward half-grin at her frozen facial features, "Let me explain?"

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, before extending her hand and letting him help her to her feet once he stood. When the ground steadied and her head stopped feeling like a sloshing wine glass, she stepped to the table. Letting him have his moment of chivalry, as he pulled out her chair for her.

"Alright, you can explain. Merely because I like the food here," Ayala said, not giving him an inch, he didn't need to know that her body was thrumming with excitement and fear.

He sighed as he sat across from her, steepling his fingers and regarding her over them, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose a bit. Pride seemed to think about how best to broach the subject and so Ayala took a moment to sip at some water.

"Well... my mother has decided it is time her oldest son gets married... however I have no desire to have spawn, she can get that from one of my siblings," he frowned as if the thought was an enormous inconvenience. "Yet, if I don't get married to someone who can 'carry a brood' as the paperwork says... I lose my status."

She coughed on the water she had just swallowed and hacked for a few moments before she grabbed a hold of herself. She squinted at him, what the hell? Her mouth slightly open, completely unattractive in every way.

"What...?! I am a human soul. I can't carry a demon brood! I mean... maybe if my body was still considered alive. But I am just a solidified soul. Most of the things I still do... it's habit," her brain was struggling to even create words.

Pride knew these things. He was the ruler of the Under Realm, he knew all the ins and outs even if she was a rare entity here. So why was he even wasting his time? Why was she wasting both of theirs explaining everything he already knew? She had never wanted to smack him more, affection be damned.

"I'm aware, it's why you are perfect. With the wording of the contract, it just means someone who was able or is able to carry, not that you have to," he paused thinking for a moment, his golden eyes flashing in the low light as they swept over her face. "The only other thing... I would have to make it seem as if I was actively trying with you. Making it seem like I was fucking you."

Ayala's face twisted and it probably looked grossed out, but it was truly a mix of excitement at the thought of his sliding between her thighs and revulsion at the entire situation.

"Not that I would actually," he said quickly, as if to back pedal his way out her shooting him down. "I just... I would just need to make others think I would. Making you smell like me would be enough."

Ayala frowned, "Can I think about it?"

"Of course!" he looked taken aback. "This is completely your choice, Little Fawn."

Once again, the nickname caressed her, soothing her frazzled nerves. It was familiar, it reminded her where she stood in this. She nodded in agreement; she would think about it.

"Now, let's eat, hm?" he said, his eyes taking on a mischievous glow. "I got you, your favorite."

"You remembered," she murmured.

"Of course, wasn't more than an hour or so ago you told me," he laughed and shook his head.

"Yeah, but... I didn't even expect you to be listening honestly, not really," she looked down at the napkin that her fingers had started absently folding repeatedly.

"Of course, I listened, I always listen," he said calmly, his chin propped up on his knuckles.

The slight smile that turned his lips upward was warm, different than the one he graced her with at the office. The teasing light in his eyes was softer as he watched her nervous fidgeting. It was like she had his undivided attention. Something she had wanted for so long and now it felt like she was melting under it. Now she wanted a moment without his eyes burning a hole into her so she could just breathe.

She had no idea if she could deal with being his 'wife.' She had no idea if she could deal with him knowing about her existence and yet she wasn't sure she wanted to go back to being unknown. Her mind was a twisted web of confusion, and she couldn't wait to get home to start untangling the sticky strands to find the answer to his question.