"A lot more!" Koke returned as he fought to keep alert and un-drugged from the touch of her against him.

Her sensual way of allurement abruptly faded to a look of utter sincerity as she grasped his face with her hands and said, "I know and because you know that is why I want you above all others as my mate. I have the right to choose who I will, but you are not powerless in this. Once I am yours you will be master and I will follow where you lead."

Koke stared at her in consternation. He'd never wanted any woman to the degree that he did her, but he had no time for something like this!

In frustration he said, "I have a sister! She's up there on the surface. I don't know what has become of her. She could be in danger. I……"

Her hands cradled the sides of his face, "I know. Many people have fallen from the clouds above through the years. Many do not survive as the surface is rife with danger, but here in the water we are safe. Safer anyway at least. If your sister is alive I will help you find her."

Koke stared at her in surprise, "You'll help me?"

"Certainly, there's not anything I wouldn't do for my mate."

Her face reflected utter sincerity of statement and Koke felt himself scrambling for words, "I…… I'm not sure about all this. Things are moving too fast. I can't think straight around you! You're so beautiful and this place is so different. I'm all upside down!"

Her hand touched his forehead, "You think too much. Now this is the way of it. I and my people will help you look for your sister. You and your sister can never return to the surface of the world you knew before. As for the surface of this inner world, well, you especially, have learned how cruel and heartless it can be." She said as her hand drifted down his back over the healed roughened edges of the scars there.

He remembered every whip strike as if it had just happened. She must've seen the heavy emotion in his eyes because she said, "I will help you end the reign of Captain Sally as well. She is overdue to receive judgment for her crimes."

Advertisement..

Koke looked at her in consternation at her ability to read him so easily.

"You would do all that for me?"

She nodded quickly.

"What is it that you really want?" Koke asked out of a need to know what her angle in all this was.

She shrugged expressively, "My people want to see me happy. I think I could be very happy with you. I sensed it the first time that I saw you. You're going to be a source of change in this inner world of mine that has now become yours. You are a man of faith and my people will be stronger to have you among us."