X

 

 

 

I WOKE PRAIRIE on the fourth morning of her stay with my face between her legs as a moan parted her lips. I’d left her with a longing kiss, immediately wanting more of her.

The human woman was wreaking havoc on my equilibrium. My cock was constantly hard, harder even than usual. I didn’t like being apart from her, which was why I’d interrupted her training with Jedrek yesterday.

And I definitely didn’t like her being alone with another male, not even my most trusted soldier, but today I’d forced myself to work.

Hours after I’d kissed Prairie goodbye, Jedrek joined me in my office moments after I’d agreed to another peace treaty with the Zolfarians to unify our alliance against the lizard people of Skeer.

Zane had sat in on the negotiations, for once taking politics seriously. As the prince of Zenithia and a high-ranking emissary, his duty was to nurture foreign relations. More often than not he just fucked the foreign relations. He always claimed double the dicks meant double the testosterone, which—as one of our race—was already high on the spectrum.

When Jedrek entered, Zane made his smooth departure, a dimple in his cheek. “Things to do and females to fuck.”

I leaned back in my chair, tossing a drink of ale down my throat.

“How’s she doing?” The she in question obviously Prairie.

“Your mate favors the mace.” Jedrek sat across from me, his military bearing stiff and formal until I offered him a glass of the good stuff.

I grunted in appreciation. “Makes sense. The weapon will give her a longer reach against Dylka.”

“Prairie’s scrappy.” He swirled the liquor before swallowing it slowly.

I grunted again, eyes cast down as I replenished my drink. “I know she’s scrappy. Maybe a little too scrappy.”

“What’s wrong?”

I slouched in my seat. “She said she wouldn’t fuck me.”

“Magnar and Dex claim to have heard otherwise.”

I snorted. “Fucking gossip mongers. She let me prepare her with my cock. I’ve eaten her out as often as I can . . . she’s a hell-cat. So hot. I want her around the clock, but so far that’s it except for a lap dance and a blowjob I can still feel in my loins.”

“If you’re horny why don’t you just avail yourself of Greeta?” Jedrek looked infinitely confused. “Gods, her mouth is capable of an interplanetary nut-bust.”

“I’d never disrespect my queen like that.”

I pretended not to notice Jedrek’s astonished look at my declaration.

“How did you broach the subject?” Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees.

“After the first feast I told Prairie now we fuck.”

He stared at me before groaning. “Have you tried romance?”

“Like foreplay?”

“Foreplay does not equal romance. Gods, I can’t even call you the king right now.”

“Fuck you, Jed.”

Then we both laughed heartily.

He sobered first, pulling the bottle toward him to refill his glass. “Has she told you about her upbringing?”

“A little. She tries to be hard on the outside, doesn’t she?” I frowned, stroking a finger around the rim of my glass. “In spite of our strange beginning—when I accosted her on the street—she agreed to come with me fairly easily.”

“I don’t think she has anyone else, X.”

My frown deepened as he filled me in on more of Prairie’s childhood or lack thereof. What she’d revealed to me paled in comparison to the truths she’d told Jedrek. That the night she’d run away from home she’d done so because one of her mother’s drug suppliers demanded payment from Prairie. Payment . . . in the form of sex. That she’d taken to the streets and stole in order to survive. That the day I’d met her, her landlord propositioned her—fucking for a continued roof over her head.

I felt sick to my stomach, angry in my soul, and unbidden jealousy that Jedrek had earned Prairie’s confidence more than me.

“Why doesn’t she tell me this?” I folded my hands on my desk.

“She doesn’t want you to pity her.”

“Pity her? I’m in love with her!”

“Perhaps she’s in love with you too.”

“Funny way of showing it.” I released a breath, slumping back in my chair.

“Why else do you think she’s fighting Dylka?”

“Oh.” Oooh. Could it really be that simple?

Jedrek stood and turned on his heels to leave before pivoting back around. “By the way, I’m going to fuck Dex.”

What? Surprise flummoxed me. “Does he know this?”

“He will when he has my cock shoved up his ass.”

“Well, that’s romantic.”