Chapter Five – Lily

Eyrl blinked as he mopped her wine from his face. His brows were raised, his mouth slightly open, throat working as though he was trying to speak without moving his lips. It would have been funny if it weren't for what he had just said. She knew that one reason why she was brought there was to produce the next heir to the throne, but she hadn't expected it to be sprung upon her just like that!

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"You want me to get pregnant right away?"

Eyrl rose a brow. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Having a baby is something we need to talk about. Talk and think about. How are we going to raise them? Do you want nannies? How often will the baby get to see my parents? Not to mention discipline and sleeping arrangements. And are we going to just have sex and wait for it to happen or are you expecting me to track my cycle so that you can . . . I don't know, artificially inseminate me?"

The prince set his glass aside. "I see the prospect frightens you."

Lily sucked in a deep breath to calm herself. Having a freak-out wasn't going to help.

"No, I'm not frightened. I want kids. I always have. I love children and I can't wait to be a mother. But we hardly know each other. I want to know what is going to happen here." She chewed on her lip, uncertain how to proceed from here.

"Well . . . " Eyrl rubbed the back of his neck, a brief look of uncertainty crossing his face. "Well, that is something to consider. First, I think you should know why it is important. Every position in Stlozyn society is an earned position – except for the monarch. It is still hereditary, although we don't have much power to change laws or anything like that. We're an important symbol, though. My first child, no matter who it is with, will be my heir. Having a child with you would help cement you as my mate, though."

"Okay." Lily wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly as she considered what he was saying. "And would the baby need to come through sex?"

"No," Eyrl said slowly. "Do you not want to have sex?"

Heat rushed to her face. Even though she knew it shouldn't embarrass her, she couldn’t stop herself. "Um . . . it's not that. I just thought I'd have more time to adjust and get to know you. You have to admit this is happening really quickly."

And what if she decided to go back to Earth? She didn't say it out loud. Eyrl had been trying. Even if he didn't do everything the way she hoped he would, he was trying. She wasn't going to give him up easily, but what if it ended up that there were just too many differences between them? She couldn't live her life in a cold vacuum. She needed warmth, emotion, and passion.

He took her hand and stood. With a soft smile and glowing eyes, he started to pull her towards the bed. Her heart jumped to her throat. Right now? Right away? Her throat was suddenly very dry and her hand gripped the wineglass entirely too tightly.

"As for how the child is conceived, perhaps we could start this way? We can take a blood test to know where in your cycle are if we need to, but I have always felt there was a certain closeness that comes with sex . . . I've gotten to know people better amidst the abandonment of physical pleasure that I have in long talks with them."

He took her wine from her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"Uh . . . it's the opposite for me," she said breathlessly as his face drew nearer to hers. "But maybe that's back to the whole repressed emotions thing—"

His mouth pressed to hers. His lips were softer than she expected, his breath sweeter. He drew her in even closer and swept his tongue over her lips. She remained tense for a moment before letting herself relax against him.

His hands ran over her body, awakening a heat just under her skin. His touch seemed to sizzle, and when he kissed her again, she leaned into it, her eyes fluttering shut. He was good. Very good. Hesitantly she began to explore his body with her hands. When her fingers brushed a button she undid it. Then another. Then another.

Eyrl was much quicker. His hands flew over her, undoing zippers and buttons. The chill air brought goosebumps over her skin and he delved into her neck, making her gasp. Her hips jerked towards him unconsciously as he dropped her clothing to the floor, then made quick work of his.

"Wait." She pressed her hands to his chest. "Wait. No, I'm not ready."

The prince backed away a step. "Not ready?"

She covered her breasts with her arms, her cheeks heating. "I'm sorry. I just can't . . . I need more of a buildup than this."

"I will touch you, of course. I wasn't intending to—"

"I meant an emotional buildup." Lily inhaled and let out a shaky breath. "I need to get to know you better . . . I'm sorry."

"No. Don't be sorry. If that is what you need, then that is what I will give you."

He averted his eyes, making gratitude well in her. She wasn't sure what to say, though, and stood there awkwardly for a moment. Then Eyrl retrieved two sets of robes and handed her one before pulling the other one. Lily dressed before she took her prince's hand.

"I would like cuddling, though, if you're up to it," she said hesitantly. After she had just turned him down, would he want to be with her in any way?

To her relief, Eyrl nodded. He led her to the bed and laid down. Her body seemed to mold to his as she lay down with him. The knots in her shoulders loosened and she smiled softly. Eyrl's robe gaped slightly and she slid her hand into it, resting her palm above the beating of his heart.

They lay like that for some time, physically close but not speaking. Lily's eyes began to grow heavy and she considered what it would be like to have this all the time. To have someone with her every night, to have their warmth and connection. Would sex make it better? She had had boyfriends in the past, but it seemed to her like as soon as they had sex, the relationship was just about sex. There was no more talking and cuddling, just sweaty, sleepless nights.

"Why did you decide to come out here?"

She jumped slightly at Eyrl's question, realizing that she had been on the verge of drifting off. "What?"

"I chose a human because I wanted to change society. Why did you decide to have a Stlozyn mate? What brought you to the stars?"

Lily chewed on her lip for a moment. "Ballet."

"What's that?"

"It's a form of dance on Earth. I was a dancer. I loved it so much. Ballet was my life. But then I was hurt. I broke my ankle, so I can't dance the way I used to. I came out here hoping that it could be fixed. That I could dance again."

"Ballet," Eyrl repeated, as though the word tasted foreign on his tongue. "I will have a healer look at your ankle right away. Bones are difficult to shift into their proper place after they've set and healed . . . When did you break your ankle?"

Lily's gaze darkened as she remembered that fateful day. "Years ago."

"Years . . . That will make it more difficult." He lapsed into silence as he stroked her hair. "Tell me about ballet. What made you love it so much?"

She began to talk, describing in loving detail each move and how she felt as she danced over the stage. She relaxed even further as she spoke, listening to the sound of his breathing and feeling the steady beat of his heart. She could get used to this. She really could.