“This is the welcoming hall. It’s where the ruler meets dignitaries and has social gatherings. It’s a very important area. Your chambers are in here,” Minerva said, leading her down a short hall and walking through a wall opening. “If you stay you can have the rooms decorated however you wish. There’s a living area, a bedroom, and a separate room to eat.”
“You mean a dining room.”
“Right, a dining room. The ruler believes his wife should have her own private space, but if you’d prefer to live exclusively with him that’s fine too.”
“This lounge is bigger than my entire condo back on Earth, and it’s gorgeous.”
“If you accept the ruler, and he accepts you, it’s all yours, along with an assistant. Someone to help however she can.”
“Could that assistant be you?”
“Only with the ruler’s authority.”
“I can’t believe this is happening to me.”
“Believe it. Come into the bedroom and look at the gowns. You have to pick one, and I need to do your hair. I know how the ruler likes it.”
“Which is?”
“Lots of wild waves and curls.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“What do you think, Cosmo? Would you like to live here?”
“He’d like to live anywhere you do,” Minerva said softly. “Let’s get you ready.”
* * *
Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror, Abby let out a heavy breath. An exotic princess stared back at her. The golden gown draped loosely around her body, yet accentuated every sexy curve. Using implements and creams, Minerva had made her red hair gleam like polished copper, with both curls and waves tumbling haphazardly down to her shoulders. Artful but light makeup gave her skin the appearance of fine porcelain, and her blue eyes looked even bluer next to the black powder Minerva had skillfully dusted on her eyelashes.
“Are you ready?” Minerva asked, walking up behind her. “Zaroff just signaled me. It’s time.”
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“Abby, in spite of your insistence you’ll refuse the ruler, you’re nervous because you can sense how important this is.”
“You’re right,” Abby whispered, turning to face her. “Holy crap. Any advice?”
“Follow the path you feel is right, not what your head says.”
“I’ll try to get out of my own way. Kind of hard when thinking is what I’m best at. Um, what exactly am I supposed to do?”
“Just walk in. That’s it. Everything else will just happen.”
“Okay. I’m ready. You be a good boy, Cosmo. I’ll be back soon,” Abby said softly.
“I’ll take care of him, don’t worry,” Minerva said, picking him up. “Follow me,” she continued, walking from the bedroom back into the living area. “Go through that wooden panel.”
“That wasn’t there before.”
“Yes, it was. You just couldn’t see it. Good luck, Abby.”
“Thanks for everything, Minerva. Here goes nothing,” she said anxiously, then squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath, marched forward, and pushed through the door.
She hadn’t been sure what to expect, but she certainly wasn’t prepared for the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. Sitting in a magnificent chair in the middle of the opulent room, his long, thick, dark hair fell in dramatic waves around his shoulders, and his eyes were aquamarine, shining like glossy steel. His remarkably full lips were more red than pink, and though dressed in an elaborate garment, she could see his heavily muscled physique.
“May I present Abby Walker.”
Zaroff’s voice snapped her from her stupor. He was at her side, though she hadn’t seen or heard his approach. As she glanced at him, pride gleamed from his lavender eyes, and he nodded as if giving his approval.
“Please, come to me,” the long-haired Ratheon said warmly. “I’m delighted you’re here, Abby Walker.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, turning her gaze back to him. “Is that how I should address you?”
“For the moment.”
Zaroff stepped away, and as she started forward, the gorgeous Ratheon on the throne smiled a drop-dead stunning smile that made her think of a toothpaste commercial. The thought made her grin.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Abby,” he said, rising to his feet.
“It’s very nice to meet you too, sir.”
“Please, come and sit with me,” he offered, guiding her to a nearby couch. “I hear you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m sorry you had such a traumatic time,” he said as they sat down. “I’m greatly relieved you’re unharmed.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me, Abby. Does being the bride of a ruler appeal to you?”
“I don’t know what it entails, so I can’t say it appeals to me, and I can’t say it doesn’t, but regardless, if I was to marry a ruler, I would desire to marry the person who sits on the throne, not the throne itself.”
“Your honesty is refreshing, and your point articulate and well made. I suspect you could charm the most difficult visitor.”
“Do you have many of those?”
“Too many,” he replied with a sigh. “My goodness, you really are lovely. You’re not just beautiful, you’re real. You’re not attempting to deceive me in the least.”
“I don’t understand. Deceive you?”
“Behaving in a way you think would appeal to me in order to curry favor. It’s remarkable the number of times my tolerance has been tested.”
“Have many women been here hoping to win you over?”
“Only a few, but I often host visitors seeking my approval,” he replied, then pausing, he looked at her intently. “Abby, I must make myself clear. You are here to consider an offer, one I do not make lightly. Please think about it carefully before you answer.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied, her pulse ticking up.
“Will you agree to spend time with me? Enough time to allow a friendship to develop with the hope of something more? You know the type of relationship I expect. The training Zaroff began would continue with me, and of course,” he murmured, taking her hand, “the very real chance at a life of unparalleled adventure and luxury.”
As she dropped her eyes and stared at his fingers wrapped around hers, Minerva’s sage words echoed through her head.
Follow the path you feel is right, not what your head says...
Chapter Twenty-Four
Abby now understood why Zaroff and Minerva believed she might change her mind and accept the ruler’s proposal. She could easily imagine women flocking to him. Besides looking as if he could be a model for a top Italian designer, he had a genuine warmth and compelling charisma.
“I’m deeply complimented,” she began, lifting her gaze, “but if I accepted your offer I would be doing you a disservice. There’s someone else in my life, and as you hold my hand I wish it was his.”
“I assume you’re referring to Zaroff,” he said solemnly, releasing her fingers. “This isn’t surprising, but if I had greeted you on your arrival, spanked you bent over my knee, and given you pleasure you’d not even imagined as he did, would you not care for me?”
“That’s a fair question,” she said softly. “There’s an indefinable—something—that happens when a person falls in love, and that something has happened to me. I surrendered because of my heart. It was my body that followed, not the other way around.” Pausing, she sought out Zaroff and found him standing next to the throne. “Zaroff, from the start you made my pulse race, and now I feel so much for you I can’t put it into words. How can I describe something indescribable? Forgive me, sir,” she said, turning back to the ruler, “I have met you and I’ve seen everything you have to offer, but my only wish is your blessing to be with Zaroff—if he’ll have me. If that’s not possible I’ll return to Earth with a shattered heart. I’ve been told my memory will be era
sed, but it would be impossible to eradicate the pain I would feel if I was separated from him. Even so, that is my choice. Thank you for your offer, sir. I’m deeply honored, but I must decline.”
A heavy silence descended, and though it lasted only a moment, to Abby it was endless.
“Abby, you are exquisite,” the gorgeous Ratheon murmured. “Zaroff is very fortunate.”
“Sir, I’m sorry.”
“You must not apologize. You’re honest and brave. Two qualities of which you should be very proud. Excuse me.”
As he rose to his feet and strode briskly from the room, she sent her eyes back to Zaroff, willing her heart to stop its incessant pounding.
“Abby,” he murmured, moving across to her. “You have truly touched me.”
“Everything I said is true,” she said softly as he sat next to her. “Maybe you can only feel deep affection, but for me it’s love. Real love. The kind that takes you over and holds you in its grip whether you want it to or not, but Zaroff, what will happen now?” she asked, her voice tremulous with both fear and hope as she gazed into his mesmerizing lavender eyes.
“You just passed the last and most important test. You will become the wife of the ruler.”
“What? No! I refuse!” she exclaimed vehemently. “You can’t make me!”
“I won’t have to make you. You want to marry him. Abby, I am the ruler!”
“What the fuck?”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“You bastard!” she hissed, punching his steely chest.
“Or that.”
“You fucking bastard.”
“But not that. Stop the tantrum and listen.”
“No!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “I need to wrap my brain around all this.”
But as she marched across the room to leave, she could feel him following her.
“You have to leave me alone for a minute,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion as she spun around to face him. “I mean it, Zaroff.”
Without waiting for an answer, she hurried back into the room she’d come from. To her relief it was empty. She wasn’t in the mood for Minerva’s sage advice. Sinking into a chair, tears brimming and her throat hot, she closed her eyes. Zaroff was the man of her dreams, except he wasn’t a man. Being closely related to a human didn’t make him human. But in many ways he was better. He was stronger and smarter. And he was royalty. He may be referred to by a simple title, the ruler, but he reigned over the affairs of several planets... and he wanted her!
“Would I be crazy to walk away from this? Aren’t my wishes coming true? I wanted the ruler to give us his blessing, so why am I freaking out?”
The answer came to her in a flash.
There was no excuse for her to leave.
The moment of truth had come.
“I don’t want to leave. I want to be with him,” she muttered, opening her eyes. “That’s how I feel, and I’m not going to second-guess myself.”
Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked quickly across to the wooden panel. She needed to lean against his chest and feel his arms around her, but she had one very important question to ask him first.
Entering the room, she found him on the couch talking into his sleeve. His eyes darted up.
“Are you finished with, uh, what you were doing?” she asked, slowing her step as she approached.
“You have my complete attention,” he replied, though he didn’t get up.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Then come back here and sit next to me.”
His voice had been invitingly soft, and though her pride wanted her to stay standing, she pushed it away and settled on the couch beside him.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were the ruler before you said I had to marry him?”
“It was too tempting,” he said with a devilish grin.
“That was mean.”
“Perhaps, but I love to see your eyes blaze.”
“It was too important to keep from me,” she insisted. “You were wrong to do that.”
“No, Abby, I wasn’t wrong,” he said, suddenly solemn. “If I’d told you sooner, you wouldn’t have said the things you did. Perhaps the way I told you could have been handled better, but I was elated. Don’t you understand? I was...”
“What? You were what?”
“Was excited beyond measure. Abby, don’t you understand? I love you.”
“You love me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Zaroff, you love me,” she repeated, her voice suddenly soft. “You do? Holy crap! Kiss me. Kiss me right now. Please?”
“What happened to all that anger?”
“Mr. Ruler, when a woman lets go of her anger, it’s best not to remind her of it.”
“Ah, yes, that’s excellent advice,” he murmured, suddenly standing up and sweeping her off her feet and into his arms.
“Where are we going?”
“Where do you think!”
Walking swiftly through a wall opening and into his bedroom, he tossed her on the bed, climbed on top of her, and clutching her hair with both hands, he pressed his lips on hers. The demanding, devouring kiss left her breathless, and as he broke away and yanked off his clothes, she pulled urgently at her gown.
“No! I will undress you, then I will spank you,” he declared, then lowering his voice, he added, “After that I’ll make love to you, Abby. Not fuck you, make love to you.”
“Zaroff...”
“Are you ready?”
“For...?”
“This,” he growled, tearing at her gown, ripping the fine fabric when it refused to give. “You may not be mine officially, but make no mistake, you are mine, and underwear is not permitted,” he declared, tearing her bra in two and shredding her lacy panties. “You must be naked under your clothes. I will touch your bare pussy and fondle your luscious tits whenever I choose. Clear?”
“Yes, sir, yes,” she panted, overwhelmed by his fervent assault.
“Ah, so wet,” he muttered huskily, thrusting his fingers into her sex.
Quickly pinning her wrists on either side of her head, he rested his weight on her body and pushed her legs apart with his.
“My cock will find its own way in,” he whispered, his lips at her ear. “Do you feel it pushing inside you?”
“I do,” she gasped, clinging to his back. “It feels incredible.”
“My cock is seeking out the magic place deep inside you, but I have to kiss you. I have to kiss you and never stop kissing you.”
But she barely heard his ardent words. As his mouth glided over hers, though he didn’t raise his hips, his incredibly large member began propelling itself in and out of its sheath, throwing her into a vortex of spine-tingling sensations. Though she tried to move beneath him, Zaroff was resting his weight on top of her, pinning her down. Unable to shift her body even an inch, the overwhelming sense of being utterly possessed swept through her being. Nothing in her imaginings could compare to the thrill of his ultimate control. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, every nerve tingled, and heat surged through her entire being. Suddenly he clutched her hair, his tongue darted into her mouth stifling her muffled moans, and just when she thought his domination was complete, his cock pressed against her inner wall. Wave after wave of intense pleasure overwhelmed her as shooting sparks fired through her limbs. Almost at the crest of a huge orgasmic wave, she held her breath, waiting for the almighty explosion, but without warning his tongue withdrew, he broke their kiss, and his cock stopped its magical drive.
“No, no, please,” she panted desperately, trying in vain to squirm beneath his weight. “I can’t stand it. I need to come. Please...! I’ll lose my mind.”
“Hush,” he purred, planting tiny kisses across her face. “You will have your moment, but not yet. I’m going to enjoy your lovely tits, but you must keep your arms exactly where they are. When I’m done you’ll place yourself on your elbows and knees and ask me to span
k you. Calling me a fucking bastard is never permitted, my beautiful angel, but this time, after I punish you, I will cherish your body and help you forget about your sore bottom.”
Moving down her body, he hungrily sucked one breast while pinching and playing with the other. Never had he been filled with such a deep, carnal hunger. She writhed with every touch, and her soft utterances of pleasure sang in his head, spurring him on. Though he longed to thrust inside her hot, wet pussy, he lingered at her breasts, drawing out the pleasure. He nibbled and slapped, fondled and sucked, until she pleaded for his touch between her legs.
“Elbows and knees!” he whispered, returning his mouth to her ear. “First a punished backside, then I’ll make love to you.”
Whimpering with need she placed herself in position, then mewed gratefully as he kneeled behind her and sent his fingers into her sex.
“Sopping. What a good girl you can be, but you were very bad, weren’t you, Abby?”
“Yes, sir. Please, will you spank me?”
“What did you call me?”
“Oh, sir, a fucking bastard.”
His hand landed with a volley of stinging slaps, and every time she howled her protest, he increased the force.
“You don’t complain, you thank me,” he ordered without pausing his hard, stinging hand. “What did you call me?”
“A fucking bastard, sir. I’m so sorry.”
His flattened palm sprang to her sit spot, moving briskly from side to side, delivering three sharp smacks at a time.
“Thank you, sir, thank you for punishing me,” she cried. “Ow, ow, thank you, sir. I know it was a terrible thing to say, ow, and I’m sorry.”
“If I’m not a fucking bastard, what am I?” he asked, gripping her cheeks and pulling them apart. “Tell me, Abby.”
“You’re my wonderful ruler and master, sir. You’re my whole world, sir. Thank you for correcting me.”
“Do you deserve more?”
“If you think so, sir.”
“I do. My finger in your asshole as I spank, and you won’t object, will you, Abby?”
“No, sir, I willingly accept. My body is yours to do with as you wish, sir.”
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