“No,” she whispered, gasping for a deep breath as she tried to stop crying. Falke stiffened, as she continued, “No, it’s not that I didn’t want it. I didn’t want you trapped to me. It’s obvious how you feel about your family. I didn’t want you to think I was another one of your duties. I wanted you to ask me to let you stay with me on my ship. I do want you to come with me, but I’ll never ask it. This place, your family...I’ve never had that. All I have is that band of misfits and so help me I love them. But, your place is here. Your heart is here. I could never ask you to leave it, and I know I can never stay.”
Sam took a deep breath and bit her lip.
“Anything else?”
“I’m sorry for having you locked in that cage at the Torganian Market for the Scavenger Hunt” “Is that what you mean?” Sam questioned. “I am sorry.”
“Anything else?” he insisted, taking a step closer. His dark eyes narrowed.
“I’m sorry for darting you and locking you in the cage, and later the manacles.” Sam’s heart quickened.
“And?”
“I think I’ve apologized for everything,” she whispered. “Kidnapping you, my father, not telling you about the baby, the Scavenger Hunt, what else is there?”
“And?”
“Well, what about you? Aren’t you sorry you kidnapped me, threw me in prison, made me lose the Scavenger Hunt and the Bound Virgin, and cuffed me?” Sam demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
Falke tilted his head to the side as if considering. “No.”
“Ah!”
Falke grabbed her before she could pull away. He held her before him. “I kidnapped you and imprisoned you to keep you with me for the sake of our child. How can I apologize for that? As for the cuffs, mm, no way I’m apologizing. It was too enjoyable. I do apologize that you didn’t take pleasure in it.”
“Not take pleasure in it?” Sam exclaimed, blushing profusely at the heated memory. Her body stirred. “I enjoyed it so much it put me in a coma for two days. My father was right when he said you’d drain my energies, he just had the method wrong. Since I’m half Ticara and need rest to heal and replenish those energies, and the baby is technically a quarter Roane, who feed off energy, it stands to reason that I’m going to need a lot of sleep.”
Falke let a smile curl the side of his mouth. He clearly hadn’t thought of it like that. His tone dipped and became impossibly male. “So you enjoyed the cuffs?”
Sam punched his arm. “What about my ship and my prize money? Where’s the apology?”
“Your ship,” he said, pulling her closer, letting his body settle to hers, “is currently orbiting this planet with one of Jarek’s men, Lochlann. The prize money is with Rick. Jarek radioed back, discovered we’d won and had the credits transferred to Rick’s account. Mainly because Rick was there, helping to fly the ship at the time.”
“What do you mean we won?” She shot him a sassy grin. “Are you looking for a cut?”
“Sacred cats, yes! I’m the one who took the prize, I deserve my piece of the action,” Falke said.
“You aren’t going to get it,” Sam teased.
“Want to bet on that?” With each of their words, he was pulling her closer to his chest.
“What’s the wager?” she asked.
“If I get my cut from the men, you have to stay here with me. Forever,” he whispered. “If I don’t, then you’re free to leave.”
“Deal,” she said. “I won.”
“I didn’t even get a chance!” Falke frowned.
“Jarek gave the money to Rick. I’ll bet you anything, he’s already spent it all reserving the Galaxy Playmates’ mansion for a month. The man has no willpower. That’s why we never give him the money.”
Falke’s frown deepened. He pulled away. “So you are leaving?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Why? I can’t force you to stay,” he said. “I keep my word.”
“I know,” she answered. “But you just asked me to stay with you, and you always keep your word so you can’t take it back. You made the offer. I’m taking it. I’m sorry we’ll probably have to leave the palace, but that city didn’t look too bad.”
“What do you mean leave the palace?”
“Well, you’re a prince and princes have to marry a princess. That’s the way it works. I’m not really a princess, just an almost-princess.”
Falke threw back his head and laughed. Sam was stunned to hear the joyful sound. He swept forward and lifted her to his mouth. Her arms worked around his neck, and her legs wrapped his waist. “You are a princess.”
“No, my father...the coronation,” she said, trying to make him understand.
“You’re a Var princess, my princess. I mated to you the first moment you kissed me. There will never be another for me. I had no choice in the matter. It was fate. Tell me, when you say you bound to me, what did yo—”
Falke’s words were cut off by her kisses. She sprinkled his face with them, stopping to look into his eyes.
“Sam—?” he tried to say, and she only kissed him harder, pressing her mouth to his.
“Some things you can’t see with your eyes, Falke. Some things you have to see with your heart. It’s a good thing because I’ve been so blind. Thankfully, my heart wasn’t. I love you,” she whispered. “I made you my husband that night I bound to you, but my heart’s loved you since that first moment I saw you.”
“You were drunk the first moment you saw me and I was a cat,” he teased. Sam smiled. “We are some stubborn fools. If only one of us would’ve said something sooner.”
Sam chuckled, pressing her forehead to his. “And miss out on the adventure? We wouldn’t have any stories to tell our children and grandchildren. Though, I might have to leave out a few details.”
“I like the sound of that.” Falke kissed her, as he walked toward the doors holding her up in his arms, her legs still wrapped around his waist. “What do you say we go make sure this baby is really, really healthy?”
Sam blushed. “I lied so you’d have to stay with me. We only need to have sex once every two weeks for the baby to survive. The rest was just a bonus.”
“I’m pretending I didn’t hear that,” he growled and kissed her lovingly. “Besides, I’m pretty sure it’s been two weeks since—”
“No,” Sam pulled back. “Don’t you remember last night?”
Falke growled again. His eyes widened, as he enunciated, “It has been two weeks.”
Sam finally got his meaning and nodded. “You’d better hurry then.”
“Mm,” he nodded, kicking open the door.
Ulyssa stood there, hands on hips. “Oh, no, you—”
“Kirill, kiss your wife and shut her up already,” Falke roared, sounding every inch the commander. “I’m going to have sex with mine. Send food if we don’t come out in the next three days.”
Sam giggled, her limbs pulling tightly around him as he carried her down the hall. Over his shoulder, he saw Kirill kissing his wife passionately. Ulyssa wasn’t protesting.
“Will they mind that I wasn’t technically a royal before we met?” she asked softly.
“Who?”
“Tori and Ulyssa.”
“You’re more royal than they are. Tori worked for the Exploratory Science Commission as a scientist and Ulyssa was an undercover agent for the Human Intelligence Agency.” Falke gave a small laugh. “You are a princess now. No one cares what title you cared before coming here.”
Sam grinned. She kissed his neck. Falke walked faster. Arriving at their home, he kicked open the door.
“I love you,” she whispered against his mouth.
“I love you, too, wife,” Falke said. No more words were spoken as he carted her off to bed, intending to forever make her his prisoner.
36
Epilogue
“I don’t want to wake up,” Sam groaned, grabbing onto her pillow as Falke tried to pull her feet out of bed. She was naked but didn’t care that he looked at he
r. When he let go, she crawled back on and collapsed. “It’s your son’s fault. He’s making me tired.”
“You’ve been in bed all morning. It is noon and time to get up,” Falke scolded.
Sam peeked at him through her lashes. He still never grinned, but it didn’t matter. She knew he was smiling at her. His expressions were there. They were just more subtle than most.
Hearing a noise outside the room, Sam sat up. “Who’s here?”
“Everyone,” Falke answered. He crossed his arms over his chest, his brow rising in amusement.
“Everyone!” she shrieked. “But, I’m a mess. I’m not even dressed yet. How could you invite everyone when—?”
“If you had risen an hour ago when I first tried to drag you out of bed, you’d have had time for your female p—” Falke laughed as she interrupted him.
“I do not primp! Quit saying I primp!” Sam growled hotly, careful not to be overheard by their guests outside the door. She tore into the closet and frantically looked for something to wear. Without the vanity she’d had on the Bound Virgin, she needed to do her own hair and makeup. It was a real pain. Slipping on a comfortable blue dress with cross laces down the arms, she came out.
“I got you something,” Falke said, picking up a portable styler from behind the bed. “I had Viktor program all your things in it from the ship.”
“Oh, a hair styler!” Sam beamed with instant pleasure, perking up. She pressed the controls and found the short choppy look with the purple streak. Her hair had been growing so fast, she finally had to cut all the purple out. She placed it over her head, and a few seconds later she was set to go. “What’s everyone doing here anyway?”
“Ah, that’s the best surprise,” Falke said. His eyes lit, and Sam watched him curiously. He was actually giddy with excitement. “Come on!”
“Wait,” Sam said, tracing the blue marking on his arm. “Where’s my kiss?”
Falke leaned down and pecked her lips. “Come on.”
“Wait,” she pouted. “Baby wants a kiss, too.”
Falke grinned, leaned over and kissed the small swell of her stomach, nuzzling it with his face. Smacking his lips soundly on her belly, he pulled back and shot to his feet. “There, now come on. I told everyone they had to wait for you.”
In their living room, Sam realized that when Falke said everyone, he did mean everyone. Rick and Reid, who’d become nearly inseparable with their shared quest of the female species, talked near the front door. Ulyssa sat on her husband’s lap on the couch. Tori was in the chair, and Quinn rested on the arm next to her. Jarek, Evan, Dev, Lucien, and Viktor stood before a large viewing screen set up against the wall, looking incredibly pleased with themselves. The screen was bigger than the fireplace.
Sam smiled as everyone teased her for oversleeping. Rubbing her belly, she asked, “What’s the screen for?”
“Action,” Falke said, his eyes again lighting up with excitement.
“Action?” Sam began, only to chuckle. “You got a screen that big for film?”
Falke nodded as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “Bigger is better.”
Sam looked him over. “You’ve got that right.”
Falke cleared his throat as everyone began to laugh.
“Let’s get this party started,” Rick said. “Fire her up!”
“No one is setting fire to my screen,” Falke warned. Rick laughed.
Jarek held a hand controller and pointed it at the screen. “All right, I have you all set up. I’ve rigged the palace mainframe speakers in here with the latest surround sound...”
Jarek kept talking, but only the men seemed to be listening because they were all nodding their heads. Sam rolled her eyes at Ulyssa and Tori. The women giggled.
“…just watch,” Jarek finished.
They all turned to the screen. Jarek pushed a button. Instantly, an old horror movie came on with an alien popping out of a chest. The sound boomed around them. Kirill and Quinn jumped to their feet. Reid came forward. All three instantly braced for battle.
The rest of the group laughed at them. Jarek paused the screen and after a brief explanation to his brothers, the movie was turned back on, lower in volume due to female protests about the overly loud noise.
“Hey, you ladies look like you could be carrying one of those things,” Reid teased. “Are you guys sure there are really babies in there?”
“Reid,” Quinn warned. Laughter rang in the house.
“What else do you have?” Tori asked, holding her stomach protectively.
Lucien picked up a box of chips and began reading the titles, “Ah, Bound Woman, Bound in Chains, Bound—”
“Ah,” Rick announced loudly, rushing forward to steal the box from Lucien. Through his gritted teeth, he hissed, “Those are for Falke...you know.”
“Aw, Rick,” Sam shook her head.
“What? You might like them, too,” he defended, grinning wickedly. “I got them from the Bound Virgin database.”
Falke looked at his wife.
“What?” she said. “They were already on there when we got the ship. I had nothing to do with it.”
Rick laughed. Sam grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it at him.
“I told you to erase them,” Sam growled.
Rick shrugged. “Must have forgotten.”
“Um, yeah,” Viktor said, taking the box from Rick. “We’ll just take these with us when we go. Jarek’s computer’s going to need to be brought up to speed.”
Sam’s smile faded slightly. The guys were going on without her. They would be flying off with Jarek to a new adventure.
“Hey, none of that,” Evan said at her side. “We’ll be back.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“We’re going to be a big part of that baby’s life,” he asserted. “The minute she’s born we’ll be back.”
“He,” Falke stated. “Var only have boys.”
“Whatever you say.” Evan winked at Sam. He handed a piece of paper to Falke. “This is what you asked for.”
“I’m going to have to teach him how to fly,” Rick asserted. “I know you’re keeping the Bound Virgin for little trips through space, but I don’t want baby Rick learning to fly from his mother.”
“I fly just fine.” Sam laughed. “And the baby is not going to be named after his perverted uncle.”
“I’m not perverted,” Rick denied.
“Uh, yes you are,” Viktor said. “You spent all our prize money to rent the Galaxy Playmate mansion, remember?”
“I gave Sam the red pearls,” Rick defended. “And I thought you’d want me to spend your cuts wisely.”
Jarek found another movie and Sam turned to ask Falke, “What did Evan give you?”
“Instructions on what to do if you ever become sick,” Falke said. “I figured it was something a husband should know.”
Sam grinned, touched deeply at the thought. She leaned up and kissed him. Everything was perfect.
Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded on the screen. Sam jumped in fright. Falke pulled back.
“I love you,” Falke rushed, kissing her nose. He sat on the couch before the screen. Kirill pushed his wife out of his lap and Quinn squished Tori out of the chair. The women stepped back as the men migrated forward, completely silent as they stared at the screen, mesmerized.
“Huh,” Ulyssa said.
“I never,” Tori sighed, shaking her head.
“Ah, but you gotta love them,” Sam laughed. She hooked her arms through her two sisters’ arms and pulled them toward the kitchen. “Come with me, ladies. I got the chocolate.”
Sam’s eyes met Falke’s as she moved away. He nodded, mouthing, “I love you.”
She smiled, blowing him a soft kiss, mouthing, “I love you, too.”
The End
* * *
The Series Continues with
The Rogue Prince
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The Rogue Prince
The series continues with…
The Rogue Prince
(Lords of the Var® 4)
by Michelle M. Pillow
Cat-shifter Prince Reid is always looking for a good time, and no woman is safe when he turns on the charm. When the opportunity arises to go on an ambassador’s trip, he jumps at the chance–especially when that trip includes exotic destinations and available women. What more could a rogue prince want? But he never thought he'd find a woman who could bring him to his knees with just one look. He will do anything to protect her and make her his...forever.
Jasmine St. Claire appears to have it all, but looks can be deceiving. Escaping her gilded cage by joining a foreign transport, she didn’t plan on leaving one man’s rule for another. Yet it would seem the charming Var prince has decided he wants to claim her for his very own.
The Rogue Prince
CLICK HERE to read the book!
Chapter One Excerpt
Prince Reid, Var Commander of the Outlands, grinned before even opening his eyes. Oh, yeah. Life in space was good—really good. Bless his twin brother, Jarek, for knowing all the right places to stop. And bless their pilot, Rick, for having the foresight to book the Galaxy Playmates’ mansion in advance.
He was in one of the playmate’s bedrooms. The whole place was decked with pink silk and gauze. It was soft and feminine, just like his company on the bed. Grinning, Reid ran his left hand beneath the covers to touch the woman at his side. His fingers skimmed her naked breast causing her to sigh in her sleep. She was brunette and gorgeous, with a dancer’s body, if not a little genetically altered. Then, turning to his other side, he suppressed a groan to see the blonde. She was smaller, petite, and just as beautiful as her friend. She’d taken more convincing to join the party, but if anything, Reid knew how to charm the women. Besides, being Var made it easy to sense a woman’s longing, and she’d been more than willing. Feeling a stir by his leg, he sat up. He didn’t need to look under the covers to know a fiery redhead curled between his knees fast asleep.
The Bound Prince Page 20