She had nodded, already deciding to stick to him like glue. But as they stepped out onto the Grand Terrace, she realized she hadn’t anticipated the sheer number of people present. There must have been more than a hundred people milling around on the expanse of marble overlooking the water. Flowering plants formed graceful arbors over small seating areas, while discreet servants passed through the crowd carrying trays of delicacies. Although most of those present were Mafanan, she was not the only alien present. Two leonine males were arguing in a corner while a red skinned male with the disturbing resemblance to a devil entertained a group of females hanging on his every word. There were a few other faces in the crowd that weren’t Mafanan, and she relaxed a little.
A’tai circulated easily, exchanging brief comments with many of those present although he was far more arrogant than he usually was when they were alone. He always introduced her as his mate, and no one ever questioned it, although she caught more than one speculative glance.
And then they ran into a large, rather stocky Mafanan male accompanied by a very pretty young female. The male glowered at A’tai.
“Lord F’tonu, what a pleasant surprise,” A’tai said smoothly. “May I introduce my mate, Lady Kate?”
Lord F’tonu’s mouth opened, but before he could speak, the girl stepped forward. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Lady Kate. I am E’lofi.”
The girl’s smile looked genuine enough, and Kate returned it. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Prince A’tai, I really must protest—” the male started.
“I do not believe this is the appropriate location for this conversation,” A’tai said coldly. He cast a quick, apologetic look at Kate. “If you would care to accompany me to my study…”
The male looked over at the girl and she gave him a sunny smile. “Don’t worry about me, Papa. Lady Kate and I will get better acquainted.”
A’tai didn’t look thrilled by her words, but Lord F’tonu was already storming off and he reluctantly followed him. The girl laughed.
“Males. Always puffing up their chests.” She gave a quick look around, then stepped closer to Kate. “You do realize we’re the center of attention, don’t you?”
She could feel the eyes practically burning into her. “Yes, but why?”
“Because your mate was supposed to bond with me.”
The ground rocked beneath Kate’s feet, and E’lofi quickly put her arm through Kate’s.
“I’m sorry. That was stupid of me. Why don’t we go find someplace to talk?”
Kate really didn’t want to go anywhere with the pretty Mafanan girl, but she wanted to get away from all the staring eyes. She managed a nod, and E’lofi somehow managed to move them quickly and gracefully through the crowd and into a small curtained nook with two chairs overlooking the water.
“There, that’s better.” E’lofi giggled. “I always try to find somewhere private at a party. You never know when it will be needed.”
Kate sank down on the nearest chair, her knees feeling oddly weak.
“You really didn’t know, did you?” E’lofi asked.
“No. He never said anything.”
“I’m not sure how much he knew.” The girl gave her a sympathetic look. “I think it was mainly between his mother and my father.”
Kate thought back over some of the things that A’tai had said, or rather had not said. “I think he knew.”
Jealousy roared through her as she looked at E’lofi. She was so young and pretty and graceful. A’tai wouldn’t need to breathe for her if they swam together, and she would be able to give him children. The last thought hurt the most.
“You had an arrangement?” she asked stiffly.
“No, no. Nothing that formal. My father and his mother were simply discussing the possibilities.”
“I’m… sorry.”
“I’m not!” E’lofi grinned. “I know I’ll have to mate with someone one day, but I’m in no hurry. And, no offense, I would never have chosen Prince A’tai.”
The ground rocked again. How could any female in her right mind not want A’tai?
“You didn’t want to marry—I mean, bond with him?” she asked, trying to conceal her shock.
“No. I mean he’s very handsome, of course, but he’s very… intense.”
She wasn’t wrong.
E’lofi’s face turned dreamy. “I would prefer a more casual mate, someone who will let me be me.”
“A’tai wouldn’t try and change you,” Kate said, then wondered why she was arguing.
“Not on purpose perhaps, but I’m not good at asserting myself. I would end up as little more than his shadow. I’m not like you.”
“I suspect I’ve had more practice asserting myself. Although it occurs to me that you’re doing a pretty good job of being independent right now.”
E’lofi giggled. “I usually manage to get what I want, but I don’t want to have to fight for it every time.”
No, Kate decided. A union between the two of them would not have gone well. She wondered if the other female realized that if A’tai had loved her, he would have been putty in her hands. Despite the girl’s sweetness, she suspected that she could be as manipulative as his mother.
“Then all’s well that ends well,” she said aloud. “How will your father react?”
“He’ll growl and carry on,” E’lofi said easily. “But he’ll get over it. He loves me.”
“I’m glad he won’t cause you any problems.”
E’lofi giggled again. “Actually, I think he’ll roar so much tonight that he’ll feel really guilty tomorrow. He’ll probably send me shopping just to ease his guilt.” She tilted her head. “Would you like to come? If you’re staying in the capital for a while, you’ll need more clothes.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes. It would cause quite a scandal if Prince A’tai’s wife wore the same outfit on more than one occasion.”
She was beginning to understand why A’tai preferred to avoid the city, but she wouldn’t mind a few more dresses and E’lofi was turning out to be surprisingly good company.
“Why not?” she said. “If your father sends you, I’ll be happy to accompany you.”
“He will,” E’lofi assured her. “Now we’d better return to the terrace, arm in arm like the good friends we’ve become.”
Kate laughed and took her arm. She could hardly wait to see U’rsul’s reaction.
They returned to the terrace to find that A’tai and Lord F’tonu had returned. A’tai was scanning the crowd anxiously searching for her. Both he and Lord F’tonu hurried over as soon as they spotted them.
“Is everything all right, my Kate?”
“Yes, I think so. But we need to talk later.”
He winced and nodded, just as a bell chimed.
“What does that mean?”
“Time for the banquet,” he said grimly. “I’m afraid we should stay.”
When they entered the vast dining room, Kate was assigned a seat far from A’tai’s—no doubt his mother’s doing. He looked outraged, and she could tell he was prepared to go to war, but she put her hand on his arm and shook her head.
“It’s fine. It’s just a dinner.”
“Are you sure? I will have the entire room rearranged if necessary.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
He scowled but escorted her to her seat, frowning suspiciously at the males on either side of her. Since even she could tell that both of them were clearly elderly, he relaxed a little, giving her a quick kiss before he went off to take his own seat. Somehow she was not surprised to see E’lofi seated at his side. The girl made some laughing comment, and he smiled reluctantly. The sight made her chest ache, and she resolutely refused to look in that direction again.
Despite the inauspicious beginning, the dinner turned out to be surprisingly pleasant. The male to her left was only interested in his food, but the male to her right turned out to be a scientist acquainted with Warden Pulata. He was
familiar with the issue with the algae, and delighted to hear the results of her experiments. The food didn’t suit her so she ignored it and spent the rest of the meal discussing some of the unique properties of the Mafanan oceans with him. They were still deep in discussion when a firm hand closed over her shoulder. She jumped, then looked up to see A’tai glaring at her companion.
“The meal is over, Enetisi. I have come to reclaim my mate.”
“Yes, yes, of course. We’ve had a most fascinating discussion. I have invited Lady Kate to come and visit my laboratory.”
“We were only in the city for a short visit. I’m not sure that she will have time.”
He had her out of her chair and halfway across the dining room before she could do more than wave a goodbye to Enetisi.
“Why are you being so rude?” she demanded.
“I did not like the way he was looking at you.”
“You have got to be kidding. We were simply discussing the biological composition of your oceans. And he’s an old man!”
“A male is never too old to appreciate a beautiful female.”
“The way you were appreciating E’lofi?”
The astonishment on his face did much to ease her lingering jealousy. “E’lofi? She’s a silly child.”
“A very pretty child. And actually, I don’t think she’s silly at all.”
“You know that you are the only female that I am interested in, amali.”
“So you aren’t going to mate with her?”
He stumbled, and she hid a smile.
“No, I wasn’t.” She waited expectantly, and he sighed. “But my mother had proposed such a match.”
“Would you have gone ahead with it?”
“I don’t know. I was not in favor of the idea—which is the main reason that I was headed to Ataian. Since that is how I discovered you, perhaps we should be grateful to my mother for suggesting it.”
She laughed. “I don’t think I’m prepared to go that far.” After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “But you would have done it, wouldn’t you? If I hadn’t come along?”
“I would love to be able to tell you no, but I truly don’t know. I do know that if I had, it would have been a business arrangement, nothing more.”
“She could give you children,” she said softly.
“But she is not you. I belong to you, Kate, remember?”
“And I belong to you.”
Music sounded from the ballroom, and she could see people beginning to move gracefully across the floor.
“Should we attend the ball?”
“I’m afraid so. But we do not need to stay long.”
“I don’t really know how to dance,” she whispered.
“Then it will be my pleasure to teach you.”
Chapter Twenty
A’tai fumed as he carried his mate back to their quarters. He should have known better than to return to Kapenta, or to have allowed his mother to dress Kate in such a provocative outfit. As soon as they had entered the ballroom, other males swarmed around her.
“You can put me down now,” Kate said from her position over his shoulder.
“No.”
“You’re overreacting. One little dance—”
“It was two dances, and I saw the way he was looking at you,” he growled.
He had been forced to dance with Lady P’tris— who was old enough to be his grandmother—only to return and find Kate twirling merrily around the dance floor in the arms of a Kaisarian prince. When he had tried to reclaim her, he had been waylaid by people wanting to offer their congratulations.
“He was telling me that the new Emperor’s mate is human. Is that true?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” His hand clamped down even tighter on her delightfully round ass and felt her wiggle against him.
But he had every intention of finding out. If it was true, how many males would decide that having a human mate might ingratiate them with the new Emperor? Would they come looking for his female? He would never let his mate go, not even to the Emperor himself.
His instincts demanded that he assert his claim on his female, but they were still in a public area. He refused to let anyone see more of her luscious body than had already been revealed by the incredibly sensual dress. Although it did have one advantage… He adjusted his grip, letting his hand slide into the opening high on her hip so he could touch her soft skin directly.
He heard her breath catch as he touched her damp, silky curls.
“A’tai, you’re acting like a caveman,” she protested, but she pressed into his hand.
“There are no caves in Kapenta.” He slammed through the doors to his quarters and raced up the stairs.
“It means you’re acting like a primitive male,” she gasped as he threw her down on their bed.
“I feel like a primitive male,” he growled as he loomed over her.
The dark green gown was an erotic contrast to her pale skin, as dark as his moa when he entered her, and her skin shimmered with golden powder as if reflecting her arousal. Her nipples thrust against the silky fabric, so close to the deep neckline that a single movement would reveal them to his hungry gaze. He pushed the fabric aside, his mouth watering as the tight buds were revealed, already swollen and waiting.
He could not resist, leaning down to pull a rosy nub into his mouth. She arched into his touch, and his limbs stirred, anxious to restrain her, but he wanted her free to prove that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He curled his tongue around that taut peak and tugged, and she buried her hands in the thick strands of his hair, pulling him closer.
“You are mine, amali,” he growled against the damp flesh and felt her shiver.
“Yes.”
He kissed his way down her soft stomach, then waited for her to spread her thighs. Her legs quivered, and then she slowly parted them, revealing her flushed folds, already glistening with arousal. He ran his tongue through the sweetness, then concentrated on her pleasure bud as she shook beneath him. One of his limbs slid into her channel and her body arched so violently he was almost dislodged, but still he did not restrain her into the mating position.
He looked up at her as more of his limbs curled around her swollen nipples.
“Are you going to fight me, Kate?”
Her eyes were dazed with pleasure, and he saw her struggle to focus on his words. “What?”
“Are you going to fight me?” His limb slipped free, seeking her tight bottom hole.
“Why would—oh my God.”
More arousal coated his tongue as his tip entered the tiny channel. His moa was so engorged that the mere brush of the sheets was agonizing.
“Are you going to fight me?” he asked a third time.
“No. Why do you keep asking?” His question finally penetrated and she frowned up at him.
“Because I want to know that you will give yourself to me. Completely. Willingly. Without restraints.”
He saw the understanding on her face.
“Completely. Willingly. Without restraints,” she repeated. “I love you, A’tai.”
He surged inside her, her incredibly tight cunt made even tighter by his limb filling her bottom hole. But she was the one holding on to him. She was the one pulling him closer. She was the one locking him against her body as his climax roared over him and hers echoed it in an endless wave of pleasure.
His jealousy was forgotten as he pressed soft kisses to every part of her body he could reach.
Her eyes were still closed, but her lips curved as she spoke.
“Okay. You can be a caveman whenever you want.”
The next morning, A’tai returned to his quarters feeling tired and grouchy. Last night had been immensely pleasurable, and he had wanted to spend the morning in bed with his mate. Instead he’d been forced to leave her in order to attend a tedious breakfast meeting, followed by a meeting with the other Houses concerning the algae issue—which had not gone well, but at least it was done. If they chose
not to listen, it was no longer his problem. Perhaps he could still join Kate in bed…
No, he decided after glancing at the Sisters. She would be up by now. Of course, that didn’t mean he couldn’t persuade her back into it. Possibly even repeat the exquisite experience of the previous evening…
When he couldn’t find her in his study or the living room or the small dining area, he decided she must still be in bed. It had been a late night after all. His moa throbbed in anticipation as he slipped through the bedroom door. But the curtains were open, an untouched morning meal on the table by the window, and the bed empty. His mate had disappeared.
“Uauna!” he roared.
The shopping expedition was turning out to be surprisingly enjoyable, Kate decided. A message had arrived from E’lofi not long after A’tai had left. Uauna had delivered the message and sent a very young, wide-eyed maid to help her dress. He had also helpfully provided her with a small coin purse.
“I wasn’t really going to buy anything,” she said, trying to refuse. “Although I do have some kind of funds…”
At A’tai’s insistence she had accepted the account he had offered her, as well as the deed to the farmhouse, but she had no idea how to access it.
Uauna waved a dismissive hand. “Any major purchases will of course be charged to House Maulimu. This is simply for any small purchases you should wish to make.”
“But…”
“You do not wish to disgrace the House,” he said firmly, and she sighed and took the purse.
She found E’lofi waiting for her in the forecourt of the palace, accompanied by two very large, imposing males.
“My bodyguards,” the girl explained. “It’s quite unnecessary but Papa insists, right, Leatino?”
“Yes, miss.”
“I thought we would start with clothing,” E’lofi continued, scanning Kate’s outfit.
“Am I dressed inappropriately?”
“You look very nice,” the other female said quickly, and Kate decided that meant yes.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“That shade was more popular last season, and hemlines have changed. But it’s quite acceptable,” E’lofi added hastily.
Kate and the Kraken: A SciFi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 11) Page 13