“Do you think it’s a concern?” I asked with a frown.
“No, but I’d like to have an ironclad peace agreement in place before I take you somewhere truly remote. This will do for now.”
Honestly, I didn’t care where we went, I was just happy that I would get to spend a week with Valentin. “Works for me.”
I confirmed the jump and Ardia slid through space with barely a shiver. Achentsev Prime appeared on screen, but rather than heading for Koan, we headed for the other side of the planet. Ardia dropped through the atmosphere toward what at first glance appeared to be open ocean covered in wispy clouds.
As we got closer, an island surrounded by sparkling blue-green seas came into view. Valentin communicated with ground control and the roof of a camouflaged hangar slid open. A minute later, Ardia settled into the hangar with a gentle thump. A pair of small, suborbital ships used to move around on-planet were already inside.
I turned to Valentin. “Do you own an island?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Kind of. It belongs to the emperor.”
“Is anyone else here?”
“I dismissed the house staff for the week, but a security detail will remain. They have their own quarters.” He stood and helped me up. He kept me close as he murmured, “And we’re almost two thousand kilometers from anyone else. Is that remote enough for you, my queen?”
I pretended to think about it. “I suppose it will do.”
Valentin smiled and led me out of the ship. Our shadows fell in behind us. I hoped they figured out their shifts soon because I felt ridiculous with four people following us around. Hell, I felt ridiculous with just one person, but at least I’d had a little while to get used to it.
The plain hangar door did not prepare me for the tropical paradise waiting on the other side. Tall palm trees, white sand, and water as blue as the sky made quite the impression. A path led deeper into the vegetation, but I couldn’t see the house from here.
All I could hear was birdsong and the crash of waves. Something tight inside me began to unclench.
“Welcome to Nova Island,” Valentin said softly.
Everywhere I looked, some new delight waited. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to a beach. “It’s beautiful.”
Valentin linked his fingers through mine. “Wait until you see the rest.”
The house was far more understated than I’d expected after seeing the palace. Long and low, it was built into the side of a natural rise and had incredible views of the ocean from three sides. The kitchen, dining room, and living room were all one space that stretched across the front of the house, and an expansive wall of glass made it feel like you could reach out and touch the sand and sky.
Despite some grumbles, we managed to persuade our guards to stay in bedrooms on the other side of the house, so Valentin and I were surrounded by nothing but quiet as we unpacked the few clothes we’d brought. Our bedroom was furnished with simple wooden furniture and painted a gentle blue that mimicked the sea.
“Do you like it?” Valentin asked, pulling me into his arms.
“I love it. It’s perfect.” I kissed him, then leaned back and raised a finger as Imogen linked me.
Marian and Charles are taking the first shift, she said. But Luka and I will be nearby if you need anything.
I agreed to bring more people specifically so you and Luka could spend some time together off the clock. Enjoy yourself.
I’m planning to. Luka is going to cook me dinner. But we’ll still be nearby if you need us. She ended the link before I could argue, proving she knew me well.
I lowered my finger and tapped it against Valentin’s chest. “Marian and Charles are taking the first shift,” I told him. “And I don’t know if Imogen and Luka can stop working long enough to enjoy themselves even with the extra help, but at least he’s cooking her dinner.”
“Give them a few days. The lure of the sea will work on them eventually. Speaking of… care for a swim?”
“You just want to see me in a swimsuit,” I teased.
He pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Guilty as charged,” he murmured.
I slid open the top button of his shirt. We’d left CP57 directly after a day of meetings, so while he’d lost his jacket and tie, he was still deliciously buttoned up—and I wanted nothing more than to muss his perfection.
Desire blazed as I walked my fingers down to the next button and glanced up at him from under my lashes. “Swimming does sound nice,” I agreed slowly. “But what if I had a different plan for this…” I trailed off when I realized I had no idea what the local time was, but the sun was high in the sky.
“This afternoon, I suppose,” I finished with a laugh. “So much for my sexy seduction. My body has no idea what time it is.” We’d left the station around six, which was midnight in Arx. But it was barely noon here. It would take a while to adjust.
Valentin captured my hand. “Tell me more about this seduction,” he demanded with a wicked grin.
“Well, I intend to rumple you. Thoroughly.” I slid the button free with his hand still on mine. “And if you’re very good, I might even let you see me naked.”
He made a low sound deep in his chest and dipped his head. His lips covered mine with intent focus and proved that I wasn’t the only one who could be thorough. I licked his lip and he opened with a groan.
I would never tire of kissing this man.
I buried my fingers in the soft hair at the back of his head as his tongue slid against mine. The world disappeared until it was just him and me and heat and desire. At some point his hand found its way under my shirt and he stroked his thumb over my nipple. I moaned and arched into the touch.
It took me longer than it should’ve to remember that I was supposed to be seducing him.
I pulled back enough to work the buttons of his shirt free. He wasn’t wearing an undershirt, so each new button revealed a hint of golden tan skin stretched tight over solid muscle. Once his shirt was unbuttoned, he moved to shrug it off, but I stopped him. “Leave it.”
I pressed a kiss to his chest and stroked my hand lower, cupping him through his pants. He was hot and hard in my hand. He rocked into my grip, and I held onto my control by a thread. Desire pulsed through my veins and my muscles clenched in expectation of the pleasure to come.
When I pushed him back toward the bed without removing any more clothes, his eyebrows rose, but he did as I asked. His shirt had parted, revealing a flat chest and defined abs, but he still wore his pants and even his shoes. Having him sprawled out for my pleasure was the stuff of dreams, but he wasn’t rumpled enough. Not yet.
I crawled onto the bed and popped the button free on his waistband, then carefully lowered the zipper. I pushed his pants and underwear down just enough to free his length.
He watched me with predatory focus, his hands clenched in the bedding. When I did nothing but look at him, he groaned and lifted his hips. “Touch me,” he demanded, voice rough.
“Oh, I will. I’m just admiring my work first.” Then I took pity on him.
I licked up the underside of his length before pulling him deep into my mouth. He bit out a filthy curse as I applied myself to the task with enthusiasm. Every twitch and groan drove my desire higher, and I wanted nothing more than to shove him over the cliff half-dressed and crazed with lust.
He buried his hands in my hair, seemingly unable to help himself as he alternatively cursed and praised me. He tried to get me to stop—as if that was going to happen—and when I hummed my disagreement against his flesh, that’s all it took. His back arched and he lost himself in pleasure.
It was the hottest thing I’d ever seen and my muscles clenched, so close.
I watched his awareness return through the haze of pleasure. His gaze pinned me in place. “Strip, now, unless you don’t like those clothes,” he demanded.
I quickly shed my clothes and by the time I was done, Valentin had lost the last of his clothes, too. “My turn,” he said with
a wicked grin.
He smacked my ass when I crawled onto the bed and I shivered. His thoughtful look promised all sorts of fun for later, but for now, he spread me out like dessert and licked every part of me starting from my neck. By the time he made it to where I pulsed and throbbed, I was a mass of raw nerves.
“Valentin,” I demanded.
His smile was full of love and heat as his slowly, so slowly, lowered his face. I lifted my hips, offering myself. He reached his destination and thrust two fingers deep just as his clever tongue landed exactly where I needed it.
Pleasure exploded into a thousand sparkling stars.
I had barely caught my breath when he was there, hot and hard. At my nod, he sank home and we both cursed and groaned. I didn’t know if someone could die from pleasure alone, but Valentin seemed determined to test the theory and I was an extremely willing subject.
He sat back, holding my hips and driving into me with long, leisurely thrusts. When I reached between us to touch myself, his hands clenched and he jerked sharply, his rhythm faltering.
A glance at his face revealed he’d closed his eyes.
“Is this okay?” I asked, concerned.
“Fuck, yes,” he groaned. “More than okay. Just give me a second or I’m going to…”
I smiled as I realized what the problem was. I was already close. “If I keep doing this, you won’t be the only one who’s ‘going to’,” I murmured. “Maybe we should help each other out.”
His eyes met mine and blazed as bright as the sun. “Yes,” he demanded. “Now.”
The words, the touch, and the sharp thrust of his hips was enough. I detonated and took him with me. We fell into bliss together.
We did, eventually, make it to the beach. The water was warm and clear, full of colorful little fish. Valentin and I splashed and swam while Marian and Charles stayed on shore, protected from the sun by an open-sided cabana.
When we got tired of swimming, we napped in a hammock under the trees while the ocean breeze kept the heat tolerable.
Later, Valentin cooked me dinner while I kept him company. Then he kept me company while I cleaned the kitchen.
I could not have asked for a more perfect day.
Now we sat snuggled together on an outdoor loveseat, watching the ocean swallow the sun. “I wish we could stay here forever,” I breathed.
“Someday we’ll be able to,” Valentin said. “Until then, we’ll just have to hide away every now and then.”
I smiled. “While I appreciate the thought, I don’t think your advisors are going to be happy to commute to an island in the middle of nowhere.”
Valentin remained quiet for a long beat. “I’m thinking about implementing an elected parliament,” he said at last. “If I give more power to the people, they’ll only need me for special occasions.”
I turned to him in stunned disbelief. “Can you do that?”
His grin was quick and sly. “I don’t see why not. I am the emperor, after all. What use is all this power if I can’t shake things up?”
“It’s a good thing you have me,” I murmured, “because your advisors really are going to kill you.” I patted his leg. “I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
“Will you still love me if I’m an emperor in name only?” he asked. His tone was light, but the question was serious.
“Will I still love you if I get even more of your time for myself?” I tapped a finger on my chin, as if I really had to give it some thought. “I suppose I can make that work.” I paused, then met his eyes. “To be clear, I love you, not your title. And I think an elected parliament is an excellent idea.”
“It will take time,” he warned. “We’ll still have to jump back and forth between Arx and Koan.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “My people understand that I plan to split my time. I’m going to hire more advisors to help run things while I’m away. And once the peace treaty happens, I believe that many people will return to their old homes in Quint and Kos. Not everyone, so I’ll still need to look out for those who remain, but it will be more manageable. Hell, maybe I’ll implement a parliament of my own.”
“Whatever happens, we’ll face the future together,” he murmured.
“Together,” I agreed.
We sealed the promise with a kiss just as the sun slipped below the horizon. I didn’t know exactly what the future would bring, but Valentin and I would find out together.
Epilogue
Seven months after the first meeting between Chairwoman Soteras and Emperor Kos, the universe’s two superpowers met one final time on CP57 to sign a binding peace treaty amid a great deal of pomp and circumstance.
Behind the scenes, both sides had worked feverishly to get everything ready. And for the past seven months, the tentative peace had held, despite a few close calls. The Rogue Coalition benefited from the new stability as well, and my people were once again in demand for mercenary work and shipping items between territories—legally, this time.
Mostly.
I watched from the group of Valentin’s advisors as he and Daniella Soteras exchanged documents to sign. Luka stood behind and to the left of Valentin, and Charles was hidden nearby, out of the photos, but close enough to jump to his defense in an instant. Just like Imogen and Marian hovered somewhere behind me, twin shadows I was finally starting to get used to.
Once the papers were signed and the photos were taken, Valentin and Daniella rose and shook hands. Valentin leaned in and murmured something to her and she nodded with a smile.
When Valentin’s eyes immediately found mine, I was glad that Stella and Ari had convinced me to wear something nice.
Come meet the Chairwoman, Valentin linked to me.
You’re lucky I like you, I grumbled. I had been perfectly happy remaining in the background, but if any photographers remained, I’d be news once again.
Something else I was starting to get used to.
I crossed the room, Imogen behind me. Daniella was in her early thirties and she’d been in charge of the Quint Confederacy for a few years. She was tall and curvy, with curly dark brown hair and deeply tanned skin. Whatever else she did, she spent a lot of time in the sun. Her dress was sapphire blue and tailored to emphasize her figure.
Valentin put a hand on my back and drew me close. “Chairwoman Daniella Soteras, meet Queen Samara Rani.”
Daniella extended her hand with a smile. “It’s lovely to meet you, Queen Rani. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Chairwoman Soteras. I hope you intend to stick to the agreement.”
Her eyebrows rose, then she inclined her head. “I am tired of the wars of our fathers. I am planning for a lasting peace.” She slanted a fierce glance at Valentin. “Don’t make me regret it.”
He bowed slightly. “I am also tired of war. I look forward to a peaceful future.”
She nodded, dipped her chin in a shallow nod, and made her farewells.
Once she was gone, I asked, “Do you think she means it?”
Valentin stared into the distance for a moment before nodding. “I think she does.” He smiled at me. “I have a few more things to take care of here, then I need to pop back to Koan for a bit, but I’ll meet you in Arx later.”
I blinked at him in surprise. “I figured you’re be busy all weekend. I could join you in Koan, if you want.”
He shook his head. “It’s your turn to get to stay home. And most everything can wait until Monday, but I want to check on Mother before I disappear. She had a cough this morning.”
“Is she okay?” Marguerite Kos—Margie to her friends—had accepted my presence in her son’s life with both warmth and joy. I’d expected the Dowager Empress to be cold and aloof, but Margie was exactly the opposite. If anything happened to her, Valentin would be devastated. I would be, too, honestly. She was the mom I’d never had.
“She let Junior examine her, after I talked her into it. It’s just a cold. But I want to stop by and see
her. And change out of this ridiculous getup.”
Junior was Valentin’s medical advisor. If he said she was fine, then she was fine. I let out a sigh of relief, then looked Valentin up and down. He did look a little silly in his full Kos regalia, with a braided rope on his shoulder, a chest full of medals, and a golden crown, but he also looked sexy. Of course, he looked sexy in about anything.
“Tell Margie I said hi, and I’ll see you later,” I said. “I love you.”
Valentin pulled me close and kissed me. Flashes went off behind my eyelids. We’d be news once again. “I love you, too,” he whispered.
As promised, Valentin arrived at Arx late in the evening. I met him in the public hangar, where he had to land now because Ardia was in my private hangar. He was dressed in slacks and a gray sweater, as casual as he got outside of the bedroom.
Luka and Charles nodded at me from a distance.
“How’s Margie?” I asked as soon as I was close enough.
“She’s fine,” he said. “I offered to stay and she all but pushed me out the door. It’s just a mild cold. Junior gave her some medicine that will clear it up in a day or two.”
Valentin lifted one of my hands and pressed a kiss to back of it. “I brought you a present,” he murmured.
I glanced over his shoulder, confirming that Korax, his personal ship, sat on the landing pad. “It’s not another ship, I hope.”
He shook his head with a smile.
Nerves fluttered through my belly. “It’s something small.”
He nodded and sank to one knee, my left hand still clasped in his. “Samara, I love you. I want to spend my life with you, no matter what we have to do to make it happen. I want nothing more than your happiness, and I hope that I make you happy because you fill my life with joy. Will you marry me?”
He pulled a shiny ring out of his pocket and held it up, but it all became a blur as tears streamed down my face. “Yes!” I half-shouted, half-sobbed. “Of course I’ll marry you. You’re not getting away from me now.” I futilely wiped at my face with my free hand. “I love you.”
The Queen’s Triumph (Rogue Queen) Page 20