Talking Dog II: Never Send a Dog To Do a Woman's Job

by Shelley Munro

  “Life at the palace is hard to describe. As a prince in line to the throne, I have everything done for me. My position means that both males and females in the court vie for my attention.”

  Lily narrowed her eyes. “Charming. I imagine that means hot and cold running women.”

  “Palace consorts. They jostle amongst each other trying to sleep their way to a position of power within the court.”

  “I do not intend to join that group.”

  “That’s the point. I never asked you to.” Alex started to pace to settle his agitation.

  “Fine, we both know where we stand.” Lily swung about, her black skirt swirling up to display her legs. Distracted by the sight, Alex almost missed his grab for her arm. He tried again, his fingers curling around her upper arm as he jerked her to a stop. “I love you, Lily. I’ve never said that to another female before. I want to commit to you.” He swallowed. He wanted to mark her.

  Lily wanted to believe. But how could she trust him? That was the crux of her problem. “No, I can’t,” she whispered. She blinked rapidly but tears still squeezed past her lashes.

  “You’re treating me the same as all the palace consorts do. A male with a pretty face—worthy to fuck and brag about the deed later to your friends. I have a brain, dammit! I’m worth more than a fuck to brag about.” His hands fisted and for an instant, Lily thought he might take his anger out on the SUV. She tensed—ready to make a grab for his hand if he showed the slightest sign smashing in one of the blue panels.

  “I’m going to sort out my notes,” he muttered finally. “Where’s the key?”

  Wordlessly, Lily passed him the key. “I thought I’d go for a walk along the beach. The owner said there is a shop where we can buy food supplies. Remember I told you that motels have cooking facilities?”

  Alex moved his shoulders in a whatever shrug and grabbed up his hardcover notebook from the front seat. Without another word, he headed for the motel unit and disappeared inside. His reaction ignited her temper.

  Blast the man. He was the one who’d lied. And look at the way he attracted women. What if she let him capture her heart then he walked away? History repeating itself. Pain burned through her at the thought. Dammit, he had already ensnared her enough that she experienced severe uneasiness when they were apart. The anxiety only eased when they were together again. Already, her stomach jumped uneasily. Alex’s fault again, but this time for a different reason. Lily was beginning to suspect the queasiness she’d experienced lately was a symptom of pregnancy. Now wasn’t this a fine and dandy mess?

  Killer bounded about in front of Lily, distracting her from her painful worries. “Food for me?”

  “Sure.” Lily nodded absently. “Do you want to walk on the beach with me?”

  “Oh, boy! Chase stupid white birds!” She bounded off down the well-trod track that led to the beach, leaving Lily to follow more slowly.

  While Killer amused herself chasing seagulls, Lily mooched along the beach. She stared blindly at the waves rushing to shore. Tears blurred her vision. Lily dashed them away. When they kept coming, she sank onto the sand. The sudden move made her stomach lurch uneasily, and she pressed a hand to her belly.

  Something cold and wet touched her arm. “Lily, what wrong?” Killer squirmed close until she was sitting on top of Lily. The weight on her stomach made the queasiness worse. Bile rose up her throat and she turned abruptly away to vomit.

  “Yuck,” Killer said, stepped away to a safer distance. “That catchy?”

  “We’re in trouble if it is,” Lily said. “I think I’m pregnant.”

  Killer stared at her long and hard. “I be in trouble now. You carrying evidence I failed. Definitely, get no collar. Bad. I very disappointed in you.”

  “You materialistic beast!”

  “Maybe so. Make you laugh.”

  All amusement seeped from Lily. “What am I going to do? How can I keep the interest of a man like Alex?” She laughed and the sound didn’t hold an ounce of humor. “The man’s a prince. I’m ordinary—a commoner. How do I compete?” The tears started flowing again.

  “Put his trousers on same as other males,” Killer observed. “One foot then other.”

  Lily gave a hiccupping laugh. “Maybe.”

  “True,” Killer insisted. “Maybe other females prettier than you, but you beautiful inside. Very nice person. Maxwell think so, too.”

  Lily was touched. She stroked a hand the length of Killer’s spine and flexed her hand until the little dog wriggled in canine ecstasy.

  “You missed spot.”

  “So sorry.” Lily’s laugh came easier this time.

  “Alex say people judge him by face. You too. You do same as all other females.”

  “No, I don’t. I—” The accusation sank in and stopped Lily mid-sentence.

  “Do too.”

  “Maybe I should talk to Alex again.”

  “Good idea,” Killer said. “We go food shopping now?”

  Lily rose and brushed the sand off the back of her skirt. “What do you think of baked beans?”

  “Prefer sausages. You tell Alex have trial period. Get to know each other better. Take things slow. That what me and Maxwell do.”

  Lily grinned at the idea of taking romantic advice from a dog. Even weirder, the dog’s opinion sounded promising. Sensible.

  An hour later, Lily opened the door to the motel unit and stood back for Killer to enter. She shut the door and carried the shopping over to the kitchen area.

  “I think we bought more than we needed,” she said unloading eight cans and placing them on the Formica counter.

  Footsteps sounded behind them, and both Lily and Killer turned.

  “I was starting to worry.” Alex stroked the back of his hand over her cheek. “I missed you.”

  “Lily did thinking,” Killer said. “Food. Can I have some?”

  A thump sounded on the motel door.

  Lily glanced at her wristwatch. “That can’t be Luke and Janaya. They said they’d ring.”

  “Probably motel lady to look at Alex’s butt,” Killer said.

  Alex’s brows rose. “Do you want food?”

  The thump sounded again.

  “I’ll get it,” Alex said.

  Lily chuckled as she ripped open a sachet of tuna and forked it out onto a plate for Killer.

  He opened the door and immediately wanted to slam it shut again. His past colliding with his future. His bodyguards. Damn, that was all he needed at the moment.

  “It’s a delivery for me.” Alex stepped outside before Lily could ask questions and closed the door behind him.

  “What are you doing here? This isn’t a good time.”

  “Not a good time,” Mattio sneered. “Too bad, bro. Too bad.”

  Alex stared. “What did you call me?” Alex glanced across at Jabot and saw he was nonplused, too.

  “Never mind.” Mattio pulled out a weapon. “Over there.” He jabbed the air with the tranq gun. “Jabot, get the cuffs.”

  “Huh?” Jabot blurted.

  “Get the cuffs and put them on the prince.”

  The male was stark raving mad. Barking. Alex saw it in Mattio’s pale eyes. The devious cunning of a male balanced on the edge.

  “Why?” Jabot wanted to know. “He’s the prince. You don’t tie up a prince. If the King hears, he’ll have a raving fit.”

  “Just do it!” Mattio snarled.

  Jabot looked undecided, his gaze darting from his cousin to Alex and back. Tension made Alex’s heart pump faster. What the hell did he do? He didn’t know. But he needed to do something quickly before Lily stepped outside to investigate.

  Mattio gestured with the gun. “Over there by the tree.”

  Alex backed away. Keep him talking. Flying would look good right now. He glanced skyward and did a half jump but he landed back on the ground without mishap. Basuko. “There’s no need for the gun.”

  “Every fuckin’ need!” Mattio roared. “All my undergrown years
were spent in your shadow. Then they gave me the job of bodyguard, treating the position as though it was an honor. Bah!” He spat, a globule of saliva landing at Alex’s feet. “No more. With you out of the way, the King will have to acknowledge me. His third son.”

  “Son?” Alex echoed.

  A shot rang out. Alex staggered, and he felt a sudden numbness in his left shoulder. He gripped his shoulder, pressing down and trying not to panic. Panic sped the heart and would send the drug surging through his body. At least it hadn’t been one of the weapons the Imperial Guard carried or else all that would be left of him would be a pile of ashes.

  “You shot the prince,” Jabot said.

  “Dumbass! He’s not going to leave voluntarily.”

  “But he’s the prince.” Jabot sounded confused.

  Alex struggled to remain standing. He needed to keep his wits about him. He didn’t like the way Mattio was waving the weapon around.

  From the corner of his eyes, he caught a flash of black. While Mattio’s attention was on Jabot, he casually scanned the vicinity. Hell! Lily and Killer. He opened his mouth to shout a warning then clamped it shut when Lily signaled him.

  Instantly, he feared for Lily. If anything happened to her… Alex shuddered, his heart cramping at the thought of life without Lily. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself. Alex felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness. He must stay awake.

  Lily and Killer separated and both disappeared from sight. Alex lost focus of his eyes for an instant. It was obvious the plan was surprise attack, but it might work better if he knew details. “Son?” he repeated trying to distract Mattio. “What proof have you got?”

  “Proof,” Mattio spat the word as though it were something disgusting. “I’ve got blue balls. What other proof is required? I gave the King proof but he refused to acknowledge me because my mother was a slave.”

  Confusion pounded Alex. A brother. “But the King would have needed to mark—”

  “Of course, he did. How the hell do you think my balls are blue?” Mattio snarled.

  “You’ve got blue balls?” Jabot whispered in awe, his gaze shooting to Mattio’s groin. He gave an envious sigh. “Mine are orange.”

  Without warning, Killer appeared from the bushes right near Mattio and Jabot. She sank her teeth into Mattio’s calf.

  The male howled. He kicked out trying to dislodge the dog. Jabot edged away, his eyes rolling back in his head. Alex searched for a weapon, frantic to take advantage of the situation. Already, he could feel the numbness of the drug crawling through his chest. His legs wobbled like a newborn.

  “Alex! Down.”

  On hearing Lily’s voice, he dropped instinctively. A strange whistling sound flew past his ear. Something hit Mattio in the head with a solid thunk. He dropped like a rock to the ground and didn’t move again.

  Jabot kept backpedaling, his mouth wide open with an expression of horror.

  “Alex, you okay?” Lily called.

  “Man down!” Killer barked. “Good job.” She trotted over to inspect Alex. Killer nuzzled his shoulder, and Alex couldn’t prevent a pained groan. “Alex hurt,” she said as Lily ran to join them.

  “What did they shoot you with?” she gasped, running her hands over his body checking for wounds.

  “Tranq gun,” Alex muttered. “Not too bad. Need to sleep it off.”

  “What about him?” Lily gestured at the lifeless form on the ground not far from them.

  “Is he dead?”

  “Unconscious. I hit him in the head with a can of baked beans. My cricket skills came in handy.”

  Alex laughed, but it hurt like hell. “My hero.”

  “Put cuffs on,” Killer advised. “Give him to Janaya.”

  Lily picked up the silver cuffs that lay on the ground. When she looked more closely, she saw there were two sets.

  Killer peered around her knee. “One for feet. One for hands.”

  Lily fumbled her way through putting them on then dragged the man into the motel unit.

  “He’s still breathing,” she announced, “but he’ll have a hell of a headache. Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”

  “Just need sleep.”

  “Lucky I’m strong,” Lily said, with a trace of good-natured humor. She helped Alex to his feet, staggering slightly under his weightier frame.

  “Thank you, Lily. Most females would have cowered in the background and let Mattio take me.”

  They wavered their way to the unit. Once inside, Lily directed him to the main bedroom.

  “I’m not most females.”

  “I know.” Alex leaned on her with more weight, his legs barely functioning. “That’s why I have the good sense to love you.”

  Alex dropped to the bed, his legs going all wobbly. He bounced lightly on the mattress, tried to fight the weakness that disabled his body then gave up the fight and subsided to lie against the pillows. His eyelids wanted to close—the drug in the tranq gun drawing him closer to sleep.

  “Love me to join,” he managed. No, that wasn’t right. “Love me?” His eyes closed even as he strained for her answer.

  “I love you, Alex. We’ll talk when you wake up.” Lily grasped both his shoulders and shook. “You will wake up?”

  “Moon heart.” Alex felt himself smile, he felt Lily’s hands dig into his shoulders and decided he was the luckiest male in the world. Lily loved him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Warmth surrounded Lily. She smiled sleepily, sensing the heat emanated from Alex. A soft snore erupted near her ear. Smiling again, she arched against his naked form, savoring the slide of her breasts against his smooth chest. Her nipples contracted to hard buds as she rubbed against him. His slow, regular breaths reassured her of his good health. Life was good. Maybe she could entice him into waking, give him a few explicit pointers and let him take it from there. Oh, yeah. Sounded like a fine—

  “Bloody hell!” a feminine voice shrieked. “Luke, come see this!”

  Lily jerked upright with a scream then scrambled beneath the blankets when she saw her brother and Janaya in the doorway. She sure as hell hadn’t advanced to sex in front of other people. Especially people she knew. Family. That other time in front of the man in the kayak had been an accident that she wasn’t ready to repeat.

  “What are you doing in bed with the prince?”

  Lily twisted to stare at Alex’s broad shoulders—his broad, naked shoulders, and let her hand flutter to her mouth in pretend astonishment. “Oh, goodness.” She turned back to her brother and Janaya and batted her eyelashes. “Is he a prince?”

  “Cut it out,” Luke said. “Janaya told you about him. He can’t join with you. His father will never allow it. You’ll get hurt.”

  Lily ignored the implied questions. “What are you doing here so soon?”

  “It’s after eight. It’s dark out,” Luke said, a trifle defensively Lily thought.

  “You were going to ring,” Lily pounced on the sense of guilt her brother harbored. Nothing like wrong-footing him to gain an advantage.

  “Ah, Janaya’s here. Good.” Alex touched Lily’s leg under the blankets and sat up in the bed. “Janaya, could you deal with Mattio? He’s cuffed in the other room.”

  “What happened to your shoulder?” The horrified tone of Janaya’s voice drew Lily’s attention to the large blue area on Alex’s left shoulder. The bruise. It had moved. How strange. She leaned over to finger the discolored area, gently watching Alex for a reaction. His wince brought a shaft of anxiety. He’d said he’d be fine. What if he’d lied?

  Obviously sensing her agitation, he leaned over to kiss her lips, ignoring the low growl from Lily’s brother and the squawk of outrage from Janaya. Even Luke’s warning for his wife to keep her weapon holstered didn’t raise much more than a blip of interest.

  “I’m fine, moon heart. I’ll prove it soon,” he whispered. Lily shivered at the promise in his eyes and tried desperately to quell the sudden spurt of nausea in her belly. She
closed her eyes and counted to ten, willing the show of weakness away.

  Alex turned his attention back to Janaya. “Mattio zapped me with a tranq gun. He’s claiming he’s a son in the Royal House of Dalcon.”

  “Fool,” Janaya muttered, jumping to attention. Imperial guard mode, her brother called it. Lily thought she looked plain scary. “That’s treason. I’ll deal with him.” She stormed from the room.

  “Perhaps you could help your mate,” Alex said. “You don’t want her to do anything she might regret. Tell her Mattio should have help from us. Tell her he has blue balls. She’ll understand what needs to be done. He has a partner somewhere. He shouldn’t give you any trouble. His name is Jabot, and his balls are orange.”

  Lily suppressed a grin as Luke hesitated. His mouth opened to ask questions then he obviously changed his mind and stomped after Janaya.

  Alex waggled his eyebrows at Lily. “Alone at last.”

  Unaccountably, nerves joined the queasiness in Lily’s belly. “I love you,” she blurted. “I’m sorry for judging you by your appearance. I don’t like it when people do that to me, and it won’t happen again.” Words tumbled out in a rush as she steeled herself to tell him of her suspicions. “I really love you, but could we go a little slower? It takes time to adjust to the idea of loving a prince. Could we work on your business together and make it a team effort?”

  “Will you wear my joining symbol?” he demanded, seizing her right hand and pressing a kiss along the inside of her wrist. “I want to mark you.”

  “I…yes,” she whispered, acknowledging in that moment that the trial period of courtship she was suggesting was not really necessary. “Do I want to know about marking? It sounds barbaric.”

  Alex repeated the kiss on her wrist and her insides twisted. Deep in her heart, she sensed he really was her other half. Why else did she feel this way—expectant and happy, and full of anticipation at the future? But now came the difficult bit. How would he react? “Um, Alex?”

  “Yes, moon heart?”

  “I have something I need to tell you.” Fear jostled with the sense of wellbeing for a few seconds before she gathered courage. Alex said he loved her. Everything would work out all right. “I think I’m going…we’re going…to have a baby.” Lily peered at Alex closely, trying to gauge his reaction. Her heart slammed against her ribs, and she had to swallow to ease the dry lump in her throat. “Say something. Please.”