6
ASTRA
B utterflies fluttered in her stomach at the look on his face, the pieces falling into place.
Of course, he was the leader of the Merrow people.
After all, who else would have his own fancy ship, a cadre of bodyguards, and the ability to stroll into a closed meeting of planetary leaders without anyone stopping him?
“See, this is what happens when little humans skip out on formal introductions to bravely run into dangerous situations woefully under armed where they wind up getting shot and nearly bleeding to death,” he said with a tsk and a disappointed shake of his head.
He thought she was brave .
Delight rushed through her, warming her to her very soul.
No one had ever called her brave before.
Emboldened, she cocked her head and returned his mischievous grin with one of her own.
“So, it’s Desburchù, the number one decision maker, then?”
“Ooh, intelligent and stunningly beautiful,” he said, capturing her hand in his and holding it to his heart.
“You are truly a catch.”
Her breath hitched as their gazes met and she tumbled into a sea of deep green, unable and unwilling to look away.
“King Desburchù Ulf, Ruler of these rugged Merrow Isles and the surrounding Storming Seas, at your service.” He lifted her hand, his warm lips skimming over her knuckles.
“Also known as the biggest fish in these seas. You may leave any offerings or bribes at the door.”
“That’s a fancy title you’ve got there, Mr. Big Fish,” she said.
She kept her tone light, but there was something heavy about the moment growing between them, something that felt important in a way she’d never experienced before.
She adjusted her position in the bed, crossed her legs, and eased closer, the sheet shushing as she moved.
Her hand trembled as she gave into the overwhelming impulse to stroke the scruff along his jaw.
It tickled her fingertips.
Heat flared in her belly, toasting the nervous butterflies to ash.
“The fanciest,” he said, leaning into her touch as he eased onto the bed beside her.
He tipped her head back with a finger under her chin.
For a brief moment, the world froze as they stared into each other’s eyes.
Then his mouth crashed down on hers, and her universe shifted on its axis.
Instinctively, she gasped beneath his touch, and he slid his tongue into her mouth.
Every nerve, all of her senses ignited as his tongue danced with hers, each swirl and tug pulling on something deep inside her.
She came up onto her knees, desperate to get closer, to press her body to his and touch every hard inch of him.
With a growl, he wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her to him, her breasts crushed against his chest as she straddled his thick thigh.
“Astra,” he breathed, nipping her bottom lip and along her jaw.
Her head dropped back, baring her throat.
He slipped a hand under her thin t-shirt, his fingers splaying over her back, and kissed his way down to the long column to the base of her throat, his tongue teasing the dip of her clavicle.
“You are so beautiful, sweetheart. I can’t wait to taste all of you.”
She gasped as he smoothed a hand over her breast and gave it a light squeeze, plumping it up.
Bending his head, he pulled her shirt-covered nipple into his mouth, the dampened fabric rubbing against the sensitive peak with each stroke of his tongue.
“Des,” she said, her voice husky.
She wound her fingers through his silky hair.
“Oh, god. That feels so good.” She arched her back, rocking her core against his thigh as the heat in her belly built into a conflagration.
Was making out with the hot king what she was supposed to be doing right now?
Most likely not.
She probably should be focusing on negotiations and convincing him to let her people settle here.
But holy shit, he kissed her like he couldn’t get enough, and being with him like this felt so good.
No.
Not just good , she thought.
Right .
Like she’d found something — someone — precious here on this alien planet, someone who, if she allowed it, would change her life forever.
Her breath hitched, her heart pounding harder at the enormity of it all.
Des lifted his head from her breast, leaving behind a wet spot on her shirt from his attentions.
“Tell me what you need, sweetheart,” he said, skimming a hand down her back and slipping it into her panties to cup a butt cheek.
He shifted his weight, the narrow bed creaking beneath his movement, and dragged her farther up his thigh, the rasp of his pants creating the most delicious friction against her clit.
She let out a shaky gasp as the hard length of his cock pressed against her thigh.
“Des,” she said, unsure of how to answer him.
Yes, she wanted him, wanted to strip him bare, to see exactly how different he was from her, to explore every inch of him, preferably with her tongue.
She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist as he sank deep into her, his cock gliding over her most sensitive bits.
At the same time, it was too much, too fast.
She thought she was mentally prepared to do whatever she needed to do to secure her people a home, but this was not it.
Continuing with whatever this was right now seemed a lot more ruthless and calculating than she was comfortable with.
Not that she disapproved of anyone who chose that path.
Far from it.
But for her, personally, she didn’t want to regret her choices or take the chance that moving too quickly without having an actual discussion with Des first might destroy the delicate, nascent connection growing between them.
“I think…” She swallowed hard, trying to figure out exactly how to say what needed to be said without blowing everything she was supposed to be working towards or making him think she was rejecting him.
Because it wasn’t that.
It was just that there were outside forces at work here.
Things more important than her wanting to get it on with the hot alien.
“I want… but I can’t…”
“I understand,” he said, stroking her jawline before placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.
Confused, she eased off him, her body unfulfilled and tingling.
“You understand what?” she asked, tugging the long shirt down over the tops of her thighs and settling back on her heels.
“Because I didn’t say anything. Not really.”
He reached out and tugged a long lock of hair over her shoulder.
“But you did, lovely Astra. Your hesitation spoke volumes.” He slid off the bed and gave her a wry grin.
“And I want your full submission, willingly and enthusiastically. So, generous Merrow that I am, I will give you time. Not much, mind, and I warn you, I will be launching a full offensive to earn that submission.”
Her brow wrinkled.
“I still don’t get it. Why would you do that?” He was king and she was a stranger here, no allies to be found.
Technically, he could do whatever he wanted and no one would stop him.
He leaned over her, resting his fists on either side of her hips, his massive body making her feel delicate as he caged her.
“Because, sweetheart, you are my mate. Blessed by the Universe to be together and all that good stuff.”
Her jaw dropped and she goggled up at him wide-eyed.
“Huh. That was my reaction at first, too.” Huffing out a quiet laugh, he gently closed her mouth and booped the tip of her nose with a large finger.
“Now, go enjoy a long, hot shower and prepared to be courted to within an inch of your life, my lovely mate,” he said, giving her a cocky wink.