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  She sipped at her sweet tea. “You keep mentioning that, Lord Akking.”

  He smiled. “When we are alone, would you call me Meiron?”

  “Only if you call me Bella.”

  His eyes warmed. “Bella, then. Of course, I keep mentioning it. Sex with you is very much on my mind.”

  One of the kitchen staff came in with a tray and two plates. Roko set a plate in front of her and one in front of Meiron before he left the room with a quick wink to her.

  “The staff seems to have taken to you.”

  She shrugged. “I listened to their concerns, offered an opinion where I could and promised to look into what I couldn’t. I am not born of one of the high families, so it is easier for them to talk to me.”

  Meiron sat back and nodded. “That is what I initially guessed. You are in a good place, Bella. You will blend in easily here.”

  She settled in and lifted her utensils. “I think you might be right. I do feel like I blend in here, though I look forward to sleeping in my own bed one day.”

  He lifted one eyebrow. “Perhaps when I am away on business.”

  Bella swallowed and frowned. “Are you ordering me into your bed?”

  “No, I am simply stating a fact. You want me, I want you; your hesitation is unwarranted and merely delays the inevitable.”

  She continued to eat while she drummed her nails against the tablecloth. “I don’t like being bullied.”

  “It isn’t bullying; I am trying to seal our fates. The High Court can still part us if we do not have a connection, and I do not wish for that to happen.” His cocky surety left him, and he ate his meal.

  She stared at him in surprise. “Why not? Sex is just sex to the Kloa. If you have not bonded to a woman, there are no ties between you.”

  “I want the ties, but no member of the court has taken an alien as spouse yet.”

  Bella twisted her lips. “That is a task for the lower classes?”

  “That is the freedom of the lower classes.”

  She finished her food and set her utensils down. “So, why not find a woman of the higher class and settle down to make pretty babies with her?”

  He clenched his hand, and his utensil folded in half at the pressure. “That is not what I want. It is not what I have ever wanted.”

  She sat back with her hands in her lap. “What do you want?”

  “A woman to stand at my side. A woman to converse with, to laugh with and to plan a future with.”

  “My contract only lasts three years and one of them is nearly gone.”

  “If you and the government of Kloa agree, you can make it permanent.” His voice was a low singsong.

  Roko came in and took their plates. He returned a moment later with two bowls of soup.

  When they were alone, Meiron asked her, “What do you want out of life, Bella?”

  She froze. “No one has ever asked me that before.”

  It was true. Certainly no man had ever wondered what her thoughts were. As soon as they realized she possessed intelligence, they discarded her for someone more pliable.

  She sipped at her soup and formulated her list of needs. It really came down to one thing. “I want someone I can fight with.”

  “Really?” He grinned.

  “Someone I can debate, argue with, laugh with and call an idiot who still holds me in the night and wakes with me in the morning. That is pretty much it. Security will come from that, and from there, I can plan a future.” It came out in a rush, but every word was truth.

  He nodded. “Interesting. Why did you choose that gown?”

  “It fastens up the front.” She smiled. “After yesterday, I am taking no chances.”

  He laughed and the tension of the confessions was broken.

  “So, why do you have a central designer for all the clothing? If you had a local designer create something distinctive to wear, the visitors would have a reason to travel around Kloa. It would also stimulate local economies.”

  Meiron leaned forward and the discussion commenced.

  When dessert was over and her throat was hoarse from laughing, Meiron got to his feet and she got to hers.

  “It is too late for you to walk back to your quarters. Remain here for the night. I can arrange guest quarters for you if you like.”

  With a clear head and a slight smile, she looked up at him. “Or we could retire to your room and continue the discussion about front-fastening clothing on women.”

  A bright glow came to his eyes, and silver sparks swam in his irises. “I would enjoy furthering that debate.”

  She looped her arm through his. “As would I.”

  They walked through the quiet halls and up to his private quarters. She kept her mind under control and stopped herself from panicking when she was alone with him in his bedroom and he was standing in front of her with a serious expression.

  She took in a deep breath, reached out and started to unfasten the front of his tunic. “As you can see, front-opening clothing has distinct advantages. Not only is it easy for you to dress in the morning, but it is easier for a lover to open your clothing and strike skin.”

  She pressed her hands to his chest as the tunic opened. Instead of meeting his intense gaze, she leaned forward and licked his skin.

  Bella heard him exhale and inhale sharply.

  “I can see your point, Bella, but there is a lack of true fit in ladies’ clothing when it fastens in the front. Let me give you an example.”

  He waited until she leaned away from him, and then, he slid his hands into the front of her dress, unsnapping her collar. When his hands cupped her breasts, she had to admit that there was definitely more room in this gown than the one she had worn the day before.

  Meiron bent his head while his hands moved to unhook her dress. He kissed her as the cool air followed the heat of his knuckles on her skin.

  She stood completely still as her dress slipped loose and began to move downward. Her arms were soon trapped by the weight of the fabric and the hypnotic taste of him. It was weird, they had consumed the same meal, but the wine she tasted on his tongue was heady.

  There was something arousing about being partially clothed with his hands slowly roaming over her. She felt her body heating with every slow stroke against her belly or the undersides of her breasts. She shivered in his arms, and she felt him smile against his mouth.

  He pulled his hands away from her and slid her dress off her arms and over her hips. The puddle of fabric surrounded her ankles. Meiron put his hands on her waist, and he lifted her out of the gown, swinging her over to the edge of the bed. He sat her down and removed her shoes before quickly crossing the room, hanging up her gown and stripping off his own clothing.

  Meiron was aroused, he was focused and he lifted her up, settling her further back on the bed before he joined her, using his mouth on her breasts and belly, and he shifted until her thighs were wide open and he was between them with his breath warming her sex.

  When he used his tongue, her eyes widened. He was going deep, and she didn’t know how that was possible. The result of the reach that he managed was that nerves inside her sex were waking up, and she was getting really wet.

  She gripped the blankets next to her hips, and she mewled as her orgasm approached. It spiralled inside her with every lick and stroke of his tongue. She winced and reached for her clit, cheating by rubbing it for a quick release. He grabbed her hand and pressed it to the bed, holding it next to her hips while he continued to undulate his tongue inside her. The orgasm took forever, but when she finally moaned low with her body clasping at his tongue, she was ecstatic and covered in sweat.

  He continued to work at her until she relaxed, and she mewled in disappointment when he pulled his tongue from her and lifted his head.

  His eyes were solid silver as he moved onto her in a slow crawl that made her shiver. He rubbed across her as he inched up her body until his chest pressed against her breasts and his cock edged into her.

  Bella re
ally wanted to laugh, but as he slid into her, she couldn’t find anything to laugh at. She wrapped her arms around him and spread her hands across his back as he moved into her with long, slow thrusts of his hips.

  She tried to keep her gaze on his, but the intensity of his look was too much. She concentrated on the feeling of his length inside her, surging inward and dragging back. The friction was so sweet, she nearly cried.

  Tears did eventually leak out of her eyes, and she ducked her head against his chest as release surged toward her again.

  If he hadn’t been so far forward and pressing against her clit each time he thrust, she wouldn’t have lost control, but as it was, he surged and her body bucked while her mind shattered.

  Bella came to in his arms, curled against his side. She opened her eyes and focused on the mark she had left in his chest. She whispered, “I am sorry.”

  He was lazily stroking her back. “Why?”

  “I bit you. I didn’t mean to.”

  “I bit you as well.” He smiled. “I apologize.”

  She frowned and pulled her hand free from between them. She went looking for the mark and found a raised crescent of skin on her collarbone. Oddly enough, the skin was numb in the area.

  “It feels weird. Does it look weird?” She bit her lip.

  “It looks a little swollen, but you are not in a coma, so the antibodies you were given on your flight here were successful.” He kissed the ridge lightly.

  She frowned and pulled out of his embrace, rolling off the bed and heading out in search of a mirror.

  A slick trail of cum snaked down her inner thigh, but she wanted to see the mark.

  In the lav, she stared at herself in the mirror. The bite mark was in scale to Meiron’s jaws, but it was her own bright eyes and the flush to her skin that distracted her. She hadn’t seen herself looking that alive for quite some time.

  Meiron wandered in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pressed a kiss to her neck. “Are you feeling all right?”

  Surprisingly, she answered honestly. “Yes. I think I am. Do you want me to engage in some first aid on the mark I left on you?”

  He grinned at her in their reflection. “No. I am fine. We kept our thicker skin.”

  She sighed. “Speaking of skin, I think I need a shower. All I can smell is us.”

  “That isn’t a bad thing, but if it keeps you from joining me, I believe a shower is in order.” He nibbled at her neck and backed her slowly toward the multi-directional shower.

  When the hot water cascaded over her, she groaned happily and relaxed into Meiron’s embrace. It had been so long since she felt the touch of water on her skin, it was nearly more addicting than his touch. Nearly, but not quite. As he ran his hands over her, she felt like purring.

  It was not the worst way she had ever spent an evening with the boss.

  Chapter Eight

  Bella spent three days in a peculiar haze. Meiron brought a good selection of gowns up from storage for her, and she didn’t see her house at all.

  The arrangements were made for a business trip to the west-coast manor, and Bella knocked on Lord Akking’s door. The carved wood swung open, and she walked in with her data pad in front of her.

  He saw her, smiled and got up from behind his desk and came forward to kiss her.

  When he lifted his head, Bella smiled. “Are you going to do that every time I come into your office?”

  Meiron looped his arms around her waist. “Yes. Now, what did you need?”

  “If we are heading to the coast tomorrow, you need to authorize these payments.”

  He sighed. “You are killing the mood.”

  “I am here to work, oh Minister of Trade.”

  He took the data pad, flicked through the charges and nodded. “Good. Done.”

  Instead of giving her her data pad back, he put it on his desk and then wrapped his arms around her again.

  She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, her hands on the back of his neck, holding his head to hers as he kissed her.

  Work was far from done for the day, but she only had a few hours of requisitions to go over, so there was no harm in a small distraction.

  Her back ached, and he was still hard inside her against the wall. The light chiffon of her skirt was rucked up around her waist, and his weight pinned her to the stone behind her.

  Bella squirmed on him. “You do realize that the wall isn’t terribly comfortable.”

  He chuckled and cupped her buttocks, holding her tightly to him as he walked over to his desk. Data pads went flying, and he settled her onto the polished wood. He lifted her right leg to his shoulder and then the left.

  He thrust into her without any warning, and when his thighs slapped against her ass, she regretted mentioning comfort.

  He got into a rhythm that took him as deep as he could, and his hands gripped her breasts, teasing and kneading her in turn.

  The moment he leaned forward to kiss her, she squealed. Having never been folded in half during sex before, she was caught by surprise. The change in the slide of his cock inside her took her breath away and made her very glad that she was flexible.

  She kissed him and bit at his lower lip. Meiron chuckled against her mouth, and then, she felt him jerk against her as he groaned.

  Bella smiled and nipped his lip again. His cock jerked inside her in response.

  She was still on the edge of release, but since it would be her second in the last ten minutes, she wasn’t worried. It would be her turn next time.

  He lifted his head and sighed. “You want to get back to work, don’t you?”

  She stroked his hair and drew her nails gently down his back. “I really do. I haven’t travelled anywhere on Kloa except between the capitol and here. I want to be well rested with at least one outfit, despite your claim that I won’t need anything.”

  He shivered and she smirked. Only four days together and she already knew a few of his sensitive spots. Of course, he had put the same research into her, but it made her feel smug to watch him react.

  Meiron sighed. “You will not need to travel with anything. The manors are all equipped as this one is.”

  She made a face. “I still don’t see why I have to come with you. Isn’t the point of me being your assistant that I am here when you are not?”

  “You also need to be introduced to all of the manors and their daily management. We will begin on the coast and work our way around the globe.”

  She sighed. “I really don’t like to travel, and my legs are cramping up.”

  He leaned back and slid out of her, standing up, lowering her legs from his shoulder and easing her into a sitting position. She grunted and flexed her feet to get feeling back in them.

  Meiron left her for a moment and returned with a hot washcloth. He had picked up on her lack of enjoyment for being slick and sticky when she had left work on the second day to go downstairs for a sonic shower. He had not been prepared for her to walk out on him, and he had been completely bemused when she returned to work, cleaned and changed, ignoring him until they hashed out the rules.

  She was not going to work while smelling like cum. She had her standards.

  When she was clean, though still a bit sweaty, she got to her feet and massaged her thighs.

  “I am sorry. Was I too rough?” His concern was genuine. He came up and rubbed her back and butt.

  “No, I am just not designed to be folded in half and then have a conversation. It wasn’t a particularly natural position for more than a few minutes.” She groaned and leaned into his hands. He was really good at removing the minor aches and pains caused by sex in odd positions, mind you, he put her in those positions so he had better be.

  When she was relaxed, she glanced at him over her shoulder. “You just want me to be with you because you would miss me.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “That is also a factor. I want to keep you with me. Now that you have spent the night with me for the previous few days, I am used
to you in my bed, and it is not something that I feel like depriving myself of.”

  She snickered. “Honesty at last. Good. I like being with you as well. I would miss you if we didn’t spend the nights together.”

  He turned her to face him and pulled her against his now-clothed body. “You just like it?”

  Bella looked into his eyes, and the silver sparks were there. “Fine, more than like it.”

  “How much more?”

  She placed her hands on his chest and drummed her fingers. “I don’t know yet. I like being with you, Meiron. I just don’t feel like this is home, not yet.”

  He sighed. “What can I do to cement your affections?”

  “Give me time. I have been with you for less than a week, and though your plans expanded two months before that, mine didn’t.” She smiled at him, wanting him to understand.

  “Fine, but if we get a memo from the government, I am hauling you to a registration office as fast as I can.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why would there be a memo?”

  “Not all of your clients were pleased to be audited. Once they learned you were an alien, they began a lobby to expunge some senior aliens in government. You were one of those mentioned by name.”

  A cold feeling swirled in her gut. “Where would I go?”

  “Nowhere. I didn’t want to force you into a registry. I wanted you to meet a few of the other manor staff first.”

  She nodded. “Fine. I will get my data pad and get back to my desk.”

  “On the plus side, if we registered and you became Lady Akking, we would be able to work in the same room.”

  Bella laughed. “One step at a time.”

  She glanced around him and spotted her work pad on the floor near her shoes. “Okay, now I really have to get to work and you really have to finish making arrangements.”

  He sighed reluctantly and let her go. “Fine. I am not done convincing you.”

  She smiled and stroked his cheek. “I am glad. I am going to need a lot of convincing.”

  She scooped up her flat computer and sashayed past him out to the reception area. She glanced over her shoulder, and he was still next to his desk with silver flaring in his eyes. Apparently, a little swing in her hips was all it would take to get him to focus on her. It was a good thing to know.