He lifted his head then, the spots he licked cooling now in the air. His dark eyes met mine. While I could see heat there, his desire for me, it also held… pride? “No, not weak. Never weak. You’re one of the strongest females I know. Perhaps that is why you are my mate.”
“Oh, Leo.” He said the sweetest things, and he wasn’t saying that as a line. He meant it. “We argue. You hate when I do crazy things.”
“The craziest is yet to come. It will be almost impossible to pretend you are not my mate. My cock will give me away.”
He pushed my shirt up higher, over my breasts to bunch up under my arms. I wore a utilitarian space-generated bra—I doubted the S-Gen machine could make Victoria’s Secret lingerie—and yet he still looked at my breasts as if he were a horny teen getting his first glimpse. A horny mate who would soon have to pretend otherwise.
It was easy to forget Leo had been a virgin until we’d met. I’d totally deflowered him, turning him into a total man-slut. Yet, now, he was on his knees before me. It was as if he were worshipping me. The idea held appeal—what woman didn’t want to be worshipped?—but there was too much at stake, too much danger for feelings like that right now.
While I was starting to feel the same sappy, consuming things for Leo, I couldn’t say them, couldn’t act on them. Soon enough, I would be the ruling princess of Alera with a ruthless assassin who wanted me dead. It was insanity to lure him out, but there was no choice. The planet needed a royal once again and the assassin couldn’t make another attempt with me safely on Battleship Karter.
I had Aleran responsibilities now. I didn’t have to get up in the morning, go to work Monday through Friday to earn a paycheck. Do a yoga class, save for retirement. Those were simple Earth encumbrances. My mother had prepared me for Alera. For leading the planet. She’d told me of sacrifice, of crown over person. I was Trinity Jones, but I was also Princess Trinity. To the Alerans, I was the princess, nothing more. To Leo, I was both. He understood my responsibility to lead, to put the planet before everything else, including my own needs, my own wants. His, too.
I wanted Leo. I wanted to call him my mate. To tell him I thought of him that way, as the one I wanted to be with. Unconditionally and forever.
But I couldn’t. Not now. It wasn’t the right time.
I had to think he knew that because he wasn’t pushing, wasn’t expecting the words in response. He wanted them, I was sure. It only fed the alpha male in him. But he was loyal to the royal family and had his own responsibility in this.
His job was to keep his princess safe while I did what was best for Alera.
I would use myself as bait, even subtly. If something happened, my mother could still rule—when Faith and Destiny found her—and then my sisters themselves as the next in line.
I was replaceable. The crown was not. Alera needed the crown, needed the royal line to continue, or war and chaos would reign.
I could not let that happen. Not after all my mother sacrificed, was still sacrificing.
So not announcing to all of Alera that Leo was my mate was a sacrifice of my own.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t show him now how much he meant to me, how much I needed him.
Me.
Trinity Jones.
I grabbed my shirt, yanked it up and over my head. Took off the bra.
Alera needed a royal. Now. The spires were lit—it was our own doing—surely confusion was reigning. I needed to step into my mother’s shoes until she was found. I would be safe at the palace, yet Leo could not remain at my side. This little window of sexy times would be the last for a while and I was going to make the most of it. I wanted us naked and him inside me. Like, ten minutes ago.
Leo remained motionless as I did that, but after blinking once, then again, he got off my shoes, pants and panties in record speed. I dropped down, straddled him so I was in his lap, his arms instantly wrapping around me.
I felt the rough texture of his clothing against my bare skin, understood the power shift in this moment.
“Do what you want,” I said, holding his gaze. I cupped his square jaw, felt the rasp of his whiskers. Breathed him in.
His eyes flared wide at my offer, then the corner of his mouth tipped up.
“I love every way we’ve fucked. Perhaps you can suggest another position?”
I bit my lip, remembered again our relationship was like a tipping scale. We balanced each other. I wanted him to take control, to be the dominant lover, and yet while he would do that, he needed my guidance on what I wanted.
Having a mate who’d only known sex with me, only known sex in the ways we’d done it made me feel empowered. Yet, I was shy in my suggesting something new. All I had to do was offer the idea, though, and he’d take over. Like he always did. I clenched my inner walls with anticipation.
Sliding off his lap, I crawled away from him, then stopped. Glanced over my shoulder. His gaze was raking over every inch of me, from my swaying breasts to my pussy which was on blatant display for him.
“Like this,” I whispered.
His lips parted as he considered.