The Duke of New York_A Contemporary Bad Boy Royal Romance

by Lisa Lace

  Ruth shrugged. “Then tell him you’re not ready yet.”

  Bethany didn’t want to do that. She knew she should. She was losing track of her goals here. She wanted to get home, but the thought of having Klowix’s hands on her again was intoxicating. “Does Klowix have a phone?”

  “He has a T-screen. That’s like the equivalent of a phone here.”

  “Can I send him a message?”

  Before she lost her nerve, Bethany convinced Lizzy to show her how to send a quick message on the T-screen. Yes, she must be insane.

  “Excellent!” Culip glanced over her shoulder. “Come on, we’ve got to get everything ready. It has to be perfect.”

  When Culip said ‘perfect’, she really meant perfect. They weren’t allowed in Klowix’s room without his permission, so they prepared Bethany’s. Before the day was out, the room was lit in a soft, romantic light. There were rose petals on the floor and slow music playing. Scented candles gave off perfumed smoke.

  Of course, Culip insisted on getting another dress – less a dress this time and more a skimpy satin nightdress covered by an equally skimpy satin gown.

  Bethany protested. “I can’t be like this when he gets home.”

  Snia assured her it was proper. “It’s the way Evions do things. He’ll expect it. You wait on the bed for him, and don’t get up until he comes to you.”

  The rest of them made plans to watch movies in Ruth’s room, which was furthest from Bethany’s.

  Anna’s voice was soft now. “It’s time. We need to go greet him. You stay here, Bethany. Enjoy.”

  She winked and followed the rest out. Bethany was left alone to wait.

  But she wasn’t alone long.

  When Klowix came in, he too was dressed differently. His normal military uniform was gone, and instead he wore a piece of white and gold cloth wrapped around his hips, ending at his knees. His chest was bare. Bethany’s breath caught as her eyes took him in.

  “Bethany.”

  She came into his outstretched arms, letting the gown fall to the floor. He enfolded her in his embrace, and she sighed in contentment. Klowix tilted her face up and looked into her eyes for a moment before kissing her. Bethany’s mouth slid open, inviting him in.

  His tongue explored her mouth fiercely, forcefully. Bethany moaned into the kiss, her hands clutching his back, aching for more. He pulled the skimpy nightdress over her head and let it fall to the floor.

  Klowix lifted her and gently carried her to the bed, laying her on her back. Bethany was struck suddenly by shyness. She’d never been naked with a man before, certainly not a man like Klowix. When he started began her again, she forgot her shyness and reached for him.

  He slowly started moving down her body, trailing kisses down her cheeks, her neck, her collar bones...

  Bethany’s breath was coming hard and fast. Her body was on fire, hot and demanding. She needed Klowix like she needed air.

  His hand brushed ever so gently over her nipple. She gasped at the contact, feeling the nipple harden instantly.

  “Do that again.”

  He growled. “You don’t give the orders here.”

  Bethany felt her body tingle. He was so sexy when he was bossy. “Yes, Commander.”

  He brought his hand back to her nipple, squeezing it in his fingers. Bethany moaned and reached her hands out, desperate to touch some part of him. Her hands found his back and roamed over his muscles.

  Klowix’s tongue flicked out over her breasts, sending shivers through her body. Bethany arched up, needing him, and he came back up for a kiss. As they kissed, his fingers were doing things with her nipples that made her head spin. She ran her hands down his sides, to his hips. She could just feel the coarse hairs around his cock, and wondered if she dared go any further without permission.

  “Touch me.” Klowix was almost reading her mind.

  Bethany reached down eagerly, greedily. His cock was huge and hard and already dripping. Klowix groaned as she took it in her hands. She didn’t know what she was doing, but it felt good, and by the sounds he was making, it felt good to him as well. Her hand glided up and down his shaft, now slick with precome.

  His hands left her breasts and moved farther down. Bethany spread her legs, desperate for his touch. His fingers were light at first, just skimming over her skin. When she moaned in frustration, Klowix used a firmer touch. His hand unerringly found her clit. Bethany bit back a scream as she bucked her hips upwards.

  “Ooh…” Her head flicked from side to side as she was racked with waves of pleasure. Klowix moved his fingers in swift circles over her clit.

  “What to see what all these Evion powers are good for?”

  Bethany was in no state to respond, but he took her flushed face and harsh breathing as a yes.

  His fingers blurred, moving so fast that Bethany felt herself coming to the edge in mere instants. Her legs tightened as she began to come.

  Suddenly, his fingers were gone. “Not so soon.”

  Bethany gasped. “Please.” She needed his fingers back on her. She needed him inside of her.

  Klowix seemed to need her just as much. He towered over her, his cock erect and ready. He kissed her as he thrust inside her. She knew it should have hurt, but she was so turned on that she hardly noticed the pain. Klowix began to move in a steady, easy rhythm.

  The hot, slick sliding had Bethany already on the edge of orgasm, and she kissed him back as fiercely as he was kissing her. One of Klowix’s hands came behind her neck and held her in a firm grip.

  Bethany jerked in his grasp as she felt something… slide out of her. In the corner of her eye, she could see a thin stream of what looked like smoke trickling from the back of her neck, up Klowix’s arm and to his face as he breathed it in.

  It was blissful. Bethany had never felt anything so good in her life. Not his touch, not the best orgasm she’d ever had. This was the definition of ecstasy. Klowix groaned in equal pleasure and began moving faster, pumping in and out of her.

  Bethany was already moments away from coming when he did it again. He sped up his movements, inhumanly fast. It was so divine that Bethany screamed out loud. His finger was on her clit, and she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

  She came so hard that for a moment the world wavered. She clutched at Klowix for dear life as her legs drew up and the orgasm overcame her. She could hear him grunt as he climaxed too, depositing his seed into her with an exuberant moan. He thrusted once, twice, three more times, riding them both through it, their gasps mingling together. Finally, he collapsed on top of her, panting, every bit as spent as she was.

  Klowix rolled over so as not to crush her. He kissed her gently, smiling. Bethany tried to smile back, but she still couldn’t catch her breath. How embarrassing.

  A few moments later, she was feeling something more than embarrassment. She couldn’t get her breath. It was becoming harder to breathe by the second.

  “Bethany?” Klowix sat up, looking anxious.

  Bethany gasped, clutching at her throat, but she was getting no air.

  Klowix began to shout frantically. “No… no, this shouldn’t be happening! Help!”

  Bethany was vaguely aware of movement and voices, but in her panic, she couldn’t make anything out. She was dying. The world was moving to the end of a long tunnel.

  “Get the paramedics here, now!”

  Then his face was right above hers.

  “You’re going to be ok, Bethany. You’re going to be fine, I’ll take care of this, I promise.”

  By now, others had entered the room, and he turned to them. “Why is this happening! You were all tested, all of you! None of you are intolerant to the sharing, you can’t be. I made sure – I never would have if…”

  He kept shouting in the same desperate tone, but his words turned to mush in Bethany’s ears. Her vision was going blurry. She wanted Klowix to look at her, so that she could look into his eyes one last time, but he was still turned away from her, shouting. The world was f
ading away…

  Chapter Five

  When Bethany opened her eyes, her head was pounding. She blinked a few times until the room came into focus. She was lying in a huge bed – her bed, she remembered. There was a man in a green coat with gold stripes who was examining a T-screen, and Snia was asleep in a chair next to the bed.

  “Snia?” Bethany’s voice came out hoarse and croaky. Snia jerked awake at once.

  “Bethany! Doctor, she’s awake.”

  “How are you feeling?” The man in green leaned over her, shining a light in her eyes and feeling for her pulse. Bethany flinched; she hurt everywhere.

  “I’ll tell Klowix.” Snia leaped out of her chair and rushed from the room.

  A few moments later, Klowix came striding in. Brushing the doctor aside, Klowix knelt next to the bed.

  “Bethany, are you alright?”

  She hesitated. “I think so.”

  “Good. Then you can tell me why you weren’t tested before you came here.”

  “Um. What?”

  “Untri was under strict instructions to test every girl he brought. What happened?”

  Bethany looked as Snia for help, who had come in behind Klowix.

  Snia explained. “Some humans have a bad reaction to the sharing. Most die – you were lucky you survived. If Klowix hadn’t realized what was happening and reacted so fast, you would have. There is a medical test you can take to tell you if you’re susceptible to the reaction. Untri was supposed to test all humans before bringing them here.”

  Bethany’s head was throbbing and she couldn’t think properly. “I… I don’t know.”

  The doctor was firm now. “She needs rest. You can question her later. For now, no stress. She’s past the worst, but she still needs care if she’s to make a full recovery.”

  “Fine. Snia, tell Trili to get Untri here, then stay with Bethany. Get her anything she needs and see to it that no one disturbs her.”

  “Yes, Commander.” Snia quickly curtsied before hurrying off.

  Bethany reached out, snagging Klowix’s hand. “Stay with me.”

  Klowix’s expression softened. “I will return once I have resolved the reason for the threat to your life. Rest easy, now.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and left. Bethany was stunned. What had just happened? She’d taken him by the hand and asked him to stay. She felt alone and abandoned with him suddenly gone. She barely knew him – how had such strange and confusing feelings wormed their way into her without her realizing?

  Snia came back in and sat down beside her.

  “Where’s Klowix?”

  Snia sounded tentative. “Gone to kill Untri, I think. Don’t worry, he won’t really kill him. At least, I think he won’t.”

  “I feel strange.” Bethany watched as the doctor made some notes on the T-screen

  “You’re lucky to be alive.”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. Klowix…”

  “Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know. That’s the sharing – it brings two people closer. I imagine Klowix is feeling more drawn to you as well at the moment.”

  “It makes us closer?” Panic started to swell inside her. She was already in enough trouble as it was, she didn’t need feelings for Klowix injected into the situation. How was she going to keep distant from him now? She supposed she should have thought of all this before the sharing, but she’d wanted him so badly, she’d lost sight of her better judgement.

  Snia reassured her. “Hey, relax. Klowix will throw a fit if he sees you upset. The doctor was serious, you need to take it easy for a while.”

  Bethany nodded, trying to get her breathing under control. The sharing was done, and there wasn’t anything she could do about that now. Snia began humming a soothing tune, and before she knew it, Bethany was drifting off to sleep.

  She woke up to the sound of shouting.

  “You had strict orders! What were you thinking? Did you even think? Explain yourself!”

  She heard a vaguely familiar voice stammering in the face of Klowix’s rage. “Her – her parents didn’t want it! It was – against their religion. I swear, I told them, but they were insistent. The girl knew nothing of it, I should have warned her of the possibility.”

  “AND YOU DIDN’T THINK TO MENTION ANY OF THIS BEFORE NOW?”

  Snia giggled. “Klowix is going to take Untri’s head off.”

  Bethany opened her eyes and looked away, uncomfortable. It had just occurred to her that she should probably tell Klowix about Untri. The man was making illegal deals behind his back to earn extra gold. No doubt the test would also have cost him gold, which he pocketed when skipping that step.

  She couldn’t tell him, though. Her parents’ lives depended on it.

  Snia got up and quietly closed the door, muffling the sound of the shouts somewhat. Bethany closed her eyes, trying to think of what to do. She needed to stay away from Klowix. When he came back, she’d just have to act cold, that was all. She could do that.

  She thought she’d fallen asleep again, because when she opened her eyes, the light was coming through the window from a different angle. Klowix was sitting next to her, watching her sleep. As soon as she woke, he met her gaze with an intensity that took her breath away.

  His gaze remained steady. “I did not know. I promise you, I had no idea. If I’d known you had not been tested, I never would have…”

  “It’s ok. I believe you. It’s not your fault.”

  “Untri was my agent, acting on my behalf. I am responsible for his actions towards you.”

  “What did you do with him?”

  A ghost of a smile crossed Klowix’s face. “He’s still alive, if that’s what you’re asking. Not that he deserves it. Whether anyone in the galaxy will dare to hire him now remains to be seen.”

  Bethany privately thought that Untri would be just fine, what with all the money he’d stolen from Klowix, but she didn’t say anything.

  Klowix continued and pulled her out of her own thoughts. “The doctor has given strict instructions that you are to rest. He said the bad reaction to the sharing is only an initial reaction; now that your body has survived it, you will be able to try again with no ill effects, should you want to. You have my word on that. Of course, after your experience, it would be understandable if you never wanted to do it again.”

  Bethany wanted to take his hand and tell him that she did want to do it again, that she wanted to be close to him like that again.

  She wanted him to stay at her bedside until she was well, then take her in his arms and kiss her, but she couldn’t – not if she wanted to get home. Besides, those weren’t her thoughts anyway. It was the side effects of the sharing talking.

  “I think I need to be alone for a while,” she forced herself to say.

  A flash of hurt crossed Klowix’s face, but it was gone quickly. “Of course. I will have one of the girls come in and sit with you. The doctor says you need to be monitored, just in case.”

  Bethany nodded and turned onto her side. She’d pretend to be asleep so that she didn’t need to talk to whomever came to watch her. She didn’t want to talk; she wanted to wallow in her misery in peace.

  Bethany subtly chose the place at the table farthest from Klowix, pretending not to see him looking at her. She was getting good at eating Evion food now; she didn’t drop anything this time.

  “How was your day, Commander?”

  He replied warmly to Ruth. Bethany tried not to listen. Ever since the doctor had given her the go-ahead to be up and about again, Klowix had been showing the utmost respect for her wish to have some time alone. When he wanted something from one of the others, he simply ordered it, but he left her to do what she pleased.

  Bethany was miserable. She could see how he wanted to be close to her, the same way she wanted to be close to him. She forced herself not to respond to his signals, and he took the hint and stayed away.

  After dinner, Klowix followed Ruth to her room. They shared everything, and Bethany knew tha
t he hadn’t so much as kissed any of the others yet, but it still made her jealous.

  She could just hear them talking through the closed door. She wanted to throw something. Culip wanted to do some more shopping, and Bethany reasoned it couldn’t hurt to try to take her mind off things, so she acquiesced to another session of acquiring the many things her new friends thought she needed.

  It wasn’t all bad; curled up on the bed together in front of the T-screen, Bethany couldn’t help but get drawn into it. She hadn’t been a fan of such excessive shopping at first, but Culip was converting her.

  “So Bethany, when do you think you’ll be feeling better?”

  She looked at Trili, who had a concerned expression. “I’m feeling fine. The doctor cleared me; I’m fully recovered.”

  “Clearly not. You’re still avoiding Klowix. What’s going on?”

  Bethany sighed. She should have expected this sooner or later. They didn’t know that she wasn’t here by choice; they’d be wondering why she was squandering her chances with Klowix. Every time she lied to them, she felt worse. In this case, she settled for the truth, or at least part of it.

  “I don’t like the way the sharing made me feel. I mean, not while it was happening, that was amazing. I mean afterward. If I’m going to feel closer to Klowix, I want it to be because of me, not because of some strange Evion ritual.”

  Lizzy nodded. “I guess that makes sense. None of us is really qualified to judge; we’ve never partaken in the sharing. Have you talked to Klowix about it?”

  “No, I just need some space.”

  Beoli spoke up. “He’s giving you that. He must really like you. If it was anyone else ignoring him, he’d just dismiss them.”

  Bethany looked up. “Does that happen often? People being dismissed?”

  Trili shifted in her seat. “Not that often. He likes to get to know us thoroughly so that he can be sure we’re not his secrena before dismissing us. I’ve been here the longest, about eight months. You’re the newest, and Beoli was about two months before you.”

  “I’m still in contact with Alexa,” Lizzy put in. “She was dismissed maybe four months ago, right? Anyway, she’s booked onto one of those explorer ship tours. She messages me whenever she has signal.”