Ruled

by J. J. Lore

“We are here to contribute to a worthy cause. Please sit with me.” Edem gestured at the empty seat next to him, and one of the centurions pulled out the chair very courteously.

  “No, I have work—”

  Edem rose quickly, his interest in sampling the reddish soup and small roll expiring. “Then show us your work. I’m very interested.”

  Corrine gaped and rested her hand on Mal’s. His bondmate edged closer to her and inclined his head down, clearly enjoying the contact. A jolt of anticipation thudded through Edem’s gut, and he was certain they would soon find themselves in a euphoric jumble on some sort of soft surface.

  With a little shake, Corrine glanced over her shoulder at Mal, almost as if noticing him for the first time, then pushed at his hand. His bondmate slowly acquiesced, sliding his hand down her hip before letting it fall to his side. Edem wished he could follow suit, but she was turning back to the doors.

  “If you insist,” she muttered under her breath, and they followed her into a cramped kitchen consisting of one stove, a long counter, and metal shelves holding cookware, plates, and glasses for service. There was also a tall stack of the goods they’d brought along, nearly blocking in the older man who was looking it over with his mouth open in shock. Everything was shabby and clearly well-used, but clean and in its place. They’d timed their arrival perfectly. She was obviously done with the midday meal preparation and could leave with them momentarily. Edem allowed himself to smile.

  “We cook back here. With pots and pans.” She waved her hand at the equipment and twisted her pretty lips into a credible scowl. “I’m sure it’s very unimpressive compared to what you’re used to.”

  “This is probably the first kitchen he’s seen,” Mal joked as he inspected the line of knives hanging from a magnetic bar. This was a blatant untruth, as Edem often lingered in the kitchen of their private apartment at the palace whenever Mal could be convinced to prepare a treat. Granted, he’d never cooked anything in his life, but he appreciated his bondmate’s effort to be humorous.

  Corrine cocked her head back and looked between them. “Really? You’ve never been in a kitchen?”

  Edem allowed his eyebrows to rise with faux chagrin. “Perhaps you could show me how these things work.” He pointed at one of the burners on the stove, and Corrine rushed to his side, grabbing his hand back and holding it tightly.

  “Don’t touch that! Always assume the stove is hot.”

  “And that knives are sharp,” Mal interjected as he balanced a cleaver on his finger. What a show-off. Edem shifted his fingers in her grasp and clasped her more securely. She glanced down at their intertwined hands and frowned up at him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Holding your hand.” He held her gaze and watched as a beguiling flush crept up to her cheeks.

  “Why would you do that?” Now she tugged slightly, unconvincing in her effort to escape.

  “He’s touching you because it feels good. I can feel it from here,” Mal spoke up and moved closer, the knife back in place on the holder.

  Corrine twisted her head to look at his bondmate. “What do you mean you can feel it? I’m not touching you.”

  Mal raised an eyebrow. “It’s an attribute of bonding. Humans don’t practice it.”

  Edem rubbed his fingertips along the soft skin of her inner wrist as her pulse jumped. His tesak ached, and he suddenly longed to taste her, to draw a bit of her essence across his tongue. But that wasn’t what this was about. It couldn’t be. He and Mal could not bond with a human woman. His subjects, aside from the few warriors who’d found their Earth females, required an Alphan queen, and Alphan progeny.

  Pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth as if he could push the buds of his fangs back up, Edem took advantage of her proximity and studied her face. He’d thought her attractive before, with her full rose lips and warm grey eyes, but now discovered her chin had a slight point and there was a small krtek at the corner of her mouth that simply begged for a kiss.

  “What is bonding—wait, no, I didn’t ask that. Why do I keep asking about that?” She tugged at his grasp again, more forcefully, and he reluctantly let her go. She straightened her back. “I’ve shown you the kitchen and now I need to get back to work.”

  “Doing what? It appears as if you had completed your tasks for the day. Excuse me, human male.” Mal turned to the man still hovering near the stack of canned foodstuffs. He shifted from foot to foot and seemed to want to chaperone their interaction with Corrine. Well, he wouldn’t be invited along when they finally convinced her to visit their suite. “Are you finished here?”

  “Ah, yes, other than finding a place to put all this.” The human tapped his hand against the side of a carton marked “crushed tomatoes”, whatever those were.

  “A task I’m sure you can accomplish.” Edem nodded at the human and returned his attention to Corrine, who glanced back and forth between them. “We would enjoy it if you would accompany us back to the hotel, where we have more privacy and security.”

  Her brows knit together. “Why?”

  Mal shot him a loaded look, making it clear he expected Edem to do the charming and talking. So far she hadn’t become offended by anything they’d said, so it seemed the odds were slightly in his favor to convince her to join them.

  “We wish to get to know you better. Part of our mission here is to learn as much about human cultures as we can, the better to facilitate treaties and business arrangements.” The business arrangements Alpha wanted with Earth were mining rights, and the only treaties were to make humans aware of how little of space they had a claim to, but revealing that wouldn’t endear Mal or him to her. He definitely wanted to endear at this point.

  Corrine sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know anything about politics or laws. You aren’t going to learn much from me.”

  “We meet so many diplomats well-versed in speaking without saying much, it would be a pleasure to have a genuine conversation with a…” Edem trailed off, not wanting to give an insult where none was intended.

  “A commoner? A poor person?” Rather than stiffen with outrage as she had the previous evening, instead, Corrine’s mouth turned up in a lovely smile. Perhaps being in familiar surroundings had made her more comfortable.

  “We don’t think that,” Mal said in a low tone.

  “If you won’t come with us,” Edem offered, pained by the realization she might not accompany them. “Then perhaps you might join us as we have a meal. You can tell us about what you cooked.”

  “You would eat here? Eat this food?”

  “We would.”

  “We’d be happy to.” He and Mal spoke over each other in their haste to assure her.

  “I don’t see the harm, and I am hungry,” Corrine said as she gently withdrew her hand from his. “Denton, I’ll be back in a little while to help you put all this away.”

  The older human glanced back and forth between Edem and Mal like he was expecting them to growl and start biting Corrine any moment. If there was any luck in the galaxy, soon enough he and his bondmate would be gently growling and nibbling this woman in a sensual attack. “You think that’s a good idea, sitting with them?”

  “We welcome all here. That’s what I believe,” Corrine replied with a firm tone. She gestured at the door. “I’ll join you momentarily.”

  Rather surprised that her dismissal didn’t bother him, Edem exited the kitchen and returned to the dining room to find only Alphan warriors in attendance. He returned to his seat and stirred his soup, looking for any familiar ingredient. Mal went to the deserted service alcove and selected a few items, then took a seat near Edem.

  “It seems to be going well so far,” his bondmate said before taking a bite of bread. His eyebrows rose, and he studied the roll. “This is actually quite good.”

  Corrine arrived in time to hear his remark. “Thank you. I made those this morning with the last of our whole wheat flour. At least, it was the last of our flour until your donation thi
s afternoon. Thank you for that. You’ve given us supplies that will feed people for a month or more.” She selected a chair opposite them and not in the seat they’d left available between them.

  Edem decided not to suggest she move closer. Time enough for that. He took a sip of the soup and was immediately impressed by the balance of flavor and the richness of the broth interspersed with tiny cubes of some sorts of colorful root vegetables. “This is impressive. What do you call it?”

  She dipped her head and tore at a roll. “Thank you. It’s ah, just something I made up on the spot, with what was available. Parsnips, carrot, and turnip in a tomato and chicken broth. I was lucky to have a couple of carcasses to make stock.”

  “So you have training in cuisine?” Mal asked as he dipped a twist of bread into his soup.

  Corrine nodded. “I attended school and was serving my internship in a restaurant when Wilmington’s sea gates finally broke and the city flooded. I had to come to Atlanta and beg for lodging from my aunt. Without having a relative here to stay with, I never would have been allowed in the city. Immigration has gotten a lot stricter since the droughts.”

  Edem laid down his spoon as he contemplated this. The possibility that Corrine would have become a refugee, lost in the lawless camps that littered this planet, was too awful to consider. “We are sorry for your loss.”

  She tightened her jaw briefly as she acknowledged the condolence.

  Edem was struck with a bolt of brilliant inspiration. Implementation of the scheme would solve so many problems and give him and Mal much more time with Corrine, considering their impending return to Alpha. “Corrine, I’d like to invite you to become a part of our cultural exchange program.”

  Edem noticed Mal take in a breath and turn his head to stare. Granted, he’d always resisted the notion before, not eager to become responsible for the wellbeing of human envoys travelling in space for the first time and negotiating their presentation at court and all the attendant rituals and receptions, but with Corrine as part of the delegation, it would become a pleasure.

  “Our cultural exchange program?” Mal ground out the words, sarcasm near the surface, but not quite expressed. They were in public, after all. Edem shot him a quelling look. He was the prince, and these things were within his purview. Hadn’t his father approved this tour as a fact-finding mission to establish good will along with assessing strengths, weaknesses, and potential resources?

  “Exactly that.” Edem turned back to Corrine, relishing the way her sparkling grey eyes met his. “You would journey to Alpha, visit interesting sites, meet many people, have the opportunity to learn about our food and share Earth dishes with our people in some tranquil setting. All perfectly safe and pleasant.” Oh, that last bit was inspired. Corrine fluttered one hand down her tunic as if it needed straightening.

  “I … why me?”

  “I like you.” Edem inclined his head at his bondmate. “We both like you, and it would please us to spend more time with you.”

  His honesty seemed to disarm her as she opened and closed her mouth a few times without saying anything. He was a bit surprised by his directness. Usually when it came to seducing a woman, he deployed light chatter and numerous compliments along the road towards nudity and intercourse, with Mal providing all the non-verbal encouragements necessary.

  “I told you before, I’m a nobody. There are lots of chefs with more experience and training than me who would do a much better job. I mean, look where I work.” She flung her hand out to draw attention to the stained ceiling, the scuffed floor, the wall plastered with papers detailing missing family members and offering temporary work. Edem only noticed a lovely young woman who embodied many admirable characteristics.

  Mal rumbled next to him and shifted his shoulders. “We don’t want another.”

  Before she could frame a reply, there was the sound of raised voices from outside, then the clashing clatter of breaking glass. His guard, who had been partaking of soup and bread with apparent relish, sprang to their feet, two flanking him and Mal as two more exited the building. For a moment he wished two of his former retinue were in attendance, but Mikel and Felix had left Earth with their new bondmate, leaving Mal to train replacements while they toured. His kisero wasn’t pleased to have inexperienced men protecting him, but Edem had faith all would be well.

  Mal consulted his communicator and what he heard evidently displeased him, for he rose and stalked to the door. The sound of shouting intensified, accompanied by metallic clangs. “Damnation, they are assaulting our craft.”

  With a hiss of indrawn breath, Corrine also rose and made as if to go to the door, but Edem stood and intercepted her, unthinkingly wrapping one arm around her waist to restrain her. The contact of her soft buttocks against his thigh made his staff thicken immediately.

  “Don’t let them break our windows. We just had them replaced,” she said as her body shivered. With fear? With awareness of him holding her close?

  “Who is it?”

  She turned to face him, and he kept his hold on her, shifting his grip but not losing contact for a second. He wondered when she’d object to the touch, but she remained close, even resting her hand on his arm. “It’s probably one of the gangs. Groups of angry people with nothing to do, nowhere to go, looking to cause trouble for anyone not like them.”

  “Have they harmed you?” The notion was repellant.

  She shrugged. “They like to come in and hassle people, try to intimidate us into giving some money to make them go away. They call it protection—”

  “No! We do not engage!” Mal’s shouted command interrupted them, and Edem faced the front door which his bondmate had thrown open with a growl. The howls and curses from outside went even louder, and he could now see several ragged humans waving pieces of lumber and heavy-looking rocks. His guards unsheathed weapons and tightened their cordon around him as he clutched Corrine even closer. She wriggled slightly but didn’t move to escape.

  He could make out some of the words the human agitators were shouting, most involving invocations for aliens to get off their planet and leave their women alone, along with several criticisms of Alphan horns and genital size. The last few sounded like expressions of insecurity and jealousy, which were entirely justified.

  Mal strode outside, and despite all the training and orders to stay away from hazardous situations, Edem moved closer to the open door so he could observe. His bondmate could express his displeasure later. The hovercraft seemed to be the focus of the human’s wrath. Its surface was now covered with smears of dirt, shards of wood, and broken bits of glass. The Alphan officers who’d been on guard duty outside had drawn their weapons, and Edem was sure the sharpshooters left on building tops in the area had already focused on targets. All his warriors were primed and ready to go to battle.

  He heard Mal order the crowd to disperse, the defiant yells of those opposed, and then there was a sudden crack and flash of light as the back of the hovercraft exploded into flames. Moving on instinct, Edem fell to the floor, careful to hold his body over Corrine’s as he tugged her down.

  ****

  Heat and light. And noise. That’s what she remembered before being borne to the floor in the Alphan’s strong arms. He was crouched over her now, one of his big hands pressing her face into his shoulder as the sound of shouts and scuffles roiled around her. Shock and fear made her skin go cold, and she burrowed as close as she could to Edem, heedless if it was improper. His warm weight was such a comfort, one she didn’t want to lose.

  “All will be well,” he whispered in her ear, and she pressed her cheek to his. His long hair slipped over her face as his scent, spicy and musky like cardamom, filled her nose. Her breasts pressed to his chest, and as he shifted his legs over hers, her nipples hardened and sent a trickle of heat down to her pussy. Suppressing her instinct to spread her legs wide and press her groin to his, she instead wrapped her hands around his shoulders. “You will be safe with us.”

  She desperately wis
hed to believe this. She hadn’t felt safe in so long, she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been completely at ease. She couldn’t stop the little whimper that escaped her, and Edem responded by rumbling something soft and low in that musical-sounding language to her. The raised voices gradually lessened along with the noise of stomping feet. The tension that had tightened her muscles eased, and she loosened her grip on his back.

  His breath gusted across her neck, and she quivered. As his hand cupped around the back of her head to shield her from the floor, he shifted so he was looking down at her, his golden eyes a molten bronze as he took her in. She was frozen to the spot. He said something else in that unknown language, and she heard a few people move, but all consideration of her surroundings vanished as he pressed his lips to her cheek then nudged nearer her mouth.

  “What…” She didn’t complete the question because the answer was obvious. This alien wanted to kiss her, and therefore that was what he was doing. He was arrogant, and he did as he liked. His lips were so warm and soft the idea they weren’t yet on her mouth made her moan a little. In response to her wordless little cry, Edem kissed her quiet, his mouth dropping over hers in a melting pressure that made her tense and relax at the same time. He nibbled at her upper lip and teased her lower with his tongue until she opened to him, heedless of the violence occurring outside or the idea that the other might Alphans be watching. Long, blissful seconds of pleasurable friction followed as she learned what he liked. He rocked his hips against her in a gentle imitation of penetration, and she could feel his thick cock against her belly through all the layers of clothing separating them. Why was she responding so positively? She didn’t even like sex all that much.

  “Edem.” Mal’s voice made her shiver with awareness, and she broke the kiss to look at the big man as he squatted next to them, one big hand on his bondmate’s shoulder. Edem shifted his legs and rolled to the side but still kept his arm around her shoulders. She knew reclining between them on the floor probably looked ridiculous, but it didn’t seem anyone else was even in the room at this point. How long had they been kissing?