“It’s not an insult.”
He stood and walked toward the bathroom. “Enough of this.”
“You know I’m right.”
He stopped in the doorway with his hand clenching the doorjamb.
She said, “No more sleeping together. No more sitting on your lap. It all needs to end. I’m novel to you. Don’t make a mistake that will ruin your entire life because of curiosity and a whim.”
As much as those words hurt, as much as she had hated hearing them before, she still said them. Bekion was a good man and a fair ruler. The history she had learned showed Panagiota needed a king like Bekion, who was leading them into a golden age.
She refused to be the reason he fell.
Bekion entered the bathroom and closed the door after him without saying a word.
In a way, she took that as his agreement. He’d probably needed to hear it from someone else before he resolved to do the right thing.
Chapter Eleven
“Your Majesty, she is making a mess.” Nakavel, one of Bekion’s many secretaries who worked under Vieve, watched Starling with a disapproving glare.
Starling grumbled under her breath but continued. She had complained of boredom with the translation project but Bekion had no other task for her to do. When she heard he needed some tablets shredded, she volunteered.
Shredding tablets that had outlived their usefulness ensured the data it once housed would never be accessed again. The machine Starling used crumbled the tablets into small bits that got deposited in a wastebin not quite adequate enough to catch all the pieces.
Bekion tried ignoring Nakavel. Unfortunately, ignoring him didn’t make the man go away. Vieve had sent her staff to fill in for her while she organized the research about Ajoki River.
Finding out the river possessed a treasure long buried had surprised Bekion. The secret of the treasure had passed down through generations of Ruset’s family. Somehow Orvey had learned of it.
Vieve now oversaw the planning of the river’s excavation as well as the reconstruction of Ruset’s and Orvey’s properties. Bekion wanted the best heading such an endeavor. The ten people who milled around Bekion reinforced how truly gifted Vieve was.
Nakavel asked in a whining voice, “Is it building a nest?”
Bekion said, “My pretty pet is helping me since no one else saw fit to accomplish this chore before now.” He glanced at Starling and caught the superior expression she threw at the complaining man. Bekion chuckled.
Nakavel moved away. He went about his various tasks but continued glancing toward Starling and making comments under his breath about the mess she made. Bekion finally put down his work and looked at Starling.
She had a sizeable pile of chewed-to-bits tablet pieces around her. The wastebin held the majority. She stopped after every fifth tablet and gathered the wayward bits into a pile she scooped back into the bin. To his eyes, Starling tried, in her own way, to keep the mess to a minimum.
Nakavel heaved an annoyed sigh and grumbled more.
Bekion had had enough. “Starling, stop. You’re finished.”
She looked at the five bins full of tablets behind her and then at Bekion. “No, I’m not.”
He beckoned to her.
“I’m not finished.” She gestured to the mess. “I’ll clean it up. There was no point now since it’ll return as I shred more.”
He agreed with her but stood and walked to her.
“Bekion, please.” Her eyes shone with dejection.
“This is not the duty of a pet. And look at your hands. Furielle won’t like this mess one bit.” He lifted her and settled her on the crook of his arm. “Besides, another has volunteered to take over this chore.”
He watched the secretary as he lifted the bin one-handed and then emptied the contents onto the floor. Bekion used his foot to spread the mess around.
Several people in the room gasped when he tossed the wastebin across the room, spreading the mess even farther.
He pinned Nakavel with a look. “Clean up this mess. When you’re done, you will finish shredding all the tablets here and in the storage room.”
Nakavel ducked his head. “Ye-yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. The rest of you vacate the room. Leave Nakavel to his duty.”
“I’m not to receive help?” Nakavel watched with wide-eyed horror as everyone left.
Bekion said, “Why would you? Alone, my pretty pet did a fine job. I’m sure your work will be exemplary by comparison.” He exited, happy to be leaving Nakavel. He would talk to Vieve about the man.
He smirked when Starling giggled under her breath. She whispered, “Petty.”
He gave her a squeeze, which made her laugh louder.
She said, “You left your work.”
He shook his head. “I can do it in my chambers. It will be quieter there. I’ll be happy when Vieve returns. She may be a pushy woman but at least she does her job without complaining.”
“It also helps that she likes me. She wouldn’t have complained about the mess I was making.”
“Also true.” He made a thinking noise. “Maybe I should worry about how much she spoils you.”
“She doesn’t spoil me.”
He snorted. “Who gave you three boxes of pebble candy?”
“Vieve.”
“And the bell beads that adorn your hair?”
Starling touched her head, making the beads at the end of her braids tinkle. “Vieve.”
“Who commissioned the table and chairs you use in the main dining hall?”
“Vieve. But that’s because she beat you to it. She probably thought you would request it eventually and decided to get it done before you asked.”
“I enjoyed having you sit on my lap,” he grumbled. The topic strayed to dangerous territory and they had yet to reach the privacy of his bedroom. “It matters not. I have validated my point. You are being spoiled. In my experience, spoiled women cause trouble.”
“I’m not a woman. I’m a pet. Pets are meant to be spoiled. So there.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
Behind him, a few of his guards chuckled under their breath. Bekion joined their amusement and shook his head. “I am supposed to spoil you, not my secretary.”
“If it makes you feel better, Vieve always says the presents are from you.”
“She should inform me of the presents before giving them to you.”
“Now who’s whining?” Starling lifted an eyebrow at him when he met her gaze.
He stopped, put Starling on her feet and then walked away.
Starling called after him, “Petty.”
He didn’t acknowledge her. He did smile though. Laughter escaped him when she caught up with the group at his chambers. She had Nausic carrying her. He said, “Spoiled.”
“I’ll admit to mine when you admit to yours.”
Bekion said to Nausic, “Take her to the inner chambers. I need to work without interruption.”
Nausic nodded and walked away.
Starling called back, “It’s my naptime anyway.”
Her childish antics put Bekion in an upbeat mood. When his secretaries arrived, the mood faltered a little. His work continued.
Without Nakavel’s complaining, everyone performed with more efficiency. Bekion would mention that fact to Vieve. He allowed her to manage her staff but she would have to give Bekion a very good reason to keep Nakavel in his employ.
Bekion managed to finish all the tasks laid out for him except one. He picked up the tablet and rose from his seat. Everyone in the outer chamber stopped and looked at him.
He said, “Leave. We’re finished for the day.”
Everyone bowed before filing out of the room. Rois and Nausic alone lingered.
Bekion said to them, “Take a break. I’m going to the inner chamber. I’ll call if I need you.”
Both men bowed and left.
He waited for the door to close and then went to the bedroom. He shut the door and set his cuffs to sleep mode. H
is gaze traveled to Starling. She lay sprawled on the couch with scarves wrapped around her wrists.
He untied each scarf with slow movements so as not to wake her and then deactivated her cuffs. Lifting her legs, he sat down and situated her feet so they rested on his lap. That small amount of contact soothed him. He leaned back with a contented sigh.
After a moment to relax, he could look at the final tablet without a sense of annoyance. He laid it on his thigh while he rested one arm on the armrest and the other over Starling’s ankles.
Without thinking, he started moving his hand over her body. She shifted and made a small mewing noise. That drew his attention to his motions. With a sly smile, he moved his hand with purpose and passed it over her breasts.
Starling shifted.
Bekion trailed his fingertips around the small bud that had appeared under the fabric of Starling’s clothing.
She shifted again, moving toward his hand. A soft moan escaped her lips.
As invitations went, he liked the way hers sounded. He unbuttoned her dress enough to slip his hand underneath and caressed her bare skin. The contact made her startled. Her eyes snapped open.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked in a soft voice. He didn’t stop the movements of his fingers and noticed Starling relaxing once more.
“Yes, I did. I was having the most interesting dream.” She looked down at his hand. “Now I see why. What are you doing?”
He hefted the tablet. “An export-import report. They always bore me. However, I’ve found a way to aid my concentration.” He tweaked her nipple and then moved his hand to her other breast.
“You know that’s not what I was asking.”
“Oh, this?” He wiggled his fingers.
Starling’s breathing quickened and she bowed her back a little, pressing her breast into his hand.
“I had the sudden urge to pet you in hopes that some of your relaxation would flow into me. That is what pets are for, isn’t it?”
“This isn’t petting.” She pushed at his hand. “It’s also not allowed. We talked about this, Bekion.”
“You’re right.”
She breathed a sigh. She sounded so relieved.
“That isn’t petting.” He moved his hand down her chest to her belly and back. “This is.” When he moved his hand down again, he unfastened more of the buttons that ran the length of her dress, bearing her body to her upper thighs. With slow motions, he stroked from the tops of her legs to her bellybutton.
Starling squeezed her thighs together. At the same time, she twisted to the side, ready to jump off the couch.
Bekion pressed against her stomach, holding her in place.
She shifted and squirmed, trying to dislodge him. “We talked about this. Stop.”
“I am petting you. You cannot expect me to own a pet I cannot touch.”
“That’s not what you’re doing and you know it.”
He leaned over her. “And what am I doing, pretty pet?”
She shivered when he smoothed his hand up her body and cupped one of her breasts. He moved a single finger back and forth over her nipple. He wanted to take it into his mouth. His tongue remembered how soft and responsive that little bud could be.
“Bekion, please,” Starling whispered in a breathy voice.
“I plan to please you right now.” He set aside the tablet and gave her his full attention, staring down at her with a hungry gaze.
No other woman’s beauty could compare to Starling’s. Bekion continued indulging in the occasional maid as a measure to ease his lust. Those empty releases kept him from taking Starling to his bed to satisfy his need for her.
After twelve days of such measures, he knew a simple truth. Those encounters didn’t alleviate his need to touch Starling.
He drew his hand down her body and reveled in the feel of her skin. Bending over her, he inhaled her sweet scent. It was a mix of earth and sweetness that only Starling could produce. Her fragrance intoxicated his senses whenever he smelled it.
He grinned when Starling tensed, holding her breath. He moved his hand past her bellybutton. Her rapid breathing indicated she wanted him to continue. She’d stopped denying him.
He said, “I wonder.”
“What?”
“Do humans purr?” He ran his fingers over the curls that hid Starling’s most intimate treasure.
Starling met his gaze as she lifted one knee and shifted her legs open.
Bekion slipped his hand lower and delved one finger deep into her liquid heat. Her inner muscles clenched around the intrusion as he pumped his finger inside her.
A smirk curved his lips when Starling did actually start purring. She rolled her hips against his hand and pushed upward. Her body begged for more.
“It seems humans do purr, after all.” He removed his finger and eased his hand back up her body to tease her nipples once more.
“That’s it?”
He chuckled. “Now, now, my pretty pet. We can’t—”
A chime sounded seconds before the bedroom door opened, interrupting his words.
“This is King Bekion’s private…” Furielle stumbled to a halt and stared at Bekion. Behind her, an unknown maid gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
Furielle stumbled out quickly, “For-forgive my intrusion, My King. I didn’t realize you were here. We will leave.”
“Hold, Furielle.” Bekion didn’t act guilty or stop his motions. He did, however, lengthen his strokes so it looked as though he was petting Starling. For her part, Starling stayed relaxed and didn’t act embarrassed. He met Furielle’s gaze. “Come here and feel this.”
Furielle hesitated the span of a breath before she moved to his side. He motioned to Starling’s bare stomach. Furielle looked at him then Starling. She touched Starling’s stomach briefly and pulled away.
“Furielle, I doubt Starling will bite you.” Bekion crossed his arms and watched the woman, her nervousness easy to see.
She touched Starling’s stomach once more, rubbing for a bit before she pulled away.
Bekion remained silent and waited.
Furielle pressed her hands together in agitation and then frowned down at them. She sniffed her fingers then looked at him. “This is the scent of the moisturizing oil Starling uses after her bath.”
Bekion nodded. “I thought as much. Her skin isn’t absorbing it. I’m sure the nanites have blocked it. Take her to the infirmary and find out why. Nausic will escort you.” He tapped his cuff so Nausic would know Bekion required his presence.
“At once, My King.” Furielle held her hand out to Starling, who buttoned her dress and got off the couch without aid.
Furielle faced the maid who had accompanied her. “Come.”
Bekion said, “Leave her. See to Starling.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Furielle followed Starling out of the room.
Bekion waited for the sound of the outer chamber door opening and closing before turning his attention back to the report.
Clothing rustled as the young woman standing before him shifted from one foot to the other.
He said, “Stop fidgeting. You’re distracting me.”
The sound stopped and Bekion finished the last five pages of the report. He added his authorization code and signed off the document. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax against the couch with his eyes closed. “Now then—”
The woman yelped then apologized quickly.
He resisted the urge to sigh as he opened his eyes. The woman before him was very pretty and very young. “How old are you?”
“Twenty, Sire, this past month.”
“Ah.”
That explained it. She became legal recently. He guessed working at the palace must be her first real job since leaving her parents’ home.
“Furielle showed you the palace.”
“Yes, Sire. I ended my interview with Lady Vieve an hour ago. Mistress Furielle was there and Lady Vieve asked her to escort me.”
He tapped his cuff
, opening a communication channel. “Vieve.”
Vieve said, “Yes, Bekion?”
“I have a young woman standing in my inner chamber.”
“Good. Good. You’ve met Aya. She’s pretty, isn’t she?”
“Quite. What are her duties?”
“She’s your new maid.”
“My new maid.”
“Yes, though why you give them that ridiculous title when everyone knows the women are hired to be your concubines, I’ll never understand.”
He wouldn’t bother telling Vieve that Aya could hear their conversation. Vieve wouldn’t care. He said, “They have that title because the women are palace maids. I will not have a room full of women lying around being pampered and spoiled as they think up ways to scheme their way to the top. My question refers to why she is here.”
“Good question. You didn’t send for her—I’d know. I told Furielle to show her around the palace. I guess she thought Aya should see the bedroom sooner rather than later. Did she interrupt something?”
Quite a bit, Bekion wanted to yell. He held back the urge and kept himself from showing his annoyance at the situation. Starling’s little malady made a convenient excuse.
He said, “I was in the middle of reviewing the export-import report.”
“Did you finish?”
“Yes. I’m sending Aya back. I’ll have her deliver it to you.” He held the tablet out to Aya. The girl inched forward and took it from him then dodged back.
He hated skittish women. Her virginal demeanor meant her parents probably pressed her to take a job at the palace so she could gain status and prestige as a woman the king favored.
Vieve asked, “Where’s Furielle? She can bring the tablet to me.”
Bekion started to answer when he noticed Aya staring at him with wide, scared eyes. He made a shooing motion.
The girl nodded quickly and ran out of the room. She forgot to curtsy. He wouldn’t call her on the infraction because he wanted her out of the room.
He said to Vieve, “Seeing Starling to the infirmary.”
“Did something happen to Starling? Is she ill? What happened?”
Bekion couldn’t help his amusement at Vieve’s instant, frantic concern. He said in a soothing voice, “Calm yourself, Vieve. Starling is fine. The nanites are rejecting a lotion she uses. I’ve sent her to the infirmary to find out why.”
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