The Royal Mate (Space Wars)

by April Zyon

  He saw sadness on her face and even though they had just technically met he knew he had to tell her. There was danger coming for him but he needed her as much as he needed his weapons.

  He had to have her. To hell with the consequences. He needed her in his life. “Paisley…” He reached out to touch her hand, moving to take it into his, and pulled her close to his body. “I feel something for you.”

  “I feel something for you, too.” Their hands touched, fingers twined, and he simply focused on that feeling for a moment and savored her words. She felt something for him.

  “I also worry for you,” he admitted. He leaned in and brushed his lips to her cheek. “I worry that this life is going to be too dangerous to have you close to me but I can’t seem to let you go. Ever.”

  She had moved in closer to him. He hadn’t failed to notice that she seemed to want to touch him as much as he wanted to touch her. He dipped his head just a bit and brushed his lips to her hand that he held, just caressing her knuckles with his lips. He felt it and knew she felt the small spark that fanned between them as well.

  He decided to go all in and said, “You feel the mating bond, too. You are mine. You know that, I know it, and while it would be far safer for you to not be a part of my life, I have to have you. I need you in my life, now and always. Will you be mine?”

  He saw the surprise on her face, then her tentative nod. When she accepted, he did the only thing he could in that moment and kissed her. He kissed her like a man starved and in many ways he was; he was starved for the other half of his soul.

  Chapter Five

  Since they had decided to go all in on their relationship, Markus was having Paisley fill out the forms needed for their bedroom play, forms necessary in their worlds to ensure that there was no pain given that wasn’t asked for.

  Leaning back next to her, he reached over to press an icon that popped open a folder. In the folder, he tapped another icon and when it opened up, she saw it was a contract. “Put in your name, the date, and the other items up top here to make it ours. Then scroll down to the next pages to tick off anything that is interesting to you. You can change the settings on the side to different colors of the ticks. Green is okay, yellow is maybe, and red is not in this lifetime.”

  She nodded, then started to go through the items, still shocked—in the best way possible—over the fact that she’d found her mate. “How do I know what you like?” She noticed that it was almost like a blank slate for her to work over and she wanted to know how she would know what he liked and didn’t like. “Oh, this is possible?” she asked with a grin when she saw something. “You would blindfold me and we could do things like you tying me up and taking me from behind, anally?” She couldn’t get over just how freaking much that turned her on. She felt him jerk against her body and his breathing came in hard and fast pants before he finally answered her.

  “Then put the green tick there. I have the sheets already done on a separate contract. Once you’re done, we can combine them using the program that is somewhere in one of these folders, and it will show a combined list. It can always be adjusted by coming back to your original contract and making a change. It will automatically update into the one that has both our names on it once we run it through the program the first time.”

  “I guess I like that idea, that I’m able to make my own choices without knowing what you want and being swayed by that. Oh, this one, too,” she added, placing another green check on more of the heavier BDSM elements of their world. She loved the idea of being tied up, blindfolded, and left to his mercy but the one she’d just checked involved something called a wooden cross. According to the description, she would be tied to that cross. A bar between her legs would keep her pussy and ass spread for him. “Is it getting hotter in here or is it just me?”

  “I think it may be you, little one.” A quick look his way showed his lips were twitching but he was attempting to maintain a bland expression. “Keep going, there are two other pages after this one you need to get through. From what you said earlier, the third one will be mostly red ticks.”

  She nodded and began to go through the pages. “I don’t mind being spanked just a bit when we’re in the moment but aside from that, no. At all. You’re right, the rest of these are all no because I don’t want to be smacked or beaten with a whip or whatever. I don’t mind if we try the erotic asphyxiation, because I trust you. I’m assuming you would know when too much was too much, right?”

  “I would know,” he said. “It’s something that should not be attempted between a new couple ever, or a new couple not sharing the bond. The bond telegraphs a lot of information, especially when strong emotions are at the forefront. Something like asphyxiation will kick in your most primal need to protect yourself. Even with your trust in me, it will be hard to fight it. Those emotions pouring through the bond will tell me if I can push you or if I need to pull back.”

  “Makes sense,” she said with a nod, then handed him the data pad after affixing her signature. “This is what I want. I did have a few yellows because I don’t know what they are or how they would work. I want to try at least. I want to try a lot of things with you, and maybe we’ll end up adding to our list,” she told him. “So now merge the two and see where we work and don’t work together?”

  Markus accepted the data pad from her and after a few moments handed it back. The first page was now filled where it had previously had a blank chunk of space at the bottom. Obviously for his details and signature, she noted. Scrolling down to the first page, she saw the list had altered from boxes, terms, and descriptions to only terms with either only her name beside it, his only, or both in green or yellow. “All the red items are on the last sheet,” he told her quietly.

  She scanned the list, pausing when she got to the last sheet. She looked over the red items, then grinned. “All of our reds match, and all of our greens match. My yellows are even mixed with your yellows and greens. That’s amazing.”

  “It does make sense we would be compatible in our tastes. The universe doesn’t usually make mistakes about those who are destined to bond. I say usually because there have been a couple I read about in our history that are rather well known. How the universe thought they would make good pairings, I’ll never understand.” Taking the data pad back from her, he went to look at her yellow items that were paired with his green ones. Markus tapped on one, did a search, and handed her the pad so she could see what he’d pulled up. It was a graphic depiction of the act she’d not understood. Instantly her cheeks heated up.

  “Can I change that to green, please?” she asked just a bit breathlessly. If she had known she could research the data pad like that, she would have. Mercy. “I want this one to be green as well.”

  Chuckling softly, he took her back into her original contract and let her go at it. “Tap the name, and when the little box appears above or below it tap on the box. It will take you into the database that is saved with the contracts so you can see the graphics. If we pull up the actual site, you can see the graphics moving for more realism, but they are still only graphics.”

  “I’d rather try them with you,” she told him as she made the changes. “I don’t want this to limit us. It won’t, will it? What if there are new things that come around a year or more down the road?”

  “Everything can be changed as we grow together as a couple. If something works now but doesn’t later, we adjust. If you hear about a new whatever you want to try, put it on the list for us to try. There’s a section at the bottom of the red page where you can add in your own items. This is a guide, little one, not a shackle we are forever bound with.”

  She glanced up at him. She liked that look he had on his face, a lot. “So what happens now?” she wanted to know. “You look tired.”

  He watched her for a moment before lifting a hand to brush her hair back behind her ear. “If you don’t mind, a short nap sounds great.” He gave her a heated look. “But only if you’ll take one with me.”
/>   “Of course I plan on joining you for a nap,” she said with a grin.

  His lips curved slowly into a smile that had her insides leaping around doing flips, twists, and plunges as he led her into the bedroom. Pulling the covers back, he waved her onto the bed. “So … any ideas about what you want to do when we wake up? Have dinner later, and then maybe do more than sleep?” she asked suggestively.

  “Definitely. We should do a healthy workout, at least an hour to really get the blood flowing, and maybe jog around the interior for a few laps before a sonic shower and rest.” He actually sounded serious when he said it. Staring at him, she couldn’t tell if he was or wasn’t. Then he looked at her and she saw he was teasing her by the look in his eyes. “I am going to presume from your silence that was not what you meant.”

  “Not exactly,” she shook her head, “but if that's what you want...” she trailed off with a teasing glance. “I do have to show you the rest of the facility, after all. I should show you the workout area as well as the hot springs, the sauna and pool areas.”

  “Well, the hot springs are giving me a few ideas. None that I will share at this time, since we are supposed to be having a nap.”

  “Fine, fine.” She stuck her tongue out at him, then turned on her side to fully face him. “So, after all this is over, will you be allowed to return to duty? Is it something that you enjoy or would you be happy to be away from the military life for a while?” She had never wanted to be part of the military. She hadn’t been built to serve her world and she knew it.

  Markus looked thoughtful for a moment before he said, “I do enjoy the job. There is always something new to deal with. Sometimes I question my sanity when the same things crop up time and again. But I don’t want to give it up. As to whether or not I’ll be allowed to serve on a destroyer now, I don’t know.”

  “I could see why they would want you to remain on a planet instead of being on a destroyer but really if this would end the war, would destroyers be needed? And how will they expect you to divvy up your life? Half here on our home world, half on the Imarian home world, or one in neutral territory as a new home world for both races combined?” She chewed her lower lip as she worked through all the implications and what this would mean not only for him, but for herself as his mate.

  “The destroyers will always be needed. We are not the only ones in the universe, little one. But instead of being used to keep the Imarians at bay, they will be for the outer borders and keeping the outer worlds and the moon bases supplied and safe. Yes, I realize we do that now, but it is only a small portion of the military focused on that.” Shifting slightly, he pulled her in closer to him and rested his cheek against her hair. “As to the rest, I don’t know what anyone expects of me. I would not be surprised, though, to find that there will be many crawling from the shadows to tell me what they expect once it is announced. They’ll all be in for a huge surprise. There are very few individuals in this world, or any other, I respect enough to listen to their advice. Fintan is one, Bracken Kauller is another, your mother, and you, my little one. I might even listen to Fintan’s brother-in-law, Petr van Jahnsen. Being he is an Imarian fleet admiral, he’s wise about that side of things. And he has not yet attempted to kill Fintan since he bonded with Adira, Petr’s sister. Not that he likely has not plotted many ways to kill Fin, but he has played nice to date. I admire his restraint and cunning, analytical mind.” His arm tightened around her, squeezing her closer to his body. “But I think we should leave off this topic. We can’t predict what will be coming next, and there is no point for you to be upset for no reason. Close your eyes, Paisley. Rest with me.”

  He was right, of course. She moved so that she could rub her cheek to his chest and closed her eyes. “Sleep does sound good.” She yawned and closed her eyes.

  “Rest well, Paisley.” She felt his lips press to her forehead. His hand drifted lazily up and down her back, the movement soothing. It helped to relax her more until everything slipped away.

  Chapter Six

  When she woke, Paisley knew that they had slept through the entire night instead of waking. She knew this by the low glow on the screen in the bedroom that simulated windows. They both had to have been far more exhausted than either of them had realized.

  She turned to face Markus, smiling when he tightened his arms around her and grumbled. “Markus, I need to use the bathroom. We slept all night. I need to get up and then we’ll get up and make breakfast. Come on, let me go?” It was almost as if he didn’t want to let her go. She had never felt that way before and she liked it. A lot.

  He made a low, grumbling sound that might have been words, but she couldn’t decipher what they were. Finally, he loosened his hold on her but not before pressing a kiss to the exposed skin at her shoulder. Flopping onto his back when he released her, he tossed an arm over his eyes and instinctively she knew he’d dozed back off.

  When she came back, she just looked down at him. She couldn’t help it. He looked so carefree in those moments, far less guarded and simply relaxed. “I’m going to start breakfast for us. Rest as long as you need,” she told him softly and walked out of the bedroom. She hoped he would join her soon, but she didn’t know how tired he was.

  Strong male arms wrapped around her while she stood sipping her first cup of coffee of the morning. “You left me all alone in there,” he said. His voice still held the edge of sleep to it, making it rougher and deeper than ever. “Shame on you, Paisley.”

  “I left you alone but I made coffee.” She leaned back against him and closed her eyes. “I could become very used to this, having you wrapping your arms around me and warming me up. I seem to be cold all the time but not when you hold me.” She felt peace and warmth when he held her and she loved it.

  “Well, we definitely cannot have you being cold, little one.” Turning her in his arms, he lifted her until she was sitting on the counter. Markus stepped in between her legs and drew her close before wrapping her up in his arms once again. “I’m glad you made coffee. Even with the vid screens, my body feels out of sorts down here. On the destroyer, I can tell you the time without being near a port, monitor, or any timepiece. Yet here I don’t have a clue.”

  She wrapped her legs around him and leaned in so she could kiss him again. When they parted, she licked her lips. “Breakfast is finishing in the oven. It’s an egg casserole with potatoes, bacon, eggs, and cheese, lots of cheese.” She had just tossed it together and was waiting for him to wake up to turn up the heat a bit on it. “Did you, at least, sleep well?” she wanted to know.

  He took her cup from her to take a sip and nodded when he passed it back over. “I did, much better than I have in too long. Which may be part of the problem? I rarely get that many hours to sleep straight through. Being first officer on a destroyer means I’m the first person to call when there’s an issue or trouble before the commanding officer.”

  “Ah, I can understand why that would throw you off. I’m used to sleeping at night but I’m not accustomed to sleeping so soundly or so well. That was because of you.” She loved that, too. Loved that he had given her that ultimate peace.

  “Well, it was mutual. You helped me sleep soundly, too.” He leaned closer to give her a quick, hard kiss, then pulled back. “Now I need coffee or I will be asleep on your casserole at the table the moment I sit down.”

  “You get coffee and I’m going to turn up the heat.” She let him go, then hopped off of the counter. “Cups are in the cabinet above the maker. If you put anything in your coffee, let me know and I’ll steer you in the right direction.” She preferred hers black.

  “Once upon a time, maybe, but I learned early on to drink it black.” After pouring a cup, he leaned a hip to the counter and watched her over the rim. “What are the plans for today, little one? I mean besides you showing me the rest of this place.”

  “I have no plans, honestly. I was just going to hang around with this incredibly hot man whom I’ve just recently learned is my soon-to-be soul-b
onded mate. That’s pretty cool, don’t you think?”

  “That is. He is an extremely lucky man. Does he realize how lucky he is?”

  She walked to him and stroked her hand over his cheek. “Something tells me he knows just how lucky he is. The universe didn’t make a mistake with us, Markus. Our signing our contract last night was just another step in proving that. This feeling I have for you, this bond that I already feel, shows me it’s exactly right.” He took another drink from his cup, then set it aside and put his hands on her hips. Gently he tugged her in closer until he could rest his hands on her ass, pulling her up against him while lowering his head. She threaded her fingers through his hair and let her head fall back with a low, throaty moan. “Markus, what are you doing to me?” She felt her nipples pucker and her pussy drip with need. “Please.”

  “I am misbehaving,” he said. His lips curved up slightly. A slow kiss had her swaying into him. When he lifted her up, she had no option but to wrap her arms and legs around him or tumble backward. Markus kept the kiss lazy but it still destroyed her and melted her bones.

  She shuddered, her toes curled, and her fingers tightened on him. “I like when you misbehave.” They didn’t have a lot of time for this but good heavens she wanted to be able to do more. She wanted to get naked with him right now. “Food, have to eat and then show you around, right?” If he had a better idea, like being naked, she was so ready for that. Markus began to nibble on her neck, distracting her and making her thoughts scatter. “Do you have any ideas on how we could spend today?”

  “I would really like to complete our bond. I want to know how it feels. If it’s already this viable, this tangent, I want to know what it will feel like when we finally are able to come together. I want to make love with you, Markus. I want to know what everything is between us.”