“Yes. My grandparents’ garden.”
“Grandparents?” I can hear the puzzlement in his voice. Do they not have grandparents on Ulfaria? I realize once again how little I know about this planet and its inhabitants.
“The parents of my mother,” I clarify.
“Ah.”
Sudden tears sting my eyes and I blink furiously, trying to make them go away. The quiet, calm mood I was in while painting has disappeared and all my worries have come back in a rush. Khan’s big hand slides down over my belly, pressing between my legs. I bite back a moan as my face heats up. Does he have to do this in front of Deva?
“Leave us,” he orders the artist, as if he read my mind.
“No,” I say, contradicting his order.
Deva, who had already begun packing up her materials, freezes. She stares at us both with huge eyes. I feel a wave of pity. Khan’s arms have gone rigid around me. He’s angry. I can feel it humming through the bond.
“I mean, would you mind leaving those things here?” I change tack. “So I can do some more painting later?”
Deva gives a little bow. “Of course, majesta.” Since Khan is here, I don’t correct her use of the term. “You will need more canvases.”
“I will see to it that my queen has everything she needs,” Khan says. “Calla will compensate you for your materials. Now go.”
“Thank you so much—” I begin, but Deva speed-glides out of the room like she’s being chased by hornets. “Khan. Why did you send her away?”I was finally enjoying myself, I want to add, but think better of it.
“It has been hours since I saw you last.” His voice rumbles in his chest, against my back, and I breathe in his rich, spicy, woodsy chocolate scent. “I missed you.”
He tightens his grip on my sex through my silky robes and I gasp, feeling that familiar gush his touch always elicits from my pussy. Then he slides his broad palm up until it’s resting on my lower belly. I want to moan with disappointment.
“I can’t wait for you to bear my heir,” he says huskily. “Perhaps my seed has already taken hold.”
My happiness over the painting and sudden burst of desire evaporate like wisps of smoke in the wind. “Perhaps,” I say.
I hope he can’t hear the anguish in my voice.
* * *
Khan
I’m starting to realize that finding a mate is all well and good—it’s what comes after that which is more difficult. I spend a lot of my time in confusion. As much as I desire Emma, as much as my body craves to be near her, inside her, against her, I also find myself infuriated by her at times. And perplexed. Are all females this way, or just Hoo-man ones? Or is it justthisone?
Living with and sharing my palace with Emma is showing me just how little time I spent with females before. Sure, I have taken my pleasure from many, but always beat a quick retreat after those interludes. And while I’ve always been surrounded by Ulfarri Beta females, they were there to serve me in my day to day life. Emma behaves like my equal—at least most of the time.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s funny how proud I was when she first stood up to me. The first couple of days after her arrival on Altrim, she was in a kind of daze—which I can understand. She was forced to deal with so many changes: a whole new world, literally, not to mention the toll estrus can take on the body. I find the rut challenging myself, even without having to get used to a whole new living situation.
But now, since she’s been here for a little while, and especially since she discovered a passion for painting, she has grown more vocal about the things which please her—and especially the things that don’t. She seems less intimidated by me, which is a huge relief. I don’t want my mate to fear me. I want her to desire and cherish me.
Ulfarri females are taught to be graceful and calm, and that Alpha males are superior in every way.
Emma has moments where she behaves almost exactly that way.
She also has moments where she doesn’t.
Still, I find it almost impossible to be angry with her. She’s somehow playful in her disobedience, and a part of me enjoys sparring with her.
In any case, we both know who will win in the end.
I was unprepared for the pride I felt when I saw how talented she is at painting. At first, I had summoned Deva to indulge her—Emma was still quiet and seemed sad, and the paintings in my palace were one of the few things to arouse her interest.
