“What the fuck are you talking about?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Is this more of your Earth shit?”
“My Earth shit? Wow. What a time to properly use that word.” I grabbed a towel and headed out of the bathroom.
“Mate!”
“I swear to fucking God!” I snarled as I spun around again. “If you come after me when I'm in this mood, I don't care how badass you are, Kaspian, I will kick your fine, plump ass all over yourridiculouslylarge bedroom.” I paused, glared at him, and added, “Mate.”
Kaspian's shoulders dropped as his expression went baffled. “What is happening? Mate, what is this?”
“Figure it out!” I tossed the towel at his head and strode out of the bathroom dripping wet. Fuck it.
I went onto the balcony to air dry. The bracing wind helped revive me and clear my head. I took a deep breath and leaned against the stone railing to look down over Trellior—that was the name of the crown city of Aravult. That's right, I was learning shit even while getting my brains fucked out. Okay, fine, Kas told me stuff when we snuggled between sex sessions.
Kas only gave me general information. Like the name of the city and that, as a port city, it relied heavily on imports and exports for its growth. There were farms beyond the city walls, and the farmers brought their harvests to Trellior to sell to locals and traveling merchants. He also told me about the many races living in Trellior. Most had built communities so they could feel more at home. Just like in the major cities on Earth, where you might find a Chinatown or a Little Italy, Trellior featured neighborhoods where one race dominated and influenced the culture.
I couldn't wait to explore those neighborhoods. I wanted to meet all the races and dive into their cultures. New faces, new food, and new friends.
But I didn't want to explore while I walked a step behind my lover like some Chinese bride in the fucking middle ages. What was next—foot binding? Would he break my feet so I couldn't run away? Collar me? My stomach clenched at the thought. A little rough stuff in bed, some slap and tickle, yeah sure, it's all fun. But I wasn't into the sub-lifestyle, and I certainly didn't want to live it for real.
This had all happened so fast. Kas and I bonded almost immediately, and he wasn't the only one to feel the effects of that bond. Now, I realized it was probably the mating magic that made me feel like I knew Kaspian.
Because I didn't.
I couldn't tell myself that Kas would never imprison me or beat me to keep me submissive. I simply didn't know what he was capable of in a relationship. I wanted to believe that he was a good guy. Hell, even his ex had extolled his virtues as he was getting the boot. That had to a mark in Kaspian's favor. But I didn't know him. I knew his body. I knew how he liked his dick sucked. I knew I could make him shudder if I kissed his neck. But I didn't know him.
Kas was powerful. Especially on that world. In that kingdom. Fuck, he was King. A king who could transform into a massive mythical creature who wasn't mythical there. He had a group of guards loyal to him who could do the same thing. And none of those guards, no matter how nice they'd been to me when we met, would stand against Kas to defend me. They'd probably watch calmly as he beat the shit out of me. I looked down to find my hand trembling. I had never, not once, been afraid of a lover.
“Shit. Stop it. He's not going to hurt you,” I whispered to myself. “And you can handle yourself. Take a fucking breath, moron.”
But what would I do if Kaspian did hurt me? Where would I go? I was alone there. The only person I knew was him. And now I realized that I didn't really know him. So what would happen if my only friend turned into an enemy?
I shook my head, then slicked back my wet hair. Yeah, I was freaking out again. Let's call it preparing for the worst. Or maybe it was the return of reality. With Kaspian's mating urges fading, I was about to see the real him—the man who wasn't compelled by magic. And that scared the shit out of me. Especially after his fucked up decree in the shower.
I ran my hand over my face and steeled myself. I wasn't going to cry. Nope. Just because I was stranded on an alien planet with no way home, it didn't mean I had to despair. I'd figure things out. If I had to leave Kaspian, I would. And I'd be fine. I'd explore this new world on my own. Find work. You know, live.
“Met,” Kaspian's voice shivered over my back.
I lifted my chin and turned to face him.Here we go.
Kas was dressed in a vaguely medieval outfit comprised of black cotton pants and a heavily embroidered, blue, cotton tunic. A wide belt and boots completed the look. In his hand was a towel. Kas held it out to me. “I want to understand why you're upset. But I need your help with that. And before you tell me to figure it out, I've tried. I . . . we think differently, Met. Help me understand the way you think.”
I took the towel with a sigh. “Yeah, fair enough.” As I brushed at the remaining wet spots, I went past him, into the bedroom. “Can I borrow some clothes?”
“I had some made for you. They're on the bed.”
I glanced at him in surprise. “When did you have time to order me clothes?”
“During one of our breaks. You were in the bathroom.”
“I . . . thank you.” I tossed the towel on the bed and picked up a pair of thin, cotton shorts. “Underwear?”
“Yes.”
“These are nice.” I rubbed the fabric between my fingers.
“Mate, I need you to get dressed or we'll never leave this room.”
I snorted a laugh, my dark thoughts bubbling away with it. “Okay. I got you.” I pulled on the underwear, then the pants. Everything felt silky against my skin, and I could tell they were handmade. But I didn't take the time to admire the clothing. Just a few thoughts over how they fit perfectly and what that meant as far as Kaspian went. When I was dressed, I turned to find Kas sitting on a couch before the fireplace.
