Page 27 of Bred By the Emperor

“I know how long it’s been. I was wrong. You were right. Go away and be happy.”

My heart aches. What an inconvenient thing it is to care about other people. It’s easy to be the monster. Throw my weight around, demanding that other people bend to my will. It’s so much harder to accept that I’m not infallible, and that instead of setting a good example for my sons, I might have been kind of a dick to them all along.

Nobody ever said being a single father was easy. Even when you are an emperor. Especially if you’re an emperor.

“Come here.” I don’t give him a chance to protest. I bring him in for a hug. Kenton stiffens immediately, but then he relaxes. “I’m sorry. I publicly humiliated you. Both when I said you had no choice but to marry her, and when I changed my mind on a dime and married Lili myself. I promise that, barring any national security threats, I’ll stay out of the way when it’s time for you to choose a wife.”

He scoffs and pulls away. “That’s never happening, Dad.”

“Famous last words.” I punch his bicep for good measure.

Chapter 17

Malakai

With Liliviere and her grandfather finally cleared of any involvement with the rebels, and Kenton begrudgingly turning a new leaf in his relationship with my wife, life finally begins to settle into a new normal.

To show I trust my sons to run things while I’m gone, I whisk Lili off to my private mountaintop retreat for a honeymoon—alone.

No servants. No interfering councilors. No people. Just us. Alone.

The helicopter has barely taken off when Lili glances over her shoulder at me with a knowing glint in her blue eyes. She wanders through the halls, staying a few steps ahead of me. Maddeningly out of reach.

“Everything is very masculine,” she says, running her fingertips along the back of a sofa. “Dark wood. Leather furniture. Weapons on the walls instead of books.”

“It was a hunting lodge. We can get you books.” I stretch one arm out trying to snatch her. Giggling, she dodges out of reach. She is wearing a light, full skirt and a modest tank top with a knitted pink cardigan over it, like a ballerina.

“I’m not interested in reading,” she says, stopping so suddenly that I barrel into her. She places one hand on my chest. “I’m more interested in you.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

I grab her. She wraps her legs around my waist, bringing her pussy into contact with my thickening erection. We don’t make it all the way to the bed. Instead, I carry her to the huge rug laid out before the unlit fireplace and lay her down.

“What are you going to do, hunt me down like one of these animals?” she asks breathily.

“Is that what you want me to do?” My cock strains so hard against my fly that I couldn’t run after her if I wanted to.

“Maybe…” She gasps when I drag my hand up her leg to the heat between her thighs.

“Already wet and needy for me.”

“You’re a cocky bastard,” she complains, but her hips lift into my touch, belying her protest.

I bend to nip her earlobe. “You love it.” I circle her clit, slow and maddening. “Don’t you, my wanton little queen?”

“You make me wild, Mal,” she breathes.

“Let’s test that theory.” I flip her onto her stomach and land a sharp smack on her pert ass. Lili yelps, more from surprise than pain. Then I trace her pussy again and groan with satisfaction. “Not wild enough yet, darling.”

“That was one spank!” she protests.

“Want more? Better run.”

She blinks at me in wide-eyed confusion for a moment. Then, catching on, she scrambles onto all fours and takes off sprinting through my hunting lodge. I’m left holding her cardigan and pushing to my feet. Lili is quick, but doesn’t know the layout. Nor is she good at being quiet. I pad after her on bare feet.

“Run, little princess,” I taunt. “I’ll catch you, and when I do, I’m going to fuck you senseless.”

Giggles. I turn to see the hem of her skirt disappearing up the stairs to the second floor. I lunge after her and catch the pleated silk, ripping it from her body. Lili stumbles, her knees hitting the stairs, and scrambles away laughing in nothing but that cropped tank top and a thong.