Wray

  “So what makes you think Lady Estee left it by mistake?” Kim asked, and saw Caitir hesitate and look over her shoulder at the male. “Please, Caitir… will you tell me?”

  Slowly Caitir nodded. “As I said, Empress, Himroo cloth, especially in this color, is most sought after but no female, not even Lady Estee, could have anything made from it. She would have tried to secret it away… hoping.”

  Kim’s eyes widened, when Caitir turned to reveal a bolt of the most amazing blue fabric, when Caitir stopped speaking, Kim looked up at her. “Hoping for what?”

  “I… a…” Caitir’s eyes flashed to the Emperor.

  “It is the color for House Vasteri, Kim.” Wray stepped to her side looking at the fabric. How had Reeve ever been able to acquire this? House Vasteri always had the first choice of this fabric, especially in this color. While Wray had no female he needed the cloth for, he had continued to secure its supply for Tora's future female.

  “And that means?” Kim looked at Wray questioningly.

  “That only the Empress is allowed to wear it.” Wray told her.

  “So she was saving this until she Joined with you.” Kim gave him a hard look.

  “Yes.” Wray said, nodding.

  “Then it’s good she left it behind, because she’s never going to get to wear it.”

  “That is true, my Kim.” Wray said, then looked back at the material. “You will make this look beautiful.”

  “You mean it will make me look beautiful.”

  “No, my Kim.” Wray puts a firm hand under her chin, making sure she was looking at him. “Nothing in all the known universes could enhance your beauty. You enhance the beauty of everything else.”

  “Wray…” Kim found her eyes filling at Wray’s heartfelt words.

  “I speak only the truth, Kim.” His eyes softened as his thumb gently wiped away the tear that had escaped her eye. “Now let us get your coverings made.”

  Kim was surprised how little time it took Caitir and her uncle Jael got the measurements they needed once they pulled out their handheld tool. She had thought she would have to remove her shirt, but Wray quickly explained that the device would ‘see’ beneath it to get the proper measurements. He also had to explain to her why Caitir stopped scanning her once she reached her hips, especially after she saw the denim like material.

  “Your coverings will reach the floor from here.” He said gently touching her hips.

  “But what about jeans?”

  “Jeans?” Wray frowned at her. “What are ‘jeans’?”

  “They’re like your pants.” Kim gestured to his legs. “Made out of a material like this.” She ran her hand along the bolt of material.

  “You want to wear pants?” Wray didn’t try to hide his confusion. “Like a male?”

  “Not like a male, like a female.” Kim didn’t understand why it seemed to upset him. “What’s wrong with a female wearing pants? I used to wear them all the time back home. They’re comfortable.”

  “It will expose your form…” Wray began.

  “And this doesn’t?” Kim demanded gesturing to her shirt and bare legs. “Pants would completely cover my legs.”

  “So will your new coverings.”

  “You expect me to wear long coverings all the time?”

  “It is what all females wear.” Wray told her, gesturing to Caitir.

  Kim gaze went from Caitir to the bolt of fabric and finally back to Wray and realized his cheeks had darkened. “It really upsets you, the thought of me wearing pants.”

  “I… yes.” Wray finally admitted.

  Kim ran her hand longingly along the bolt of material that was causing so much contention. She needed to remember she wasn’t on Earth anymore and females here dressed differently. She needed to adapt.

  “Alright.” Kim’s hand fell away from the bolt and she gave Wray a small smile before turning to Caitir. “When do you think you’ll have the covering done?”

  “I…” Caitir stuttered, she was shocked by what she’d just witnessed between the Emperor and Empress. Why hadn’t this female become upset when the Emperor hadn’t given in to her demands? Why had she given in instead?

  “Caitir!” Jael said shortly.

  “We can return tomorrow after the midday meal for the final fittings, majesty.” Caitir said.

  “Really?” Kim didn’t try to hide her shock. “That soon?”

  “Yes, majesty, coverings like these, without embellishments will not take long.”

  “What do you mean ‘without embellishments’?” Kim asked, frowning at her.

  “I… well…” Caitir found herself stuttering again.

  “Females will have the jewels they receive from their Joinings sewn into their coverings, thus displaying their value for all to see.”

  “Their value… as in their ability to present fit offspring.”

  “Yes.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  “What is bothering you, my Kim?” Wray asked later that night. She had been too quiet since Caitir and Jael had left. Last meal had been served and while she had eaten, it had only been because he’d made sure of it.

  He found he missed her funny comments and observations on things he took for granted. She had so many strange thoughts and ideas.

  Kissing had been one of those strange things and now he couldn’t see his life without them.

  The idea of females wearing pants was just as strange but was it something he should reconsider? She had been so excited when she'd talked about them… until she saw how upset he had become.

  She considered his feelings and decided they were more important than her own. Why hadn’t he done the same?

  Now she was curled up in his arms as they sat on the couch before a roaring fire. Her fingers absently moving along his abs as she stared into the fire.

  “Hmm? What?” she asked, looking up at him.

  “Something is bothering you. Tell me.”

  “It’s nothing, Wray.” Stretching up, she kissed his chin, then settled back down to stare into the fire.

  “It is not nothing, my Kim.” Wray disagreed. “You are too quiet… you didn’t want to eat... Is it because of the… jeans.” He found himself having to search for the word she used.

  “No.” Putting a hand on his stomach, she pushed herself slightly away from him so he could see the truth in her eyes. “They’re not important, Wray."

  "To you they were."

  "Only because they reminded me of Earth and home, but Earth isn't home anymore. Home is wherever you are."

  "Goddess, Kim." Wray choked out as he leaned down to capture her lips for a hard kiss. Had a male ever been so loved?

  Kim sunk into the kiss, her tongue wrapping around his letting the sensations that were building drive away her questions and doubts. Wray had been right, something was bothering her, but it wasn’t anything she was going to be able to change, at least not yet and she wasn’t going to let it affect her time with him. Without breaking the kiss, Kim straddled him as her fingers went to work on his shirt. Quickly she had it open, allowing her hands total access to the hot skin of his chest. Slowly she trailed her fingers up and over each impressive muscle until she reached the dark flat disks on his chest. Gently she raked her nails across them the way she’d discovered he liked it and felt his entire body shiver.

  Her mouth was suddenly jealous of her hands and Kim abandoned his mouth to place hot, open-mouthed kisses along his jaw and down his neck until she reached his massive chest. With each drag of her tongue, she savored his unique flavor until she finally reached the spot where her fingers still played.

  Wray's head fell back as Kim’s mouth latched on to him. He would never tire of how it felt to have her mouth on him. Of how it felt, to have her hands moving over his body as if there was nothing she wanted to touch more than him. Running his hands along the smooth skin of her thighs, he filled them with the soft, lush flesh of her ass and pulled her up against his throbbing shaft.

  Goddess, he ne
eded to be inside her.

  “Kim…” He groaned and she finally released his other nipple to look up at him with eyes laden with desire.

  Easing back, Kim watched him as her hands slid between them, stroking his bulging flesh encased in his pants before ripping them open to stroke him from root to tip. She knew she would never tire of this. Of touching Wray like this. He was so massive, so powerful; it wouldn’t take any effort for him to harm her, instead he trembled in her hands as if she were the powerful one.

  Rising to her knees, Kim placed him at her entrance that was already drenched with need and took him deep into her body, letting him fill all those empty places inside her, bringing him home.

  “Kim!” Wray roared in protest, even as his hips thrust up, embedding himself even deeper inside of her. He had yet to pleasure her. Had yet to give her the release she deserved before, he still entered her.

  Ignoring his protest, Kim gripped his shoulders and ground herself against him. She needed this, needed him. Something deep inside her was rising up, filling her with the strength and confidence she hadn’t had before. Wray’s love and patience had given it to her, had allowed her to heal and become the woman she was meant to be. The female he needed her to be. An Empress. All she had to do was accept it… to take what had always been hers… Wray.

  “Wray!” Kim protested when his fingers tightened on her hips, stilling her movements.

  “I haven’t given you your pleasure yet, Kim.”

  “We’ll find it, together, Wray. Touch me. Touch me as only you can.”

  Wray’s eyes bored into hers, searching and knew what she wanted. Slowly his thumbs opened her silky folds even further, gently pinching her already swollen erect nub and watched her head fall back as her walls clenched around his shaft in response.

  “Yes, Wray…” she encouraged groaning. “More…” She pleaded.

  Responding to her plea, Wray’s hips thrust, his thumbs continued to caress her already swollen nub. He leaned forward to suck one breast deep into his mouth, his tongue flicking her nipple as he continued stroking her nub.

  Kim found herself gasping for breath with all the sensations Wray was creating inside her. Her fingers dug deep into his hair as her back arched up encouraging him to take more and he did. He took everything she had to give…

  Her heart…

  Her body…

  Her soul…

  Then gave her his.

  “Wray!” she screamed as every fiber of her body tightened to a micro point, then exploded outward as her orgasm engulfed both of them.

  “Kim!” Wray’s roar following Kim as he plunged one final time into her, his release exploding through him and bathing her womb with his seed.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Reeve grabbed for his comm the instant it started ringing. “Reeve.”

  “What is so damn important!” Bertos demanded.

  “Do you know where the Emperor is?” Reeve demanded.

  “What do you mean?” Bertos asked. “He is on Luda, meeting with Grim.

  “No. He. Is. Not.” Reeve spit. “He’s here! On Vesta!”

  “What!” Bertos couldn’t hide his surprise.

  “The Emperor is on Vesta!” Stunned silence greeted Reeve’s statement. “There’s more.”

  “What!” Bertos demanded.

  “He has a female with him. One he’s calling his Empress.”

  “What!!!!” Bertos shouted. “Impossible! I would know!”

  “I’ve met her myself and Bertos… she’s not Tornian.”

  “You idiot!” Bertos’ anger evident. Reeve actually had him worried for a minute. “She can’t be Empress unless she’s Tornian.”

  “Unless she is breeding compatible….”

  “Impossible…” However, Bertos had lost some of its certainty.

  “But if she is and if she is with offspring, it will ruin all our plans.”

  “No!” Bertos’ anger exploded through the comm. This can’t be happening! Not when they were so close! How hadn't he known the Emperor wasn’t on Luda! Wait… why was he on Vesta?

  “Why is the Emperor on Vesta?” Bertos demanded in a deceptively soft voice.

  An uneasy silence greeted his question.

  “Reeve!” Bertos demanded impatiently. “Why is the Emperor on Vesta!”

  Reeve’s mind was racing as he tried to work out how he was going to tell Bertos about his shortening of the food supplies to the Kaliszians. He knew it would enrage him and Bertos enraged, could be deadly. Suddenly he realized he didn’t have to tell him the ‘truth’ and he could still blame Bertos.

  “He’s here, instead of being on Luda as you thought, because he was in the Kaliszian Empire meeting with Emperor Liron.”

  “What!”

  “It seems there are Kaliszians helping themselves to the food supplies we are sending. They are blaming it on me. The Emperor came to investigate.”

  “And are you?” Bertos asked.

  “Am I what?” Reeve questioned defensively.

  “Shortening the supplies?”

  “Of course not! Why would I do that! It would bring attention to us that we don’t need right now.”

  “That is correct, so if I find out you are, I will be very displeased.”

  Everyone knew displeasing Bertos was never a good thing.

  “As I have said, it is on the Kaliszian end.” Reeve was glad Bertos couldn’t see the sweat running down his neck. “What I want to know is why you didn’t know he was out of the Empire!” Reeve said, trying to deflect Bertos attention. “Had we known, we could have ousted him.”

  “No!” Bertos immediately denied. “It is not yet the time. We do not yet have enough support in the Assembly.”

  “How can you not! You are a direct descendant of the original Emperor.”

  “Yes, yet some still doubt me. I need to be able to prove to them that I can give them what they need.”

  “How will you do that?”

  “I have a plan. Now this is what I want you to do about the female.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kim slowly turned getting a feel for the dress flowing around her as she walked into the outer chamber. Caitir and Jael had arrived shortly after the midday meal as promised, loaded down with multiple dresses.

  “It’s lovely, Caitir.” Kim told her then looked at Wray for his opinion and was surprised by the storm of emotion raging in his eyes. “Wray?”

  Wray moved towards her, his eyes slowly traveling over her now fully covered in House Vasteri blue. She had pulled her hair up in some sort of twist while she and Caitir had been in the resting chamber putting on the covering. It made her look regal but he found he missed seeing it flowing long and free. He also missed the beauty of her bare legs.

  “You look beautiful, my Kim,” he told her gently cupping her cheek. “More beautiful than any Empress ever has.”

  The sincerity in Wray’s voice had Kim’s eyes filling. She may not be totally comfortable with the new role and the new world she’d been thrust into but she knew when Wray looked at her like this she would find a way to get comfortable.

  “Thank you.” She whispered, kissing his palm.

  “I’m telling you the truth, my Kim.” Remembering they are not alone, Wray let his hand fall away and turned to Jael. “My thanks for getting it done so quickly.”

  “It was an honor to make coverings for your Empress, sire, and now that we are confident with the final fitting and length we can finish the rest.”

  “I would like this one finished immediately. The Empress will be meeting my first male later today and will need something suitable.”

  “Of course, majesty, the hem is all that is left on this covering. It won’t take long”

  “Majesty.” Veron stepped into the room and waited for the Emperor to acknowledge him.

  “What is it, Captain.” Wray’s asked.

  “Lord Reeve and...” he paused, glancing at Kim, “and the others are awaiting for you in the ruling chamb
er.”

  “I will be there shortly.” Wray said curtly.

  “Yes, majesty.” Turning Veron left.

  “Can it be finished here?” Kim asked and walked towards Jael. She understood that Wray was used to taking control of… well, everything and that Tornian females didn’t directly address a male, but these were her coverings and she would have some say in what was happening here today. It involved her too.

  “I…” Jael’s eyes widened as she walked towards him. He couldn’t stay here with her alone.

  “Kim…” Wray began.

  “What?” She asked.

  “Jael can’t stay here with you, Kim.” Wray ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “And I need to leave.”

  “But Caitir can. Right?” Kim looked to Caitir and saw she had shocked the other female. “You do know how to finish the dress, don’t you, Caitir?”

  “I…” Caitir’s eyes flew to Jael for guidance.

  “She does, Empress.” Jael admitted carefully. “But…”

  “But what?” Kim frowned, looking from Jael to Caitir, when neither spoke, she gave Wray a frustrated look.

  “Kim, Auyangian females…” Wray struggled with what to say.

  “Auyangian females what???” Kim demanded.

  “Are considered available when not in the presence of their protector.” Caitir finally answered her in a quiet voice.

  “Available…” Kim frowned at Caitir, hoping she had misunderstood what Caitir was saying, but the look in her eyes told her she hadn’t. “Well, that won’t be a problem here. Will it Wray,” Kim demanded, turning hard eyes to Wray. “Because your warriors are fit and worthy. Your warriors protect females. They never abuse them.”

  “They do not, my Kim.” Wray reassured her then looked to Jael. “Jael, no harm will come to Caitir if she were to stay with my Empress, my vow.”

  “I believe you, sire,” Jael told him nervously and forced himself to look the Emperor in the eye. “But the choice must be Caitir’s.”

  Wray stared at the Auyangian male and found he admired his courage. Few would speak to him thusly; they especially would not give the female a choice.