AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s enough of that! Decent folks about who don’t need a show!” The grizzled old Queen who had flanked Jade was now back beside them, her firm voice splitting them apart. “Jade, introduce us.”
“Of course. Ardol, this is Griselda and her grandson, Claude. I’ve been staying in their lodging house.” Jade swept her arm toward her friends.
She moves beautifully. She’ll be a graceful, welcoming hostess. And the way her legs move in that dress... I want her to wear dresses like that all the time.
Ardol tore his gaze away from the nipped-in waist of the shimmering blue dress and the shapely legs underneath it. “How nice to meet you. Thank you for your gracious hospitality to my future Queen. Jade, you won’t need to impose any longer. The ship has an abundance of rooms. I’m sure you can stay in one of them until after our wedding. I have officer’s quarters—sufficient for a wife.”
Claude came over, paw outstretched. “She’s not imposing. She’s like family. But... I guess she can stay where she wants, seeing as how you two are gonna get married.” The young Knight sniffed at him, eyes traveling over him. “Only if Jade likes you as much as you like her.”
“Claude.” Griselda silenced her grandson with one word.
Jade looked up at him as if the rest of the town and all of their ruckus were nonexistent. “You like me, he says. He’s very perceptive.”
Like? Ardol swallowed. He liked the look of her, the scent of her, the feel of her. He supposed he lusted after her. That was appropriate for a groom-to-be, surely? He bowed his head to kiss Jade’s hand, nostrils flaring, searching for that tantalizing aroma of wet, pulsating heat that was so often wrapped around Wendy and Layla.
There was none.
Maybe she is holding back until we’re alone. Or maybe it’s only after a human Queen has been pleasured and mated the first time that she makes that delicious scent to entice her King.
“I cannot wait to know you better, and I imagine I’ll like you even more.” Ardol pressed a kiss to her wrist and ended it with a swift, deft lick.
Jade jumped in place, eyes wide. Her scent changed, but it didn’t create the erotic perfume he wanted.
“There’s a big celebration to welcome you travelers,” Griselda explained. “Do you have your own shuttle or an atmo speeder? If not, feel free to ride back to Hillhead with us.”
Ardol nodded. It would look best if he were with his Queen, but he wanted to be alone with her. It would be easier to talk privately and make sure everything was still going according to their agreement.
Jade put her arm through his and pressed close to his side. He could feel her soft, small breast against him. Humans were so soft, much softer and more delicate than Felid Queens.
Lust surged through him in a hot torrent. “I’d love to ride with you, Jade.” He moved his head close to her ear. “But then, can we go somewhere alone to talk?”
“Of course.”
JADE’S INSIDES WERE in knots. She had fooled Claude into thinking she was smitten with her husband-to-be. Excellent.
The problem?
She had been too good of an actress. Now she believed that Ardol was infatuated with her, as well. He had been attentively pressed to her side for hours now. Fortunately, the festivities kept them busy.
Mayor Lewis gave a speech. Doc Weaver and Doctor Marcus held an informational panel for human-Felid couples considering having cubs, and she went. She felt she had to, as producing an heir was part of the agreement. The couples around them were giddy with excitement and full of worried questions. Jade sat silent, trying to keep her face at the exact degree of interest without eagerness that would be enough to satisfy her groom without making him think she wanted a baby immediately.
Especially since the doctors explained this wasn’t an in vitro method, but instead relied on old-fashioned coupling.
Then there was supper and dancing. It was unlike anything Jade had ever experienced on Sapien-Three and bigger than the other celebrations she’d experienced on Lynx-Nineteen.
“We don’t have—that is, I didn’t have parties like this growing up. Even the holiday parties where I worked were nothing like this,” Jade murmured, more to herself than her companion. Holiday parties at the Pleasure Park turned into unpaid grope-fests and coerced orgies more often than not.
“Our parties were bigger. Grander. The elite of Leopardine-One were there.”
“This must be boring to you. I’m ready to leave,” Jade confessed, hoping she was hiding her relief.
“Good. Shall we go to your room in the lodging house, or my quarters back on the ship?”
“Ah. To talk?”
“Yes.”
Jade didn’t like the way the word hung there, growing an expectant tail, as if there were more words waiting to follow. “My room is fine. It’s not far. Just on the main street. Everything is pretty much on this one street.”
