Wray (26 page)

“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 abandon
ed
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 needed
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.”