Stolen and Seduced - Christine Pope Page 0,142

heart begins thundering harder. I’m ninety-five percent sure he’s turned on too. I need to work this advantage to my benefit. Realizing that silence is often far more powerful than speaking, I don’t reply, but give him a single, stoic nod.

“Very well.” One corner of his lips curls up. “I wish for you to be a part of my harem.”

There’s no way I can contain my shock at that one. My mouth falls open, and I lean back, replaying his request in my head. Finally, I determine that I must have misheard him.

“I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

He chuckles.

“I want you to be a part of my harem.”

“B—but aren’t yons monogamous? I’ve never heard of your kind having harems, only mates.”

At my last word, his face hardens, and he pulls away.

Sore subject. I think back to yesterday, remembering Folgru speaking about the emperor’s mate. He hadn’t been happy then either. Maybe she’s deceased? I decide not to bring it up again, because while the idea of being in a harem isn’t appealing, his invitation tells me I’m right. The emperor does find me attractive. As I’m attracted to him too, I’m fine with creating a relationship of sorts.

As long as I’m the only one with him. A factor that, considering he wants a harem, I’ll have to work on.

“Who else is in the harem?”

“No one yet,” the emperor admits. “You’re the first human I’ve found . . . intriguing enough to ask.”

His eyes spark, and I get the feeling that by intriguing he means feisty.

He wants feisty? I can give him that.

“What does it entail?”

“What do you think it entails?”

He licks his lips, and my heart goes into overdrive.

Sweet baby Jesus. I never knew I could find blue lips so hot.

“Sex, obviously.” I try to act like my heart isn’t about to fling itself out of my chest at any second. “But what else? There have to be some perks for me, right?”

He chuckles. “One perk of which is that you won’t be subjected to mating with Folgru.”

I stiffen, and his face softens.

“I apologize. That was crude and unnecessary.”

He clears his throat, uncomfortable. On my end, however, the discomfort has vanished in the blink of an eye.

The emperor of the yons, an alien race that has invaded Earth, actually felt bad about what he just said. Under that cool, chiseled exterior he has a heart, and a desire to bed me.

Fuck yes, I can work with this.

“I agree. And thank you for acknowledging that. I don’t want to see Folgru again, but surely there are more perks than just that? A personal quarters? One with bathing facilities. Can I have a female companion with me? For safety purposes?”

He muses it over for a moment before nodding.

“If you agree, I see no reason why you shouldn’t have your own chambers on the ship. Once we arrive on Ittux you’ll be at the palace. But I cannot allow you a female companion in your room.”

“Why not?”

His gaze is serious when it locks with mine.

“My soldiers will eventually claim all the females. If one is staying in your room, she is unavailable. Also, I will want to visit your chambers whenever I wish for pleasure.”

My stomach flutters at the idea of the yon above me, slipping inside me and . . .

I gulped, stopping my filthy mind from continuing.

Shut up hormones. I’m trying to make a deal here.

“Adjoining rooms then. Do you have them?”

“None connect.”

He pauses thoughtfully.

“However, I understand that humans are rather social and I do not want you falling into a depression from isolation. You may have rooms next to each other. Soldiers will guard both of you at all times. Only you, the other female, myself, and whoever claims your companion as his female will be able to enter the rooms.”

He leans back, as if he’s given me everything I could have ever wanted.

Shows how much he has to learn about me. I’m not even close to done yet.

“One more thing,” I say, noting his arched eyebrow. “I want to initiate the first time we’re intimate.”

He frowns.

“I promise I won’t make you wait years or anything, not even a month because I don’t think it would be realistic for you.”

I’m being serious, but it’s not just about his restraint. I couldn’t hold out that long, especially with how I’m reacting to him already.

“I only ask because if I initiate that means I’m comfortable with you. If I’m comfortable, I’ll be more fun.”

I’m being totally honest, even if I do have