Ascension Saga (Interstellar Brides): Book 2

My mother had lived in a fucking museum.

I dismissed the servant with less ice than I gave Radella and turned to find Leo standing in the doorway, staring. I stared back. There was nothing more I wanted in the world than to pull him into the room, strip naked, wrap his arms around me and go to sleep.

But we both knew that wasn’t going to happen.

I followed him as he inspected every room, every door and window, every closet and potential hiding place. While it was his role as guard, even if he were known as my mate he’d have done the same. When satisfied, he walked to the door, opened it. “I’ll be right outside your door, Your Highness,” he said.

“Sleeping on the floor?” I asked.

His grin said he’d slept in worse places. “Yes. Until I can contact my father, yes.”

I nodded. That, too, was part of the plan. Leo had shared that his father was royal guard, had served my mother. Never lost faith. Leo’s father would know who we could trust, and who we couldn’t. Which families were truly loyal, and which had fallen or had ambitions of their own. And a legion of fifty-year-old, experienced, loyal guards would be a gift I would gladly accept.

He bowed to me, both love and duty in his eyes. “My princess.”

He closed the door with a soft click.

Yes, I was his princess, but it was a lonely role.

I twisted and cursed for twenty minutes trying to get myself out of the dress. Alone. No doubt Leo would have had it off me in two seconds. And up against the wall riding his cock. In the end, and with immense frustration and pent-up sexual need, I ripped it and let it fall to the floor. The S-Gen unit would reclaim it, use the energy in the material to make me something new to wear tomorrow. Or give me back a duplicate, none the worse for my rough treatment.

I didn’t have pajamas, or a t-shirt, or anything remotely comfortable, and I didn’t feel like wrestling with the S-Gen unit to get it, so I gave up, climbed into bed naked, and tried to sleep. Without Leo, it was… lonely. While I knew it wouldn’t happen, I ached to have him decide to sneak in and sleep with me. Knowing it wasn’t going to happen, I grabbed a pillow and hugged it to me. I fell asleep pretending it was my mate.

When I woke, the room was pitch black, the full darkness of night having descended. A dip in the bed let me know that Leo was crawling in next to me. Yes! He was as eager for me as I was for him. He couldn’t hold off, his need for me so great to slip into my rooms. I loved that he was so bold and we’d have to be quiet, and quick, getting him back to his post before dawn.

“You aren’t supposed to be here, but I love that you are.” My words were husky with sleep, a smile playing about my lips, but no real reprimand. If I could steal even fifteen minutes in his arms, I’d take them.

“I saw you today, Trinity, and knew you were going to be mine.”

I froze as a naked male body pressed to my back, a hand rising to cup my breast. The body. The voice. This wasn’t Leo. This wasn’t my mate.

It was all wrong.

All. Wrong.

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