Page 16 of The Emperor's Concubine

“I should hope not.”

When Tuk led the harem out of the hall again, he turned to Radien. “If you’ll excuse me, I have something I must attend to. Make any pardons for me.”

Radien chuckled. “I can just imagine what that something you have to do is.”

Blaze ignored his friend’s obnoxious comment. He made it to his bedroom in record time but paused in front of his door to calm himself. The last thing he wanted was to appear too eager. Maybe he’d make her beg a little.

With his heartbeat under control again, he opened the door. Blaze’s breath caught in his throat when he saw her standing in the middle of the room, arms wrapped around her gorgeous body. Her beauty was constantly on his mind, but every time he saw her, it was still like the first time.

Taking a deep breath, he crossed his arms over his chest and casually walked to where she stood. He studied the top of her head to the delicate curves of her feet. “So, you’ve decided to rejoin the harem after all? Did you find that your life would be much easier being a member of my harem?”

She lifted that stubborn chin of hers defiantly. “I’m not afraid of a little hard work but…”

He lifted a brow. “But what, Calliope?” he asked, once again savoring the way her name rolled off his tongue.

Blaze wished his pants weren’t so tight because they made it difficult to hide his straining erection. Right then, he wanted nothing more than to throw her on the bed and spear her with his cock.

“But… I would rather be in the harem so that I can be with you.” She didn’t look at him when she spoke.

Why did her words seem so stilted and forced? “Look at me when you speak, Calliope.”

Slowly she raised her head until their eyes met. It was a mistake to ask her to look directly at him because his heart began to beat out of control again. Taking a step back he decided putting a little distance between them would probably be best, or he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from grabbing her.

“You made it clear to me you didn’t want me before, even though your body said otherwise. What makes you think I want you back?”

She bit her lip, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. Then she raised that stubborn chin again. “Because I saw the way you looked at me tonight and heard the way you spoke my name.”

“For someone in your position, that’s an arrogant statement to make.”

“But it’s the truth isn’t it?”

She was right, but he would let her sweat it out just a little bit longer. He circled her again taking in each delectable curve of her body. When he stood behind her, Blaze palmed her ass. “Nice and firm, yet so round. I don’t think I’ve seen an ass like this before. It would be perfect for riding,” he whispered against the back of her head.

Calliope shivered, but it was the only indication that he had of her desire for him. He wanted more, but he could wait no longer. “Admit you’ve come back because you want me too,” he commanded softly, yanking her arms to her sides then cupping her breasts.

“Yes, I want you.”

“And you want to serve me.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“And you want to please me.”

“Of course… Sire.”

“Blaze.”

“Huh?”

“Call me Blaze.”

“King Blaze,” she whispered.

It wasn’t protocol for anyone besides family members or his close friends to call him by his given name without his title attached, but he wanted to hear her say it. Needed to hear it from her lips. “No. Just Blaze.”

“Blaze.”

Dropping his hands from her small mounds, he walked around to face her. “Prove it. Show me how much you want me.”

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