Page 46 of All for the Beast

The words came out before V had a chance to think about it. They weren’t lovers or partners anymore, at least, that was what he assumed, but his primal self still wanted her near, her touch, even if it was just her legs resting on his.

Katy didn’t hesitate when she placed them on his thighs, her back leaning against the arm of the couch. V retrieved her drink for her, their fingers brushing lightly when she took it from him.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

V nodded, then had to look away, back to his own cup. Her scent was strangling him, the brightness and allure of her eyes, the charm of her lips and voice. It was torture being so close to her without being able to touch her, to please her, but he was going to take whatever he could.

“So there is really only one choice,” V began, blowing on his beverage. “Since I don’t have a mate, I must accept any challenge that is within the family. Dimess may be a distant cousin, but he still has royal blood.”

Katy nodded along, listening with a solemn silence.

“That is usually the way it goes on this planet, no matter which part of it you’d be exploring. You’d probably find something similar on Earth too. I’ve read about it.”

When Katy spoke, her voice was caring and sweet, sending drops of honey down the back of his spine.

“So if you had a mate, there would be no challenge?” she asked.

V nodded, taking a sip of his tea. He was doing his very best not to place blame on Katy, but he also wanted to be honest with her. If that was the last time they would interact, he didn’t want to grow old, filled with regret that he had transferred his pain onto his beloved.

“Not really. I am the heir by blood, and if I had a mate, there is a higher likelihood that I could reproduce.”

“Is that something that you would want?”

V let out a long sigh.

“I have always dreamed of being the king. I care about my people, and I’ve wanted to take care of them the way my father has. That’s what all this cruise stuff is about. Wanting to provide for them like a true leader.”

He caught a glimpse of her ravishing smile, nearly destroying him, as she nodded.

“It’s never been about the nobility. It’s always been about helping. I know that you can understand that.”

Katy leaned on one arm, the mug resting in her lap.

“I can tell that you have passion for it and for your people,” she said softly. “It’s a noble quality even without the whole royalty aspect.”

V grinned, raising the mug to his lips to hide the way her compliments made him feel. Like he could leap off the terrace and fly to touch the tip of the moon.

He felt another confession rising in his gut like oil stirring, wanting to release itself into the light to make it real. It came out that way, too much like vomit, unedited and unencumbered by any sense of cordiality.

“However, I do wonder if Dimess would be better for the town,” he said, staring off into the black of the room, rivets of orange light passing by his peripheral. “He has his mate, and he could have an heir. That way, I could be free to go to Earth and try to woo you there.”

As he finished his sentence, V felt Katy’s body tense, then felt instant regret. He scorned himself, shaking his head back and forth.

“I’m sorry, Katy, fuck, that was stupid. I’m really not trying to force you in any direction. I’m just … so confused.” V stuttered, and his hands shook with the mug. Katy placed her own on the table, then reached for his, steadying him with her touch.

“It’s okay, really,” she said calmly. “I like how honest you’re being with me. It’s refreshing, and it’s good for us.”

Katy’s hand was over his as he gripped the mug, and since she was leaning forward, V was drowning in her perfumed glory, his nerves eased by the sight of her chest rising and falling rapidly.

V sensed that her heart was beating fast. He finally looked up at her, at those captivating eyes of hers, yearning to drown in them like a sailor searching for his siren.

“Christ, Katy,” he said, voice gritty and forlorn. “You are so beautiful.”

Katy’s tongue slid out between her lips, and she looked away, trying to hide the satisfied smile growing on her lips. V moved the mug from his hand and placed it on the table, his hands moving to her feet that lay on him.

She remained sitting up as he slowly and sensually removed her socks, her bare feet adorable and just as bewitching as the rest of her. He placed his hands upon them, and she gasped as he started massaging the ball of her right foot.

“Vharlk,” she breathed his name. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to do anything. I wanted to talk with you, that’s all.”

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