Page 22 of His Little Sapphire

I shake my head. “She died a few years ago. The medical bills grew and grew, and I owed so much money it was all I could do to work enough to pay for my small apartment and make payments to the hospital.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Baby girl. That’s a horrible way to run a society.”

I chuckle dryly. “Tell me about it.”

“Well, your bills are paid in full now. You won’t ever work again.”

I flinch. “Won’t I work on your planet?” It’s clear I’m definitely leaving Earth with this man who has mesmerized me and turned my life upside down.

“Nope. Little girls don’t work on Eleadia. Most of them anyway. A few help their Papis out, but they are the exception. I will spoil you to death, and you will spend your days playing and enjoying yourself.”

I blink. That’s unimaginable. “What if I get bored?” I’ve never gone a day without cleaning since I could stand on two feet.

“You’ll never get bored. I’ll make sure you have everything you need to be entertained and to stimulate your mind.”

“But I’ll clean your house, right?”

He shakes his head. “Never.”

My mouth falls open. “Why? Your women don’t clean the house or cook?”

“No, Baby girl. I’ll do all the cooking and cleaning. I meant what I said. You will be cherished and loved. And…” He narrows his gaze, but his eyes are dancing with mirth. “Pleasured.”

I shudder. “I don’t know if I like that.”

He chuckles. “You love it. You screamed both times I made you come. Don’t try to tell me it didn’t feel good. And before you argue about what some crazy elders filled your head with, don’t bother. They were wrong. Pleasure is the best part of life, especially sexual pleasure.”

The only thing I have to tap into is my upbringing, and though I understand now that I’m no longer living in the compound that the world is filled with another sort of woman, I’m not wired that way. “Women are meant for procreation, raising children, nursing them. We don’t have time for pleasure. It’s frowned upon. That sort of dalliance distracts women from doing God’s work.”

He stares at me.

I flush, realizing for the first time in my life that those words I’ve heard all my life sound kind of foolish.

He inhales slowly. “None of those things will happen on Eleadia, Baby girl,” he says gently. “You will spend your life in a constant dalliance, and I hope it’s always distracting.” He gives me a quick smile. “I can’t impregnate you. We aren’t compatible.”

I process his words. All I manage to say is, “Okay.”

He squeezes my hands. “Does that make you sad?”

I shake my head. It doesn’t. Not at all. I never wanted that sort of life, and I had hoped since I left the compound with my mother I would never have to serve a man. But what about this man? What about Strogan? “How will I serve you?” I blurt out.

“You won’t, Baby girl. I’ll serve you.”

I frown in confusion. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re the center of my universe. I’m drawn to you in a way humans don’t understand until they’re claimed. You feel it too.” He releases my hand to slide his large palm between my breasts. “Here. In your heart. You feel the bond. It’s powerful. It makes your body hum. It makes you crave my touch. It makes your pussy wet and your nipples hard and needy.”

I shudder. He’s right. Every inch of me is drawn to him like a magnet. I’m leaving Earth with this man. It scares me. My lip trembles. “I’m scared, Papi.”

“I know you are, Baby girl, but you will never be alone. I will always be with you, watching over you and making sure you’re safe and happy. I promise.”

“You can’t always be with me.”

“Yes, I can. Most of the time, Little one. We don’t separate from our mates after we claim them. Any time I need to be away from you, I’ll leave you in the care of another man, but we will both feel empty and nervous while we’re apart.”

I already know what he says is true. I can feel that bond. It’s hard to trust and believe in, but I feel it.

“We need to leave in a few minutes, Baby girl. I want to tell you a few things.”

---