Only one day ago, he would have snatched up the list and demanded they visit each location until they found exactly what he needed. Right now, he couldn’t think past bedding Katie. When did he not think about bedding her? Today, however, thoughts of bedding her led to another—worse—idea: making her his life mate.
Married. To Katie. Excitement bloomed. Nervousness, intrigue and hope, too. Was this the answer to his problems?
After Maylyn, he’d thought to remain mateless forever. Or, if he had to wed on behalf of his kingdom, he’d thought to pick a nice, biddable princess who would embrace an open relationship. Why settle for one woman when you could have all women? But…
Such a life no longer appealed. Too well did he enjoy Katie’s jealousy, spirit and zest. If they bonded, they would feel each other’s emotions, and get to know each other faster. Which meant she would fall for him faster. Mayhap. Probably.
They could live in Imperia and visit Earth anytime they wished. Together, they could have the best of both worlds. A business arrangement, with benefits.
And when they tired of each other, an inevitable happenstance? What then? Mystical bonds were eternal, with few exceptions. Husband and wife could not live without the other. So, he would not be able to simply return her to her home-world, as previously planned.
A worry for another day. Just how would she respond to the idea of getting married and relocating to another planet, anyway? Would she hate giving up her job? In Imperia, females were not permitted to work.
Maybe the time had come to change the laws? Who ruled the land nowadays?
Jorlan observed Katie, hoping to predict her response to a proposal. Instead, he got snagged by her beauty. Her hair cascaded down her back, thick and glossy, a crown of brilliance usually reserved for celestial creatures.
Her expression was guarded as she observed him in turn.
Slowly, so as not to alarm her, he pushed to his feet, and closed the distance. The closer he came, the wider her eyes. He positioned himself behind her, brought tendrils of her hair to his nose, sniffed. A hint of roses. As he caressed the strands along his cheek, he closed his eyes, savoring.
“Katya?”
“Hmm?” Tilting her head to the side, granting him access to her neck, she melted into him.
Such flawless, silken skin. He kissed the hollow of her neck, then dabbed his tongue over her racing pulse.
Little mewling sounds escaped her, delighting his ears.
“I would like—” kiss “—you to go—” kiss “—to Imperia—” kiss “—with me.”
“Mmm, yes. I—” She stiffened and swung around, gasping out, “What did you say?”
If the outcome of their conversation had been less important, her incredulity would have been amusing. “Stay with me. Live with me in Imperia.”
“But, but…”
“I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?”
* * *
KATIE REELED, A COMMON occurrence in Jorlan’s presence. He’d asked her to move to Imperia with him—to live with him—so matter-of-factly. As if hopping from one galaxy to another was the most natural thing in the world.
More time with Jorlan…oh, the temptation. Plus, she’d get to explore alien homes, eat alien food and, best of all, sleep with Jorlan on his turf. Could she abandon her work, though, for such a vacation?
“How long would you want me to stay?” she asked.
His features shuttered, hiding his emotions. “However long you like.”
Why hide his emotions?
He propped his hip against the counter, then pinned her with his cool blue stare. “Weeks. Months. Years. The choice is yours.”
“Years?” Breathe. Just breathe. “You told me time passes differently on different worlds. What if I returned and my brothers were dead from old age? What if you turn back to stone while we’re there? How would I get home?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I will not return to stone. You are already falling in love with me.”
“I’m not.” I might be. Oh…crap. How did he feel about her? He must be falling, too, right? Why else would he invite her to his home?
He arched his brows, his expression saying, Honey, please. “I’m afraid I can offer you no reassurances about the time difference.”
So, she had to choose between being with Jorlan, whom she might be falling in love with, and her brothers, whom she already loved.
If she did it, if she said yes, she might never see Nick’s mischievous grin. Never feel the warmth of Erik’s and Denver’s hugs. Never again know the comforting haze of Gray’s presence. Or hear Brian’s husky laugh over the phone. All to stay with Jorlan for a time.
“Maybe I could go for half a day?” she hedged. “A sort of test run.”
“We could do a test run, aye. We could also…wed.”
First a visit home, now a wedding? What had gotten into him? “Why would you—oh. I get it. You’re still drunk from yesterday’s beer,” she said. Of course!
“I am not drunk. I am serious.”
“But, you can’t want to marry me.” And she shouldn’t want to marry him, even though he wasn’t the domineering chauvinist she’d first considered him. He’d turned out to be so much more than a dictatorial tyrant who liked to put women “in their place.” He was a total Prince Charming.
“I can. I do.”
“But why?” she insisted. A marriage made no sense. Unless he was attempting to manipulate her emotions, so that she would fall in love the rest of the way, freeing him from the curse?
No, he wasn’t the type to manipulate. He was the type to issue commands and expect complete obedience. The fact that he’d asked rather than demanded spoke volumes. Unlike so many others, he had the capacity to learn from his mistakes.
Finally he said, “Because I want you.”
“But, you’ve wanted hundreds, maybe thousands of others and you’ve never married them.” She sucked in a breath. “Do you have other wives?”
“Nay, I do not.”
“Are multiple wives a thing on Imperia?”
He ran his tongue over his teeth before giving a stiff nod. “For some, aye, but I am not one of them. I will remain true to you, and you will remain true to me.”
See! Commands. “I still don’t understand why you want to marry me. I’m not saying no, though.” When he brightened, she rushed to add, “I’m not saying yes, either. Not yet. I need time to think. And I know, I know. Time isn’t your friend right now. I’ll hurry, promise.”
Though he projected disappointment, he nodded.
Meanwhile, her mind went into Teen Girl mode. Mrs. Katie en Sarr. Wife. Mother? Or maybe she’d be known as Princess Katie en Sarr. Did an Imperian woman take the names of her husband. Dude. What if she was dealing with an Ofjorlan situation?
“Right now,” she continued, her voice breaking at the edges, “I’m going on my jog. That’s a type of exercise where you run a far length.” She needed to jog. “While I’m gone, you can shower and change into your new clothes. When I get back, we’ll visit the locations on my list.”
“I would rather jog with you.”
At first, she thought to refuse him. Then she realized that getting higher levels of oxygen into his brain might actually do them both some good.