Jenna

JENNA

“ I t might have been helpful if you’d told me we were posing as some sort of royalty,” I hiss at Azul as we settle into some luxurious ground transport.

Although I should have expected something was up when I exited the ship to find him dripping in gold and jewels. Several large neck pieces and two heavily laden cuffs around each wrist, which on the one hand made him look like a super rich playboy and on the other also made him look extremely sexy.

And I should know better than to be swayed by looks, although it’s clear the staff on Luxus are taken in by him.

“If we want to get close to my mark, we need to splash the credits…and a reputation…around.”

“And the best cover you could come up with was royalty?” I query.

Azul gives me a brief glance. “It’s worked before,” he says, the tip of his tail tapping on the floor of the transport, the sound muffled by the luxurious floor covering. “And it’s working again.” He nods out of the window. “This is not the accommodation I booked.”

I follow his gaze. We’re pulling up outside something which resembles images I saw on Britannia, photographs of dwellings known as “mansions.” It’s constructed in white, bright stone and gold metal and is completely huge.

“How many are staying here?” I whisper.

“Only us. It looks like our cover worked.” Azul grins at me. His enthusiasm is infectious. “All we have to do is keep it up.”

“Believe me, I can be a bitch all day, every day,” I respond.

Azul leans into me, his head in my hair, and he inhales deeply.

“As long as you’re my goddess in bed,” he murmurs.

I freeze. Wasn’t the night we spent together a one off? After all, we slept separately last night. Or at least he said he was preparing for his mission, and I fell asleep on one of his squashy couches.

Azul didn’t wake me.

I assumed he wanted to get it out of his system…his desire to bed me, and I was more than willing. Maybe we both needed to let off steam, scratch an itch, manage the attraction neither of us expected.

Only it wasn’t like any thing I expected.

It was glorious.

I spot the tall Tref in the front of the transport looking at us.

“You’ll have to purchase more than a wardrobe to get back into my good books, husband ,” I retort loudly, causing Azul to lift his head.

The door opens, and I stalk out into the heat of the planet. The pink trio of suns high above are like a balm on my skin. I’ve spent all my life using vitamin D closets to get what my body needs, but now I understand why older humans said how much they missed our sun.

I hate the fact I can’t turn my face up to them, to worship them as ancient humans did. I hate I have to play a part, to this planet and to Azul.

But it’s what I’ve chosen. And whether or not he wants to share a bed, I’ve truly got to lie in mine.