15. ZAYDEN

ZAYDEN

She was everything I had hoped she would be and more. It had been worth the wait, but I didn't think I could ever go without her again. She was a part of me now.

"Say you will stay with me, forever, as my queen," I demanded.

"I'm yours," she accepted in sweet surrender, swelling my chest wider with pride than I had felt after I won the last battle for my crown, wider than when I entered my palace as king for the first time.

"I will make you happy," I promised.

"I already am," she responded sweetly.

"Ah, where is my little hellcat now?" I teased. "I think I could get used to this sweet female who has taken her place."

Gently, I brushed my finger over her lips, and she bit out, making me grin so hard my jaw ached.

"Never far," she warned, sucking on the finger she still held hostage.

"I love you." I leaned my forehead down to touch hers, and she relinquished my digit to rise up and kiss my lips.

"I think I'm falling in love with you too," she answered.

It wasn't quite the same, but I was happy with what she could give me for now. Happier even that she didn't lie and just say the words I longed to hear. Increasing my trust in her. It also helped that I had no doubt that one day, not too far in the future, she would say these three words back to me. Just like I had no doubt that she would keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, and I liked that idea very much.

"Mach-Nak-Tho will be furious with you," I prepared her.

"She's always furious with me." She stretched under me, my cock still inside her hardening. "Me, finally becoming your queen, should make her happy."

"It will," I teased, "but she has to oversee the return of all your clothing."

"Oh." She rolled her hips around my cock. "Well, then, let's make my tongue-lashing worth my while."

She didn't have to ask me twice. I was more than ready to fill my insatiable queen again. A call asking for entrance, though, interrupted us. With a groan, I rolled off Alice and gave the order to enter.

"Never say her name," I lamented. To Alice's questioning eyes, I mouthed, "Mach-Nak-Tho."

Alice pulled the sheet up all the way to her chin and stared at the procession of servants who followed Mach-Nak-Tho's lead, laden with stacks of clothing.

"I assumed you would want to be closer to your wardrobe." Mach-Nak-Tho bowed to Alice. "My queen."

"That was very thoughtful, Mach-Nak-Tho, thank you," Alice replied dryly.

"It is my pleasure to serve your every whim. If you want your wardrobe moved every day, who am I to say nef?"

Alice pulled her lips in to keep from giggling at the rebuke, making me think it wise to also thank her head maiden. "Thank you, Mach-Nak-Tho. You were right about being the best fit for this position."

"I live to serve." Mach-Nak-Tho bowed and followed the endless seeming train of servants back into the dressing room I had prepared so anticipatorily weeks ago.

Alice wrapped herself into a sheet to curiously investigate where the servants were going, returning moments later with an awed expression, "You did all this for me?"

I nodded.

"Even before you knew me?"

"When I saw you, I knew you were meant for me. I wanted no other from the moment I laid eyes on your holovid," I confessed.

She climbed on top of me. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I just want to make you happy."

"You're doing a great job of it," she teased, leaned down and kissed me.

"Careful, or I'll have to kick everybody out," I warned.

"Go ahead, you're the king, right?" she dared.