Chapter 10

"Do you really think it looks all right?" Unity asked anxiously, turning in front of the mirror.

"You look beautiful and that dress is perfect, even if I do say so myself," Nara said firmly.

Nara was the seamstress Cronan had found to make her dress and she"d worked miracles, especially given the short amount of time. The dress really was perfect. Long strips of heavy blue brocade fell from her waist to her ankles, parting when she moved to reveal a sheer underlayer of pale blue silk. The extremely snug and extremely low cut bodice was also made from the brocade, with the pale blue edging just managing to conceal her nipples. Nara had assured her it was the latest style but most Farlain females had considerably less cleavage.

"Are you sure it"s not too low?" she asked again, trying to tug the fabric higher.

"It"s just right. Now stop that."

Nara lightly smacked her fingers, then immediately looked horrified.

"I am very sorry for overstepping my boundaries, Lady Unity. Please don"t tell King Cronan."

"Of course I won"t tell him, but he wouldn"t mind. I"m not some precious noble."

Nara didn"t look convinced, but she murmured her thanks before urging Unity to sit.

"Just a few more touches."

Nara arranged her hair in an elaborate updo, accentuated with small sparkling gems.

"Where did those come from?"

"The king, of course. Also these."

Matching bracelets were placed on both of her arms, along with a small sparkling chain around each ankle.

"There is a necklace as well but he would prefer that you not wear it."

She wasn"t surprised - his fascination with her neck hadn"t faded.

"That"s fine. This is more than enough."

Certainly more jewelry than she"d ever worn, along with the most elaborate dress. The woman looking back at her from the mirror looked like a stranger, but a happy, confident stranger. Hopefully know that she looked the part would make it easier. In spite of her excitement about the ball, butterflies were turning somersaults in her stomach.

The look on Cronan"s face when she joined him in the living room helped calm them.

"You look stunning, little one. Absolutely perfect."

"You look pretty good yourself."

He was wearing an elaborate robe in the same deep blue as her gown but short though with glittering gold threads. He looked magnificent, but he didn"t look like her Cronan. In fact, he reminded her uneasily of Ulmat. But then he smiled, golden eyes gleaming and she relaxed. He was still her Cronan.

But is he mine, she wondered as he took her hand and escorted her through the door and down a long corridor. She knew he liked her body and she was convinced he liked her mind as well. He was kind and protective and thoughtful, not to mention sexy as hell, but was she more than just a companion? More than someone to spend time with until he found his true mate?

Her mouth trembled at the thought and he immediately stopped.

"What"s wrong?"

"Just nervous, I guess."

"There is no need to be. I don"t expect it to happen but if someone should behave badly towards you, you have only to tell me. There is plenty of room in the dungeon."

His teasing amused her and she smiled up at him. At least she hoped he was teasing.

When they arrived at the huge double doors leading into the ballroom, the herald gave her an uncertain look.

"The Lady Unity," Cronan said firmly.

"Yes, Sire. If you will step this way -"

"We will enter together."

"But... Yes, Sire."

The herald bowed then through open the doors to reveal a large room with a tall arched ceiling and stained glass windows lining both side. Elaborate flower arrangement perfumed the space and tiny lights glittered everywhere.

"His Royal Majesty, King Cronan, and the Lady Unity."

A shocked silence fell over the ballroom and she suddenly felt as if everyone present was staring at them.

"Courage, little one," he murmured, tucking her hand more tightly in his. "All you need to do is smile."

She nodded and pasted a smile on her face, hoping it didn"t look too insincere. It grew easier when someone smiled back and she gradually relaxed. Cronan kept her as his side as he circulated amongst the crowd. He always introduced her but no one seemed to expect her to take part in the conversation which was a huge relief.

They made one full circuit before he turned to her, eyes glittering.

"And now we dance."

"Dance? You never mentioned that. I don"t know any of your dances. What if I trip."

"All you have to do is follow my lead and I know you can do that."

She choked back a laugh and then he was whirling her across the floor. Their bodies fit together there as easily as they did in bed and she quickly relaxed into the dance, simply enjoying herself. She was sorry when it ended, even more so when several Farlain immediately came rushing over.

"May I have the next dance, King Cronan?"

The first speaker was a tall, slender Farlain female who completely ignored Unity.

"No," Cronan said baldly. "I am only dancing with Unity tonight."

The female shot her a malicious glance.

"How... primitive."

Cronan bared his teeth in what could not be called a smile.

"Unless you want to see my primitive side, you will apologize. Immediately."

The female muttered a hasty, insincere apology and Unity gave her an equally insincere smile in return before turning back to Cronan.

"Oh look, the musicians are ready to play again," she said cheerfully, smiling at up at him. "Shall we?"

He laughed and escorted her back onto the floor.

"Is it always like that?"

"Always," he sighed. "You would have thought they would have realized by now that I"m not interested."

"Really?"

"Really. There is only one female I"m interested in." He pulled her closer, closer than she suspected was proper. "Very interested in."

"The one you"re unveiling later tonight?" she whispered, smiling when he almost missed a step.

The rest of the ball was much the same. Most of the people were polite, at least to her face. A few of them even seemed genuinely interested in her. Lady Morgan was one of them, an older lady with an acerbic sense of humor, and Cronan left her with Lady Morgan for a few minutes when one of his councilors insisted he had something important to discuss.

"A highly unlikely prospect," Lady Morgan muttered. "The only thing important to Bulmar is his next meal."

She laughed. The councilor had been on the rotund side.

"And you, my dear? What is important to you?"

"King Cronan"s happiness."

Lady Morgan snorted.

"Polite but doubtful."

"His happiness is important to me," she said honestly but the older female waved an impatient hand.

"I"m sure it is, but I"m asking about you. What is important to you?"

"I suppose - feeling useful. I like numbers and solving problems with numbers. They much easier to understand than people."

"Really?" Lady Morgan"s eyes glittered. "I"ve always found most people painfully transparent. Just as I suspected there was more to you than just a pretty face. Numbers, hmm?" She hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded decisively and rose. "There"s someone I want you to meet."

"But Cronan -"

"Is quite capable of finding you. Come along now."

Somewhat helplessly she obeyed. Then person Lady Morgan wanted her to meet was a painfully young male who was in the process of setting up his own business. His concept was good, but he clearly hadn"t considered all of the financial variables involved. She ws walking him through them when Cronan appeared, scowling.

"Did you meeting not go well?"

"It was fine," he snapped. "I think it"s time to leave."

"All right. Just give me a few minutes to finish up."

"No, no, that"s all right," the young lord said quickly, shooting a nervous glance at Cronan.

"Are you sure? We haven"t really covered the material costs."

"It"s fine."

"Okay, but if you change your mind, I"d be happy to go over anything else."

She waved a hasty good bye to Lady Morgan who was smiling gleefully before Cronan practically dragged her out of the ballroom.

"What on earth is wrong with you?"

"I do not like seeing you talking so intimately with another male," he snapped.

"Intimately? With that boy?"

"That boy comes from one of the oldest families on this planet and he is extremely wealthy in his own right."

"Well he won"t be for long if he doesn"t learn more about business," she said and he growled "You aren"t really jealous of that boy are you?"

"I am jealous of any male who draws your attention, especially since your neck is bare and unmarked."

"My neck? What"s my neck got to do with anything?"

By this time they"d reached their quarters. He hurried her inside, slammed the door, and pressed her up against the wall, his eyes blazing as he looked at her neck but he didn"t respond.

"If you don"t like my neck bare, why did you ask me not to wear a necklace?"

"Not like it?" He groaned, and leaned down, tracing his mouth from under her ear to the top of her shoulder. "I am obsessed with your neck. With the thought of kissing it, tasting it, biting it."

"Biting it? You mean like a vampire?"

Her voice came out as a breathless squeak.

"No. Like a mate."

"A mate? Is that why those females had tattoos on their necks?"

She noticed the round tattoos but thought it was simply fashionable.

"Not tattoos, bites.".

His big body pressed her tighter against the wall as his mouth kept working at her neck, sucking at her, little nips interspersed with soothing kisses and licks. She groaned and arched against him and his hand slid down her side, huge and hot against one of the sheer panels. It was the closest he"d come to touching her below the waist with his hand and she shuddered.

"You were going to unveil me," she whispered.

"I know I should get you out of this dress," he growled. "But it"s so fucking perfect, you"re so fucking perfect. So soft and sweet and delicious."

He fisted his hand in the delicate fabric and ripped it away, leaving her hip bare to his touch. She whimpered as he caressed her thigh. but then his hand slid to her stomach, stroking up under her breasts, never touching the aching mounds, and then back down again to her thigh.

"Cronan," she begged.

"Is there something you want, little one?"

"Yes. Please. Your mouth on my nipples."

"Here?"

He barely brushed them with his thumb but she was so sensitized that the single touch rocketed through her. She was about to tear the dress off herself when he yanked her bodice down to bare her aching breasts. She moaned in relief when his mouth closed around her nipple and he sucked hard. She shuddered again, but she needed more.

"Please," she gasped.

He pulled back, studying her face, as his hand slid down to her thigh. He was so close to her aching clit that her body quivered.

"Touch me, please."

His eyes were golden flames as he stroked her thigh, his fingertips just brushing her mound. She looked at him pleadingly and he groaned.

"You are too tempting, little one."

He sucked her nipple back into his hot mouth, his tongue swirled around the distended tip. Her hands went to his head, holding him to her, and he made a growling sound low in his chest. When he released her breast, his eyes were still blazing, but with a different intensity.

"Tell me again."

"What?" she gasped.

"How much you like what I"m doing to you."

"I love what you"re doing to me. I want your mouth on me."

He lowered his head again, concentrating on her aching nipple as he finally touched her swollen folds.

"So wet," he breathed against her nipple, sliding his finger back and forth.

"Yes. So wet. For you. Only you."

"Only me, little one," he agreed, his voice deep and fierce. "My female."

He trust his finger deep inside, shockingly thick and perfect, and she groaned in pleasure, clinging to him. She muttered a protest when he withdrew it, but then he went to his knees and she nearly screamed as his mouth closed over her clit. One suck was all it took and she was shattering, the climax consuming her in waves of pleasure as he licked and sucked her through it.

"So fucking delicious," he growled when her shudders finally stopped and he lifted his mouth.

He stood, holding her trembling body against his as he carried her into their bedroom and placed her gently on the bed. She smiled up at him, sleepy and satisfied.

"That was amazing."

"Yes, but it"s not over yet. I intend to repeat everything."

He came down over her as he spoke and she discovered she wasn"t quite so sleepy after all.