The Emperor's New Nightingale (8 page)

He dragged her
skirt down her legs and she whimpered as he pushed her wide, open, tied and vulnerable.

“
Hush, no talking. I want you to feel, my nightingale, just feel.”

Did he call her nightingale?

All thought scattered as he pushed two, thick fingers deep inside her. She groaned, pushing her face into the pillows, panting as he stretched her. He pulled his fingers out and she felt him slide them to her virgin ass.

She tensed. Surely
, he wouldn’t?

“Easy
, little one, I’m just going to play a little. I’m not going to fuck you here yet, but you will surrender everything to me. I will take you in every way.”

Oh
, god! Her sex clenched and the sexy bastard chuckled. “Your body likes this thought.”

He teased the puckered hole before pressing a finger
in. It felt huge and strange, and she whimpered again when he slowly sank his finger past the ring of muscles, deeper into her ass.

“Very tight
. You’ll need some preparation before I take you here.”

He pulled out and she sighed
with relief until he slid his finger back through her still sensitive folds and squeezed her clit gently between his fingers. She jerked, trembling, fighting not to call out.

“Soon, we’ll have more time to explore
exactly how much pleasure you can take, but for now, I need you too much.”

She heard the rustle of his
clothing before she felt the blunt head of his cock at her weeping entrance. He gripped her hips and slammed straight into her, making her gasp at the sudden force of his entrance.

He held still for a
moment and the slight pain melted with her adjusting to his girth. Pulling almost all the way out, he thrust back in, over and over at a steady pace.

“That’s it
, my nightingale, let it out. I want to hear you. Let the whole of the galaxy know how I make you feel.”

Without thought
, she let her moans and mewls escape into the afternoon air while he hammered into her from behind, winding her higher and higher.

He reached around under her, easily finding her clit, pinching it between his fingers, his other hand gripped her firmly by her bound arms.

The fuse lit and she went off brighter than a fire cracker on New Year’s Eve. She screamed into the pillows, her body quaking and shuddering, her climax hitting its peak.

With several more strokes
, Rin groaned, his body shaking when he came deep within her.

He fell
forward onto her, pushing her deep into the pillows before rolling off and onto his back. Both were breathing hard and she struggled to lift her head, let alone open her eyes. She saw the sappy smile on his face and she could empathize with him.

He sat up, placing a kiss on her cheek before undoing her bound arms,
and then he pulled her into his arms so she lay draped over his muscular chest.

“You
, my sweet, are dangerous to a man’s senses.”

“Me? Have you looked in the mirror lately?
How many Ario women do you have to beat off with a stick each day?”

His startled look baffled her. “I can’t deny I’ve had my share of females. I’ve been waiting for my one true song bird, and now I’ve found you I’m never letting you go.”

“Don’t you think you’re pushing just a bit, too hard and too fast?”

He chuckled. “I see your lovely mind is at work again,
you’re going to make a perfect Emp…uh, wife.”

“Wife?” she squeaked, trying to sit up, but he held her fast.

“Be still, Julie.” His deep, commanding tone made her cease her struggles.

“What did you think I meant by
‘never letting you go’?”

“I, uh, well, Rin, I don’t think I’m ready for marriage yet. This is moving so fast you have my head spinning. I mean
, I don’t really know you yet. I like you, I really do, and you’re strong, sexy, and handsome. This is a new life and, well, I want time to explore.”

She
felt the tension of his body under hers. “Please don’t be angry.”

“
No, you’re right. My apologies, sweet songbird. I’ll give you time. I’m trying to see things from your point of view, how strange and new this world is to you, but this doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go. Allow me be your guide and your lover. Give me a chance to win your heart.”

She glanced up at him, meeting his blue gaze
. He tenderly stroked one hand down her naked back while the other cupped her face, and then leaned in for a soft kiss.

How could she say no to the tender, vulnerable look in his eyes? Her heart clenched and she nodded, letting her lips curve up into a heartfelt smile of her own.

“Everyone deserves a chance.”

His arms squeezed her tightly against his chest. “Thank you
, little one, you won’t regret it.”

Julie
had a good feeling already; her heart would be lost and there was nothing she could do to protect herself if he decided to break it.

Chapter Nine

Erson hung in the shadows
, near the gate to the tavern, watching Julie sipping her morning beverage. From the moment she walked on stage, and he heard her voice with the clarity of prized diamonds, he knew he must possess her.

W
hen she disappeared, it was been a struggle to hide his panic from Uric, but his brother found her safe and working in a song tavern. He came to see for himself as soon as he was able. The other human women were more demanding and taxing on his time. He couldn’t wait to be rid of them.

Uric
came home with news the Song Krystal would be coming to their home late morning to test the human women. It seemed their little plan was discovered by the Ario authorities. He and his brother would have to face the music, so to speak, once the Emperor found his nightingale.

It pleased him Julie would not partake in the contest.
It gave him more hope he would soon make her his.

Her lips curved into a dreamy smile. Erson gazed at her
. She was even more lovely and lush than he remembered. His groin tightened painfully thinking about how he would make her flush and scream with pleasure, when he sank his cock deep into her.

More than anything else, he wanted to see
the dreamy smile on her face directed at him. Could she forgive him for what they did?

There was only one way to find out.
He moved from his hiding spot and into her line of sight.

She tensed.

“You! What are you doing here?” She rose to her feet backing away. It was not a good start.

Erson couldn’t
blame her for her suspicious gaze. “Please, Julie, sit down. You have to believe I would never harm you. I think you know it was never our intent to hurt anyone.”

Julie lowered herself into the ch
air, facing him. “I understand why you did what you did, but the way you did it was wrong.”

“Try to see it from my point of view.
Do you honestly think any Earthling woman would believe us, and willingly travel to Ario to partake in the nightingale contest?”

Her lush pink lips curved up in a smile, making his heart race, “No
, I guess not. Humans, as a race, can be fickle and their minds limited, but there are the odd, bright ones.”

“You have my heartfelt apologies for deceiving you
. Can you forgive me?”

Confusion flickered through her gaze
. “Forgive you and your brother?”

Erson couldn’t resist reaching out and placing his hands over hers. “My brother can vie for his own forgiveness. This is for myself
. You have to understand you’ve captivated me from the moment you walked out on the stage, back on Earth. Your beauty, your voice—I knew I wanted you in every way possible.”

Her brown eyes widened and she tried to pull her hands back, but he tightened his grip, not letting her escape yet.

“Do you think you could find it in your heart to get to know me better? I have wealth to make your life comfortable. I want to make you scream in pleasure and hear you sing to our children. We can be—”

“Ers
on, please stop!” She yanked back her hand. “I’m flattered, truly I am, but I don’t feel that way about you. I have to be honest, I never could. I’ve already met someone here on Ario, someone special I—”

Anger curled into his gut. “Someone else
? I can prove myself better than anyone else! Give me a chance, Julie; I care very much for you.”

She pushed back her chair
, rising to her feet. “I’m sorry, Erson, but it would be stupid to give you any hope we could be together.”

He moved swiftly before
she could back away, grabbing hold of her upper arms. If words didn’t work, then he would show her. She let out a squeak, her eyes wide with him pulling her close and crushing his mouth to hers.

Her struggles excited him. H
e exerted pressure on her mouth. She tasted oh, so sweet. Pain in his lower lip made him jerk back.

She bit
him.

“Let me go!”
She shoved at his chest.

“Do as
my lady says.” A deep voice commanded from behind her. Erson glared over Julie's head at the sudden intrusion. His eyes widening, he dropped Julie as if she were toxic waste. The Emperor of Ario stood glaring at Erson with murderous intent.

“Sire
, I...wait. Your lady?”

The
Emperor strode forward, placing a protective and possessive arm around Julie.

Erson bowed low
. “My liege, I didn’t know, but I don’t understand—is she your nightingale?”

Julie glanced between Erson and the Emperor, her brows dipped.

“Sire? Liege? Who are you, Rin?”

Erson was quick to pick up on Julie
’s sudden confusion. “She doesn’t know who you are?”

“I was planning to tell her today,
when she will sing for the Krystal.”

Julie pulled away from the
Emperor, turning to glare at him. “She is standing right here and I don’t appreciate being talked about. Now, tell me who the hell you are.”

Erson watched the Emperor’s apologetic expres
sion. “I’m the Emperor of Ario, Ruler of the Four Galaxies of Harmony. Julie, I was meaning to tell you today.”

Rather than look impressed and fall to her knees, she dared poke a finger at the Emperor. “You didn’t think to tell me this before we…we…”
Her face shaded an arousing, pink color.

Erson curled his lip
with disgust; it was clear they were intimate. The Emperor took advantage of his sweet, Earthling song bird.

“
You lied to me.” She folded her arms across her chest, glaring at the Emperor.

“
Oh, I think he more than lied to you, Julie. Did he tell you he can’t marry anyone other than the one who makes the Song Krystal shine? Anyone else he fucks is for pure amusement. He can’t offer you a real wedding band, whereas I can.”

A rosy flush crept into her face.
The emperor’s jaw tightened.

“Erson, you tread on dangerou
s ground.”

“
So, all of yesterday was just a façade, the,
I want to marry you,
crap.”

“No
, Julie, you are my nightingale. I only need to take you to the palace to prove it. I know you are the one I’ve been waiting for.”

“Bullshit! Clearly
, it doesn’t matter what planet you’re on, men are still men, idiots, and I want nothing to do with either of you.”

She
spun on her bright, orange-colored sandals, her multi-colored skirt flaring as she walked away.

“Julie
, wait!”

“You really believe she’s your nightingale?”

Orin turned on Erson. “By the stars, seeker, I want nothing more than to have you thrown in my prison right now, but since you brought me my nightingale, I’ll restrain myself. However, if you dare go near my woman again, you will know the full force of my law.”

“Sire
, with all due respect, if she’s not your nightingale, then you have no business claiming her.”

“
Didn’t you and your brother bring her here to test if she was? Until it is proven otherwise, I have every claim on her.”

“And if she is not
, then I will make claim to her. Even by your law, you cannot have her.”

“
I’m aware of my laws, seeker; we will settle this matter this afternoon. Stay away from her.”

H
e turned on his thickly-booted heel, marched in the same direction Julie fled.

Anger curled through Erson
's gut while he paced around the small garden. All his life he was second—second to his brother, second with the choice of women and now, even the one thing he wanted more than anything, he was losing to another. Swamped with rage, he gripped the table, throwing it across the garden, plates and food scattering.

“I want her
!”

“And you will have her.”

Erson swung around, his eyes narrowing on a blue-haired, Ario man standing in the shade of the Lurk tree.

“Who the fuck are you?
”

“Someone who can give you everything you want
—including the little, Earthling songbird.”

Alarm bells rang
. Nothing ever came without a price. “Who are you to make such a promise?”

“Not I
, friend. I know people in high places. Come with me and talk to him; he has the means and the power to give you your heart’s desire.”

Erson hesitated, uncertain.

“I’m talking about desire; I’m talking about winning, getting everything you want, and from the look in your eyes, you want the Earthling.”

Erson
eyed the man, his jaw tightening. Yes, he did want her, more than anything in his entire life.

“You have my attention.”

“Then come, let me make introductions, but we must hurry, time is running out.”

He opened his blue cloak and a swirling mist
formed. Erson’s skin prickled. This man knew dark magic.

“Everything you want is through her
e. Come.”

How
bad did he want Julie? How bad did he want to win? He decided and without another thought, he stepped through the dark portal.

* * * *

“Julie, stop.” She wasn’t about to let him push her around. He lied from the moment they met. Still, her step faltered at his commanding tone. Damn the man. She turned around and glared at him.

“I don’t want to hear any more lies
, Rin, or Orin, if that’s your name.”

“
I’m the Emperor of Ario, and the Four Galaxies of Harmony, ask anyone at the palace. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I came this morning to tell you the truth and ask you to sing for the Song Krystal. I know you are my nightingale, Julie, it’s a feeling deep within my soul. You are the woman I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

Damn, why did he have to
sound and look so sincere?
His gaze unwavering, he took another step towards her and she backed up on the stairs.

“You can’t know
this, and you have no right promising any kind of marriage when you have to marry this nightingale singer.” She clenched her fist, her heart hammering. She already grew quite attached to Rin, no, Orin.
Why did he have to ruin things by being the darn Emperor?

“I do know, as my father and every Emperor on the throne has known. This is your destiny
, Julie, to be mine, to sing for me and the Krystal. Come to the palace with me, sing for the Krystal and prove my instincts right.”

With another
step forward, he now towered over her and her back hit the wall.

“I’m not afraid of you
, Orin, and you can’t bully me into doing anything.”

His
wounded expression hurt her more than any physical blow he could have delivered.

“I never want you to fear me
. I’m laying my heart and my people’s future on the line believing in you. I would never force you to do anything, but you also need to understand without an Empress to sing for the Song Krystal, the barrier, which keeps the darkness at bay, will weaken. The evil will be able to break through and threaten billions of lives. I believe in you and I’ll trust you to make the right choice.”

He lifted he
r hand, gently running his fingers over the side of her face. “I love you, Julie, but the choice is yours.”

She studied his face, trying to determine if he was plain crazy. She drew in a slow steady breath.

He loved her!
How the heck could he love me?
It didn’t stop the giddy feeling swirling inside, making her want to giggle like a teenage schoolgirl. He loved her? No, he was destined to love his nightingale. So, what if she really was the nightingale as he believed? Could she handle the pressure of being an Empress?

Oh
, god, she swallowed, before drawing in a shaky breath. “What if you’re wrong and I’m not this nightingale?”

His lips curved up into a
devastating, sexy smile. “My heart would never lead me astray. I don’t doubt you are.”

She frowned at his
arrogant statement. What would happen indeed? She would be left with a broken heart.

“Orin, I…that’s a lot of pressure for an
assumption, but if it means this much to you, I’ll sing.”

His radiant smile made her breath catch.
No harm ever came of her singing, but this time a tremor of cold fear washed over her and the ‘what if’ hung heavily in the back of her mind.

Radiating with confidence
, he pulled her into his arms. She melted against him as he claimed her lips in a heated, passionate kiss.