Rebellious Prince Read online

  Catch my dinner speech? Yeah, I should be in politics.

  Did you happen to catch the transmission of the sailor mopping the deck? Good stuff, right?

  So, do you like being a catshifter? Have any hopes or dreams? I’d like to interview you for the school paper.

  Cough up any good fur balls lately?

  Jenna pretended to cough to hide her laugh.

  I hope you guys can’t secretly read minds.

  Heavy footsteps sounded in the stairwell down the hall. She stepped back into the room ready to close herself in with Hector if there was danger. Rafe appeared, running full speed toward them. As he slid to a stop in front of her, Hector said behind her, “It is safe, m’lady.”

  “Ah, thank yo—” Jenna tried to answer, but Rafe took her by the arm and pulled her into the suite. Hector stepped out as Rafe moved in. He slammed the door behind him. “Rafe, what—?”

  Rafe cupped her face and kissed her. His mouth pressed almost desperately along hers. His hands slid down her neck, pausing at her throat as if to test her pulse before moving lower to feel her chest and arms. The brush of fingers to her nipples jolted awareness down to her stomach. Her lungs began to burn for air, and she pulled her head back.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  Rafe continued his examination of her body, going so far as to kneel to touch her legs. “You’re not injured. I don’t smell blood. Do you need the medical bed? It is ready for use.”

  “Injured?” Jenna grabbed his wrists as he made the journey back up her body. She squeezed tightly to get his attention. “What are you talking about? I’m fine. What is going on out there?”

  “They told me…” Rafe lifted his hands, his strength not hampered by her hold on him. He again cupped her face and studied her eyes. “You ran from the hall.”

  “I didn’t run,” she protested in embarrassment. Perhaps she didn’t walk out of the dining hall with as much dignity as she’d first thought. “I just…”

  “It is all right. No one expects you to face the Nutef. You did the right thing in coming in here where your guards can keep you safe. We all know humans are fragile and—”

  “What the hell is a Nutef?” Jenna asked in alarm. She jerked her head out of his grasp.

  “The shifter threat against you. It has to be the Nutef faction. They are the most vocal about not wanting human mates brought to the planet. They believe with enough time and faith the gods will send us more catshifter females to marry. They are idealists.”

  “And they’re here? Now?” Jenna looked at the door and took an unconscious step back. “And you sent Hector to check my room for them?”

  “Did you not see them? You ran from—”

  “I didn’t run,” Jenna insisted. “I was done eating and I left. Everyone was staring at me, and I felt like a freaking zoo animal on display.”

  “So you did not see…?”

  “You left me alone up there,” Jenna accused. “The queen just dropped me off, told me to enjoy and spent the entire meal walking around talking to people. What was I supposed to do? Be a good little monkey and sit on display smiling until everyone was finished eating?”

  “You were in the position of honor, so all may know who you are and how important you are to this family.” Rafe made a move to reach for her again, but she stepped back. “Any one of them would have been happy to approach you if you so wished it. Even the queen did not eat with you out of respect. The king, Ivar and I left the hall so that you may have all the attention.”

  “No one told me that,” Jenna stated. “And, for the record, I didn’t want all the attention.”

  “I thought your place of honor would have been obvious. Of course the people would want to be introduced to you,” Rafe said. “You are Lady Jenna.”

  Jenna didn’t know what to say.

  “Now that your honor in this household has been established, you will not have to be a good little monkey again. Next time I will sit with you.”

  Jenna couldn’t help it. She tried to suppress her laugh but couldn’t. Rafe was so earnest when he referred to her as a monkey. These people were obviously smart and could pick up language cues, but they didn’t always get them right.

  “I like when you smile,” he said.

  “How badly did I mess up the dinner?”

  “It is fine that you did not speak to anyone,” Rafe said as if thinking to himself. “They will think you’re dignified, and all know you face a threat.”

  “I spoke to the servants,” Jenna said, feeling somewhat defensive. She wasn’t completely rude. “I thanked them.”

  “Dignified and benevolent,” Rafe amended. “The servants would have brought you a wide variety of food to try so that they may learn your preferences. The fact you thanked them for it will show you have a kind heart. You did very well, m’lady.”

  They got all of that out of her being polite to the wait staff?

  “Oh, no.” Jenna bit her lip. She thought of the moist cattle feed she’d forced herself to eat and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to partake of it daily. “I didn’t know what they were doing. What if what I ate was not my preferences?”

  “Why would you eat something you did not like?”

  “I was trying to be polite and eat a little of everything. I didn’t want to insult anyone.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “Please tell me there is a way to undo my choices.”

  “Of course. You just have to tell them.”

  “So what happens now? Is everyone panicked because they think the Nutef are out there?” Jenna rubbed her temples. “I feel like I messed everything up. I wish someone would have explained to me what to expect. Now it sounds like the entire guard is out there looking for something I didn’t see. And you said it yourself, the cat who came in here is probably gone by now having failed, or maybe his mission was to simply scare me in which case it worked.”

  “The people will think you are brave to sit openly while there is a Nutef threat,” Rafe said. “We were searching the palace already, so there is nothing for you to worry about.”

  “That is if there is even a threat. Maybe it was just some kid playing a prank or someone curious to see the human.” Jenna didn’t like all the attention the people of the palace were giving her. She didn’t want spotlight treatment—people monitoring what she liked to eat, needing the royal guard to protect her, observing what kind of person she was.

  “I promised to protect you and I will.” This time when he reached for her face his touch was gentle. His eyes captured hers. “Nothing is going to happen to you, Jenna.”

  “Nothing?” Jenna looked at his mouth. Each time he touched her it became harder to resist. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

  “I will protect you,” he said. “I will make you a fine husband.”

  “What if I don’t want a fine husband?” Jenna wanted to kiss him. If she were honest with herself, she wanted to do a lot more than that.

  “You want an inferior husband?”

  “What if I don’t want a husband at all right now,” Jenna said. “We just met, Rafe. Does it have to be all or nothing?”

  “Why would I not offer all?” He was so earnest.

  “What I’m saying is you don’t have to.” How was it she was the one trying to convince the sexy man to keep it casual? “Can’t we just have fun and not worry about marriage and children and mortgages—if you even have mortgages?”

  “Mortgages?”

  “Borrow money to pay for a house,” she explained.

  “People build their houses,” Rafe answered. “So no, we do not have to worry about that.”

  “You’re straying off point.”

  “Are you concerned we would not have a home? There is no need. We will live here in my parents’ home. Yes, we may have fun and of course we will have children when we marry, if the gods so bless us. The children will live here as well.”

  Jenna sighed, realizing she had to be blunter. “Rafe, try to hear me.”
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br />   “I can hear you. I am standing right here.” He motioned down to his feet.

  “I don’t want to get married right now. I do want to kiss you again. If that kissing leads to more, then I don’t want to get pregnant right now. I have a doctor that gives me hormone shots to keep that from happening. I’ve been on them since college.”

  “You wish to be lovers.” It was more of a statement than a question. Rafe seemed to ponder her words before nodding. “Yes, I will gladly lead to more.” He tugged his laces and pulled the shirt over his head.

  Jenna watched him move with predatory grace as he led her to the couch. He urged her to take a seat. At first, she wasn’t sure what he was up to, but then he began stripping out of his clothes. She leaned back to enjoy the show when her head bumped against the rug monster. She turned to see Tog-tog inflating. The creature rolled from the back of the couch onto the floor.

  Rafe’s hand on her leg brought her around to face him. He kneeled naked before her, pulling her shoes off her feet. Green eyes peered into hers as his warm hands moved up her legs. Her breathing deepened as she waited to see what he would do. She remembered his taste from the shower, the intimate slide of moisture between them.

  His fingers reached her thighs. A playful grin curled the side of his mouth as he lifted his arms. Her skirt fluttered up, and he disappeared under. When the material settled over his head, he pulled her forward.

  Jenna automatically grabbed hold of the couch. Her hips met the edge of the seat. Rafe drew his mouth to her sex. When she tensed, he placed a leg over his shoulder. He gripped her hips to hold her in place. The ache that had stirred since meeting him flooded to the surface. She watched the shape of his head move under the skirt, aggressively dipping to match the licking of his tongue. Whenever she jerked or moaned, he would repeat the gestures relentlessly until he’d found her perfect rhythm.

  Jenna gripped the cushion behind her head as she shook in violent release. Rafe emerged from beneath her dress with supernatural green eyes flashing in pleasure. His expression revealed pride in what he’d done.

  She breathed heavily and could barely move. Rafe took advantage of her state and lifted her from the couch. He carried her swiftly across the suite to the bed. A single claw grew from his fingertip, and he cut the ties of her gown so that he could disrobe her—first the tunic dress and then the underdress. His arousal caught her notice, and she reached for his shaft. He fumbled in his efforts. When he had her naked and stirring, he crawled over her and braced his weight.

  “I will examine my lover.” Rafe cupped her pussy and slid a finger inside. “You feel pleasurable.”

  At first, Rafe made love to her slowly, savoring her body with his hand and mouth. He kissed her lips, her breasts, her stomach. He explored every inch of flesh he could reach, stroking her from her toes up to her hair. The red strands against her skin seemed to fascinate him as he drew the locks across her chest. His eyes gazed deeply into hers.

  Jenna found herself following the ridges of his chest muscles, tracing them. She moaned softly whenever he found a particularly sensitive part of her body. The intense pleasure became too much. She hooked her legs behind him and tried to pull his hips into her.

  Rafe reached between them, aiming himself. That first brush of thick contact caused her to inhale sharply and tense. Graceful hips pressed forward, the stroke of him like a dance between their bodies, tiny undulations that brought his shaft deeper. Jenna tried to follow his lead, but the tiny ripples of pleasure she felt made it hard to move.

  Rafe braced his weight on his hands. The strokes became longer and smooth. The primal thrust of his body showed in each of his working muscles. His eyes remained shifted and focused on the bounce of her breasts. He thrust harder, seeming to take pleasure in the way it forced her chest to move. The movement of his hips forced her legs to fall from behind his back onto the bed.

  Rafe put every part of him into pleasing her. His feet pressed into the bed. His legs tensed. His hips pumped. His chest heaved. His lips parted to let loose a low, animalistic sound of dominance. His hands gripped the bed on either side of her. She’d never been fucked with such intensity and passion.

  Jenna came, knowing she had been fully conquered. Climax vibrated through her entire being. She was only vaguely aware of Rafe’s pleasured release joining hers. Every nerve tingled. Each muscle tensed. Then came the drained aftermath when her body refused to move any more.

  She’d been attracted to him from that first moment, but she could not have known just how fierce of a lover he would turn out to be. Such pleasure had never been known to her. If Rafe came to her again, there would be no resisting.

  Chapter 16

  “What about dating?” Jenna relaxed into Rafe’s hold. He cuddled her from behind, refusing to leave her room for her “protection”. Time drifted, and she was sure she’d dozed, but she had no way of knowing for how long or how deep. His hands possessively roamed her naked body, and she wondered if he hoped to initiate another round.

  “Dating?” Rafe’s fingers threaded through her hair. He seemed obsessed with touching it.

  “Yes,” Jenna nodded. “What if we tried dating exclusively? We like each other so why not go slowly and see where this leads.”

  “Explain those terms.”

  “We don’t have sex with other people,” she said. “We do things together. You do nice things for me. I do nice things for you. We talk. We—”

  “That sounds like mating,” he interrupted.

  “Close, but we’re not married,” Jenna told him. “If it doesn’t work out we can part ways. Like a practice run.”

  “You will succumb to me yet,” he assured her, kissing the back of her neck. “Already you have agreed to be my lover. And I do not think you need more practice at it.”

  “Do you mate with everyone you have sex with?” Jenna asked, wondering if she’d misunderstood part of the custom along the way. There was so much to learn, and slight confusion over word translations did arise at times.

  “Of course not. Why would I want that many wives?”

  That many? I’m not sure I needed to know all that, Rafe. Jenna grimaced and mumbled aloud, “There is such a thing as oversharing.”

  “I do not mind. I like sharing stories with you.” Rafe pulled her closer and became fascinated with kissing and stroking the back of her neck. “There are tales of those who have taken several half-mates but it is an old practice, one we mostly left behind on Earth when Var women were plentiful, and many Var men had died in battle or had been murdered by the human zealots.”

  “Var women could not take human husbands instead?”

  “Some did,” Rafe allowed, “but when they were discovered by the zealots the results were most horrific for the human mate. They were very dark times. For some reason, children born to a human man and catshifter woman did not always shift as they should.” He ran his hand over her hip suggestively. “The pairing works much better when it is a Var man and a human woman. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I was serious about not wanting to get pregnant.” Jenna felt him stiffen and pull away from her nape.

  His tone was soft, and she could hear the hurt pouring out of him even as he tried to hide it. “I know my family thinks me irresponsible and rebellious, but I assure you I will make a good father. Is this why you do not wish to marry me? You do not think me capable of being a good mate?”

  “Rafe, I—”

  He sat up, cutting her off. “I assure you, I do my duty.”

  She turned to study his naked back.

  “My parents rule this kingdom. They make the decisions. Ivar is the future king, so his word carries weight in political matters. By the time they get around to asking me the decisions have already been made, and it’s more of a courtesy. Traditionally as the younger son my role would have been to lead armies to battle so that the future king was not risked. As it stands, we are not at war, and I merely have to command the palace guard. They have been doing their jobs
for centuries, so there is no reason for me to follow them around barking orders. Every few years I call the men to practice their battle skills, and the younger boys learn what they need to from their fathers and teachers.”

  Knowing she’d touched a raw nerve, she placed her hand on his back. “I do not question that you can do your job.”

  “It is my duty,” he stated.

  “I do not question that you can do your duty,” she amended.

  “And yet you do not think me good enough to father your children.” He shook off her hand and moved to stand.

  Though he appeared completely comfortable walking naked in front of her, Jenna was a little more modest and pulled the covers to hide her nakedness. It was one thing when he was looking at her in passion and quite another when he paced in frustration.

  “Rafe, why does it have to be all or nothing with you?” Jenna hugged the blankets tighter. “Why not take it slow and see where this leads?”

  “Because I feel it.” He hit his hand against his chest. “I want it.”

  “Well, I feel confused,” Jenna answered, her tone rising to match his. “I’m not like you. I’m not a catshifter. I don’t know anything about this world, not really. It’s all new and confusing, and the last thing I want is to throw marriage and children into the mix. That’s not fair to either of us, and it’s not fair to any child we’d bring into this world. What if we don’t work out? What if you decide I’m too moody in the mornings? Or we run out of things to say? What if your habits drive me crazy? What if we get bored with each other’s company after the newness of sexual attraction wears off? Marriage is a lot more than a feeling. It’s a commitment.”

  “I know that,” he answered loudly.

  “Do you?” Jenna pushed to her knees. “We can’t even talk about this without you getting upset and yelling at me. How are we actually going to be married if we can’t even have this conversation?”