Free Valan's Bondmate by Mardi Maxwell Page B

you to return so I could eat."  
    "Why?" he asked.
    "Why what?" Lia tipped her head to the side to give him better access to her neck.   
    "Why didn’t you eat?" 
    "You didn’t give me permission to eat."
    Valan lifted her chin with his fingers and gave a fierce frown. "Have you been going without food?"
    "You didn’t say I could eat without your presence."
    "From now on you will eat whether I am present or not. Prepare our meal now."
    He set her down and she hurried over to the food processors and began pushing buttons. She put the trays on the table and turned back to choose drinks for the two of them. He moved behind her and his hands made a quick foray down her back and gave her bottom a gentle pat. One arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her against his chest. The other came over her shoulder and pushed a button on the beverage processor. When the door slid open, he handed her a glass of wine and took the other for himself.
    They ate in silence. Lia noticed his glass was empty so she fixed him another and received a smile when she placed it in front of him. Sipping at her own wine, she watched him take a drink and wondered how much it would take to get him drunk. Measuring his size, she decided there probably wasn't enough wine on the ship to do the job. She finished her meal, and quickly disposed of her tray and glass then grabbed his tray as soon as he took the last bite.
    Valan cradled his glass in his large hands and watched her intently. "Have another glass of wine, Lia."
    Nervously, she prepared another glass and carried it to the table. She sipped it and then ran her fingertip around the rim of the glass, making the crystal rim hum. "I'd like to talk to you about Zarronia, Valan."
    "Then you know what you must do." His eyes swept to the chair behind his desk, then back to her.
    Deliberately misunderstanding his silent message, she moved to the desk chair, and patted her lap.
    Valan grinned. "If I did, there wouldn’t be enough left of you for me to enjoy."
    A few seconds later he was in the chair and she was on his lap. She made herself comfortable then ran her fingers down his chest and grinned when the muscles rippled and tightened. She traced the ridges of his muscles, enjoying the feel of his bronze skin beneath her fingers. "I’ve been thinking about what you said. About hating me because of my sire." As he started to interrupt her, she covered his mouth with her slender fingers. "Please, let me finish."
    Valan nodded, his eyes narrowed, one black brow drawn down. 
    "Will the people on Zarronia hate me?" Her fingers pressed harder against his lips when he started to answer. He licked her fingers and she jerked them away. Her skin felt hot where his tongue had left a trail of moisture.
    "If they find out who you are they will." His voice was casual as if it didn’t matter.   
    "Oh." Unwanted tears gathered in her eyes. She’d hoped he would deny hating her, but not only did he hate her…all of his people would hate her. What kind of life was he taking her to? With the exception of Gorm, the people of her village liked her. She couldn't even begin to imagine what being surrounded by enemies would be like. "Are you going to tell them?"
    "No. Stop crying. I don't like it."
    "I can't help it. I don't want them to hate me."
    "You will not concern yourself with the feelings of others. Your only duty is to please me." When the tears didn't stop, he carried her to the bed and dropped her on it.
    "I will shower, and then you’ll massage my body."
    Aggravated by his assumption she would obey his high-handed command, Lia frowned and furiously blinked the tears from her eyes. The war had begun. This was the first battle and he'd handed her a weapon. She was very, very good at massage. It was one of the things she’d been trained to do. With a soft giggle, she sprawled back on the bed and waited for him to return. The barbarian didn't know it, but she was about to win their first battle.
    Valan