Free Gateway to HeVan by Lucy Kelly

asked.
    “Natalie won’t be back for another hour.  I thought we could make love.  Being this close to the queen, I’m sure I’ll get pregnant right away,” she said, walking over to the bed and turning down the covers.
    “Are you actually expecting me to remove my clothing―without assistance―and rut like an animal on command?  I cannot have a visitation with the queen wearing a creased cloak and smelling of sex.  Go and prepare yourself for my audience.  For my sake, try not to embarrass me anymore,” he said before turning away. 
    He went over to a small table and carefully sat down.  Opening his case, he pulled out a tablet to do some work.
    Dejected, BianCa went into the bathing chamber adjoining her quarters to bathe and dress.  Why she thought things would be different now, she didn’t know.  He had acted so nicely when they had spoken the day before.
    Natalie went back to BianCa’s room an hour later as she had promised.  She wasn’t surprised to see BianCa back in her fancy duds. 
    “I thought to tour the ship whilst waiting for my audience but the door did not open for us,” he said to Natalie when she came back. 
    Natalie exchanged a quick look with BianCa and saw the slight shake of her head.
    “I’ll let maintenance know there’s an issue with the mechanism.  It worked fine just now.  BianCa, will you be returning to your clan with your husband?” she asked.
    “ BianCa is enjoying her visit so much I have allowed her to extend her time on board.  She will return when you are preparing to leave orbit and continue your journey,” the duke interrupted. 
    BianCa had grown very quiet and Natalie noticed she walked a step behind her husband.  
    No wonder he keeps trying to pass me , she thought.
    Four minutes later, she was greeting the warriors outside the queen’s quarters as she passed her hand over the chime.  Arjun answered the door and Natalie rolled her eyes at him.  She had already relayed her impressions of the duke with Addie and her Ankida .
    “Duke LucenTio, thank you for coming to pay your respects.  The queen tires easily these days.  I’m sure you will understand if we keep this visit short,” he said in a smooth voice as he guided them down the hallway.
    “Hey, Addie, do you mind if I get one of your protein shakes?  I skipped lunch,” said Natalie, as she walked into the living room ahead of the others.
    “Sure, sweetie, just help yourself. I think we still have some double fudge ones,” said Addie, before turning to greet her latest guest. 
    Rune followed Natalie into the small kitchen.  They had decided earlier they would have to offer refreshments to the duke, if only not to embarrass BianCa.
    Addie barely caught the look of disgust which passed over the duke’s face before he blanked it and gave her a smarmy smile.
    “Your Highness, you look–blooming.  I thank your husbands for allowing you to befriend my wife.  The poor little thing has problems making friends.  After more than two years of marriage, she still has no close confidants in my clan,” he said, taking a seat on the end of the couch nearest Addie.  He flicked back his cloak and spread it just so before crossing his leather-clad legs.
    “ BianCa is a joy and we’ve been having a great time getting to know each other.  She hasn’t seen any of my favorite movies.  It’s nice showing them to a new audience; it makes it more fun for me, too,” Addie said in answer, when what she really wanted to do was tell this jerk off.
    Natalie was returning from the kitchen and saw the duke take his data pad out of his bag and put it on the table beside the couch.  Just then, she heard the dogs coming down the hallway.  They were Addie’s Great Danes and had been sleeping in the second bedroom.  She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud at the look on the duke’s face when he saw them.
    “What are these beasts?  Keep them back!” he exclaimed.
    Seeing BianCa, Lucy