Chapter Ten
It is how Grim finds them, hours later, huddled together under blankets and pillows, sleeping. He’s eyes travel over their sleeping forms, reassuring himself they are unharmed. He’d been notified of their earlier scare and hated that he hadn’t been there to reassure them. Luda is still new to them and he hadn’t given a moment’s thought to a tempest bothering them, just as he hadn’t thought about his impatient words hurting Lisa. He'd once again been more concerned about protecting then whom he was protecting. Would he ever get this right?
Alger’s words haunted him. Had he made his Lisa believe she didn’t matter to him? That she wasn’t worthy. That would be unacceptable. She is the only thing that did matter to him, her and their girls. He’d give up everything, everything in the universe, for them.
Letting his gaze caress her face, he frowns at the darkness under her eyes, eyes that slowly open. Warmth fills them until she fully wakes then the warmth disappears and she looks to the girls.
“Lisa…” A clap of thunder stops him from saying more as the girls wake with screams.
“Shhhh.” Lisa pulls them close as Grim drops to the floor.
“Shhhh, its’ just thunder. Remember? It’s’ okay, come on wake up.” She tries to distract them.
“Grim!” Miki sees him over her shoulder and throws herself into his arms.
“Make it stop Grim.” She pleads.
Pulling her trembling body close, Grim wants nothing more than to be able to grant her request.
“It will be over soon Miki. You are safe here in Luanda. It can’t hurt you."
“Promise?” Tear filled eyes look into his.
“I promise. It’s just a loud noise.” He settles her more firmly in his arms and looks to see Carly listening and watching.
“It is said that the sound you hear, is caused by the Great Raptor’s wings as he flies over, protecting all he sees. The flashes of light are his eyes driving away all darkness. The Great Raptor destroys all that would cause harm to what is his and then he sends the rain to wash them away. Sometimes the battle is long and brutal, like tonight, but it is only the Raptor protecting his people." Grim looks between his two young ones. "So you see there is nothing to fear. You need only to stay in Luanda so you don’t distract the Great Raptor from his task.”
“He can see us?” Miki looks from Grim to the window then back to him her eyes wide.
“Of course, you are his, he protects what is his. He will always watch over you.” Grim looks to Lisa, to see if she understands what he’s trying to say.
“All of you. But he also needs you to help him.”
“Us?” Carly pipes in her eyes just as wide.
“You. For the Great Raptor to be able to protect the land he needs you to stay inside while he battles the darkness. It is the only way.”
“Wow…” Miki whispers.
“We can do that. Can’t we Carly.” She looks to her sister.
“Yeah. We can help the Great Raptor.”
“That is good little ones. For he wants you safe in Luanda at times like these. So will you remember to stay inside when the tempest comes?”
“Yes Grim.” They chorus and with the next flash of light are up and at the windows trying to catch a glimpse of the Great Raptor.
Standing Grim holds out his hand to Lisa and waits, the eyes that meet his are filled with confusion and hurt, making him wonder if she’ll accept him. Slowly she places her hand in his, allowing him to pull her up but as he tries to pull her close she stiffens.
“Lisa…” He mummers.
“Sire.” Montfort’s voice interrupts him.
“Yes Montfort, what is it?” Grim tries to control his impatience it is what’s got him in this situation in the first place.
“Last meal is ready sire.”
“Thank you Montfort.” Lisa answers, stepping away from Grim.
“Girls time to eat.” Turning she herds them out of the room and into Grim’s Chamber were they’ve eaten every evening meal together as a family.
Grim watches Lisa closely though out the meal, she is as attentive to the girls as always but there’s sadness, just underneath. The sparkle her eyes always held when she looked at him is gone, replaced by a cool distance.
“Alright girls." Lisa stands when they've finished. "Let’s go pick up your room then you need to get ready for bed.”
“Oh mommy…”
“Girls…” Grim warns, adding his voice to Lisa’s.
“Yes Grim. Yes mommy.” They quickly rise to obey. Grim stops Lisa from gathering the plates.
“Lisa…” He starts only to be interrupted this time by the ringing of his comm.
“What is it?” He demands.
“Sire, Baccuus has been captured. He will be here in five minutes.” Junius informs him.
“I’ll be there shortly.” Grim responds.
“Who is Baccuus?” Lisa asks.
“No one you need to worry about.” He informs her shortly then grimaces at his words. “Lisa…”
“You need to go. I need to see to the girls, good night.” For the second time that day, Grim knows he’s hurt her.
Lisa wipes the tear from her cheek as she watches her babies sleep. They are so beautiful, so innocent. How are they going to survive in this place? No matter what, Grim will protect them, she knows that. His honor would let him do no less. That much she did understand, but the rest...
Quietly shutting the door, she moves into the Royal Chamber, stifling a yawn. How can she be tired? She’s never been one to nap. If she does, she never sleeps well that night. Well except for when she’d been pregnant with Miki, she corrects herself, and then she’d been tired all the time…when she’d been…Lisa finds she needs to sit.
Is it possible? Could she be pregnant? Frowning, she counts back, it’s been over a month since they’d left Earth and in all that time, she hasn’t had her cycle, but that could just be because of everything they’ve been through. Yeah, so she was tired, that didn’t necessarily mean she was pregnant. She’d been so sick with Miki.
Not with Carly, her inside voice reminds her, not one day. Leaning back Lisa’s mind accepts what her heart knows is true and slowly she puts a protective hand over her stomach. She is pregnant, pregnant with Grim’s child. Cradling her head in her hands, she cries.
Morning dawns grey and dreary perfectly reflecting Lisa’s mood. Grim had not returned the night before and the girls were asks about him.
“I don’t know girls. I’m sure he wishes he were with you. Now eat.” As the morning progresses, the weather doesn’t let up, making all three of them antsy.
“Miki that’s mine!” Carly grabs the color from Miki’s hand, setting it beside her.
“But you’re not using it!” Miki argues back.
“Doesn’t matter, it’s mine and you can’t have it!”
“Mommy!” Miki cries out.
“Enough girls!” Lisa’s at her wits end. She knows the girls are picking up on her turmoil but she can’t seem to stop it, her emotions are a mess. They need to move.
“Come on girls, we’re out of here.”
“But mommy it’s raining.”
“I didn’t say outside I said out of here. Let’s go see what’s going on in the kitchen.”
“Yeah!”
Ion and Nairn follow the Royal family to the kitchen. Most warriors avoid Warrior Tagma, also known as Cook. He is a short-tempered warrior that refuses to have his routine interrupted so both are shocked at his response to their arrival.
“Little ones!” He greets them enthusiastically.
“Have you come to help me again today?”
“Can we?” Carly begs excitedly.
“Of course little ones.” Straightening he stiffens when he sees Lisa.
“My Queen.” He bows formally.
“Hello Tagma. We are a bit out of sorts today and thought we might visit.”
“Of course my Queen, you are always welcome.” However, Lisa can tell her presence is making him uncomfortable. Sighing she looks around the room seeing all the males are uncomfortable. This will never do.
“Would you mind if the girls stayed with you Tagma? They always enjoyed helping in the kitchen at home.”
“Majesty?” Tagma sees the wistfulness in her eyes as she looks around the room.
“You and the little ones…you cooked together?”
“Yes, every day.” Lisa gives him a sad smile.
“It was something we very much enjoyed doing together.”
“Would you like to help?” Tagma forces himself to ask, not realizing Lisa can hear he’s reluctance.
“No Tagma.” She shakes her head.
“This is your space and to be honest, while I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve cooked, it is nothing like we had at home. I would be more of a hindrance than a help.”
“I’m sure that wouldn’t be true Majesty.” He immediately denies.
“I’m not.” She meets his eye and he doesn’t understand the sadness he sees there.
“If you’re sure the girls won’t be in your way…”
“Never Majesty, they are a joy to have.” Lisa nods before turning to Ion.
“I will contact the Guard majesty.” Once they arrive, Lisa leaves the girls in their care with one final order.
“If they become a problem Tagma, let Risley know, and they can return to the Royal Wing.” Lisa looks down to her children.
“Do you understand girls?”
“Yes mommy.” They chorus.
Ion and Nairn follow behind the Queen as she aimlessly wanders the halls of Luanda. She pauses occasionally, moving the placement of an item slightly or to stare at a portrait hanging on a wall. Her absolute silence concerns them, their Queen liked to share her thoughts with them, to get their opinion, not today.
Lisa, unaware of her Guards concern, enters one of her favorite rooms in Luanda. It faces the morning sun with a wall full of windows allowing its rays to shine on its contents. It is the first room she thought of for Dagan’s sun catchers.
“Majesty!” Lisa jumps. She hadn’t realized anyone was in the room.
“Cherny.” Lisa nods to the male who’d been put in charge of this room.
“I hadn’t realized you wished to use the room Majesty or I would have made sure everything was in order.” Cherny can’t believe this has happened. He’d been given the honor of making sure this room was kept to the Queen’s standards and the day he is behind is the day she wishes to use the room.
Lisa hears the distress in Cherny’s voice and looks around the room.
“I see nothing out of order Cherny. In fact, the room is beautiful. Hopefully soon I will be able to add to its beauty with sun catchers made by Dagan.”
“Sun catchers majesty?”
“Yes, beautiful pieces of…” Lisa finds she can’t continue, for the sun catchers are another thing Grim would see as making little difference.
“I’m sorry Cherny. I didn’t mean to interfere in your day. If it matters, I think you are doing a wonderful job.” Giving the shocked male a slight nod, she quickly exits the room.
Ion looks to Nairn confused at the Queen's comment. Why would she say such a thing? She is the Queen of Luda. This is her home but neither can ignore the pain they heard in her voice.
“Majesty.” Ion finally speaks, watching her reach out to touch something, only to pull back as if she weren’t allowed.
“Luanda is your home, others intrude, never you.”
Lisa turns as he speaks and he is shocked and dismayed to see her eyes fill with tears, one escaping before she quickly turns away.
“I believe I will return to the Royal Wing.” Is her only reply as she walks away.
Grim looks at Baccuus’ bruised and bloodied body without the slightest bit of remorse. This male compromised Luda’s security, allowing intruders to land. They’ve been interrogating him for hours and Grim is finally satisfied they’ve retrieved every bit of information he had.
He needs to inform Wray of what he’s discovered, that this attack, has been instigated by someone on Tornian. Baccuus didn’t know who, only that his father had been promised a great deal for the ship to enter Luda undetected. In turn, his father promised Baccuus that he would be placed in a position on power in the Andeen Province, elevating him.
He didn’t know who was on the transport or what they were here to do, only that they would signal when he was to allow the transport back through the shields.
“Have Lord Focke brought to Luanda immediately.” Grim orders turning from Baccuus.
“Yes sire.” Alger acknowledges.
“I’ll be in my Chambers, notify me when he is here.”
“Yes sire.”
Lisa stares over the walls guarding Luanda, wondering if she'll ever be allowed outside them again. Grim is over protective now. How will he be once he knows she’s conceived? Sighing, her finger follows the path of a raindrop. This should be such a happy time. A new life has been created. Instead, she is alone in the female level contemplating her choices.
Did she have any? She gave Grim her vow but still…could she stay with him knowing she means so little too him? What were her options? To go to Tornian and be forced to join with another male? One that could be like Luuken? At least here, the girls were happy and Grim seems to care about them and what about the baby? She might be able to take the girls but Grim would never allow his own child to be taken from him. Could she walk away from it? Never!
So where does that leave her? It leaves her here…on Luda. Looking around the empty room Lisa wonders if she’d been too hasty in cleaning it out. She'd been so sure they'd be able to make this work. Now…now she isn’t sure she can sleep with Grim…not after yesterday…and joining…how does one join with someone they love…when they don’t love you in return?
Lisa feels her eyes fill at the thought. She loves Grim. She does. She knows it as surely as she’d known she loved Mark. Grim doesn’t love her...he needs her, but he doesn't love her.
Sadly, she can't even blame him. She was the one spilling her guts. She was the one suggesting makeup sex and she was the one who let her emotions get out of hand. All Grim had wanted was to join with a female, any female and have offspring. He doesn’t need to love her to do that.
She needs to come to terms with this. There isn’t going to be a 'happily ever after' ending in this story, not for her but there could be for her girls, if she played by Grim's rules. Could she do that? Could she stand back again? Sleep with Grim, join with him, and not let it slowly destroy her? She'll have too...her girls and this baby, are depending on her.
Grim nods to the guards outside the Royal Wing, moving to the stairs, he finds Ion and Nairn at the bottom.
“My family is upstairs?” He questions.
“Just the Queen sire.” Ion replies, keeping his eyes forward.
“The little ones are with Cook.”
“They have their Guard?” Grim demands.
“Of course sire.” At his tone, Grim gives Ion a sharp look.
“Has something happened that I’m not aware of Ion?” Ion finally looks his King in the eye.
“No sire.” Giving him one last look, Grim nods, and then heads up to find his Lisa.
Impatient strides take Grim through the empty living area to his Queen. He needs to see her, touch her, talk to her. He needs to make her understand that he hadn't meant to hurt her. She told him how hurt she'd been by her Mark and he didn’t want her to think he would do that. This is different.
Entering their chamber, he’s eyes quickly scan the room, but doesn’t find her. A quick search of the cleansing room finds it empty too. Where is she? Ion had said she was here but he had been acting strangely. About to call the Guard he notices the door to the female’s level is open, its light dimly shining. Why would she be up there? She doesn’t belong up there. Quickly he moves up the stairway.
“Lisa…” Seeing her jump, he realizes he’s startled her.
“Grim. What are you doing here?” She asks huskily.
“I was looking for you." Moving to her, his eyes quickly search the empty space. "Why are you up here?”
“I needed to think and this seemed like the logical place.”
“Think…" He stops just behind her. "About what?”
“Us.” Grim stiffens at her response.
“What about us.” He demands, his heart pounding. What did she need to think about? She was his. He was hers.
Lisa looks up at him, knowing she's upset him with her response. Her heart breaks a little when she realizes she doesn't like Grim upset. She wants to see him happy, see him smile. She wants to give him the love he's been denied all his life. Sighing heavily she turns back to the window, apparently her decisions been made. She will stay with Grim, doing what she’s promised and find a way to survive as his female.
"What about us Lisa!" Gripping her arms, he gives her a little shake. Her turning away from him hurt but not as much as the look in her eyes. They'd been filled with a heartbreaking acceptance. Acceptance of what? "Tell me, please my Lisa..." Turning her, he gently tilts her face to his. "Tell me..." He whispers.
"It's nothing you need to worry about Grim. I've come to terms with it." She puts a reassuring hand on his cheek.
"It's not nothing! It has upset you." He looks into the eyes he loves and sees a deep sadness in them, a sadness put there by his thoughtless words, words she’s just returned to him. Alger is right. He has caused great harm to the one that should never be harmed. "It's because of yesterday, because of what I said." He can tell he's right.
“It doesn’t matter.” When she would pull away, he brings her closer.
“It does matter my Lisa. Anything that puts that look in your eyes matters. You are all that matters to me. Don’t you know that? You are my Queen.”
“No…I am your female.” She corrects him and watches his eyes widen in shock.
“Why would you say this…you wish to leave me?”
“No. I gave you my promise Grim, my vow, to join with you and only you. I meant it and I’ll keep it but that doesn’t make me your Queen.”
“Of course you are my Queen!”
“No.” She looks at him with steady eyes.
“A Queen stands at your side Grim. She is your equal, your lover, your confident and your friend. She has a power all her own and duties to perform, duties that matter. She is all these things Grim…but that’s not what you want.” Sadness enters her steady gaze.
“I will only ever be a female that has your offspring.”
Grim looks down at her in horror. Is this what he has made her think? That she only matters to him because of offspring. He opens his mouth to speak but can’t get the words past the sudden lump in his throat.
“It’s okay Grim.” He watches the sadness fade away to be replaced by something much worse….acceptance.
"It is not okay!" Grim wants to roar, to rage, only to find he’s shaking. That she could think this and believe it, because of something he said. That she could believe he didn't think she was worthy of being his Queen...Lifting her into his arms he buries his face in her neck, breathing in her scent, her warmth, seeking comfort until he could find the words.
"It's okay Grim." She whispers, cradling his head in her arms. "I understand now and things will be better, like before. I promise." She coos, meaning to reassure him, but the eyes that slowly rise to meet hers are devastated. "Grim..."
"You think that I would use you like that? That I think of you as nothing more than a breeder?" Rage slowly builds in his eyes and voice. "You! Who ripped apart my universe with your truth, with your loyalty, with your love! You showed me that I mattered, that I was worthy, yet believe that you aren't? Not to me! Not to my warriors!"
"But you said..." Grim silences her with a hard kiss.
"I was wrong in what I said my Lisa, in how I said it. I was angry and impatient and you were there. I am sorry...so sorry my Lisa." Lisa looks into his turbulent grey eyes trying to see the truth.
“Tell me my Lisa. Tell me truth. You said that part of love is forgiving when one is having a bad day. Was that a lie?”
"No Grim it was truth." She whispers, wondering if she could believe, could trust, one more time.
"Then forgive me my Lisa. I beg you. I love you, without you my life is like this room…empty…and yesterday…yesterday was a very bad day." Tears flow down her cheeks by the time he finishes. She wants to respond but finds she can't, instead she nods and buries her face in his neck sobbing, releasing all the hurt and pain of the last day.
Grim stares into the fire, holding his Lisa close, replaying the last day in his mind. It had gone from wonderful to terrible in a matter of hours. Lisa’s told him what she wants from him. Could he give it to her? Could he let her be all those things? A lover, that was easy, but the others. If she were his confidant that would mean she would know his failings, his shortcomings. No male does that with his fe…Grim frowns. He was going to call her his female. Something he’s told her she isn’t. So what is it going to be? Could he let her be the Queen she wants to be? Looking down he’s startled to find her watching him.
“What did you decide?” She asks softly with no censure in her voice.
“You know me well don’t you my Lisa.”
“I know you are a strong, honorable male that cares not only about me and the girls, but about your warriors and people. You want me as your Queen but want to hide me away, protecting me from all harm, but you can’t do that Grim, you can’t have love and not at some time hurt. You can’t be happy and not have some sadness. It is called life, you have to live it. The good and the bad Grim.”
“I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt my Lisa.” He admits.
“The only way you can prevent it is by locking me away Grim and that hurts more. It’s one of the things Mark did. With his decisions. He thought it would hurt less, that he was protecting me but it hurt so much more to realize that he didn’t trust me to make the important decisions.”
The hurt he sees in Lisa’s eyes tells Grim that those decisions, made so long ago, still hurt her. What could her Mark have done that was so wrong?
“How could his protecting you hurt you, my Lisa?” At first, he doesn’t think she’s going to answer, as she stares into the fire.
“He signed a DNR and didn’t tell me. Didn’t even ask.” She whispers, her voice while flat is filled with remembered pain.
“A…D...
“DNR. Do Not Resuscitate. It’s an order for his medical care. It meant that if he were to stop breathing, if his heart would stop, that there would be no attempt to resuscitate him. Bring him back.” Grim eyes widen in shock.
“Why would he do such a thing?” Grim can’t fathom it. He would fight with all his being to have just one more minute with her.
“Because he was trying to protect me. He thought it would be easier…for me…if he chose when to die.” She’s touches the tear rolling down her cheek in amazement. She didn’t think she had any left.
“But it made it worse.” She angrily wipes the tear away.
“He had a reaction to a new medicine they’d given him. It caused his heart to stop. There was an antidote but they couldn’t give it unless his heart was beating and they couldn’t start his heart because of the DNR. He died when he didn’t have too Grim, all because he was trying to protect me from being hurt, but the truth is he didn’t trust me, not when it truly mattered.”
Grim looks at her and can see the sorrow and guilt on her face.
“It wasn’t your fault Lisa.”
“Wasn’t it?” The pain in her eyes rips at his soul.
“I didn’t stand up to him when I should have, when I knew he was wrong. I let him make all the important decisions, never arguing. I gave him no reason to believe that I could make that decision.”
“You were very young my Lisa. You still are.” Suddenly he realizes she’s younger than when he became King.
“No I’m not.” She slides out of his arms to stand, moving away from him.
“That girl died Grim. She died with Mark. She died because she didn’t stand up to the man she loved and demand her rights.” Turning she faces him.
“So you need to decide if I’m to be your Queen or your female, Grim. I want to be your Queen.” She stands proudly before him. She’s going for what she wants this time. “I want to stand beside you, help you make Luda a glorious place to live. I want to give you offspring, raise them in this House, making sure they know they are loved, every minute of every day, no matter what, no matter male or female, they will know they matter. I can’t do that by myself Grim. I can only do it if you let me, if you believe in me, trust me…”
Grim frowns as she stands in front of him, challenging him for her right to be a true Queen. For her right to stand beside him, as the Queens of old had done. Willingly accepting the risks being with him brought, if he falters now they will both lose.
“Nearly thirty-six hours ago a ship slipped through our planetary defense system. Twelve were left behind.” Lisa’s eyes widen at what he’s telling her, because he’s telling her, slowly she sits facing him.
“Someone on Luda helped them.” Grim looks at her surprised and nods.
“Why do you believe this?”
“Because it's the only way someone could get through your defenses Grim.” Closing his eyes, he rests his forehead against hers. What had he ever done to deserve her?
“You are correct. Commander Junius discovered the defenses had been shut down for three minutes. He reported it.” Grim realizes he hasn’t given his Lisa enough credit.
“Baccuus.”
“Yes…how…” Not near enough credit.
“I overheard his name in your command room and again last night. You immediately left when informed he was here. He's why you were gone all night."
"Yes, I was...questioning him." He will never tell her how, that ugliness will never touch his Lisa.
Lisa looks at Grim, understanding what he means when he says questioning. She wants to be upset by it but finds she can't. This male betrayed Grim, allowed intruders onto Luda, intruders that could harm their people.
"He told you what you needed to know?"
"He told me what he knew." Grim's look tells her he will say no more, nodding she settles in his arms, staring at the fire.
When she questions him no further, Grim is surprised. He'd thought she'd want to know every detail, something he wouldn't give her. Instead she lets it drop, it's then he realizes she trusts him, truly trusts him.
"Lisa...” He mummers in her hair.
"Hmmmm...”
“Will you be my Queen? I want you to be Queen Lisa.” Slowly she looks up at him.
“You are everything I didn’t even know I wanted or needed. I will try my best to make you happy but I know it won’t always happen. I’ll…”
“You’ll what Grim?” Turning so they are chest to chest, she rests her hands on his tense shoulders.
“You know you can tell me.”
“I will make mistakes, anger you. I can be short tempered, especially when it involves you or the girls’ safety. I will try to control you, I know this, but it will only be because I love you so much.”
“And I will make mistakes, anger you. I can be short tempered too you know.” She gives him a loving smile.
“Especially if it involves you or our children’s safety. I will tell you when I think you are wrong Grim, but I will never shame you. I will always stand at your side. No matter what. Because I love you and nothing will ever change that.”
“My Lisa…” Grim groans capturing her mouth for a deep kiss. He will never let her go. Never give her up. Quickly removing her pants, he lifts her astride him. He must have her.
“My Grim.” Lisa’s fingers furiously work to release him. She needs him inside her…now! In a movement as old as time, they become one, pausing only long enough to wrap their arms around each other before their passion explodes.
Lisa rests her chin on a fist as she looks down at her sleeping King. He settled her on top of him after they’d made love a second time, and then fallen into an exhausted sleep. She should have realized he hadn’t slept the night before, it had been in his eyes, but she’d been to hurt to see it. She’d have to do a better job of taking care of him. He is hers.
The beeping of his comm has her stretching down for his jacket, wanting to silence the damn thing before it woke him.
“Yes?” She asks quietly.
“A...Majesty?”
“Yes what is it Alger?” She demands quietly.
“I, ummm, was looking for the King.” A hand reaches out taking the comm from her.
“What is it Alger?” Grim asks, kissing her temple.
“Sire,” Alger’s relief is easily heard.
“Lord Focke is secured and waiting for you.”
“I will be there shortly.” Disconnecting, he drops the comm, and pulls her back on top of him.
“What were you going to tell him?” He asks nuzzling her neck.
“That the King is resting.” She turns her head giving him better access.
“And that unless we were under attack, he would remain so.” Moaning, her fingers dig into his chest, as he lifts her hips, impaling her on him. Throwing his head back, he groans, as she takes him on a hard fast ride.
“Goddess I love resting with you.” Grim tells her when he can finally speak. Lisa softly chuckles kissing his chest.
“Anytime you want, my love.” After a few minutes, he pulls out of her so they can sit.
“Do you really have to go?”
Looking at her Grim realizes he doesn’t want too. Her lips are swollen from his kisses, hair tangled from his hands and skin flushed from his passion. She is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen but he forces himself to nod.
“Lord Focke is Baccuus’ father. He had Baccuus lower our shields.” Grim swings his legs over the side of the bed and stands.
“Then of course you must go.” Lisa knows what it’s taken for him to tell her.
“But first you will shower and eat.”
“Are you caring for me my Lisa?” Grim finds his throat tightening.
“Always my love. Now go shower before I make you rest some more.” She gives him a wicked grin. Throwing his head back, Grim laughs as he moves to the cleansing room. Goddess he’s never felt this good before.
Lisa grins, not only because of Grim’s laugh, but also because of his beautiful bare backside. Goddess the man is built and he is all hers! Smiling she rises picking up their discarded clothes, crossing the room she puts them were they will be cleaned before pulling on her robe. Moving to the comm, she contacts Cook to order Grim an early midday meal.
“Are the girls still with you?” She asks.
“Yes majesty. Do you require them?”
“Not right now but send them up before midday meal. Your job is difficult enough without the girls being in your way.”
“They are no trouble Majesty.” Tagma hurriedly assures her.
“Thank you Tagma but I know it can’t be easy satisfying the appetites of Luanda’s warriors, even though you make it look easy.”
“I…yes Majesty…thank you.”
“Simple truth Tagma. If you could make sure Grim’s meal is brought quickly I would be grateful, he needs to leave shortly.”
“Yes Majesty!” Tagma can fill his chest puff out at the thought that the Queen has actually noticed his efforts. His eyes meet Kirk’s who heard the entire conversation, he nods to him letting him know he understands before his eyes return to the princess.