The Stubborn Lord Read Online Free PDF Page A

around. A giant bed was in the middle of the room. She’d never seen a bed so big. Onboard the fueling dock her bed was only big enough to fit one person. The Draig bed could easily hold her five times over. Gauze hung around it, cocooning it in hazy softness.
    A tub of hot water waited in one corner. She knew it was for bathing, though she’d never tried a water bath. In space, laser baths were a much more efficient use of ship resources. The next corner held pleasure toys—oils, whips, straps, soft plush ties and various other objects. She recognized them from traveling sale ships that came through with their wares, trying to sell their goods off of holographic demonstrations and advertisements. The last corner had food. She went to that one and studied the piles of chocolate and pitchers of wine. Chocolate? She moved her finger to touch one. Chocolate was so rare in space. She’d only had it once as a child. Monks had come trying to convert them and handed the temptations out like they were the keys to paradise. It was so delicious she’d remembered the taste even now, years later. She wondered why the people who programmed the food simulators didn’t include the treat in their menus. Kendall glanced around the primitive tent. These men must be rich indeed to have plates of chocolate just lying around unguarded. The monks had told her that wars broke out over the stuff, for it was the food of the gods.
    Of course she wanted to try one, but she forced her hand back. She couldn’t steal from him, not when she hoped Alek would help her find a way home.
    Kendall closed her eyes. Alek was not a man she wanted to anger. She’d seen him shifted. It was a sight she wouldn’t soon forget. Though, seeing him as a man, she wasn’t sure which state was more frightening. He’d been very comfortable in his half-naked state, and she had been decidedly uncomfortable with it. Bare feet, strong legs, defined back and chest, thick arms… The image did something euphorically wicked to her on a primal level, something she could never act upon.
    Opening her eyes, she took a deep, steadying breath. Perhaps a small drink of wine would be all right. One sip to steady her nerves.
     
    * * *

 
    It took every bit of self-restraint Alek had to keep a calm expression as the brides began to filter through the receiving line. The potential husbands were lined up in two rows, creating a path the women were to walk through. This was the moment he was supposed to find his bride amongst those from the ship.
    Alek held his hand around his crystal, covering its glow so no one would see it before it was time. He didn’t want his brothers asking questions. He didn’t want anyone to know he had hid his new bride away in a tent for fear the gods would take her from him. Such a reaction to fear was not an honorable act. He should have brought her back to the line, let her walk through with the other women as was tradition. Never in his life had he panicked as he had tonight. The others would have understood their chance meeting. Finding a bride before the ceremony occasionally happened, but they still followed tradition.
    However, Alek had waited too long to find his fate. He could not let her go now. He could not risk it. The fear was unreasonable, but it was there.
    Like the other grooms, he wore the mask over his face from forehead to upper lip and a gold band around his biceps. As over half the alien brides passed by him, he released the glowing crystal. It blended with the other lucky grooms whose mates had been chosen by fate. His brother Bron had been blessed, as had the four princes. However, Mirek had not. Vladan was not in line, having received a royal pardon due to his bride’s unique situation.
    When all of the prospective brides had passed, Alek went to where his two brothers stood.
    “I will attend to the campsite before traveling home,” Mirek was saying to Bron as Alek approached. “I will not wait for you. Enjoy your good