Page 47 of Rule

“It’s no problem,” I said.

He frowned a little. “She should not bebothering you when you are in your room. I will speak with her in the morning whenshe is not so tired and make her understand that you need your privacy.

“If that’s what you want to do, but I’m okaywith spending time with her,” I said.

I really didn’t mind Bella’s company. Shewas a cute kid and while her ninja skills took some getting used to, I wasenjoying getting to know her. Besides, I would have a kid of my own soon andit was probably good to get some practice with a toddler, right?

My stomach twisted a little at the thoughtof sleeping with the king. They’d said he was impatient and short-tempered.What if I couldn’t please him in bed? What if he got angry with me when itbecame apparent that I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to sex?

For a moment, I wished that I’d slept witha few more guys once I’d been accepted into the breeding program. Maybe eventried sleeping with a Draax so I would know what it was like.

That’s what I should have done. I’d only hada few days between finding out I was accepted to the breeding program andleaving Earth, and it was difficult to slip out of the apartment with both Alexand Troy watching me like a hawk, but I could have managed something. God, Iwas so stupid. I could have been practicing sex with a Draax on Earth and thenI wouldn’t have to worry about not pleasing the king. Why hadn’t I thought ofthat before I left Earth?

Hey, Evie? You have a couple of Draaxright here that you could practice with.

My face went bright red and I stared atBella’s dark hair before continuing to braid. I was embarrassed, but maybe Ishould ask one of them to sleep with me. It was obvious that they found meattractive.

Do they, though? Maybe they were justhalf-asleep like you were and would have touched any woman in their bed.

Maybe, but I didn’t think so. At least, notin the case of Court. The way he looked at me sometimes… I might have been abit naïve about sex, but I knew lust when I saw it. I was pretty sure hewanted me. Bran, on the other hand… I was more of an annoyance to him. Icouldn’t blame him. I’d be annoyed too if I was expecting a nanny for my kidand got someone who had no experience with children.

I wound the elastic around the end of the braidand smoothed the sides before smiling at Bella. “There you go, honey. Alldone.”

“Bella pretty, Papa?” Bella said.

“Very pretty. Come, meena. It’s time forbed,” Bran said.

“Evie girl come too.” Bella wrapped her armsaround my neck and her tail around my arm when Bran tried to lift her from thebed.

“Bella.” Bran’s tone was a bit exasperatedand I slid off the bed, holding Bella in my arms.

“It’s fine. I can carry her to her room.”

“You are injured,” he said.

“I’m feeling better,” I said. “It doesn’thurt to hold her.”

I was mostly telling the truth. I did havea dull ache in my kidneys and lower back, but it was manageable.

I was wearing shorts and he stared at myside where the bruising was covered by my thick sweater before studying my barelegs. The cold air had made goosebumps break out on them and Bran frowned. “Youneed to put on warmer clothes.”

“I’m okay,” I said. “Come on, Bella, let’sget you to your bed.”

I followed Bran out into the hallway, Bella’stail thumping against my hip. “Uda!” she shouted, making me jump a little. “Uda,where are you?”

The door to Court’s bedroom opened and hestepped out. My mouth dried up and I quickly looked away. He was wearing justa pair of pants and I didn’t know if it was possible, but his chest and stomachseemed even more muscular than Bran’s.

No chest hair, just like Bran. Do youthink that’s a Draax thing or do they wax?

I ignored my inner voice as Bella made a softsound of happiness. “Uda, say night night.”

“Night, night,” Court said.

Bella pointed her tail at him. “Kiss, Uda.”

He walked toward us, and I kept my gazefirmly on Bella’s braid as Bella puckered her lips.

He gave her a kiss and tickled her belly. Shegiggled and pushed at his hand. “Bella loves Uda.”

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