Chapter 12: The Emperor Likes to Cuddle and Purr

He stayed silent for as long as she played with his tail. In the end, he started to speak softly. 

"I have waited all my life for you. I wish to ask you something..." he trailed off. "Can I court you?" 

Like in the Victorian era? 

She was intrigued by the man but fairly disgruntled about the world she had been brought to. Letting a man court her simply because he reminded her of a loved pet didn't mean she could overcome the circumstance that led her to this planet. Moreover, a traumatic one. 

But Logan was sweet and earnest. She understood why he cut off his cousin's tail and presented it to her. He wanted to woo her with it like cats bring their owners prey. She realized that she would like to get to know him better before judging him. 

He had done everything within his custom and beyond to make her feel happy and adored. How could she ignore that? 

"I don't know about courting, but I would like to get to know you better," she said in an equally soft voice. 

His eyes glimmered as his tail danced in the air behind his head. "Yes," he said. In his books that was what courting was. Getting to know one another with the intention of marriage in mind.

"It's very late already. We should get some sleep."

She looked towards the depression in the room and nodded. She climbed in comfortably and cuddled against a pillow. To her surprise, he jumped in beside her. 

"Why are you..." she stammered. 

"This is our nest," he replied matter-of-factly. 

Her mind blanked as she thought about it. 

"That doesn't seem appropriate," she stated softly after a long minute of thinking. She couldn't ask him to sleep on the ground when this was his room, to begin with, so she should be the one who should leave, right? 

She was about to get up when he stopped her by grabbing her forearm. "Don't worry. Our culture doesn't allow us to inappropriately touch women before we are mated." She turned to him in stunned silence. "I know that Earth has different rules and women are treated very poorly. Our culture frowns upon such behavior. I will treat you with utter respect." He paused and glanced towards the entrance door. "If you wish, Nin can stay in the room and protect you. She'll make sure I don't touch you inappropriately." 

She wanted to protest immediately. She would rather stay in his presence than the creature that looked like a pokemon... and not in a cute way. And she didn't want someone watching her sleep. That was where she drew the line.

"No, I don't want her in the room. But where does she sleep?" she asked curiously. 

"Just outside. As she was sitting the last time you saw her." Ellis started to object but then quickly realized that that could be the position in which Nin's species slept best. She wasn't going to invite Nin into the bed, either. So she kept her mouth shut. 

One alien in the bed was enough. 

"It's good for us to sleep in the same bed. For Zotheans, it is a way to get familiar with the presence of their mate. For you, you can become comfortable being around me without fear."

She had sexual partners before, none of them hung around after the act so she had never slept with anyone beside her. Maybe when someone doesn't want to sleep with you, even your long term high school boyfriend, you should realize they are just not that into you. 

Logan pressed a button on the remote and a man entered, taking his place by the depression, his head bowed. Ellis quickly understood that this was a Koln by the shorter height and stubbed tail. He was still a big man with wide shoulders and muscled arms, but next to Logan, he seemed small. 

"Fetch the Empress her sleeping clothes," Logan ordered. 

The Koln hurried away towards the dressing room. 

"I don't need someone waiting on me," she protested. 

Logan looked a little confused. "But we have a Koln to make our lives easier."

Ellis had to think about how she worded the next part. According to Laurel, slaves were common on this planet and she wouldn't be able to change anyone's mind the day she arrived. "I don't mind walking around to fetch my things. I am not used to people waiting on me."

Logan was perplexed. "Well, the Koln can do it for you now. You don't have to do anything anymore. It's part of being protected and taken care of by your mate." Maybe in his head, this reason was enough. 

Showing her he was powerful because of how many slaves he owned or how lavish her life was meant nothing to her. If he was the one protecting and cherishing her, why would all these people need to do it on his behalf? 

But this argument wasn't something she could win tonight. Ellis chose a simpler path. "What's his name?" she asked. 

Now, Logan looked slightly confused and worried. "Why? Does it matter?" In his mind, he wondered if the features of the Koln was more appealing to Ellis. If the shorter height and lack of strength reminded her of her human males that she spent her life with. 

This distressed him greatly. His tail lay flat beside him as he pondered on these things. 

"You don't know?" She was stunned. "How long has he worked for you?"

'Worked,' that was an understatement.

"Five years, maybe?" he answered. Ellis glanced at his tail and softened her tone. 

"And you never asked for his name?" That was the fundamental part of someone's being. Their name was how people saw them. If no one knew the Koln's name, how did they call him? 

"I'm sorry," Logan apologized quickly even though he didn't know what he was apologizing for. Ellis reigned in her surprise and shook her head. He was just saying this because she looked displeased. This was not how one's mind could be changed. 

The Koln returned and knelt before Ellis, holding the clothes up. She took them from him and thanked him. "What is your name?"

"Arkan, Empress," the man replied, his eyes planted on the floor. 

"Well, Arkan, thank you," she said again.

"You may leave," Logan ordered firmly, his eyes never leaving Ellis. 

She stood up wordlessly, taking the clothes with her to the bathroom. She was happy that she could clothe herself, unlike people in the monarchy who had handmaidens to do it for them. She pulled the tunic over her head and realized something. She was not wearing any underwear, and Arkan had not brought any either. 

Good thing she hated sleeping in her underwear. Bad thing her boobs would be perking up around Logan, the man who wanted to mate with her. She made a mental note to ask Laurel about the lack of undergarments thing.

The material of the nightwear was extremely soft and she had to stroke her fingers over it multiple times to understand what it was. It was a nice grey color. She folded her previous clothes and put them under the sink, making a mental note to find out how she was supposed to do laundry. 

When she returned to the main room she saw Logan already changed into pants that looked similar to her. Actually, they seemed to be a matching set. His chest was bare and beautifully muscular. Ellis noticed with shock that he had no nipples. What an odd thing to notice when you could see prominent abs on a man. 

He was waiting for her at the edge of the depression. She stepped down into the mass of pillows and laid on her back stiffly. Logan nestled himself down beside her, moving the pillows around until he was nestled comfortably beside her. He pulled her body into his own, molding his frame to hers. 

With the snap of his fingers, the lights dimmed down. If she were to awaken at night, she would be able to see where she was. It just wasn't enough to disturb her sleep. 

She remained awake for a long time. In the end, she had to admit that having him cuddled up against her felt nice. She felt like the chosen one. Her family, though strict, had never shown physical affection. She had never received a proper hug from anyone.

She discovered that this warm touch was comforting. Her ear was so near his chest that she could practically hear the soft thump of his heart. His face was snuggled into the hollow between her shoulder and neck and his breathing tickled her ear. 

A soft but distinct rumble shook their bodies. She belatedly and much to her shock realized that he was purring. She held in a chuckle as she listened to his even breathing and the distinctive sound of his pleasure, softly lulling her to sleep. As she drifted off, Ellis thought it was a great thing that she adored cats.