"I can't believe they roped you into all this," I muttered while pacing around my room. At some point yesterday I had been excited when Ajax had told me that Holly was coming, but now I only felt guilty for ever being excited. She was my best friend and now she was part of a world I didn't even understand.

However, while I was frantic and floating through chaos, she seemed relatively calm.

"I know you might not believe me, but you didn't rope me into anything. I was a part of this long before you were. If anything, this is an honor," Holly argued, sitting on the edge of my bed. Though she was trying to be concerned for me I could see the way her eyes roved around the room, completely taken away by the luxury.

"Are you crazy?" I demanded.

"Keiko, they are royals. They are the royals that rule over me and your mother. You don't know it yet but they rule over you too," she said. "I never thought I would get to see the royal palace in my life. And here I am getting formal invitation to come out here and meet the royals. If you knew anything about Queen Adeline and King Orion you would love them, the whole community does."

"Are you fangirling over the people who kidnapped me?"

Holly sighed and ran her hands through her hair, "Has Ajax said anything to you? Like why you feel the way you do or what is happening to you in general?"

"Well, I had another bought of that flu-like heat. And I had a moment a couple days ago when I dropped to my knees in pain after breakfast. He doesn't really explain them, but he told me that they are all tied together. I think he said they have something to do with being a goddess or a shapeshifter." The words tasted weird and improper coming out of my mouth. I felt like no rational human being would say them.

But Holly was just nodding along like it all made sense. It only made me more frustrated.

"We should talk. But not here. I don't want people listening in. and, I've missed you. I need girl time."

Girl time seemed like the least important thing in the world right now. But I wasn't going to argue more with Holly right now. I needed someone on my side.

"Ajax won't let me go anywhere without him, I'm sure."

"Then convince him to let you go."

"He's pretty hot headed and very stubborn."

"And you are one hell of a stripper who wants something. I'm sure you can figure out a way to get what you want," she encouraged.

I sent her away. I told her to go downstairs and ask for Ivan. He would be more than willing to give her a tour of the palace grounds. And, in that time, I would work on Ajax.

He took up the spot on my bed where Holly had been and could sense immediately that I was plotting something.

"No," I he denied as soon as he heard my plan.

"I just want some time with her," I argued, hating the way he had control over me.

"You're upset and I don't want you doing anything brash," he shot back, "You can go another day or with me."

"Ajax," I groaned, then saw the way he let out a breath. Saying his name still had an effect on him, even when it was bore from a place of anger. Holly was right too, I was one hell of a stripper. And that might be my only shot to get out of here today.

"No, Keiko."

"But I need new clothes," I pouted. I moved my fingers over the seams on my shirt, starting at the bottom and gliding upwards.

"You look incredible in this," he argued, but his voice was already weaker. He shook his head like he was trying to get a grip on himself, "And I bought you a change of clothes too."

I took a step towards him, scanning myself over in the leggings and tee shirt. "Wouldn't you rather see me in a dress?" I murmured, "Or a nice skirt?"

Ajax swallowed hard, but said nothing. His eyes were roaming all over my body now. Then, his green eyes were suddenly bored and dull.

"Did you think one of your stripper routines was going to work on me?" he challenged, his voice low and firm. "I've seen you strip, Keiko. I know the look you get in your eyes. You aren't into this."

I just stared at him for a moment. I had not expected to be called out. Not like this. I thought he would take whatever he could get. Just a couple days ago he had talked me through an orgasm, getting turned on by nothing but the sound of my voice. And now this. But he was right. He had seen me strip. And he might've known me a little better than I expected.

"Fine, you want the truth?"

Ajax nodded his head.

"I hate wearing leggings around your parents. Your mom always looks amazing and I look like I'm ready to embark on a hike at any given moment. And the clothes you bought me don't really fit."

"We have seamstress for that," he shot back.

"Maybe I want to buy something special." I gave up on pacing in front of him, gave up on trying to tease him while staying fully clothed. I settled on the bed beside him.

"Like what?" he asked. His voice was even and strong but his hand settled on my thigh.

I met his green eyes with a steady gaze. I could feel my heart tighten just at the sight of him. he smelt incredible, so masculine and natural. My eyes dripped down to his lips. I wondered how he tasted. I still hadn't found the answer.

"Maybe I want to surprise you with something," I suggested. My voice was breathy and rough. It was something I couldn't have forced if I had wanted to. And the way Ajax's attention snapped over told me that he knew I wasn't faking it either.

"Tell me, Keiko," he rumbled back.

"I want a skirt," I whispered. My legs parted as his hand on my thigh tightened. "I want a short, little skirt so that I can drive you crazy. When no one else is looking I want to bend over in front of you, showing you what's underneath. It could be simple, innocent white panties or a racy red thong." Ajax's eyes rolled back at my words and I could see his cock beginning to strain against his trousers. It only made me wetter. "Or, I could be wearing nothing at all."

"Oh, fuck, Keiko," Ajax rasped out.

"When you've had enough I'll let you take me upstairs and bend me over. Well, after you decided whether or not you want to let me keep the skirt on. Maybe you'll need me so bad you won't care about anything else. Or maybe you'll be ripping off my clothes just to see if I bought a bra to match those panties."

Ajax wasn't satisfied with a single hand on my thigh anymore. In one swift movement he grasped both of my hips and pulled me into his lap. I let out a gasp as I felt his hardness press into my core. There was only a few layers of clothing separating us. And slowly, ever so slowly, I sank down, applying more pressure to his straining member.

"Keiko, you don't know what you do to me," he groaned in my ear.

"Do you want me?" I whispered back.

"More than anything."

"Do you want me like that? In a little skirt? Or I could just walk around in lingerie. I think I might need some second opinions," I panted. My hands squeezed down on his strong shoulders. My lips moved towards his ear. I nibbled his earlobe so softly.

"God damn it," he grunted, "Be back in two hours or I'm sending people out after you."