“My friend, a person can’t carry the weight of the universe on his shoulders. It’s too much for anyone. The temptation to use the control, that power over others, is too much. Your ambassador proved what can happen to people when they let it consume them. Stella…she’s a reminder to me that no matter how strong I am out here, there is someone who I remain accountable to. I don’t have to be in control with her. She looks after my wants and needs there, so I can help everyone else here.”
Turning to Faris, Ulric smiled. The young man’s eyes were wide with understanding, his mouth parted as his tongue dipped out to wet his bottom lip.
“It makes sense.” Faris dropped his eyes to the middle of Ulric’s chest. “Do you think…I mean…the ambassador will be placed under the government’s authority and put on trial. I appear to be in need of a new position.”
Ulric’s cock twitched in his pants as his heartbeat sped up. “I think I could do with a new advisor. Someone who is particularly familiar with the planets of this sector.”
“And would you also be willing to let me share the rest of your world?”
Ulric’s head screamed yes, but he knew it was more complicated than his approval.
“That would be a conversation between you and Stella. I have no say.”
“But would you object?” Faris leaned closer until Ulric could smell his arousal. “I will never go into that room again if it’s not something you want. I can find someone else, belong to another person, if that’s what you want. But…my preference would be to stay with you and her.”
Swallowing, Ulric let his hand fall to his side. Without breaking his gaze with Faris, he nodded and smiled.
“We best go find Stella.”
Faris returned his smile. “Yes, sir.”
Chapter Seven
With her arms wrapped around her body and her back pressed to the wall, Stella silently slid to the floor. Despite Ulric’s reassurances everything would be fine, her body still shook and her heart continued to pound, memories of the last attack she lived through still fresh in her mind. Since there’d been no ship-rattling explosions, she knew things had worked out in their favor. Not that Ulric would accept anything less than success, given the situation.
Goddess, she’d spent so much time being strong for him, she’d forgotten how terrifying it could be when control was ripped away from her. The chaos on the bridge, the noise of the claxon shouting at them all—it was too much. A year and a half ago the same noise on a different ship had nearly meant her death. If Ulric hadn’t stopped the Loyalists from attacking, there was no telling where she would have ended up.
Dead, most likely.
Shit, she really wished her body would stop shaking.
She jumped at the soft chime of the computer notifying her of a visitor. While most people were aware of where her private quarters were, few ever visited her here. Even Ulric’s visits to her sanctuary were rare. This was her place to be herself, step away from the Mistress and simply be Stella. She needed the space in the past to help her find her center. Now she was happy for the company.
Another chime, followed by a third and she knew whomever it was wouldn’t wait forever. Pulling in a deep breath, she did her best to relax.
“Yes?”
The door whooshed open to reveal Faris standing in the entrance. He’d lost the sheen of confusion and doubt, but she could tell he hadn’t quite regained his confidence. Not that she could condemn him from her current position on the floor.
Faris frowned, came inside her room far enough to allow the door to close behind him, but didn’t approach her. Palms flat against the tops of his thighs, he leaned against the wall opposite her, smiling hesitantly.
“Ulric didn’t say anything, but I get the impression I should thank you for convincing him to let me help out there.”
She snorted, pressing her head harder against the wall. “Believe it or not, I have very little sway with him outside our room.”
“I doubt that.”
“It was part of our contract.” She shrugged, letting her arms relax and her hands fall into her lap. “When he needs me, I’m there for him. I keep to my rooms and occasionally will go down to one of the planets if things are safe. Beyond that, I’m a passenger on his ship. I stay far away from any of the diplomatic meetings. It’s not like I’m listed as crew. Goddess, if someone knew about me, it could put both Ulric and his assignments at risk.”
Faris snorted softly. “I think you underestimate your importance to him, Stella.”
She laughed at the look of shock and his stuttered apology at the use of her name.
“It’s okay. I’m not her every second of every day. Wears me down after a while.”
“Sorry. This is all still new to me.”
Stella nodded, before letting her gaze drop. She hadn’t realized she’d put on one of Ulric’s shirts until she’d reached the corridor leading to her room. Inside her sanctuary, she didn’t need clothing to feel safe. She’d never been ashamed of her desires and took pride in what she gave to men like Ulric.
Until recently, her role had been enough to keep her content in her life. Until the last few weeks, she would never have thought about how comforting wearing another’s clothing was. Or how much she’d enjoyed Ulric curling up beside her in their bed.
He’d been doing that more and more after their encounters. Like he was reluctant to part from her and return to his real life.
“You know he loves you.”
She snapped her head up to meet Faris’ gaze, surprise racing through Stella.
“What?”
Faris pushed away from where he held his post to move beside her on the floor.
Heat from his body warmed her chilled skin where they touched. It felt as good being with him, as it did wearing Ulric’s shirt. Reaching down, he shifted his hand so it cupped hers in her lap.
“I know I’m not in a position to comment on your relationship. I’ve only just met you and can’t even begin to know your thoughts. But I’ve come to know him quite well.” Faris ran his thumb across the back of her hand in a gentle, repetitive motion.
“The look on his face when he’s staring at you…it’s love if I’ve ever seen it. He looks at peace.”
“It has to do with our—”
“No, it’s more than that.” Faris sighed. “When you were standing in the corridor of the bridge, I was watching. He had that same look. God, I thought he was going to kill someone and I know it came from his fear something would happen to you. Not his ship, not me. You.”
“It’s not…” She didn’t want to deny what Faris said. Goddess, it felt good to think Ulric wanted her beyond being his dominant in the bedroom. Because if she were honest with herself, Stella knew she wanted him too.
Faris squeezed her hand. “Ulric intended to be here himself, but things have gone a bit insane on the bridge. He asked me to check and make sure you were okay.”
“I assumed.” This time when she met his gaze, Stella knew exactly what Ulric saw in the younger man. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her free hand. “You know he looks at you the same way?”
His eyes widened. “No.”
“He does. It was how I knew you were so important to him. The look in his eyes when he thought you were going to leave. It was if his heart was being torn to shreds.”
“I—” Faris chuckled, looking up at the ceiling. “He never said.”
“He doesn’t. Stubborn bastard.”
“What are you going to do about him?”
Cocking her head to the side, Stella shifted her body to look directly at Faris. “Don’t you mean we?”