Protected by the HERO (11 page)

Freya groaned, partly because of the disrupted moment and also because of how weak she had been. Why was she attracted to this arrogant king, anyway? Perhaps it was just because she had not been kissed like that in years. And of course it may have had something to do with the unique situation they were in, which added to the thrill. Even so, she vowed to increase her self-control.

After changing clothes and freshening up, Freya immediately fell asleep on the plush bed. She didn’t even notice Zaino climb in beside her. However, she did wake up in the middle of the night and saw that he was right next to her. She slept again in peace.

*****

The following weeks that came were a bit easier as Freya quickly adjusted to her “job”. King Zaino actually made time each day to eat and chat with her during lunch and dinner because he said they needed to know each other better in order to avoid problems in the future. She was touched, and figured it would do them good to become friends. However, he treated it as part of his duty, inserting their “meetings” into his busy schedule and being quite formal about it.

“Why do you like yoga so much?” Zaino asked her one time as they were finishing dinner.

“It’s relaxing and rejuvenating,” Freya replied automatically. “It keeps me calm and positive, especially when I’m feeling down or troubled.”

“Really,” Zaino said uninterestingly. Then he wiped his mouth with the table napkin and stood up abruptly without another word.

Freya found it rude, as if everything was just mechanical to him. There were no real feelings involved, not even for friendship. She bit her lower lip to keep from speaking up. She watched him walk away as always. Grailey, who was standing close by, threw her a sympathetic look. Suddenly, she felt like crying. Her heart was overflowing with roller-coaster emotions that were nearing the brim. She decided to take a walk around the palace grounds to calm and steady herself.

As she passed by some alien warriors doing their evening training, she couldn’t help but feel concerned about their obviously weary condition. In her opinion, they were overworked. But who was she to speak up about the matter?

After about an hour, she felt more serene so she decided to call it a day. When she entered the bedroom she shared with the king, she was surprised to hear splashing and laughter coming from the pool area. In the dark, she approached the sliding doors and pushed aside the curtains.

When she saw Zaino flirting with a sultry woman in a bikini while enjoying a night swim, the pent-up emotions went tumbling out. She blinked back hot tears as anger, frustration, and loathing enveloped her.

I have every right to get mad,
Freya thought with fury as her hands balled up in solid fists.
We’ve been working so hard to pretend and make people believe we’re a happy couple and here he is suddenly dallying with some woman.

At that instant, she saw him turn to the door where she was partially hidden in the shadows. She quickly put back the curtains in place and stepped backward.

A minute later, he entered the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his hips, his sandy blonde hair still wet. He didn’t say anything, though, but simply headed over to the bathroom.

Freya was seething when he came out again shortly afterwards. “Not done yet with your woman?” she asked crossly. “I don’t think I can sleep in here tonight with all your noise outside. And besides, you might be needing this bed.”

“It’s not what you think,” Zaino said without any expression whatsoever. He strolled to face her squarely.

Freya folded her arms across her chest and stared back at him to meet his seeming challenge. “I don’t really give a damn about who you flirt, go out, or even sleep with,” she said, her voice laced with a mixture of hurt and anger. “You could have shown some respect, though. I’ve been working my ass off just to be the perfect queen in front of people’s eyes and here you are…”

“Are you jealous?” he asked, his lips turning up into a playful smile.

Freya couldn’t believe what he’d just said. “You know what? Never mind!” she said irately, starting to walk away.

But then, the king grabbed her arm and swung her around. The impact hurled her toward him, her face pressing against his brawny chest. “Don’t be foolish, Freya,” he hissed, trapping her with his arms. She tried to squirm free but he was too strong. “That human woman is nothing compared to you. She’s a big flirt but she also happens to be the daughter of the Earth ambassador, which is why it’s difficult for me to say no to her every time she suddenly sneaks into here. But believe me, I have no interest in her. There’s nothing between us at all.”

He looked taken aback when Freya actually laughed. “You just don’t get it,” she said.

“I do,” Zaino quickly answered. “You’re hurt because you think this can lead to trouble and put all our efforts to waste.”

“Good,” Freya said, her voice rising. “Now can you please let me go? Your little girlfriend might be looking for you by now.”

“I made her leave,” he said, still not releasing her. Then without warning, he pulled her even closer and kissed her on the lips.

At first, she pushed him away. But with his insistence, she found herself eventually succumbing to his kiss and touch. His lips explored hers hungrily while his hands gripped her tightly. She felt the heat spreading across her body, especially when he began kissing her neck and caressing her buttocks.

She felt his hands creeping downward to lift the hem of her skirt and then pull down her lacy underwear. Her carnal desire intensified, especially when he inserted his fingers into her and started playing with her sensitive area. He expertly touched her sweet spot repeatedly, making her moan. As she felt her knees giving way, he took out his fingers so he could carry her toward the bed. As he did, the towel he was wearing fell to the floor, leaving him naked except for his briefs.

He took them off and then went to undress her hurriedly. She groped for his cock and felt it grow larger and harder underneath her touch. As their lips locked again, she started to fondle him, her hand moving up and down across the length of his rigid manhood. He moaned with pleasure, driving her to go faster.

He leaned forward to suck on her nipples, supporting his upper body by placing his arms on either side of her as she continued to stroke him. After a few seconds, he could not take it any longer. He pushed her legs apart and entered her. The penetration was sweet and slow as he took his time to reach the deepest part he could get to inside of her. Her nails dug into his back as he pleasured her with every deliberate heave, which grew faster and deeper as he went on.

Their bodies blended into one as they moved in unison, lost in the erotic moment. They savored the mounting desire and decadence, rising together to an unforgettable climax that made them both explode in intense warmth and gratification. The overwhelming pleasure was almost painful and made Freya scream, her voice blending with Zaino’s drawn-out moan.

She lay in the dark afterward, spent and confused but feeling strangely happy. Soon she fell into a restful slumber, enfolded in his arms.

*****

Freya’s thoughts and feelings were more chaotic than ever. She really wasn’t in the mood to wear any of her custom-made dresses fit for a queen. What she wanted more than anything that day was just to be herself. Hence, she dared to leave the east wing of the palace clothed in her favorite yoga outfit—black leggings and a matching tank top, both of which clearly brought out her sexy figure.

She strolled onto the field aimlessly at first, unaware of the stares of the much-stressed alien warriors who were up early for their training as usual.

“Queen Freya,” a male voice suddenly barked.

Freya turned around and saw Patrix approaching her with a stern look. He reminded her of an old, grouchy professor she once had back in college. “Yes?” she asked defiantly with her hands on her hips.

“With all due respect, your highness, I believe you must dress appropriately when roaming the palace grounds.” His face looked annoyed and exasperated. He motioned to his warriors. “These men need to train hard, but they seem to be distracted.”

Freya frowned at him. “You know, in the first place, it’s your ambition and stealth that got me into this,” she told him directly for the very first time, not covering up her negative feelings about it anymore. “And secondly, ow that I am Queen here, I shall do as I please.”

He reddened a bit, obviously affected by her words.

She wasn’t finished, though. “You know what? Your soldiers don’t seem to be very happy.”

“They don’t need to be,” he said.

“Oh, really?” she retorted. “Well, I think they are overworked. They deserve a break. Even aliens need to rest. They are not machines. Too much training can be bad, too.”

He was definitely angry at how she seemed to be questioning his leadership and training style. But he took a deep breath and stayed quiet for a moment. Then calmly he asked, “What do you suggest, Queen Freya?”

Freya actually began thinking. Then suddenly, a brilliant idea came to her.
Why didn’t she think of it before?
With a wide smile spreading across her face, she answered, “I have just the perfect plan to help them cope better. I promise you that after this, you’ll have much better warriors who are better equipped for battle.”

After she detailed her plan, he actually nodded and said, “Okay. It’s worth a try.”

And before she knew it, she was back in her zone. All the warriors were supplied with yoga mats and the proper workout clothes. For the next few hours, she taught them to meditate and engaged them in various yoga positions that allowed them not just to tone their muscles further and improve their flexibility, but more importantly to make them relax.

After the extended session, she felt totally rejuvenated. The men too were evidently calmer and more at peace. They appeared to have enjoyed yoga. Patrix, who had simply watched them, seemed to be pleased. He wanted to continue their training after the break, but Freya insisted that they be given the day off. He eventually gave in.

That evening, Freya was feeling very peaceful, and happier. But then someone reminded her about her husband’s diplomatic trip to the Earth, and she recalled the human woman she’d seen with him in the pool. Her heart began to pound fast as she imagined them spending more time together.
Why didn’t he let me come with him?
she wondered. She could have visited Lia and Bonx and spent some time with their other friends.

In the next few days, she didn’t even hear from King Zaino. All that Grailey could tell her was that he had to stay longer on Earth. The more Freya thought about it, the more she convinced herself that he was playing her and that other woman. She’d been so stupid to think that he might actually begin to care about her.

Throughout the time that the king was absent, Freya focused all her energy on providing yoga classes for the warriors every morning. Eventually, even the other palace workers joined in. They all found it relaxing. She also explained to them the other health benefits that regular yoga practice could do for them.

“I feel so great now,” Freya confided to Grailey one afternoon. “Being a yoga teacher is really my passion.”

“You’re so good at it too,” Grailey told her sincerely. “Even I feel so relaxed all the time now and not always uptight despite my busy schedule.”

“That’s wonderful, Grailey,” Freya said with a smile. Then suddenly, a dark cloud passed over her face as she remembered her old studio and her mother. She sighed and whispered, “How I wish I could go back to Earth, buy back that studio, and just be a yoga teacher again…”

Grailey gave her a sympathetic smile.

Freya thought of all the money she had already saved up in just a short time. She could probably buy back her old studio now, but what would happen afterwards? She might just go back to being poor and buried in debt. On the other hand, staying here made her feel like a prisoner, regardless of how much money she got from it. Her growing emotions for King Zaino were not helping at all.

I want to be truly free,
she thought sadly.
That is what I need, and it’s what will make me happy.

As the days dragged on, Freya began to form a secret plan for her to be able to escape her plight and get back to her planet. Her closeness with a few soldiers enabled her to fish out information from them that would help her sneak into one of the flying pods and program it herself to take her to the Earth.

“I have to do it now while the king is gone,” she said to herself with mounting conviction. That evening after finalizing her escape plan, she decided once and for all to carry it out the following day.

*****

After a hearty breakfast the next morning, Freya showered and dressed quickly. She was filled with adrenaline as her heart thumped nervously and excitedly at the same time. She facilitated the early morning yoga practice and led everybody to a full meditation. As they closed their eyes and slipped into a quiet, serene state of introspection and connection with the universe, she slithered away and made her way toward one of the pods parked on the edge of the open field.

She stood in front of the familiar pod that had brought her to Tryptin about a month ago. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she steadied and prepared herself to do what she had set out to accomplish.
Finally…
she thought with mixed feelings.
Freedom.