The Emperor's New Nightingale by Angela Castle Page A

way possible.”
    Her brown eyes widened and she tried to pull her hands back, but he tightened his grip, not letting her escape yet.
    “Do you think you could find it in your heart to get to know me better? I have wealth to make your life comfortable. I want to make you scream in pleasure and hear you sing to our children. We can be—”
    “Ers on, please stop!” She yanked back her hand. “I’m flattered, truly I am, but I don’t feel that way about you. I have to be honest, I never could. I’ve already met someone here on Ario, someone special I—”
    Anger curled into his gut. “Someone else ? I can prove myself better than anyone else! Give me a chance, Julie; I care very much for you.”
    She pushed back her chair , rising to her feet. “I’m sorry, Erson, but it would be stupid to give you any hope we could be together.”
    He moved swiftly before she could back away, grabbing hold of her upper arms. If words didn’t work, then he would show her. She let out a squeak, her eyes wide with him pulling her close and crushing his mouth to hers.
    Her struggles excited him. H e exerted pressure on her mouth. She tasted oh, so sweet. Pain in his lower lip made him jerk back.
    She bit him.
    “Let me go!” She shoved at his chest.
    “Do as my lady says.” A deep voice commanded from behind her. Erson glared over Julie's head at the sudden intrusion. His eyes widening, he dropped Julie as if she were toxic waste. The Emperor of Ario stood glaring at Erson with murderous intent.
    “Sire , I...wait. Your lady?”
    The Emperor strode forward, placing a protective and possessive arm around Julie.
    Erson bowed low . “My liege, I didn’t know, but I don’t understand—is she your nightingale?”
    Julie glanced between Erson and the Emperor, her brows dipped.
    “Sire? Liege? Who are you, Rin?”
    Erson was quick to pick up on Julie ’s sudden confusion. “She doesn’t know who you are?”
    “I was planning to tell her today, when she will sing for the Krystal.”
    Julie pulled away from the Emperor, turning to glare at him. “She is standing right here and I don’t appreciate being talked about. Now, tell me who the hell you are.”
    Erson watched the Emperor’s apologetic expres sion. “I’m the Emperor of Ario, Ruler of the Four Galaxies of Harmony. Julie, I was meaning to tell you today.”
    Rather than look impressed and fall to her knees, she dared poke a finger at the Emperor. “You didn’t think to tell me this before we…we…” Her face shaded an arousing, pink color.
    Erson curled his lip with disgust; it was clear they were intimate. The Emperor took advantage of his sweet, Earthling song bird.
    “ You lied to me.” She folded her arms across her chest, glaring at the Emperor.
    “ Oh, I think he more than lied to you, Julie. Did he tell you he can’t marry anyone other than the one who makes the Song Krystal shine? Anyone else he fucks is for pure amusement. He can’t offer you a real wedding band, whereas I can.”
    A rosy flush crept into her face. The emperor’s jaw tightened.
    “Erson, you tread on dangerou s ground.”
    “ So, all of yesterday was just a façade, the, I want to marry you, crap.”
    “No , Julie, you are my nightingale. I only need to take you to the palace to prove it. I know you are the one I’ve been waiting for.”
    “Bullshit! Clearly , it doesn’t matter what planet you’re on, men are still men, idiots, and I want nothing to do with either of you.”
    She spun on her bright, orange-colored sandals, her multi-colored skirt flaring as she walked away.
    “Julie , wait!”
    “You really believe she’s your nightingale?”
    Orin turned on Erson. “By the stars, seeker, I want nothing more than to have you thrown in my prison right now, but since you brought me my nightingale, I’ll restrain myself. However, if you dare go near my woman again, you will know the full force of my law.”
    “Sire , with all due respect, if she’s not your nightingale,