QUINN AND THE QUELLER

A SCIFI ALIEN ROMANCE (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 17)

HONEY PHILLIPS

Copyright © 2022 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover by Maria Spada Book Cover Design

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

The sound of angry voices penetrated Quinn’s sleep. Her body tensed, but she didn’t move. She knew better than to whimper or reveal that she was awake. It took far longer than it should have to realize that she didn’t recognize the language being spoken. Then the rest of her memories came flooding back. She wasn’t in a new foster home—she wasn’t even on Earth.

She and her best friends, Panda and Olivia, had been celebrating Panda’s birthday in a remote mountain cabin. The three of them had been friends since the first day of college when the other two women came to her rescue. She’d been backed against a wall by a big football player who didn’t want to believe that she really wasn’t interested in him. The two of them had charged in, Olivia all red hair and fiery temper, Panda calm and resourceful. They had chased away the football player, taken her under their wing, and they had been friends ever since. No, more than friends, sisters.

She’d needed the time away with them. She’d just found out that William, the man she’d been dating for the past six months, was married. She should have known—it wasn’t the first time. What was it about her that made men think she didn’t care if they had a wife or not? William had been shocked when she told him she wasn’t going to see him anymore.

“Why ever not? What Mindy doesn’t know doesn’t hurt her.”

“But I’ll know.” Somehow, she found the backbone to look him straight in the eye. “It’s over, William.”

“Fine. It’s not as if there aren’t plenty of women willing to take your place. More enthusiastic women at that,” he added with a sneer before he slammed his way out of her apartment.

How could she have been so blind? The red flags had been there all along, but she’d been too happy to pay attention to them.

William was exactly the kind of man she preferred—strong, commanding, and decisive. She’d enjoyed the fact that he would rather stay home with her in her cozy apartment than take her out to restaurants. When he took her out of town, it was always to some secluded little inn she’d never heard of where they could be alone, and she’d loved the fact that he wanted to be alone with her. Now it was all too clear that he had simply wanted to avoid running into anyone he knew. And in spite of all that, in spite of the fact that she felt so betrayed, when he closed the door behind him, the familiar feeling of abandonment washed over her. She was alone. Again.

The chance to spend the weekend with Olivia and Panda—the only two people who had never abandoned her—had been a balm to her troubled heart. Even then, she hadn’t been entirely able to shake off her melancholy. But she’d been doing her best, looking forward to Panda’s fancy hot chocolate and having Olivia paint her nails her favorite shade of pink, when something had gone horribly wrong.

She didn’t even remember what happened. She’d been on the floor in front of the couch with her back to the fireplace when Panda suddenly turned pale and Olivia’s eyes widened. Olivia threw her hot chocolate at something behind Quinn, then dove across the coffee table towards her. She remembered Olivia’s body colliding with hers, knocking the breath out of her, and then a sudden flash of pain before the world went dark. When she awoke, she was in the middle of an alien desert surrounded by lizardmen. But at least her friends had been there with her, and now they were gone.

Based on what her friends had told her, the alien who had kidnapped them had crash landed on this planet. The lizardmen had found them in the desert and were now taking them… somewhere. Panda seemed pretty sure that they intended to sell them.

And then yesterday they had been trying to cross a raging river using a damaged bridge and Olivia had fallen in. Tears sprang to Quinn’s eyes at the memory. One of their guards, a giant orc-like alien named Baldric, had jumped in after her. Panda had sworn to her that he would rescue Olivia, but Quinn found it hard to believe. In her experience, no one ever came along to rescue her.

Now that she remembered where she was, she realized that it was the lizardmen arguing, and they were on the other side of the tent wall. She allowed herself to relax a little and turned to whisper to Panda.

“Why do you think they’re so upset—”

Panda was gone. The heap of rugs that had provided her bed was empty.

No! The panicky feeling of being abandoned threatened to overwhelm her. She was alone. Again.

There must be an explanation. There was no way that Panda would have gone off and left her. Was that what the lizardmen were arguing about? Were they doing something to Panda?

She wasn’t a brave person, but if her friend was in trouble she had to try and do something. She started to sit up, then remembered that her hands and ankles had been bound. It was the first time the lizardmen had taken such a precaution, but after losing Olivia they had insisted on binding both women. Since Panda had been tied as well, they must have been the ones to take Panda away from her.

She just managed to maneuver herself to a sitting position when the leader of the lizardmen, Zargan, came into the tent.

Although she would never have been foolish enough to trust him, he had always seemed rather innocuous. He was only a little taller than her with reptilian features and dark, wide-set eyes. The scales covering his skin were patterned in shades of red and gold, and he had seemed relatively harmless, especially in contrast to Baldric’s massive size. But as he strode over to her now, rage obvious on his face despite his alien features, she shrank away from him.

He barked a barrage of questions at her in their sibilant language. Even though she couldn’t understand him, it was quite clear from the way he was gesturing at Panda’s empty sleeping area that he wanted to know where she was.

“I don’t know where she is!” she cried. “I wish I did.”

Her voice shook and she could feel the tears gathering in her eyes, but at least he stopped yelling. He scowled at her, muttered something that sounded like a curse, then called for one of the other traders. He started barking commands at the unfortunate male, and from the way he was pointing at her, Quinn had the sinking feeling that she was being placed under even closer guard.

She was right.

Although he undid the ropes around her ankles and let her leave the tent, the male Zargan had assigned to her stayed right next to her the entire time. The trading camp was in complete chaos. Zargan was berating two shamefaced males who were kneeling on the ground in front of him. Exclamations of anger and dismay came from all around the camp as the traders went through the sleds that were used to transport their goods.

They had been robbed, she decided. Not that she could be positive, of course, but it seemed like a reasonable explanation for the way they were acting. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she realized they must have stolen Panda as well. She was quite sure that her friend would never voluntarily leave her, but that didn’t change the reality that Panda was gone and she was on her own.

It could have been rival traders, but that would likely mean they were also going to try and sell Panda. If that were true—and Panda’s theory that they were heading for a large market was correct—perhaps there was still a chance for them to be reunited there. And if Panda was right about Olivia’s orc rescuing her, she could only hope that they would make their way there as well.

She wasn’t naturally optimistic. She had learned long ago that life was far more likely to take a turn for the worse than for the better, but she did her best to cling to the belief that she would see her friends again.

Zargan barked another harsh command, and the chaos and confusion began to die down as the trading caravan prepared to set out. The tents were rapidly disassembled and stowed on the sleds. The sleds were powered up, rising about a foot off the ground. It still startled her that these seemingly primitive desert people had access to such advanced technology.

Zargan returned to her side, scowled at her, then ordered her up on the sled she’d been riding the day before. She tried to obey, but it was difficult to climb on board with her hands tied. He made a disgusted noise, then lifted her onto the sled with a strength she hadn’t expected from his wiry frame. She settled obediently onto the pile of rugs that served as her seat. Her guard fell in place to one side of the sled, while a second guard mirrored him on the other side.

Although the sleds hovered above the ground, they were not self-propelled. Three more of the lizardmen stepped into the harness attached to her sled, and then the caravan set off.

Under other circumstances, she would have been distracted by the beauty of her surroundings. One side of the trail was flanked by the river itself, wild and ragingly beautiful. Beyond the river was a small section of brush and then the endless sands of the desert. The other side of the trail consisted of wooded slopes that rose rapidly into a range of mountains, their tops already covered in snow. The scene would have made a dramatic painting, and she could quite clearly envision recreating it in a minimalist Japanese style. Her fingers itched for her charcoals, and once again she had the urge to cry.

Ever since she’d been small, her art had been her way to escape, even if all she had was the stub of a pencil and a scrap of paper. Here, she had nothing.

Zargan had been pushing the caravan to move faster as long as she’d been with them, but he seemed even more determined now. He allowed only the briefest break during the day instead of the usual lengthy midday rest. She could tell the other traders were not happy, but no one seemed to have the courage to challenge him directly.

At least when they made their rapid lunch stop, they remembered to feed her. It was the first time she’d been given food since Olivia had fallen into the river the day before, and she took the bar gratefully. It was their version of travel rations—a mixture of dried fruit and meat and grain—but it tasted pleasant enough and it was surprisingly filling. One of her guards even brought her water and helped her drink when he realized how difficult it was for her to maneuver with her hands tied.

He had a short conversation with the other guard and she suspected he was suggesting they remove her wrist bindings, but after a nervous glimpse at Zargan, they left them in place. Zargan kept pushing the caravan along until just before sunset. There was no meadow in which to circle the sleds and set up the tents tonight. The line of sleds simply came to a halt along one side of the trail, and then Zargan set guards to patrol the length of the caravan. She suspected it was a little too late for that, but he was obviously determined not to take any more chances.

There were more of the cold rations for the evening meal, and then she had to fight down her embarrassment to try and explain to her guard that she needed to take care of her other bodily functions. After another muttered conversation and a consultation with Zargan, they finally untied her wrists before both guards escorted her into the woods alongside the trail. They looked at each other, then politely turned their backs on her and she quickly took advantage of the illusion of privacy.

If she had been more like Olivia, she might have tried to take advantage of the situation and dashed off into the forest, but she couldn’t imagine that it would do her any good. Even if by some miracle they didn’t immediately recapture her, she had no idea how to survive on her own. Instead, she dutifully returned to her captors.

They didn’t immediately retie her wrists, and she gave them a grateful glance as she climbed back in the sled.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

One of them started to give her a tentative smile, then immediately locked his face into a frown as Zargan joined them. After another conversation she couldn’t understand but could guess at, Zargan apparently decided that she wasn’t a flight risk and didn’t insist on her wrist being bound.

People always think I’m helpless, she thought bitterly. And truthfully, she probably was. She wasn’t strong, she wasn’t brave, and she didn’t like fighting, not even verbally. She always preferred to look for a peaceful solution. But she was just as happy to have her hands free as she lay down on the pile of rugs and pulled another one over her.

Her guards settled down on the ground on either side of the sled, and she actually found their presence almost comforting. At least she wasn’t alone—and hopefully it meant that she wasn’t going to be stolen as well. She found herself hoping that it had been another desert trading caravan who had taken Panda. She had no illusions about the lizardmen’s intentions, but on the whole they had not behaved badly. They had given them food and drink, let them ride instead of walk, and clearly had no sexual interest in any of the women. It could have been much worse—and she suspected it would be once they reached their destination. If they really intended to sell her, and she had no reason to doubt it, thinking about the obvious reason for such a sale made her shudder.

She fell asleep still thinking about what lay ahead and spent a restless night tossing and turning. The next day was much like the previous day, and so was the next and the next. Zargan continued to drive the caravan at a punishing pace. Her guards, whose names she learned were Egyik and Orgat, were obviously unhappy about the situation. She suspected they were not the only ones, but no one dared to challenge Zargan.

On the other hand, Egyik and Orgat seemed to soften towards her as she fell into the habits of a lifetime. She did her best to be polite and accommodating, and thanked them for each small kindness. They taught her a few words of their language, and she even found herself looking for them when she woke up in the middle of the night, taking comfort in their presence.

And then on the eighth day, they reached the city.

CHAPTER TWO

Quinn’s heart started to beat faster as they came around a fold of the mountains and she saw the city in front of them. By Earth standards it probably wasn’t even that large, but after spending the past two weeks on the trail with the caravan, it looked enormous. The sprawling town followed the curve of the coastline—low blocky buildings in the orange and gold shades of the desert, interspersed with brightly painted wooden buildings and the sparkle of metal panels.

Sturdy wooden sailing vessels with colorful sails glided in and out of the harbor, but she also caught a glimpse of a few smaller mechanically powered boats darting around them. Flags fluttered in the ocean breeze.

Zargan strode over to them as they paused overlooking the city, his face grim. He obviously wasn’t happy about something, and he motioned impatiently for Quinn to descend from the sled. Another one of the traders came rushing up with one of the same dark cloaks they wore, and he thrust it at her. Her hands shook as she obediently pulled it around her shoulders.

He muttered something, then yanked the hood up to cover her head before ordering Egyik and Orgat to either side of her. The caravan set off again. She appreciated the chance to stretch her legs, but she couldn’t help wondering why he wanted her to walk.

As they entered the city, making their way down the main thoroughfare through the center of town, she understood his reasoning. Their passage was necessarily slow due to the number of people on the streets, and many of them eyed the contents of the sleds curiously. They paid little attention to the traders, and dressed as she was, she also passed unnoticed.

The influx of color and noise and smells after all the time in the wilderness threatened to overwhelm her, and she was grateful when the caravan turned off the main street. As soon as they entered a gated passageway, her guards directed her away from the others. She followed them up a narrow stairway and into a large room stacked with barrels and crates. A plain wooden table and chairs stood in front of a wide window that looked out over the main street through a heavily carved screen.

Egyik and Orgat had a quiet conversation, and then Egyik left again. Orgat indicated that she could remove her cloak and she obeyed, relieved to be out of the heavy garment. She slumped down in one of the chairs and tried very hard not to think about what would happen next.

Instead, she focused on her friends. Were Panda and Olivia already in the city? And even if they were, how could she find them amongst all these people?

Orgat gave her a glass of water, and she forced herself to smile and thank him in his language. He nodded approvingly, rather like she was a clever pet, then pulled out a datapad and started scrolling.

The exertion of the walk and the heat of the room, combined with the constant noise from the street, made her head start to nod. She hadn’t slept well in what felt like weeks now, and even though she desperately wanted to come up with a plan—any plan—to find her friends, she had a hard time keeping sleep at bay. The sound of Egyik returning startled her out of a half-sleep.

He gave her a triumphant smile and held out what looked like a shiny black kidney bean. It almost seemed to pulse in the dim light.

“I don’t understand. What is it?”

He pointed at his ear and then his mouth, then sighed, picked up the bean, and thrust it into her ear canal. It felt disgustingly warm and alive as it slithered into place, and she shuddered.

“What is that?”

“It’s a translation bug,” Egyik said, grinning. “Now you can understand us.”

He was right. She could still hear the faint sibilance of their native language, but she understood his words. A wave of relief washed over her.

“Oh, thank you. It’s so nice to understand what you’re saying. Where are we?”

“This is Almadin.”

She recognized the name as the one they’d mentioned back in the desert. That was good—it meant that Panda and Olivia would also know their destination.

“Have you heard anything about my friends?” she asked eagerly.

He and Orgat exchanged a look.

“Zargan will be making inquiries,” Orgat said finally. “He is most unhappy to have lost two such valuable pieces of property.”

Property. The word made her heart ache, but it also served as a reminder. No matter how kind they had been to her, she was still only property to them.

“I see.” She gathered her courage and looked directly at Egyik. “And what’s going to happen to me now?”

He refused to meet her gaze.

“The honored chief is deciding that as well. Despite his haste, this is the last day of the Harvest Festival and the options may be… limited.”

“But he is going to sell me?”

“We are traders,” Orgat said softly. “It is what we do.”

“But you will fetch a good price.” Egyik finally looked at her. “I’m sure your new master will treat you well in order to protect his investment.”

Not in her experience. The more money someone had, the less likely they were to value their possessions. But it would do no good to argue. She bowed her head, then rose and walked to the window.

As she stood watching the flow of the crowd below, she could hear them talking behind her, but the conversation was too faint for her to make out the words. The thought of being sold was too terrible to contemplate, so she tried to concentrate on the street instead. The scene was alive with color and activity, and once again she longed for her paints to capture the vivid scene.

A short time later, Orgat came to join her. Perhaps in an attempt to distract her, he started pointing out some of the different races thronging the street. Most of them were Guulli, one of the other two races native to Maskah. They tended to be tall and thin, with long curled ringlets in a variety of pastel colors. She also recognized the Daichin—the guard who had gone after Olivia was one of the orc-like aliens—but there were far fewer of them.

She was framing a composition of the street scene in her mind when Zargan returned, looking remarkably smug.

“That went better than I expected. I already have a buyer for her.”

“A buyer?” she whispered, any thought of painting washing away.

Zargan turned around to look at her.

“You understood me?” Without waiting for a response, he glared at her guards. “You gave her a translator bug? Why?”

The two males looked at each other.

“You can’t expect a slave to obey if she can’t understand,” Orgat said finally, not looking at her.

Maybe it hadn’t been an act of kindness after all.

“I suppose you’re right—but don’t expect to be reimbursed for the purchase. I have to take her to Temit right away.”

“To Temit?” Orgat asked, exchanging a horrified glance with Egyik. “But why?”

“It will be a quick, profitable transaction.” Zargan frowned. “She would undoubtedly have fetched more in an open auction, even this late in the Festival, but I heard that the Fleet officer has started paying attention to the auctions.”

“But Temit would be purchasing her for use by his gladiators,” Orgat protested.

Use? Gladiators? Quinn’s knees threatened to give way, and she had to clutch the window frame for support. She forced herself to breathe. I’ve survived everything else. I will survive this.

“That would be my assumption,” Zargan said calmly.

“With all due respect, honored chief, how long will she survive that?”

Quinn thought that Zargan looked uncomfortable at Orgat’s words, but he waved an impatient hand.

“Temit is a shrewd male. He wouldn’t waste his investment.”

Egyik and Orgat exchanged another glance, but to her dismay, they didn’t raise any further objections. Zargan nodded and turned to her.

“You are coming with me,” he said slowly and loudly, as if she were hard of hearing. “Do I need to bind you again?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. She had no illusions about her ability to escape the chief, but having her hands free would make her feel marginally better.

“Do you want us to accompany you?” Egyik asked.

“No. Stay and oversee the rest of the sales.”

Egyik nodded, then looked at her. “Goodbye, Quinn. I wish you well.”

But not well enough to prevent me from being sold to a gladiator, she thought bitterly, then sighed. She had seen enough to know how tight a grip Zargan kept on his traders, and both Egyik and Orgat had been kind in their way.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“Goodbye,” Orgat said, his voice rough. He turned to Zargan. “Isn’t there some other—”

“No. This is the best solution,” Zargan said firmly. “Now put on your cloak, girl, and come with me.”

Her hands trembled, but she obeyed.

CHAPTER THREE

Zargan led Quinn through the streets so rapidly that she had little time to look around, but she did her best to keep an eye out for either Olivia’s red curls or Panda’s dark hair. Of course, if they had their hoods pulled up the way she did, they would be impossible to spot. Crowds of people thronged the streets—all of the races Orgat had pointed out, plus many others.

There was a palpable hum of excitement in the air, and under other circumstances she would have loved to try and capture some of the scenes that caught her eye. A small Guulli child rode on a hover sled behind his harried-looking mother, sucking on a lollipop and watching everything with wide eyes. A fluffy orange-furred street vendor hawked skewers of roast meat turning over a glowing metal burner. A sinuous female with a fringe of tentacles, wearing little more than chains and a smile, lounged beneath a neon sign.

Quinn quickly averted her eyes from the female, her stomach churning. Was that to be her fate?

She did her best to cling to Zargan’s words. Whoever bought her would want to protect his investment.

He led them up a set of stairs and across a wide plaza to an elaborately decorated building. People were filing in through a series of open doors beneath the colonnade along the front of the building, but he headed to a guarded door at one side instead.

“Temit is expecting me,” he said briskly.

The guard nodded and let them enter. They were obviously in an administrative section, but it was still neat and well-kept. A receptionist at the end of the corridor gave Quinn a curious look, but waved them through into a spacious office.

A Guulli male with pale blue skin and hair looked up from behind his desk. He seemed harmless enough, but he studied her with a sharp, assessing gaze.

“This is the female?”

“Yes, Temit.”

“Remove the cloak.”

Zargan pulled it off her shoulders, and Temit raised an eyebrow as he took in her tattered pink silk pajamas—the same ones she’d been wearing since she arrived.

“I see you made no effort to prepare her for sale.”

“We have just arrived in the city. Because of our long friendship, I wished to give you the opportunity to purchase her before she comes on the open market. Obviously, the price will go up once she has been groomed.”

“Assuming you are willing to take the risk of an auction.”

Zargan bared his teeth in what might have been a smile.

“Nothing is without risk, honored friend. But if you require a further inspection…”

To her horror, Zargan reached for the top button of her pajama top, but his hand had only grazed her skin when Temit shook his head.

“There is no need. I can see the potential. Although, of course, I will have to keep the cost of developing that potential in mind.”

The two of them began to negotiate as she stood there, locked in a kind of numb horror. They finally reached an agreement, and Zargan handed over a scroll while Temit entered the transaction into a datapad.

“A pleasure doing business with you, my friend.”

Zargan bowed and left the office without even glancing in her direction. Temit looked at her, tapping his chin.

“Can you understand me?”

“Yes.” Her voice was barely audible.

“Good. I have purchased you to please my elite fighters. This means you will do whatever they want you to do. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“As long as you do so, you will be treated… well. If you do not, you will be thrown to the slave fighters to be used however they want.”

His voice was quite calm, even pleasant, but she shuddered.

“I’ll do what I’m told,” she whispered.

She always did.

Temit didn’t seem surprised by her agreement. He nodded, then used the communication panel on his desk to summon an older Guulli female.

“Riatta, this is my new acquisition. Please have her suitably prepared for her first assignment.”

“Yes, Master Temit. Come with me, girl.”

Quinn followed her mutely along a long corridor, then down a set of stairs to a locked door. Riatta unlocked the door and led her into a round room with a cushioned bench in the center. An archway across from the door opened into a room with a series of sunken pools. More archways led into additional corridors with tiled floors and soft lighting. It reminded her a little of the expensive spa that William had arranged for her to visit once—and the memory only made her feel worse.

“Remove your clothing,” Riatta ordered. She had a brisk, no-nonsense demeanor that reminded Quinn of the matron at one of her orphanages.

“Why?” she whispered.

“So you can be prepared.”

Was there a hint of sympathy in Riatta’s eyes? It was difficult to tell, and her determined expression didn’t change.

Quinn raised a trembling hand and tried to unbutton her pajama top.

“Hurry up, girl,” Riatta said when her fingers refused to work. “Delaying won’t change the inevitable.”

She forced herself to undress, trying not to flinch as Riatta gave her naked body a coolly appraising glance, then held out her hand for Quinn’s clothes.

“What’s going to happen to my clothes?” she asked.

“They will be discarded.”

“Couldn’t I keep them?”

“We will provide clothing suitable for your position. Better clothing.” Riatta gave the worn silk pajamas a disparaging look.

“It’s just… they’re my last link to home.”

“Then it’s just as well that you’re leaving them behind. That life is no more.”

Riatta didn’t speak unkindly, but there was no hesitation in her voice. She rang a small bell on the wall, and another Guulli female appeared.

“Saqar, prepare her to visit one of the gladiators.”

“Yes, mistress.”

Saqar took Quinn’s arm and led her into the room with the bathing pools, and then she and another brusque, efficient female gave her a thorough scrub. She tried to tell them that she could wash herself but they ignored her. Once she had been washed to their satisfaction, they dried her equally thoroughly and took her to a smaller room. After a brief discussion amongst themselves, they used a depilatory to remove all of the hair on her body, except for her hair and eyebrows. At that point, she stopped trying to protest.

She stood like an obedient doll as they rubbed a heavily perfumed oil into her skin. Subtle cosmetics were used to accent her eyes, her lips, and even her nipples. Finally, she was dressed—if it could be called that—in a sheer pale green gown that opened down both sides and was confined with a long silver ribbon around her waist. Another ribbon was twisted into her short blonde curls.

Saqar escorted Quinn to Riatta’s office.

“Excellent work, Saqar,” Riatta said with an approving glance.

“Thank you, mistress. Do you know who she will be assigned to?”

“The Queller,” Riatta said, an odd note in her voice, and the two females exchanged a glance. “To please him before he leaves.”

“I didn’t think he wanted female companionship.”

“Master Temit thinks he might want this one because she is so… innocent.”

I’m not that innocent, she wanted to cry but she was still locked into the horror of what was happening. I will survive, she reminded herself.

Riatta handed her a silky dark green cloak, then sent for a guard and ordered him to take Quinn to the Queller.

“The Queller? Really?” He shook his head. “Seems a shame.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion. You have your orders.”

The guard shrugged and gestured for Quinn to leave the office. A big male with grey skin that had an unpleasant sheen to it, he didn’t resemble any of the other aliens she’d seen, but the way he looked at her made her skin crawl. She tightened her hands on her cloak.

“Why don’t you give me a little look at what’s under that cloak?” he asked, giving her a lecherous grin.

“I was told to keep it on.”

“No one has to know, right?”

He came to a halt, looming over her, but she refused to cower away from him. Unable to trust her voice, she simply shook her head. She half-expected him to remove it anyway, but he only laughed.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be nicer to me? That’s who you’re in such a hurry to go to.”

He pointed at one of the 3D images floating on the walls, and she did her best not to flinch. The showcased warrior was the most intimidating alien she had seen yet. His skin was covered with black scales, so dark they seemed to absorb the light. Knife-like spurs stretched back from his elbows, and dark claws gleamed at his fingertips. A sharply angled jaw framed an oddly human mouth, and a dark crest crowned his head.

“That’s the Queller. Best fighter I’ve ever seen—and now you belong to him.”

CHAPTER FOUR

The Queller looked up from the financial report he was trying to study as the doors to his quarters opened and frowned. Everyone was quite aware that he did not like to be disturbed after a match. The adrenaline from the fight still hummed in his veins, and the spines on his back flared.

“Hey, Queller. Temit wants to reward you for that last fight. He sent you someone.” The Zameetan guard smirked as he dragged a cloaked figure into the room.

“How many times do I have to tell him that I’m not—”

His words died out as Ugrum whipped off the cloak to reveal a small female. Pale, pretty hair cascaded down around a delicate face with huge green eyes, the color of the gems in Napisten’s Crown. Her matching green gown revealed more than it concealed, showcasing the slender curves beneath the sheer fabric. Despite her size, she was exquisitely proportioned. Her soft little mouth trembled, but she did not shrink away as she returned his gaze.

On the whole, he was not an acquisitive male, although he did collect beautiful objects. She was certainly beautiful, but it was more than that. He wanted this female.

Only because of the primitive instincts aroused by the fight, he told himself, but that did not mean he was willing to let her go.

“You may leave us, Ugrum,” he said, not taking his eyes off the female.

He heard Ugrum snigger, but the guard left and that was all that mattered.

“What is your name?” he asked softly.

Tears shimmered in the crystalline green depths of her eyes.

“You’re the first one to ask me that. I’m Quinn.” Her voice was soft and melodic, falling like a caress across his skin. “What’s your name?” she added hesitantly.

“I am the Queller,” he said automatically, then shook his head. “You may call me Dhar.”

It was as close as most other species could get to pronouncing his name.

He rose from his chair to approach her, and her eyes widened but she did not attempt to run. His inner self purred its satisfaction. She would do very well.

“Where did you come from?”

“Temit bought me. From the trader who found me in the desert.”

Had the fight master realized how much she would appeal to him? Word was no doubt already spreading that he had accepted a female. He considered the thought then dismissed it. The speculation that it would cause did not concern him.

“He found you in the desert? You are not from Maskah.”

“No, I’m human, from a planet called Earth.”

Human. He recognized the term. He had heard the speculation about the new Emperor taking a consort from such a primitive race and dismissed it as a foolish impulse. Looking at Quinn, he suddenly understood that impulse.

But the Emperor had also forbidden interaction with that planet.

“How did you get here?” he asked, although he suspected he already knew. Her next words confirmed it.

“I was taken.”

An illegal slave. A better male would undoubtedly take her to the Royal Fleet immediately, but he couldn’t picture such a delicate female in their hands. She would be safer with him.

“Were you alone?”

“No, I was with my friends.”

The soft line of her mouth trembled again, and he decided he did not like it.

“Where are your friends?”

Perhaps he could buy them for her, although he had no idea what he would do with three females. He wasn’t entirely sure what he would do with this one—but he had every intention of keeping her with him until he decided.

“I don’t know,” she said, her small face filled with sorrow. “One of them fell in the river and a guard went after her.”

“A Sleestik jumped in the water?” he asked skeptically. The reptilian race was notoriously averse to water.

She shook her head. “I think you call them Daichin.”

That made more sense. The big, green warriors had a reputation for honorable behavior—although working for a Sleestik caravan seemed uncharacteristic. But if a Daichin had claimed her friend, Dhar stood no chance of purchasing her.

“And the other?”

“She vanished one night when the caravan was raided. I hoped I might see her here in the city, but Zargan brought me here as soon as we arrived.”

“I see.”

He suspected the female taken by raiders was equally out of reach, but he would make some discreet inquiries.

Her face suddenly paled and she swayed a little. He instinctively put his hand on her arm to steady her. Her face grew even paler, but she didn’t protest. Her skin was like the finest silk beneath his fingers, startlingly fragile in comparison to his own sleek scales. He would have to be careful with her.

“Have you eaten?”

She shot him a surprised glance, then dropped her eyes as she shook her head.

“No. I was being… prepared.”

“Prepared?”

“Bathed and…” A tide of pink rose to cover her cheeks and he watched it with fascination. “And dressed,” she finished.

He suspected she had omitted some detail, but he didn’t pursue the matter.

“It is an attractive garment.”

“It’s very… thin.”

“Then perhaps it is you rather than the garment that I find attractive.”

The words came out automatically, and then he frowned. He was not given to compliments.

“I will feed you,” he began, and had a sudden vision of those small pink lips closing around his fingers as she took food from his hand. An intimacy he would never permit. He frowned and restated his words. “There is food.”

He gestured at the array of food arranged on the serving carts next to the dining table. Nothing but the finest had been provided for him, of course. The fight masters who paid so well for his appearances always tried to please him. Part of it was simply good business—if he was happy with the venue, he was more likely to return—but he also knew that they feared him. It didn’t matter that he had not engaged in violence outside the fight pit since he had been forced to leave Asing. They had seen him fight. They knew the damage he was capable of inflicting.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the assortment of food.

“Are you expecting company?”

The question amused him. He did not entertain company. He had no wish to associate with anyone in this place. Aside from the necessary interactions forced on him by business arrangements, he declined any company—or he had until now.

“I prefer to eat alone.”

Her eyes flew up to his, something he couldn’t read in those crystalline green depths.

“Should I leave? I mean…” She bit her lip with blunt little teeth. How could any creature be so defenseless? “I mean, I know I can’t leave but I could stand somewhere else.”

“I have already eaten,” he said truthfully.

Not that he had taken more than a small portion of the food. While he appreciated the quality, he did not appreciate the quantity. He was not a heavy eater, especially when he was not in training, and the knowledge that all of the uneaten food would go to waste made the child he had once been cringe.

“I’m really not very hungry,” she said in a soft voice, giving him an uncertain look.

“You will eat.”

For a moment, he wondered if she would argue, but she only dipped her head and sat in the chair he had indicated. He picked up a plate and filled it with a selection of the same foods he had chosen earlier—some fresh jimson berries gently marinated in sugar syrup, a few slices of thinly carved arlak, a small scoop of the creamy cheese from the northern hills, and a freshly baked seed roll.

“Now eat.”

She hesitated a moment longer, then cut off a tiny piece of the meat. He poured himself a glass of wine and sat down in the big chair at the end of the table, watching her. His initial impression had not changed—he had never seen such a beautiful, fascinating creature. Even the way she ate appealed to him. When she licked her lips to capture a drop of jimson juice, the image of those lips closing around his finger—or another body part—sent a bolt of lust straight to his codik.

He would take her with him when he left, he decided. Leaving her with Temit was out of the question. She would be better off away from this primitive planet and their barbaric practices.

And then what are you going to do with her, his inner voice whispered. He did not indulge himself with females. The restraint that had been beaten into him during his training hadn’t disappeared when he left his planet. The Way of the Warrior was one of discipline, and he had been celibate for a very long time. He had no intention of changing that now, no matter how beautiful and desirable the female. But that did not mean he would deny himself her beauty.

She finished eating and gave a soft little sigh. He watched closely, but she showed no interest in any additional food and he decided she had eaten enough.

“Come here.”

She looked over at him, and once again her mouth started to tremble, but she pressed those soft pink lips together and rose from her chair to come and stand in front of him. He studied her, the thin gown doing little to disguise her exquisite beauty, and reached out to finger the fine silk. She flinched, then immediately regained control of herself. He did not like seeing her afraid.

“I swear to Napisten that I will not hurt you.”

Green eyes flashed back up to his, clearly skeptical, but she didn’t respond.

“I am not sure the green was the best choice. I think perhaps pink would be better.” Pink to match the exquisite color that tinted her cheeks.

She gave him another quick glance, this one startled.

“Pink is my favorite color,” she said softly.

“I believe it would suit you.”

As he studied her, he became aware of a heavy floral scent emanating from her skin. It was not unpleasant, but it was far too strong and it was clearly not her natural fragrance.

“You said you were bathed. Were you also perfumed?”

The color rose to her face again as she nodded.

“They rubbed perfumed oil into my skin. Everywhere.”

From the slight, betraying shudder, she had not enjoyed the experience.

“Then you will remove the oil.”

He rose to his feet and put his hand on her arm once more. His thumb skated across her skin, relishing the silky softness. I could so easily grow addicted to touching her, he thought, then immediately dismissed the idea. But he did not remove his hand.

Her head barely reached his chest, and it made him feel strangely protective as he guided her towards the back of his quarters. She went with him without complaint, but he could feel her trembling. He did not like it, but he accepted that it would take her time to realize that he would not break his word. He would not hurt her. He led her through the bedroom and into the bathing room, then hesitated.

Steam rose from the bathing pool, flowers floating on the surface. He had no idea why Temit had thought he would choose to bathe amongst the flowers, but he could clearly envision her in the pool, her skin flushing from the heat and the flowers caressing her skin. But perhaps another time. Right now, he wanted the artificial fragrance removed from her skin.

He chose the shower instead, turning on the multiple jets and making sure the temperature would not be too hot for her delicate skin before turning to her. She was still poised at the entrance as if she were about to flee. He hoped she would not—he suspected she would not enjoy the chase as much as he would. He took a step back and gestured at the shower.

“Now remove your garment and wash yourself.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Too shocked to respond, Quinn stared at the huge intimidating warrior. She had a sinking suspicion that he had no intention of leaving the room while she showered. It had been bad enough being bathed before, but at least the ones who had prepared her had been female.

But what could she do? All the warnings she had been given danced through her head, and she had no doubt they were true. It had only taken her one glance to realize that he was even more deadly than his picture had suggested. The image had not conveyed the sheer impact of his presence, the threatening gleam of those knife-like spurs and the intensity in those white eyes.

That predatory stare should have terrified her, especially since it felt as if his gaze stripped her bare, and yet it didn’t scare her. Everyone else she had encountered on this planet had looked at her as if she were an object. She didn’t even think that Egyik and Orgat, despite their kindness, regarded her as a person.

But Dhar saw her. And there was something oddly comforting about that—something that reminded her that she was still Quinn, and not just a slave.

It wasn’t just the way he looked at her that kept her from panicking. Everything about him—from the way he moved to the carefully controlled sound of his voice—spoke of immense discipline. This was not a male who would suddenly snap and attack her. But she suspected that neither was he a male who would brook disobedience. And Temit had warned her to obey.

“Do you require assistance?”

He took a step towards her, and she had a sudden vision of those powerful clawed hands sliding over her body. A shiver skated up her spine, and she felt unexpectedly breathless.

“No,” she said hastily. “I mean, no, thank you.”

Knowing she didn’t have a choice, her fingers reluctantly went to the clasps on her shoulders. The jeweled fastenings and the thin ribbon around her waist were the only things holding the dress in place. As the clasps released, she felt the back panel slip down to pool at her feet. She instinctively pressed her arm across her chest to keep the front panel in place as she tried to undo the ribbon. Her fingers were shaking too hard to untie it.

Then Dhar was standing in front of her, crossing the space between them so quickly she didn’t even see him move. A dark, shining claw slid down her side, and the ribbon fluttered free. She stared up at him, still clutching the front panel of her dress against her breasts.

“Let it fall.”

For the first time there was an underlying roughness in his deep voice.

It took every bit of courage she had to let the piece of silk fall to her feet, but she’d rather do it herself than have it torn from her. His eyes began to glow with a silvery light as he stared down at her.

“Beautiful.”

One of those terrifying claws trailed briefly across her nipples—nipples that had turned to stiff, aching little peaks—and then he was gone. He was back in his position by the wall.

“Wash yourself.”

Shuddering with something that was not entirely fear, she obeyed.

“There is cleansing liquid in the dispenser. It is unscented.”

She poured some into her hand without responding, then hesitated. The servants who had prepared her had rubbed oil into every inch of her skin. If she was going to remove it, she was going to have to wash her body with the same thoroughness. While he watched her.

She tried turning her back to him, but that made her feel even more vulnerable since she could still feel his gaze burning into her back. She ended up turning slightly to the side, the angle providing a faint illusion of privacy, but allowing her to watch him from the corner of her eye as she obediently washed her arms and legs. After a moment’s hesitation, she ran her soapy hand over her breasts as quickly as she could, but even that brief contact made her conscious of how hard her nipples were. Why had she responded so quickly and so strongly to his touch?

She turned further away as she washed between her legs, shivering at the sensitivity of the newly bare flesh. She’d never bothered to shave before—the fine blonde curls didn’t seem worth worrying about—and she’d had no idea how much difference it would make. She looked over to tell him that she had finished and found him right next to her.

“Turn around,” he ordered.

Oh, God, what was he going to do? She forced herself to obey, her nails clenched in her palms. She waited for him to grab her, but instead a big hand brushed over her shoulder blades, his skin not rough, but textured in a way that was definitely not human.

By the time she realized he was washing her back, he had finished and turned off the water. A second later, he wrapped an enormous towel around her before bending towards her, his nostrils flaring.

“That’s better. I much prefer your natural sweetness, little flower.”

Blushing, she started to reach for the discarded dress—it might have only been two panels of cloth, but it was better than nothing—and he stopped her.

“The scent is on the fabric. I will find something else while you dry yourself,” he said, and disappeared out of the bathroom.

Thankful that he had left her alone, she dried off as quickly as possible. She’d half-expected that he would insist on supervising her drying as well.

He returned a moment later and handed her a sleeveless white silk shirt. It was clearly one of his and far too large. The neck threatened to slip off her shoulder and the armholes came almost to her waist, but the fabric was thick and soft and the hem came down to her knees. She felt better wearing it and she gave him a tentative smile as she murmured her thanks.

He nodded, then put his hand on her arm again as they left the bathroom. She expected him to take her back to the front room, but instead he stopped and gestured at the enormous bed.

“Get in bed.”

Even though she had known this was coming, even though she thought she had prepared herself, she couldn’t make herself obey. She knew that resisting only meant that she would be hurt more, but she just couldn’t. A tear slipped down her cheek. A big clawed finger gently raised her chin to look at her face.

“I swore to Napisten that I would not hurt you.”

“I know,” she whispered.

He sighed, then with one of his lightning fast moves, he scooped her up and placed her on the bed. He had covered her with a blanket and stepped back before she could even process the sensation of being pressed briefly against that warm muscular chest.

“Sleep, little flower,” he ordered as he dimmed the lights, then passed through the doorway into the room beyond.

He hadn’t hurt her. Not even unintentionally. Was it possible that she could actually trust his word? She’d been lied to so many times over the years that it was difficult to believe. She kept her eyes fixed on the doorway, her body tense, but he never reappeared. Eventually, the softness of a real bed beneath her and the exhaustion from traveling were too much for her and she fell asleep.

At some point during the night, she felt the bed move and came instantly awake. Dhar had climbed into the bed, but it was a very large bed and he was on the other side. He made no move towards her, and once her racing heart calmed, she found herself drifting off to sleep again.

The next time she woke, she found herself snuggled against a hard, muscular body. She froze, fighting down the panic that threatened to choke her. His arm was around her shoulders but it felt more as if he was holding her than if he was restraining her. She was still wearing the shirt he had given her, although the arm hole had opened far enough that her naked breast was pressed against those sleek scales.

As far as she could tell, he was asleep. A deep, thrumming noise, almost a purr, came from that big chest and it was oddly soothing, helping to quell her panic as she tried to decide what to do. Should she try to slip away and risk waking him? Or stay and hope he didn’t think she was trying to encourage him when he woke up?

Was he enough like a human male that he would wake up horny and demanding? Moving her head the smallest fraction possible, she slanted a glance down his body and simultaneously realized two things. He was completely naked. And he didn’t have a cock. A wide ridge of flesh started on his lower abdomen and curved down between his legs but that was all.

A shuddering sigh of relief escaped her before she could prevent it, and the purring stopped. She didn’t need to feel the increased tautness in his muscles to know that he was awake, but he didn’t speak. After a long, tense moment, she finally gathered enough courage to look up at him.

His white eyes had turned silver again, glinting down at her, but she suddenly realized she might have been wrong all along. What if Dhar wasn’t a male after all? Just because he was huge and strong and a gladiator—maybe his species was asexual.

“Are you a male?” she blurted out.

He looked first startled, then amused, and then he made one of his incredibly fast moves and rolled her beneath him.

“Oh, yes, little flower. I am very definitely male.”

His big, hard body covered hers completely, and even though he didn’t have all his weight on her, she was trapped beneath him. Her heart thudded against her ribs so hard she felt sick. She’d made a terrible mistake.

CHAPTER SIX

As Dhar looked down at the beautiful, fragile creature trapped beneath him, his codik bloomed, pressing against his slit and threatening to break free. He refused to allow it, no matter how much she tempted him. The small, hard peaks of those perfect little breasts rubbed against his chest in a surprisingly erotic manner. He had never been with anyone other than an Asing female, and they did not develop breasts unless they were with young.

Of course he was aware that they were common in other species, but even without his vow of celibacy, he’d never found them particularly tempting. But since the moment she’d removed her gown, he’d wanted nothing more than to explore those soft little mounds. Temptation momentarily overwhelmed him, and he lifted his upper body enough to look down at her breasts. One was still covered with his shirt, leaving the other bare and vulnerable, and the contrasting views increased the erotic appeal. He ran a claw lightly across a rosy nipple and saw it harden even more at the brief touch.

Fascinating.

He circled it, watching the skin quiver at his touch, then repeated the gesture on the fabric-covered breast, pressing a little harder against the thick silk. The sweetness of her scent became richer, deeper, and he could feel the dampness of her hot little cunt beneath the ridge of flesh that protected his slit. He rocked that ridge against her, and she shuddered all over. Pleased at her responsiveness, he looked up at her face, then hesitated. Tears sparkled in those crystalline green eyes.

“Am I hurting you?”

“No.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Your body is responding.”

“Yes.”

“But you have water in your eyes.”

“Yes.”

Her one-word answers frustrated him. He was sure that something was wrong, but how could he solve the problem if she would not respond? Perhaps her tears were a sign of frustration, but she was afraid to ask for more.

As he rocked against her again, the hem of her shirt slid higher and he felt the soft, damp folds part around his ridge. By Napisten, had anything ever felt so exquisite? But even though he felt her quiver around him, a tear slipped free and trailed down her cheek.

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t help it.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “I know I have to obey you.”

“Obey me? Did I order you to respond?”

“No.”

He pressed a little harder against her slit and felt her unmistakable response.

“But you are responding to me.”

“Yes.”

“Then why does the water fall from your eyes?”

“Because I didn’t choose this!” she cried.

Her words sank into him like a knife. It had been many years, but he knew what it was like to have no choices.

“I understand.”

Ignoring his aching codik, he rose from the bed, pulled on his clothing, and stalked out of his quarters. He would remedy the situation immediately.

His aspect was forbidding enough that everyone he passed moved out of his way, but Temit only smiled when Dhar entered his office.

“Ah, Queller. Did you enjoy your gift?”

Although the fight master kept his voice neutral, there was an unmistakable note of triumph in his voice. Dhar ignored it.

“Where did she come from?”

“I purchased her from one of the Sleestik traders.”

“Did she have papers?”

“Of course.”

“Show me.”

Temit gave him a puzzled frown, then opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small scroll. Primitive, but convenient under the circumstances. He silently held out his hand, and Temit handed him the scroll.

“She no longer belongs to you. You will forget that you ever saw her.”

“But—”

“I will reimburse you for the cost of her purchase.”

Temit opened his mouth again, but Dhar cut him off.

“Since there is a bill of sale attached, I know exactly how much you paid.”

Far too little for such a rare and beautiful female, but he had no intention of enriching the fight master’s coffers.

“But—” Temit began again, then gave him another look and sighed. “Very well.”

“Send someone to purchase clothing for her. Only the finest. And all in pink,” he added, remembering Quinn’s wistful voice when she said it was her favorite color. If that’s what she wanted, then that was what she would have.

Temit’s gaze turned speculative. “And you will provide an allowance for the clothing?”

“Yes. And you will provide receipts. Accurate receipts.”

“Of course.”

Temit looked mildly insulted, but Dhar wasn’t fooled. He had no doubt that Temit would make arrangements to falsify the receipts, but provided the fight master did not go to extremes, he was prepared to accept them.

He looked around at the sleek, expensive office paid for with the blood of others, and was suddenly sick of the whole thing. He wanted to leave Maskah as soon as possible.

“I want them today.”

“I will do my best. Now perhaps we could talk about next—”

Dhar walked out. He had arrangements to make before he could return to his female.

Quinn stared at the empty bedroom doorway, shocked by Dhar’s sudden departure, then shivered, suddenly cold without the heat of his body over her.

She hadn’t expected him to listen to her, let alone disappear completely. Especially since he was right—her body had responded to him. Her nipples still ached, and there was a low, demanding throb between her legs.

It usually took her a long time to become aroused—long enough that the men she dated were frequently annoyed with her. She preferred sweet kisses and cuddling and the prelude much more than the actual act of sex. But this had been different. As soon as he brushed his claw across her nipple, it sent fiery sparks of arousal through her body.

The power and strength of his body surrounding her should have scared her—instead, it made her feel safe and protected. Maybe it was that feeling of safety that had allowed her to become aroused so easily. And there was nothing in that strange alien face to remind her of things she’d rather forget or trigger unpleasant memories. There had only been the intensity of his gaze and the conviction that he found her beautiful.

She pressed her arm across her breasts as the memory of his gaze on them made them tingle. Her other hand slipped lower, and she was suddenly tempted to pleasure herself and relieve the needy ache.

What was she thinking? He was only in the next room. Ignoring the unexpected spike of excitement at the idea of touching herself while he was so close by, she sat up. She should go and talk to him. He hadn’t hurt her, and she didn’t want him to think that he had broken his promise to her.

She climbed out of the big bed and adjusted his shirt to cover her once more. As the heavy silk slid down over her still hardened nipples, a shiver of pleasure rippled across her skin. Maybe she should wait until her body calmed down. No, she decided. He seemed quite capable of controlling himself. But when she walked into the other room, it was empty.

The familiar feeling of abandonment rushed over her, along with a sense of dread. What if he’d actually been insulted by her refusal? What if he was going to send her back to the fight master to be sent to another gladiator? The thought made her tremble even more.

Dhar, for all his intimidating appearance and commanding ways, had been kind to her. She doubted that all of the gladiators would have the same restraint.

I shouldn’t have said anything. The images of the other gladiators flashed through her mind—perhaps not as intimidating as Dhar, but all big and brutal and scary-looking. The possibilities made her flinch, and by the time he returned she had worked herself into a state of panic.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she rushed to meet him. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Of course you can touch me.”

She grabbed his hand and brought it up to cover her breast again. His fingers tightened briefly, sending a spike of pleasure straight to her still swollen clit, but he released her almost immediately. He moved his hand to her chin instead, raising it so that she had to look up at him.

“You did nothing wrong.”

“I know I wasn’t supposed to say no. Please don’t send me away.”

“Send you away?” His grip on her chin tightened. “I have no intention of letting you go.”

A wave of relief to her, but then she remembered Riatta’s words. He might not intend to let her go now, but he would be leaving soon.

“Not until you leave, you mean?” she asked. “When will that be?”

“Tomorrow.”

Her heart sank. Only one more day of respite?

“I want to take you with me,” he added and her heart skipped a beat.

“Why?”

“Because you are beautiful and fragile and deserve to be protected.”

But how long will he feel that way?

He frowned when she hesitated. “I cannot protect you if I leave you here. Temit has no further claim on you, but I suspect that will not prevent him from making the attempt.”

“He doesn’t?”

Relief washed over her. She was free.

“No. You no longer belong to him. But that does not make you safe on your own.”

On my own. The words echoed in her head as she suddenly realized what her freedom would mean. She hated being alone, and being by herself in this alien city would be a hundred times harder. How would she survive?

If she went with Dhar, she wouldn’t be alone—and it would give her time to figure out this strange new world in which she’d found herself. She also had no doubt that he would keep her safe. But leaving Maskah would also mean leaving Olivia and Panda behind.

“But what about my friends?” she whispered.

“I have arranged to make some inquiries, but I am doubtful that I will receive a response. If a Daichin has claimed your friend, he will not release her.” He must have seen the horror on her face, because he stroked his thumb across her chin. “That is not a bad thing. They are possessive, but they care for their mates.”

“And Panda?”

“I do not know, but if the raiders did not sell her, then it’s likely that she too has found a mate.”

His words should have reassured her, but the thought that her friends might have happily moved on to a life without her only made her feel more alone. Don’t be so selfish, she told herself fiercely. I want them to be happy.

“You do not need to decide until tomorrow,” he added and released her chin. Her skin felt unexpectedly cold and bare without his touch.

He walked over to the serving cart, and then frowned again. “Did you eat?”

She shook her head, afraid that if she spoke she would dissolve into tears.

“Then you will eat now.”

He was using his commanding voice again, and she automatically obeyed, moving to the same seat she had occupied the night before.

“Do you have a preference?” he asked.

She shook her head but when he raised the ridge above his eye, she reconsidered.

“I liked those berries,” she said tentatively. “And I used to like pancakes, back on Earth.”

“Pancakes?”

“They’re like flat pieces of sweet bread. You put butter and syrup on them.”

She liked something sweet in the morning, but William hadn’t approved. He warned her that it would lead to her putting on weight. Dhar obviously didn’t have the same objection.

When he handed her a plate a moment later, he’d given her a heaping bowl of the berries along with a stack of something that actually did look like pancakes and a handful of small golden globes.

“What are those?”

“They are called horsta. Try one.”

She nibbled cautiously at one and moaned with pleasure. It tasted like honey-soaked cake, and she took another, larger bite only to discover that the inside was filled with a sweet, creamy liquid that dripped down her chin. She laughed and popped the rest of the horsta in her mouth before smiling up at him as she searched for a napkin.

“You didn’t warn me that they had a filling.”

Her laughter died as she realized he was staring at her mouth, his eyes glowing—and she didn’t think the hunger on his face was for food.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Come here,” Dhar growled, in a voice she barely recognized.

A shiver went down her spine, but it wasn’t fear. As she rose and walked towards him, she could feel the stiff peaks of her nipples thrusting against the silk of her shirt.

“You need cleaning again,” he said when she came to a halt in front of him, his voice still rough.

“Yes.”

A big hand closed around her waist, and she remembered his claws, but she didn’t feel them pricking her skin. He pulled her closer, and she didn’t resist. Then he ran his tongue along her neck, lapping up the sweet, creamy fluid, and she shuddered.

Not a human tongue. Long and rough and agile as it curled around her jaw, seeking every trace of the liquid. Her breath caught, and she found her hands closing over his shoulders as her knees went weak.

He licked across her mouth, and despite the alarm bells going off in her head, she parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside. That odd purring noise came from his chest as he explored her mouth with the same slow, sensuous thoroughness. She gave herself over to the unexpected sensuality of his kiss as arousal dripped through her veins like honey.

His body suddenly stiffened, and when he finally raised his head, his face was strained.

“I did not ask.”

“I didn’t say no.”

“Would you have said it?”

Would I? It wasn’t as if she didn’t know how to say no—and he’d told her she was free. She didn’t have Temit’s threats hanging over her head any longer.

“I think so. But I wanted you to kiss me,” she added, when he didn’t look convinced.

“Was that a kiss?”

“Of course. What do you call it?”

“We don’t. The Asing do not commonly engage in such intimate behavior.”

“You don’t? I mean, you do have sex don’t you?”

Or did he? She suddenly remembered that ridge of flesh where a cock should be.

His expression finally lightened.

“We do. But engaging in the sexual act does not necessarily require intimacy.”

“I know.” An unwanted memory threatened to intrude, but she pushed it away.

“Perhaps it would be best if we did not indulge in any more such intimate acts.”

Despite his words, he was watching her mouth hungrily.

“If that’s what you want. But I like them more than less… intimate acts.”

His hands tightened on her waist, and for the first time she felt the faint prick of his claws, but then he released her. She returned to her seat and finished her breakfast, resisting the impulse to tease him with more of the horsta.

When they rose from the table, she gave him a curious look.

“What do you plan to do with your day?”

“The same thing I do every day. I train, and I attend to business.”

“What kind of business?”

“Different kinds. I have an estate which requires my oversight, even though I have a manager to handle the daily tasks. I have various business interests, of course. And then there are the fight contracts, although I will not be arranging any more until the new season starts.”

“You mean because it’s going to be winter here on this planet?”

He shrugged. “It is always the season somewhere, but my working periods are dictated by my desires. In this case, it is approaching the end of the summer season on my estate. I wish to return and supervise the harvest. I believe you would enjoy that.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “I plan for the following season during the colder months. Those plans are set in motion in the spring before I leave.”

“To fight again?”

“It is a lucrative profession, and I have a… reputation which allows me to set the terms I desire.”

“It must be nice to have that kind of control over your business,” she said wistfully.

He regarded her thoughtfully.

“What was your profession?”

The past tense did not escape her, but it already seemed a lifetime ago. “I worked as a graphic designer for a marketing company. Does that mean anything to you?”

“I believe so. Do you mean that you made images to entice people to purchase things?”

His perception surprised a smile out of her.

“I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

“That was your profession. What did you do to please yourself?”

Her mind automatically went back to the thought she’d had earlier about pleasing herself, and she was sure that she was blushing but she did her best to look him in the eye. “I’m a painter. I create images, as you put it, not to sell anything but simply to capture my vision of the world.”

“I would be very interested to see your version of this world.”

Her heart ached, but she managed to smile at him. “Sorry, but I don’t have any of my supplies with me.”

He looked as if he was about to say something, but he did not. Instead, he directed her to a chair and then handed her a tablet. He opened it to reveal a stunning painting in shades of pinks and blues. At first glance it appeared entirely abstract, but on closer examination she could see hints of an underlying pattern.

“What is this?”

“It is a work from Sardor Two. The artist is anonymous.”

“It’s very beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it. If you scroll, you will find more artwork.”

She immediately started to scroll through the following pages, stopping only long enough to smile at him.

“Thank you, Dhar.”

“You’re welcome.” He went to the big desk in the corner and she returned to her scrolling.

By the time the door alarm chimed, her head was spinning with the variety of images and mediums that she had seen. Some beautiful, some terrifying, but all intensely personal and exceptionally well-executed. Why did he have this collection of images on this tablet? It seemed at odds with his personality, and yet she believed him when he said he appreciated beauty.

He answered the door, and a servant wheeled in two racks of clothing. There were dresses ranging from short and flirty to long and elegant, soft flowing pants and light, airy tops. The colors ranged from the palest rose to a deep vivid fuchsia, but all of them were pink.

She was still staring at them when Dhar handed something to the servant and the servant disappeared.

“Do you like them?” he asked her. “You said this was the color you preferred.”

“You got these? For me?” The lump in her throat was so large she could barely speak. It wasn’t even the quantity or the variety of beautiful garments, it was the fact that he had ordered them in her favorite color. No one she had ever dated had been as thoughtful.

He was frowning, waiting for her response, but she ignored the intimidating stare as she went to him. She put her hand on his arm, relishing the feel of hard muscles beneath the sleek scales.

“I’ll go with you when you leave, Dhar. I choose you.”

Triumph roared through Dhar, along with an unexpected feeling of gratification. She had chosen him. He couldn’t wait until he had his female safely back on his estate.

My female? No.

He would never allow himself to take a mate, or even to have such feelings for a female. He knew only too well the unpleasant consequences of being ensnared by such emotions. She would accompany him, and he would install her in his estate, a setting appropriate for her beauty, and he would admire her as he admired all the beautiful objects in his collection. It could go no further.

There must be no more intimate behavior, he decided.

“I must go and train.”

She looked surprised, and perhaps a little hurt, but she did not object.

“I am… glad that you have chosen to accompany me,” he added.

Her enchanting smile brightened her face and she swayed towards him, but he dipped his head and left. He chose to ignore the fact that it felt uncomfortably like a retreat.

In a vain attempt to forget the female waiting in his rooms, he increased the usual intensity of his workout. But even though he repeated the exercises until his muscles ached and he defeated three training partners in swift, merciless matches, it was to no avail. As soon as he returned to his room and she looked up at him, all he could think of was tasting her again.

No intimacy, he reminded himself. But despite his resolution, with only the two of them in a relatively small space, intimacy could not be entirely avoided. When they finished their evening meal and she went to take a bath, he found himself listening to the sound of the water splashing in the tub. He could easily envision her, flushed and glowing from the steaming waters, but he wanted to see it for himself. He was halfway to the door of the bathing room before he regained control.

And then she reappeared, as flushed and glowing as he had imagined, dressed in the clothing that he had provided. The garment was modest enough—the high neckline didn’t even reveal the upper swell of her breasts and the ruffled hemline came almost to her knees. But it couldn’t disguise the tempting peaks of her breasts and when she came to stand in front of him, the light behind her revealed the soft curves of her body.

“I guess I’m going to go to bed,” she said shyly.

He forced himself to nod. “Very well. I have work to do.”

Did she look disappointed? He couldn’t be sure.

“All right. Then I’ll see you in the morning.”

She hesitated for a second, then leaned forward and pressed her soft little lips to his cheek. He froze, his codik swelling at that brief touch.

“That was a goodnight kiss. Not an intimate one,” she added with a mischievous sparkle.

Not intimate? He could still feel the imprint of her lips against his skin, but he forced himself to nod.

“Good night, little flower.”

She disappeared into the bedroom and try as he might, he couldn’t help listening to the sound of her body slipping between the sheets and the soft rustle of the covers as she settled down. He remembered the way they had woken up that morning, with her body nestled against his—another intimacy he should never have allowed.

I will work all night, he decided. There was, as always, lots of work to be done.

But in the early hours of the morning, exhaustion and longing finally won out. He abandoned his work and joined her in bed. It was a large bed—they wouldn’t need to touch. But as soon as he laid down, she rolled over and settled against his side.

I should return her to her side of the bed. Instead, he put his arm around her and pulled her close.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Quinn looked around curiously as they headed for the spaceship the next morning. She was cloaked once again, but this time in a deep pink velvet cloak that kept her safe from the chill of the morning air. Just like Dhar kept her safe. He was walking next to her, his hand on her arm, but it was as if a bubble surrounded the two of them. Despite the crowded streets, no one came anywhere close to them.

She couldn’t blame them. Dressed all in black, he stalked through the streets like the embodiment of death. Would he let her draw him like that? An enormous dark figure surrounded by the fires of hell, but in his hand, a sleeping kitten. She suspected that made her the kitten, but she still liked the image.

She also liked the fact that he had slept with her last night. Something had changed after she had told him she would accompany him. He had immediately left to train, and when he returned, he had withdrawn. When they ate their evening meal, he still encouraged her to eat and asked her more questions about her life on Earth, but she could feel the distance between them.

At first she’d been afraid perhaps her acquiescence had destroyed his interest. It wouldn’t have been the first time. Some men were tantalized by the challenge of her supposed innocence. They were determined to claim it for themselves—but their interest was only in the conquest, not in her. Was Dhar one of them?

But then she’d gone to tell him good night and seen his claws digging into the arm of his chair. No, he hadn’t lost interest.

She had woken up this morning with him holding her, and she’d relished the comfort of his embrace. Afraid to scare him away, she’d remained perfectly still. She didn’t react, not even when he pressed a hesitant kiss to her head and slipped out of bed. But the kiss encouraged her. She waited a few more minutes, then went to find him, yawning sleepily. Giving into a reckless impulse, she climbed into his lap and snuggled against him. He was big and hard and strong beneath her, and she felt safe in his arms. The fact that she didn’t need to worry about his cock thrusting against her made it even better.

“Quinn? What are you doing?”

She made her eyes look wide and innocent as she looked up at him and yawned again. “Just waking up. Do you mind?”

She could actually see the indecision on his face, but he finally shook his head.

“No.”

Despite his denial, his body was rigid beneath hers and when he didn’t relax, she sighed and sat up. She wanted to be close to him, but she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. As she started to climb off his lap, she slipped and her knee collided with his lower abdomen. He grunted, the same way a human male would have done if she’d accidentally kneed him in the balls. But he didn’t have any balls. She cast a curious glance at his lap, trying to decide if that was a swelling there that hadn’t been there before, but before she could get a good look, he lifted her to her feet.

“You should eat and dress. We will be leaving soon.”

Her curiosity disappeared. Leaving meant leaving the planet—and that meant she was leaving Panda and Olivia behind.

“Did you hear anything about my friends?” she asked.

“I am afraid not, little flower. But the investigation will continue.” He paused for a fraction of a second. “And we can return in the spring, if you wish.”

“Really?”

“I can’t guarantee that we will be able to find them,” he warned her.

“I know, but it’s a chance. Thank you, Dhar.”

Unable to help herself, she leaned forward and kissed his mouth. As soon as their lips touched, he groaned and then that strange, wonderful tongue of his slipped between her lips. The kiss was as slow and sensuous as it had been the day before, but as much as she loved sweet kisses, she found herself wanting more. She was just trying to decide how to let him know when he gently but firmly put her to one side and rose.

He disappeared with his usual speed, but this time she was almost positive she had seen a bulge between his legs. Not large, but definitely there. The water came on in the shower, and she was extremely tempted to take another look, but it seemed wrong to intrude on his privacy. She moved over to the table and made them both breakfast plates, smiling as she heaped horsta on both of them.

When he finally emerged from the shower, he raised that inquisitive brow ridge at the quantity of horsta on his plate. She gave him an innocent smile.

“Since you like it so much.”

“It is not the horsta that I enjoy.”

The roughness was back in his voice, brushing like velvet across her skin, and she shivered happily. He shook his head, but he seemed far less tense.

Over breakfast, he explained that the journey would take them four days and that they would be alone on his ship.

“There is only one cabin,” he said. “I will sleep in the lounge.”

Why did that make her heart ache?

“Why?” she asked. “I told you I don’t like to sleep alone.”

“I will consider the matter.”

And now here they were, approaching the spaceport. Ships in all shapes and sizes cluttered the field, two taking off almost simultaneously as they watched.

“The exodus has begun,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“The Harvest Festival ended yesterday, and winter… Most visitors do not want to remain for the winter.”

She had a feeling that he had changed what he originally intended to say, but she nodded and didn’t ask any other questions.

His ship was not what she expected. It resembled an oddly-shaped private jet rather than what she had imagined a spaceship would look like. The bridge was at the front, followed by a comfortable lounge and a small galley, then the bedroom and a surprisingly large bathroom. The color scheme leaned heavily to grey and black, and while luxurious, it was oddly sterile.

“The lower level contains a training room and a cargo hold,” he said as they finished the tour.

“Is there anything in there?”

“The rest of your clothing, plus some of the local products that I enjoy. And a few items to add to my collection.”

The way he said collection sounded odd to her, and she gave him a curious glance.

“What kind of collection?”

“I like to collect beautiful things.”

From the look on his face, he was including her in that description. While she liked the fact that he found her beautiful, she wasn’t simply a decorative object. She started to tell him as much, but stopped. She had the feeling he was trying to convince himself rather than her. Was that another part of the barrier that he put between himself and the world?

I’ll just have to show him that it’s okay to get close to someone, she thought, then shook her head. Two days ago, she had been terrified of what he would do to her, and now she was plotting how to get closer to him.

“Something amuses you, little flower?”

“Only myself,” she assured him. “Can I sit with you when we take off?”

It was his turn to look amused, but he nodded. “There are two chairs on the bridge.”

She followed him eagerly onto the bridge, watching in fascination as he went through a preflight check before registering their departure with the control tower.

Unlike a jet, the spaceship simply rose gently into the air, moving so smoothly that she was startled by how quickly the ground disappeared beneath them. As they flew higher, high enough for her to see the river and the desert beyond, to see the ridge of mountains dividing the continent and the city at the base of the mountains, the reality of their departure hit her all over again. She had been in those places and now she was leaving them behind—leaving her friends behind. She burst into tears.

Dhar gave a muffled oath, then reached over and pulled her onto his lap. She sobbed into his broad chest, taking comfort in his warmth and the strength of the arms surrounding her until a stray thought interrupted her grief.

“If you’re holding me, who’s flying the ship?”

“It has an autopilot. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She managed a smile and looked back at the disappearing glow of Maskah, no more than a marble against the darkness of space.

“We will keep searching,” he promised.

She nodded, but she didn’t really believe him. Once more, she was leaving everything behind and moving to a new home, but at least this time Dhar was with her.

CHAPTER NINE

Dhar kept his arm curved around Quinn’s soft little body as he checked the monitors. Such a strangely pleasant sensation. No one touched him. Ever. But holding her in his arms while she slept, and now while she was awake, was rapidly becoming an addiction.

An addiction I must overcome.

He rose and placed her gently back on her feet, resisting the urge to keep his hand on the silky skin of her arm.

“I have something for you.”

“You do?”

She looked pleased, but oddly hesitant at the same time.

“This troubles you?”

“Of course not,” she said quickly. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”

She really was a terrible liar. The more familiar he became with her, the more he realized that her enchanting little face revealed every emotion.

“If you do not, you have only to say so.”

“But it’s a gift.”

“Yes—not an obligation.”

“Of course not,” she said quickly, but he suspected she was not convinced.

“Then come and see.”

They returned to the lounge and he handed her the satchel he’d purchased the previous day. She pulled out the blank scroll and the set of colored inks and her face went blank.

“I wasn’t sure what would be most suitable, but the scribes on Maskah use these to create images so I thought perhaps…”

She was still staring at the contents of the satchel.

“But, as I said, it’s not an obligation,” he said stiffly. “If you do not care for—”

“I love them.” A brilliant smile illuminated her face, and then she was back in his arms. “No one has ever given me such a thoughtful, wonderful gift.”

She put her small hands on his neck and tugged him closer.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and then she kissed him.

His decision to avoid intimacy disappeared as soon as their mouths touched. Her lips parted and she opened to him, and he lost himself in the sweetness of her mouth. He did his best to keep the kiss as gentle as usual, but then she nipped at his lip with those blunt little teeth and instinct took over. He growled and lifted her into his arms, reveling in the soft press of her body against his—but it wasn’t enough.

He wanted to see her, to touch her. He carried her to the couch, retaining just enough control to pull her onto his lap instead of rolling her beneath him. Her hot little cunt landed directly over his slit, and he growled again, his codik threatening to break free. She gasped and wiggled against the growing bulge as he tore impatiently at her clothing. He wanted nothing between them.

As soon as he felt that impossibly soft skin beneath his hands, he stopped kissing her, raising his head so that he could admire those perfect little breasts. The pink that usually rose to her cheeks covered them as well, her nipples as dark as ripe jimson berries. He traced his claws over them, delighting in the way her body quivered. Such a responsive little female.

Did they taste as sweet as they looked? He lowered his head and licked one taut peak, then groaned and wrapped his tongue around it. Even sweeter. A distant part of his mind was shocked by his actions, but he ignored it, feasting on the delicious flesh. Her hands went to his crest, urging him on. When he finally lifted his head, the small nub had grown dark and swollen, glistening from his mouth. Rolling it between his fingers, he turned his attention to the other side.

“Dhar, please,” she whispered. “I need…”

“What do you need, little flower?”

He would give her anything she desired.

“I… I…”

She couldn’t seem to manage the words, but from the heat of her little cunt against his stomach, he suspected he knew.

“Do you need your pleasure, little flower?”

“Yes,” she gasped as he slipped his hand under her skirt and cupped her mound.

An Asing female found her pleasure inside her cunt, but as he slid his finger towards her entrance, he passed over a small heated nub of flesh and she cried out.

“Here?”

“Oh, God, yes.”

He circled it again and again, watching as her body tensed, then finally scraped his claw gently across the swollen nub and her pleasure took her. He held her against him as her body shook in his arms, filled with immense satisfaction despite the throbbing ache of his codik, still locked inside his body.

Her tremors finally stilled and her eyes opened, still dark with passion as she smiled up at him.

“For someone who didn’t know how to kiss, you’re very good at it.”

“I find it very enjoyable,” he admitted, looking down at her.

Her mouth was pink and swollen, her nipples still dark pink and glistening, a reminder of the taboo action he had performed. She had not objected, but…

“Is that permitted amongst your people? To… kiss your breasts?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Asing females do not develop breasts unless they are with child.” He couldn’t resist cupping one of the soft mounds. “They are for nourishing a child, not sexual pleasure.”

“With humans, they’re for both.” Her lashes fluttered down to cover her eyes. “Didn’t you enjoy it?”

“I enjoyed it very much.”

His thumb swept across the stiff peak and she shivered. She was still responsive to his touch, even though she’d had her pleasure. Another delightful difference.

He was wondering if there was a limit on how many times he could give her pleasure, when the sudden realization of what they had done swept over him. His resolution to avoid intimacy hadn’t even lasted a single day. There was no doubt that the act he had just performed was very, very intimate. And taboo, his conscience prodded, even if her people did not think so.

“I need to check on the autopilot,” he said, carefully lifting her free and placing her on the couch next to him. “I’m sorry I ruined your new shirt.”

The delightful pink rose to her cheeks again as she gave him a shy smile.

“It was worth it.”

By Napisten, she was making it difficult to maintain his resolve.

“There is more clothing for you in the wardrobe in our—your room.”

“Our room,” she said firmly, trying to pull the torn fabric together across her chest. “I can probably mend this if you have a needle and thread.”

“It’s not necessary. Just discard the garment.”

“But it’s practically new. I don’t want to waste it.”

He did not like the idea of his female in damaged clothing, but he also knew what it was like to cling to even the smallest of possessions. Perhaps she needed time to believe that he would provide for her.

“I do not have repair equipment on board, but we can give it to my steward once we reach Lapont.”

“That sounds like a reasonable compromise.” She looked over at the table where she’d left her gift and smiled. “And as soon as I’ve changed, I’ll try out my new inks.”

Quinn carefully stroked the ink across the first panel of the scroll, studying the way the color spread. Not as delicate as watercolor paint, but not as concentrated as a true ink either. She couldn’t wait to try using it to capture some of the scenes from Almadin.

She smiled at the closed door to the bridge, wanting to thank Dhar all over again. It was the second time he had given her something because he’d thought it would please her—not to please himself.

William’s last gift to her had been an expensive necklace. She suspected he had selected it as a way of showcasing his generosity, but it was not something she would have ever chosen for herself and it only made her uncomfortable. And then he’d been angry when she refused it.

How could an alien male from a completely different culture understand her so much better than a human man?

Because he cares. The thought popped into her head, and she immediately started to dismiss it. She knew he liked the way she looked, and even if he had no obvious sexual equipment, she was quite sure he found her desirable. She even believed he would keep her safe, but did he care for her as a person—or simply a beautiful possession?

She looked down at the streak of color on the page and let herself hope that it was more.

When he finally joined her again, she was sketching the child on the hover sled—just a few strokes to set the scene, but she was pleased with the way it was developing.

“You have talent,” he murmured, looking over her shoulder.

The usual impulse to deny it reared up, but she made herself smile at him and accept the compliment instead.

“Thank you. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. It was always a way to… escape.”

“The Way of the Warrior turned out to be my escape,” he said, surprising her.

It was difficult to imagine such a powerful male ever needing an escape, but he must have been a child once. A vulnerable child. She took his hand and squeezed it, trying to convey without words that she understood.

He looked at their joined hands for a frozen moment, then briefly returned her grip before stepping away from the table.

“I must train.”

“Can I watch?”

She expected him to refuse but after a tiny hesitation, he nodded.

“If you wish.”

The training room was a simple space with padded reed mats on the floor. The only decoration on the walls was a small niche with a flame flickering inside a crystal geode.

“What’s that?”

“The Way of the Warrior is dedicated to Napisten. The shrine is a reminder.”

“Napisten?”

“One of the old gods. I am not devout, but it is a reminder of the Way.”

“The Way?”

“Discipline. Balance. Intention.” His lips quirked. “And discipline begins with training, not talking.”

She smiled back, put her finger over her lips, and curled up on the floor to watch.

He began by removing his shirt and pants, seemingly unconcerned about being naked in front of her. He started with his back to her, and she noticed the row of flattened spikes that ran down his spine, leading to a perfectly-shaped ass. When he turned towards her, her gaze instinctively dropped to his stomach, but it looked the same as she remembered with only a thick ridge curving down over his lower abdomen.

Telling herself she wasn’t disappointed, she watched the way his muscles moved as he began a series of slow, intricate moves. It reminded her more of a dance than an exercise, but she could see the controlled power in each step. Spellbound, she watched until he finally stopped and dipped his head towards the small shrine.

“That was amazing,” she said sincerely. “Do you ever train with other people?”

“Of course. But there isn’t anyone else here.”

“What about me? I know I don’t have any training, but maybe you could show me a few things?”

His eyes started to glow, and then he nodded.

“Very well.”

To her disappointment, he pulled his discarded pants back on.

“Do I need to change?”

She’d replaced her damaged outfit with a pair of loose, silky pants and a matching top that tied around her waist. The heat in his eyes didn’t diminish as he studied her, and she could feel her nipples pressing against the silk.

“You do not need to change,” he growled, then beckoned to her. “First I will show you how to fall.”

He had her on her back on the mats so quickly that all she could do was stare up at him in shock. He laughed and pulled her back to her feet.

“Slower this time.”

He went through the move again, and then again, showing her how to control her body. Somehow she wasn’t surprised to find that he was an excellent teacher, both thorough and patient, but she kept getting distracted by the hardness of his muscles against her and the warmth of his hands on her skin. By the time she managed the fall successfully on her own, arousal sang through her veins.

He looked down at her and the silvery glow that had faded from his eyes while he taught her reignited. She reached up her hand, but instead of pulling her to her feet, he came down over her instead, the hard strength of his body already a familiar weight.

“Mmm. This is nice,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck.

The deep purr sounded in his chest, reverberating wonderfully against her hardened nipples, and that intriguing ridge on his abdomen settled between her legs, sending a shockwave of pleasure to her swollen clit. His ridge felt even bigger, thicker, than it looked and she arched her hips against it, seeking more of that wonderful pressure. It seemed to expand even more, and then he was gone.

She blinked and saw him standing at the entrance to the room, his back to her, the muscles in his back so rigid she could see every delineation.

“I must check on the autopilot,” he said, and fled.

CHAPTER TEN

Quinn bit back a sigh as she looked over at Dhar. He was staring down at his tablet, but she didn’t think he was really seeing it. Ever since their encounter in the training room, he had withdrawn from her. After another closed-door session on the bridge—and really, what was the point of an autopilot if it needed that much attention—he had returned to the training room. He didn’t suggest that she join him and she didn’t ask.

He had returned eventually, but even though he stayed in the lounge this time, he told her he needed to work and picked up his datapad. When it was time for a meal, he finally relaxed a little, explaining the foods he was preparing and letting her taste the ingredients. He paid close attention to her preferences and the finished meal contained only the things she favored.

He even talked to her over dinner, telling her more about his estate, but after the meal, he buried himself in his work once more, leaving her to continue experimenting with her new inks.

The lights suddenly flickered, and she jumped.

“What happened?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just the beginning of the night shift.”

“Oh. Does that mean it’s time for bed?” she asked hopefully.

Maybe once they were in bed, he would release some of that tight control.

“Yes. You should go to bed, little flower.”

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Later,” he said, but he didn’t look at her.

“All right,” she said softly. “Good night, Dhar.”

“Good night, Quinn.”

As she climbed into the big, empty bed, she wondered if he was going to wait until she was asleep the way he had the previous night on Maskah. Determined to stay awake until then, she waited. And waited.

Finally, she slipped out of bed and returned to the lounge. All of the lights were dimmed, but she could see Dhar lying on the big sofa, staring up at the ceiling. It certainly didn’t seem as if he intended to join her in the bedroom.

She walked quietly across the room, then lay down next to him. His body immediately tensed.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you, I don’t like to sleep alone. If you’d rather sleep out here, I’ll sleep out here with you.”

“I’m sleeping out here so that you can have the bed to yourself.”

“I don’t want the bed to myself.”

She nestled closer to the warmth of his body, breathing in his already familiar, comforting scent.

“Quinn…”

She could hear the roughness in his voice, but then his hand started gliding up and down her arm.

“Yes, Dhar?”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Are you?” She raised her head and looked at him. “Or are you trying to protect yourself?”

“Perhaps both,” he admitted, surprising her.

“Why?”

He shook his head. “That is a subject for another time. Let’s get you back to bed.”

He carried her through to the bedroom, but when he went to put her down, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Please stay with me.”

She could see the indecision on his face, but he finally nodded.

“Very well.”

He lay down, and she settled down next to him with a contented sigh. But even though she was happier now that he was with her, she still couldn’t fall asleep.

“You’re not sleeping, little flower.”

“I know. I feel restless.”

And needy, she realized. Their earlier encounter had only served to wake the passion that had been lurking beneath the surface all this time.

“Is there anything that would calm you?”

“I don’t know.” She hesitated, then amazed at her own boldness, she blurted out, “But an orgasm or two might help.”

“You mean you need your pleasure?”

“Yes. But you don’t have to do anything. You don’t mind if I pleasure myself, do you?”

A choked noise was the only response, but it was enough to make her smile as she ran her hand over the thin silk covering her breast. Tonight’s nightgown was far less demure—the neckline lower, the hemline higher, and the material a translucent whisper of pink.

“Quinn…”

“Yes?” she asked innocently as she slipped her hand beneath the short hem of her gown.

“You are taunting me.”

“No, I’m not.” She shivered as her fingers skated over the bare, damp flesh between her legs. It felt even better knowing that he was watching her. “Maybe teasing you a little.”

“That is a game that two people can play.”

His hand joined hers under her gown, big and hard and powerful. A quiver ran through her body as she felt the sleek scales brush across her skin. He unerringly found her clit, circling it slowly.

“Is this what you need, little flower?”

“Oh, yes.”

To her dismay, he didn’t increase the pressure of his touch, only lightly circled the swollen nub.

“Dhar,” she whispered, trying to lift her hips towards him.

“I did say that two could play this game.” His eyes gleamed silver as he bent towards her. “And I always win my games.”

“Okay, you win,” she said quickly. “Now please give me more.”

“Not yet.”

Over her muffled protest at the delay, he ripped away her gown and parted her legs.

“Every time I think I have discovered every aspect of your beauty, I find something new to appreciate.”

Those big clawed thumbs parted her folds as he studied her.

“So pink and perfect. And wet,” he added as he stroked a big finger along the length of her slit.

He barely touched her clit but she quivered again, already on the verge of coming. He lifted his finger to his mouth and wrapped his tongue around it, then growled.

“And delicious.” He bent towards her, then paused. “Is this forbidden?”

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s encouraged.”

His eyes flashed silver, and then that long, agile tongue wrapped around her clit.

She came so hard that spots of light danced in front of her eyes. Her body convulsed, but he only tightened his grip on her hips and kept going, circling her clit over and over and licking up each drop of heat before he suddenly plunged his tongue into her pussy. Another climax rolled over her like a tidal wave, deeper and stronger than the first one, and she cried out his name.

He still didn’t stop, sending her from one climax straight into another until she was beginning to wonder if it was possible to die from too much pleasure.

When he finally raised his head, his expression was undeniably smug but she was too limp and exhausted to care.

“Do you think you can rest now?”

“I may never get up again.”

“That would be a shame.” His eyes still gleamed silver as they dropped back to her pussy. “I assumed you only found pleasure when I touched you here.” His thumb brushed across her clit, and she shuddered. “But you seem to enjoy it just as much when I enter you.” His finger pressed gently against her entrance, thicker and harder than his tongue, and she instinctively arched into the tantalizing touch.

“Both. I like both.” She rocked against him as he slipped deeper inside. “Don’t your females enjoy it?”

Or do they even have vaginas? He didn’t seem to have a cock after all.

“They find their pleasure inside. But this—” He brushed her clit again. “This is most convenient.”

Convenient? She started to laugh, but then his finger thrust all the way into her and her laughter dissolved as another wave of ecstasy swept over her. Apparently, she wasn’t completely exhausted after all.

After Quinn fell asleep, Dhar slipped quietly from their bed. His codik was a constant throbbing ache inside his body and if he didn’t release it soon he was afraid that it might actually cause permanent damage. It had been bad enough earlier when she had rocked her sweet little cunt against his slit. He’d actually felt his codik beginning to emerge, despite his best efforts to control it. Instead, he’d fled like an untried warrior before his first battle.

But tasting her, feeling her respond to his touch over and over, had driven him to the breaking point. He’d been on the verge of mounting her when she’d succumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep.

And that must never happen, he thought as he turned on the shower and finally let his codik emerge.

The thick rod of flesh filling his hand was far too large for her small body, but that wasn’t his only concern. He suspected that once he mounted her, any hope of maintaining a distance between them would vanish.

Not that I’ve been particularly successful in that attempt so far. Even when he was locked on the bridge pretending to read the charts, or trying to work his muscles to exhaustion in the training room, she’d been constantly in his thoughts.

Perhaps he should stop fighting it—at least while they were on the ship. His codik flexed and he stroked it harder. They could have this time together, and he could pleasure her as much as he wanted—without mounting her. Once they reached his estate, it would be far easier to maintain a proper distance.

Ignoring the ache in his chest at the thought, he worked his codik, filling his mind with images of the soft pink of her small cunt stretching around his finger, her nipples taut and glistening from his mouth, and her eyes shining as she smiled up at him.

His codik erupted in a stream of hot liquid as he sagged against the shower wall. He quickly washed it away and returned to the bedroom.

He knew he shouldn’t stay with her, but he didn’t want to waste this time together. He slipped between the covers and tucked her against his chest, then smiled into the darkness.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Quinn frowned as Dhar left to take another shower. She hadn’t realized back on Maskah that he was such a clean freak, but it was very noticeable on the small ship. He showered in the morning and again before bed, and at least twice more each day.

Yet another part of the mystery that is Dhar, she thought wryly. Ever since that first night, he hadn’t made any attempt to avoid sleeping with her. If anything he seemed to look forward to their bedtime, his eyes starting to glow with anticipation as soon as they finished their evening meal.

And once they were in bed, he would spend hours kissing her, caressing her, making her come over and over until she was too exhausted to respond. But he didn’t touch her during the day shift—and he never let her touch him. From the way he reacted when she accidentally brushed against the ridge on his abdomen, she was quite sure it was sexually responsive. She would have loved to try rubbing it against her clit, but he insisted on using his hands and mouth instead. Not that she could complain about his talent in either department.

He would also stalk off to his training room at the strangest times. Like earlier today when she’d been chewing thoughtfully on her pen as she tried to explain a marketing campaign to him, and he’d suddenly jumped up and gone off to train. But in between those times, he was a thoughtful, intelligent, and interesting companion. He seemed genuinely interested in her work and her life on Earth. He spoke little about his past, but he let enough slip for her to guess that he too had an unhappy childhood.

Usually, she was still asleep when he got up, but this morning she was awake and unusually restless. She could hear the water running in the shower and had a sudden impulse to join him. After all, he’d had her naked in the shower within moments of their first meeting.

Feeling ridiculously wicked, she padded quietly across the floor and opened the bathroom door. Water gleamed on those dark, shining scales, accentuating the strong muscular body. She was so entranced by the sight that it took her a moment to realize what else she was seeing. His hand was between his legs, grasping a thick column of flesh, the deep rose color shocking against his black scales. The huge appendage had emerged from the ridge on his lower abdomen.

“You do have a cock,” she whispered.

Not a human cock, but a thick, muscular length with a fringe of lighter pink tendrils surrounding the tip.

His eyes flew open when she spoke, and as soon as their eyes met he erupted, a fountain of opalescent pink liquid streaming from the tip.

“Oh my God. That’s why you’ve been taking all those showers. You’ve been in here touching yourself.”

He closed his eyes and bowed his head, looking almost defeated.

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“It is for the best.”

“It’s best that you touch me but I can’t touch you?”

He looked down at the cock gripped in his hand, only slightly diminished even now.

“My codik is very large, and you are very small.”

“That’s what’s worrying you?”

“It is a factor.”

“But not the only one?”

“No.”

She waited but he didn’t say anything else.

“Fine.”

Confused, hurt, and more than a little aroused, she walked out.

He followed her a few moments later, but she refused to look at him, concentrating on her latest drawing instead. He sighed and went off to train. Or was he masturbating down there as well?

No, she suspected he was too fastidious for that.

The atmosphere was still strained between them when he returned and began to prepare their meal. Since it would be silly to refuse to eat, she joined him at the table, but her appetite had disappeared.

“What do you want from me?” she finally blurted out, pushing away her untouched food.

His posture stiffened.

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you ask me to come with you?”

“Because you are beautiful and fragile and deserve to be protected.”

They were the same words he had used on Maskah, but they sounded hollow now.

“Another beautiful object for your collection?”

“No,” he said immediately, and she took some comfort from the vehemence of his denial.

“Then why won’t you let me touch you?”

“It is… safer this way.”

“Safer for whom?” She remembered the way he had erupted as soon as their eyes met. “I know you want me, Dhar.”

“More than you can possibly know.” The words were so soft that she could hardly hear him.

“Then what’s the problem?” She forced herself to smile. “I know it won’t last—”

“What do you mean it won’t last?” he growled, his eyes starting to glow. “You’re mine, little flower.”

Her pulse thundered in her veins.

“Then let me be yours, Dhar. Completely.”

“I am too large to mount you.”

He sounded as if he was trying to convince himself rather than her.

“Women stretch. You’ve already discovered that.”

Once he realized how much she enjoyed having his finger inside her, he’d experimented with two, and finally three. The last had taken time and patience, but once he finally succeeded she’d come harder than she’d ever come in her life. How much better would it be to have the thick length of his codik inside her?

“Please, Dhar.”

Dhar kept his body locked in place, afraid that if he moved he would have Quinn bent over the table in front of him as he mounted her. His plan had failed miserably. The more he was around her, the more he wanted her. He lived in a constant state of aroused agony, and to hear her tell him that she wanted him too threatened the last thread of his control.

She rose from the table and slipped her dress over her head, leaving her naked and perfect.

“I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.”

She walked away, the swing of her hips a siren call. By Napisten, how could he resist?

The table creaked, and he looked down to find his nails embedded in the surface. He carefully pried them free as he remembered the conversation they once had about intimacy. Perhaps it was foolish to keep torturing himself. Joining their bodies did not have to mean relinquishing all control.

He took the deep ritual breaths he used before a match and rose to his feet. He could do this. He could pleasure her and remain in control.

His resolve wavered when he entered the bedroom and found her stretched out on the bed, her pale skin glowing against the dark grey sheets.

“I wish to try and mount you,” he said, his voice strained and hoarse. “But you must not touch me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“All right,” she said quietly. “But I’m not worried. I know you’d never hurt me.”

He wished he had her faith.

“The Asing way would be to mount you from behind. Is that the human way?”

Pink tinted her cheeks.

“It’s one way. But we also make love face to face or with the woman on top.”

“On top?”

Lust rushed through him so fast he almost swayed. It was not an acceptable position, but he could quite clearly envision her perched on his codik, her breasts easily accessible to his mouth and hands.

“That one,” he growled.

He stripped off his clothes and prowled towards her. Her eyes were focused on his ridge, and she ran her little pink tongue over her lips. She reached for him, then hesitated.

“I know you said not to touch you, but…”

Another forbidden act, to allow another so close to the sensitive flesh, but he wanted her hands on him, even if it was only once.

“Yes. Carefully.”

She ran a soft little finger carefully down his ridge, and he couldn’t contain himself any longer. His codik sprang free.

“Oh my.”

Her mouth formed a perfect little circle as the glistening length thrust against his hand. Could she take him there? Another forbidden act amongst the Asing, but humans seemed much more open to such things. His hips started to jerk forward, but he controlled them in time.

Her finger gently traced the tendrils surrounding his tip.

“What are these for?”

“To stimulate my female.”

Unable to wait any longer, he sat and lifted her onto his lap. He kept her perched on his knees, spreading her open for his perusal as he guided his tendrils to her exterior pleasure spot. Her eyes widened as she instinctively tried to close her legs, but he kept her open as the tendrils went to work.

“Oh my God. That feels…”

Her body started to shake as her pleasure swept over her. His tendrils absorbed the sweetness of her release and he growled. His codik throbbed, but he could do this. He was in control.

But then she shifted her hips upwards and the tip of his codik reached her entrance. His restraint vanished, and he pulled her down over his aching shaft. The tightness of her body prevented him from filling her completely, but he was still deep inside her.

Her useless little claws dug into his shoulders, and her blunt teeth closed down on her soft pink lip. He could feel her trembling, her channel rippling around his codik in the most intoxicating way.

“Are you all right?”

“I… I think so. You’re just so big.”

Despite her assurances, her body continued to tremble. Her exterior pleasure spot glistened, fully exposed by the stretch, and he brushed it gently, hoping to ease her.

She cried out, and he felt her release dampening her channel as she pulsed around him. His tendrils absorbed it eagerly, swirling inside her, and she cried out again as he sank completely into the hot, wet depths of her body.

He wanted to move, but he also wanted to remain locked together for as long as possible. She looked up at him, her eyes damp but a brilliant smile on her face.

“That was amazing.”

“Was? Oh no, little flower. We have only just begun.”

Instinct took over, and he started to thrust into her. Her claws gripped his shoulders once more as her body quivered around him, but she urged him on. Need roared through him, turning him into one of his primitive ancestors. Lightning streaked down his spine, and then his body jerked helplessly as his release finally took him, streaming into the tight confines of her body.

More drained than he’d been after even the most difficult fight, he pulled her close. He couldn’t regret ending the long period of celibacy in such a fashion. He’d never experienced such exquisite pleasure.

But I was right, he thought as he tightened his arms around her small body. I’ll never be able to let her go now.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Quinn was curled comfortably in Dhar’s arms when a bell sounded.

“What was that?”

“It’s the signal that we are approaching Lapont.” He sat up and started pulling on his clothes. “Would you like to watch the landing?”

“Of course. Can I watch it from your lap?” she added as she climbed out of bed.

His eyes glowed as they surveyed her naked body.

“I’m afraid not. Some actual piloting is required, and you, little flower, are a distraction.”

Pleased, she grinned at him and went to find a dress. The one she’d been wearing was in shredded pieces on the floor. Even she had to admit that it was beyond repair—but it had been worth it.

From the air, Lapont looked like a pretty planet. Unlike Maskah’s one large continent, it contained several smaller ones, perched like jewels in a midnight blue sea. Dhar guided the ship towards the coastline of one of the larger islands. As it grew closer, she could see several villages surrounded by fields and interspersed with thick stretches of forest.

He brought the ship in for a landing on a flat area halfway up a cliff overlooking the sea. No one waited for them at the bottom of the landing ramp, but there was an odd-looking car with an open top parked nearby.

“This is my estate,” he said as they descended.

“Down there?”

There was an attractive-looking village at the base of the cliff, and she wondered if that was where he lived.

“Everything you can see. The manor is up there.”

He pointed to the top of the cliff.

At first all she could see was a huge stone wall. Several towers speared the sky from behind the wall, tall and forbidding.

“That’s your home?” she asked, her heart sinking.

“It is where I live.”

The hints of softness she had seen on the trip had vanished, and his face was back in the familiar stern mask.

He hesitated. “It does not please you?”

“It’s very… big.”

“It is safe.”

Safe? She looked down at the peaceful village, the farmlands stretching over the hills, and the small port. “Safe from what danger?”

“There is always danger,” he said stiffly, then took her hand to help her into the waiting car.

Not a car exactly, she realized as he joined her and the vehicle rose a few feet off the ground before starting along the winding path up to the castle. Really, there was no other name for it, but it was a long way from the fairytale castles she had imagined as a child. She could see that he was right and that it had been built for defense—but how many years had it been since that was necessary?

They passed through an enormous gateway between two smaller towers, but at least the doors were standing open and they didn’t close behind them. They emerged in an inner courtyard paved in golden stone that was far less intimidating than the exterior had suggested. Several wooden buildings with flowering vines climbing up their sides were tucked against the far wall.

More planting beds edged the courtyard, including the base of a second wall shielding the innermost part of the castle. Now that they were closer, she could see the mixture of styles and materials that spoke of a building that had been added to over a long period of time.

Dhar brought the vehicle to a halt in the courtyard. He helped her out as two people came through the doors in the inner wall to greet them. She had expected the planet to be populated by more people like him, but this couple was clearly another species. They had smooth ivory-colored skin and large, angled black eyes. Instead of hair, they had thick head tails, neatly arranged and decorated with multi-colored bands. Both of them were wearing wide-legged pants and tunics, but the male’s tunic was much longer, extending to his knees.

“Welcome back, Lord Dhar,” the male said, stepping forward. “I trust you had a successful season.”

“Yes, thank you, Cognar. This is Quinn. She will be staying with me.” A tiny hesitation. “In the Rose Suite. Please arrange to have her luggage brought from the ship.”

Was that a flicker of surprise? If so, it was gone too fast for her to be sure. Did that mean he had brought other females here? She found she didn’t like that idea at all.

“Quinn, Cognar is the chief of my household. He will make sure you have everything you want.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said politely.

“And this is his mate, Jarla. She manages the estate.”

Jarla’s glance was significantly more appraising, but she bowed her head and murmured a welcome.

“Would you like me to show you to your quarters, Mistress Quinn?” Cognar asked.

Her quarters? She wasn’t sure how she felt about that either, but before she could respond, Dhar interrupted.

“I will do that.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“There are some rather pressing matters awaiting your attention, my Lord,” Jarla said.

“Later.”

Jarla gave him a puzzled look, then frowned at Quinn, but she didn’t make any further attempt to stop him.

Behind the inner wall was another courtyard with more formal garden beds and a set of grand steps leading up to a huge windowed hall.

“The ballroom and formal reception rooms are up there. The less formal spaces are on the ground floor, and the kitchens and offices are over there to the left.”

“You have a ballroom?”

“It is never used. Unless you would care to dance with me?”

His face had softened again, and she smiled up at him.

“That would be nice.”

“The bedrooms are on the upper level as well. I’ll show you.”

He led her up the stairs and through the formal rooms. All of them were impeccably serene and elegant—and sterile. As sterile as the ship, she thought, and her heart sank. There was no sign of life or color. Even most of the curtains were drawn across the windows, the rooms illuminated by discreet light fixtures instead.

“Why don’t you open the curtains?”

“The sun would fade the fabrics.”

It would be worth it, she thought, stepping closer to his side. They walked down a long corridor before he paused in front of a set of double doors.

“This is the Rose Suite. I thought it would please you.”

“It’s very beautiful,” she agreed as she followed him into the room. And formal. The walls were paneled with cream-painted wood, and the enormous canopied bed was hung with pink silk. Two elegant chairs covered in a delicate flower print stood in front of a pink marble fireplace. More pink silk was draped in front of a tall window on the far wall, and she immediately pulled the panels apart.

Sunlight flooded the room as she looked out over an endless expanse of ocean. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the window, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff.

“And I love the view.”

Her smile felt a lot more genuine, but it faded as she looked around the room again. Somehow, she couldn’t see him in the midst of all this feminine finery.

“Is this where you sleep?”

His earlier stiffness returned.

“No, but I thought it best.”

Her heart ached as she looked at him, but she didn’t try to argue.

“Will you show me your rooms?”

For a moment, she thought he would refuse, but then he dipped his head and led the way back out to the corridor. They passed a set of wide white stairs leading up, and she gave them a curious glance.

“Where do those go?”

“To the East Wing. There is nothing to interest you there. These are my rooms,” he added before she could question him further.

At least he gave me the bedroom closest to him. She followed him silently through more cold, elegant rooms—a sitting room, a large bedroom, and a surprisingly small bathroom. Curtains covered the windows on both sides of the rooms, but he didn’t object when she opened them. One side looked out over the same view of the ocean as her room. The other side opened onto a narrow balcony, overlooking another garden, this one hidden on the far side of the formal rooms. Flowers bloomed in a riotous profusion, even this late in the season.

“I like the garden.”

He smiled and took her hand. “I think there is something else you’ll like.”

A door on the far side of the bathroom concealed another set of steps, these leading down into a tiled bathing room. An indoor pool ran the length of the space with a huge shower at one end and a hot pool at the other. Glass doors along one side opened to the garden with flowering vines framing the openings.

“You’re right. I do like this.” She moved closer to him and put her hand on his chest. “I think we should try it out.”

“I…”

She let her hand drift lower, teasing along the ridge concealing his codik, and felt him begin to swell beneath her fingers.

A chime sounded, and he sighed as he gently removed her hand and walked over to a communication panel on the wall.

“Yes?”

“My Lord, I don’t wish to disturb you, but we should discuss pricing options prior to our meeting with the grain merchants.”

Quinn recognized Jarla’s voice and wished she had the ability to growl. She wasn’t really surprised when Dhar immediately assumed his formal mask.

“Very well. I will join you in my study.” He disconnected, then turned to her. “I’m sorry, Quinn, but I have business to handle.”

She was tempted to snap at him, but instead she raised her hand and started to push her dress down over her shoulder.

“Go ahead. I think I’ll take a swim. I assume clothing isn’t required?”

His eyes started to glow as the fabric slipped down far enough to reveal the upper curve of her breast, but to her disappointment, he only gave her a stiff nod and left.

She sighed. He wasn’t going to make this easy.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Dhar did his best to pay attention to Jarla’s review of the pricing options, but he was distracted by the thought of Quinn’s naked body in the bathing pool. It was a large pool, and she was very small. Perhaps he should have stayed with her to make sure that she was safe.

He was on the verge of rising when Jarla handed him a set of papers. He had not yet managed to convert everything to electronic documents.

“There is some restlessness in the western sector. The ones who were unhappy with the restrictions you imposed have been gathering there.”

When he had won the estate from the previous owner, it had not been in the best of shape. Not only had Rhodak overworked the farmlands and allowed the villages to fall into disrepair, he had allowed his cronies free rein to take advantage of the villagers. Dhar had immediately made it clear that he would not tolerate any such abuse—and successfully enforced that prohibition—but a lingering cohort of disgruntled males remained.

It was his duty to protect the villagers so he reluctantly pushed thoughts of Quinn to the back of his mind and focused on Jarla’s report. He asked her to gather more information, and she agreed before handing him additional reports. It was growing dark before all of the urgent matters had been handled and he stood up from his desk.

“That’s enough for today.”

“Of course, my Lord. The rest can wait until the morning.”

He did his best not to sigh. There would be no more leisurely mornings in bed with Quinn.

“Shall I tell Cognar that you are ready for the evening meal?”

“Yes, please.”

He found Quinn in the Rose Suite, sitting on the window seat and watching the last rays of the sun disappear below the horizon.

“You missed a beautiful sunset,” she said quietly.

How long had it been since he’d watched a sunset?

“Perhaps you could paint it for me.”

She turned and gave him a thoughtful look, her eyes dark green and mysterious in the fading light.

“As much as I love art, it’s not a substitute for reality.”

Before he could think of a response, she came to join him, her hand resting on his chest as she smiled up at him. His chest ached where she touched him, something he refused to recognize stirring at her touch.

“Is it time to eat? I’m hungry.”

Guilt immediately swamped him.

“You did not need to wait for me. Cognar would have been happy to provide food for you.”

“I wanted to wait for you.”

His chest ached even more, but he simply bowed his head and led her down to the formal dining room. She stopped in the doorway and gave him an appalled look.

“This is where you eat?”

He hadn’t really considered it before, but the room was rather… imposing. Crimson velvet panels lined the walls, and even though the gleaming dark wood dining table was not fully extended, it would still seat twenty people.

“Not very often,” he admitted. “I usually eat at my desk.”

“I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” she said doubtfully.

“I have a better idea.”

He grabbed one of the ornate silver trays from the sideboard and loaded it with covered dishes from the table.

“Bring the wine,” he told her, and led the way to the table in his private garden. The table hadn’t been used in a long time, but he wiped it clean and unloaded the dishes. “Is this better?”

“Much,” she agreed, even though he saw her shiver in the cool evening air.

He turned on the firepit, and the dancing flames quickly warmed the small courtyard.

“And that’s even better. Thank you, Dhar.”

“I want you to be happy here. If there is anything you wish to change, you have only to order it done.”

“I don’t think I’m really the ordering type, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

She smiled at him across the table, and satisfaction filled him.

Over dinner, he told her some of the business he’d handled—although nothing about the rebellious males, of course. He didn’t want to worry her. Her questions were surprisingly perceptive, and he found he liked sharing his day with her.

After they finished their meal, he gave into temptation and lifted her onto his lap. She curled against him, watching the flames dancing in the firepit.

“When you said we were going to your estate, I assumed we were going to your planet,” she murmured.

He shuddered at the thought. He would never take such a fragile, beautiful female to his homeworld.

“I have no intention of ever returning to Asing.”

“Why? What’s it like?”

“Very old, very formal, very rigid. They still remember the time before the Kaisarians ruled the Empire, and consider them impudent upstarts. My father was a very rich and important male. His mate was from one of the oldest lineages on Asing.” He hesitated, still reluctant to talk about it even after all these years, but he wanted her to understand his background. “My mother was a seamstress from an insignificant family. My father’s mate hired her to work on her clothes, but as soon as my father saw her, he wanted her.”

Just as he had wanted Quinn the first time he saw her. Had he learned nothing from his own family history?

“But he was already mated,” she said softly.

“Yes. But he didn’t let that stop him. He pursued her relentlessly and eventually, she fell in love with him.”

“Did he love her?”

“I don’t know.”

He had often wondered that himself. He remembered the way his father had acted around his mother—the way he watched her, the way he was always touching her. But he hadn’t left his mate for her, and his visits were short and infrequent.

“I have been in your mother’s position,” she said softly. “Pursued by a man who was already married—I mean, mated. I didn’t know that he was, and perhaps I never truly loved him because when I found out, I didn’t hesitate to leave him.”

He could see the unhappiness on her face, and he wished he had access to her planet. He would happily destroy any male who had hurt her.

“I swear to Napisten that I am not mated—not married. There is no female who has any hold over me.” Except, he suspected, the small female currently in his arms.

“Did his mate know about your mother?”

“Oh, Sirri knew of the affair, but she didn’t care as long as it was a secret.”

Her fingers gently stroked his chest. “What happened?”

“My mother died. Her last request was that my father bring me to his home. He honored her request—at least in a physical sense.”

Sirri hated him because his presence made it obvious that his father had strayed. She had done everything she could think of—and she had a cruel and vivid imagination—to make his life miserable. His father’s grief at his mother’s passing hadn’t been sufficient for him to protect Dhar from her cruelty. Thank Napisten that his mother hadn’t known the hell to which she had sent him.

From the look on her face, he suspected that Quinn understood that hell.

“As soon as I was old enough, I was sent to train as a warrior.”

It had been a relief to leave his father’s house, but Sirri’s hate followed him. She had made sure that everyone knew of his illicit parentage. A good part of his fighting skills had come from the necessity of defending himself against his classmates.

“The day I became an adult under Asing law, I was given a ticket offworld, access to a small credit account, and told never to return. I did not.”

“That’s when you became a gladiator?”

He shrugged. “It was the only thing I knew how to do.”

“And you’ve never been back?”

“No, and I never will. I won this estate and I have made it mine. This is where I belong.”

Her hand stroked his chest again and his codik pulsed, but telling her about his history had reminded him of all the reasons he needed to maintain a distance between them. Whether it had actually been love or merely desire, his father’s failure to control his emotions had destroyed Dhar’s life, his mother’s life, and he suspected Sirri’s life.

“I have more work to do,” he said, gently lifting her to her feet. “Can you find your room?”

He half-expected, perhaps even hoped, that she would protest, but she only gave him an oddly thoughtful look and nodded.

“Yes. Good night, Dhar.”

She leaned forward and kissed him, the soft brush of her lips lingering long after she’d gone.

He did work for a while, but he was so distracted that he eventually cast it aside. A visit to his training room also did not help, even though he ran through the exercises until his muscles trembled. He rinsed off in the shower next to the pool, and his hand went to his slit as he once again imagined Quinn’s slender body gliding through the water.

No. His hand was not a substitute for reality. Her earlier words echoed in his head as his hand dropped and he turned off the water.

His room seemed unusually dark and empty, and remembering her visit, he opened the curtains. Moonlight made a path across the floor, and he had no difficulty seeing her small figure when she slipped into his room a short time later.

“You came to me.” His voice sounded odd in his ears, and he realized he’d been waiting for her.

She shrugged a slender shoulder.

“I told you I didn’t like sleeping alone.”

He couldn’t let himself love her. He had won every battle he’d ever fought—but love could destroy him.

But despite that knowledge, he raised the sheet in silent invitation. And when she slipped beneath the covers and curled against his side, the restlessness that had haunted him all evening finally vanished.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Quinn sighed as she woke up to an empty bed again. Dhar had made no further attempt to convince her to sleep in the pretty pink bedroom, and she hoped that was a sign of progress. Instead, he seemed determined to maintain the same distance between them he had established on the ship. He frequently left before she was awake and spent the day working. Unlike on the ship, she had no way of knowing where to find him.

At least he still returned every evening. They would share a meal and talk about their day and make love. And that was one definite improvement over the ship—he no longer needed to disappear into the shower. Not that she would have minded sharing one with him. Perhaps she could lure him into the shower after dinner that night.

Smiling at the idea, she rose and dressed, absently noting a new section of clothing in her wardrobe. He certainly seemed to enjoy spoiling her when it came to material things.

But I’d rather have his company than more new outfits, she thought wistfully, then did her best to shake off the melancholy.

As had become her usual routine, she went and joined Pottsi, the lead cook, in the kitchen for a cup of tea and a plate of freshly baked sweet cakes. Cognar had been mildly shocked at her refusal to sit in one of the dining rooms and be waited on, but she didn’t see the point of eating alone in a big formal room. She’d much rather join Pottsi in the busy kitchen.

As always, the cook greeted her with a warm smile, then sat down to share a cup of tea and a comfortable gossip. At this point, Quinn was pretty sure that she knew the life story of everyone who worked on the estate, but she enjoyed the conversation and made no attempt to dissuade the older female from talking.

But she was still thinking about Dhar and only half-listening when something Pottsi said caught her attention.

“What was that?”

“I said that that worthless male of hers got his head tails in a twist and went off and left her alone. With two small children,” Pottsi added indignantly.

“Because of something that Dhar did?” she asked, wishing she had been paying more attention.

“He didn’t have any choice in the matter. Lord Rhodak allowed his favorites far too much freedom.” A shadow crossed the normally cheerful face. “They should have known better, but some males are easily led astray.”

Quinn shivered. She knew the truth of that only too well.

“But his Lordship made it quite clear that he would not tolerate that type of thing, so Langas and some of the others took off. Still,” Pottsi concluded as she rose to her feet. “It’s probably for the best. We don’t want the likes of them around here. And Farnat has been very good to her and her children. I expect there’ll be a second mating come spring.”

“Your people don’t mate for life?” she asked curiously.

The cook laughed. “Gods, no. No point in hanging onto a male who won’t behave himself. What about humans?”

“We always think it’s going to be forever, but that doesn’t mean it is.”

“Very sensible too, if you ask me. But other races would be horrified to hear us say that. Their bonds are permanent.”

She desperately wanted to ask, but couldn’t quite bring herself to do it. Wise old eyes gave her a disturbingly knowing look, and Pottsi smiled.

“Don’t you worry, dearie. An Asing male would never give up his mate.”

Quinn flushed and made a halfhearted attempt to deny her interest, but the cook had already returned to her ovens. Pouring herself a last cup of tea, she carried it with her into the morning room. It was one of her favorite rooms—small, at least compared to the rest of the castle, and overlooking the sea. It even had a narrow balcony, just wide enough for a table and two small chairs. She liked to sit there and draw, but today she found herself doodling hearts over and over on a piece of drawing paper.

Oh, for goodness’ sake. I’ll be adding our initials to them next.

As she pushed away from the table, a gust of wind caught the paper and carried it out towards the sea. An unexpected lump filled her throat. It wasn’t as if Dhar had ever called her his mate. He’d certainly never said he loved her.

But I haven’t told him I love him either.

She wasn’t quite sure what was holding her back. She had no doubt about her feelings—she’d known from the moment he’d handed her the inks on the ship—but for once she wasn’t jumping in head first. Perhaps it was because of the distance he insisted on keeping between them. Whatever internal battle he was fighting, she had a feeling it was something that he would need to overcome first.

Unusually restless, she paced around the room a few more times, then decided to explore more of the castle. She was always discovering odd little nooks and crannies where the rooms added by various previous occupants came together.

She used the stairs in the pool room to return to the first floor, and as she headed back to the main corridor, she passed the section of paneling concealing the stairs she had seen the first night. Suddenly intrigued, she searched for a way to open the wall, but it wasn’t until she noticed a slight variation in the scrollwork that she found the hidden catch. The panel slid aside, revealing the same white stairway she remembered. Why would such a grand stairway be kept hidden?

She climbed the stairs to what appeared to be an empty landing, but who would build a stairway to nothing? The same paneling had continued up the stair hall, and she started examining it, grinning in triumph when she discovered another hidden latch.

Once again, the panel slid quietly aside to reveal a huge shadowy room, and she realized it must occupy the full length of the space over their rooms. When she took a step inside, a series of small spotlights came on one by one, stretching from the doorway all the way to the far wall, each one illuminating a work of art. There was an astonishing variety of objects on display, everything from paintings and sculptures to pottery to weapons, all of them exquisitely beautiful.

“His collection,” she whispered into the silence.

Why did he keep all of these beautiful objects hidden away and locked out of sight? As she took a second look, she recognized many of the paintings from the images he had shown her that first night. He had shown them to her, but he hadn’t told her that they belonged to him. And he’d never brought her to see his collection.

The same lump reappeared in her throat. The distance between them had never seemed so far.

She looked at a few of the pieces, but in spite of her love of art, she didn’t have the heart to continue. She hated the thought of all these beautiful objects hidden away in the dark. With a regretful sigh, she returned to the door. As she did, a small pedestal she hadn’t noticed the first time caught her attention. On top of the pedestal was a sheet of paper torn from a scroll.

It was the first thing she had drawn on the ship. Not even a drawing, really. Just a series of strokes to study the colors and textures of the inks. She thought she’d thrown it away, but he must have taken it. And then he’d placed it here, displayed as carefully as all of the other objects in the room.

A tiny spark of hope ignited in her heart. Maybe the distance between them wasn’t as great as it seemed. Maybe all he needed was time and patience—and perhaps a little encouragement.

Her heart felt considerably lighter as she closed the panels and returned to the ground floor.

She found Jarla standing in the hallway, and did her best not to scowl at the other female. She knew that Jarla was dedicated to her job and to the welfare of the estate, but all too often it was Jarla who took Dhar away from her.

“Good morning,” she said politely.

“Good morning, Mistress Quinn,” Jarla said, equally polite, but Quinn was quite sure the other female disapproved of her.

“Are you going to join Dhar?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s inspecting the drainage ditches along the base of the ridge, so I came back to get the original plans.”

“Would you mind taking him something?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. Wait here for just a minute, please.”

She hurried off to the kitchen and returned with a small bag, which she handed to Jarla. The other female gave it a curious look, but didn’t ask.

“Just a snack,” she said airily.

“That is very considerate.”

“I hope he likes it.”

For the first time, the other female’s face softened. “I am sure he will. He has been… happier since you arrived.”

“I’m glad,” she said softly.

Jarla gave her what appeared to be a genuine smile, nodded, and left. Quinn only hoped that the other female’s approval would continue if Dhar reacted the way she hoped he would to her gift.

He did.

She was sitting in the garden, drawing, when he returned a short time later.

“Horsta?” he asked, stalking towards her. His eyes were already glowing silver. “How did you get it?”

She gave him an innocent smile. “I’ve been working with Pottsi on the recipe. I told her how much you enjoyed it.”

She picked up one of the cakes from the dish she had sitting next to her and bit into it, deliberately letting the cream drip down her chin and trickle down between her breasts. He growled, pressing his hand to the front of his pants. She smiled and traced her finger through the creamy liquid, painting it across the inner curves of her breasts but not quite revealing her nipples.

“Come here,” she whispered.

He growled again, and obeyed, standing silently in front of her as she unfastened his pants. His ridge bulged with the pressure of his codik, but he had not yet released it. She took the other half of the cake and traced it along the ridge of flesh, then followed it with her tongue. The ridge parted, and his codik sprang free, thick and swollen and delicious. Because of the tendrils on the tip, she couldn’t take much of him in her mouth, but she could lick his shaft, swirling more at the horsta filling around the thick column and lapping it up.

When she peeped up at him, his face blazed with desire. With a flick of his claws, her dress disappeared. He cleared the table with a sweep of his arm and laid her back across it. He teased first her nipples and then her clit with those amazing tendrils, before finally thrusting into her with an urgency that sent her spiraling into a climax just before he flooded her channel with his own release. He dropped down into the chair she had been sitting in, taking her with him, their bodies still joined as he cradled her against his chest. She snuggled against him, smiling, and listened to the beat of his heart. The only other sound was the ocean breeze rustling the leaves.

At last, he sighed.

“I am supposed to be inspecting drainage ditches.”

But despite his words, his fingers traced lazy patterns on her back.

“The drainage ditches can wait,” she said firmly. “I need you.”

His hand stilled, and then he gently lifted her off of his codik. She was afraid he was going to leave her again, but instead he rose with her in his arms and headed for the bathing pool.

“Then you shall have me.”

They spent the rest of the day and the evening together, but the next morning she woke up alone once more.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Quinn,” Dhar called as he walked into his house.

There was no immediate answer, but then she wouldn’t be expecting him. He’d been doing a survey of one of the fields with Jarla and she’d been explaining a new planting technique she wanted to explore. But instead of listening to her, he’d been thinking about Quinn—thinking about her flushed and sleepy in their bed, thinking about the way she smiled at him when she woke, and the way her smile faltered when he told her he had business to attend to.

Their life had settled into an odd kind of routine over the past two weeks. During the day he forced himself to work and to attend to business, but he was always impatient for the day to end so he could join her for the evening meal. He delighted in finding new places to share their meal, from the secluded garden courtyard to the turret on top of the tallest tower.

That memory made him smile. It had been cold and windy but he’d made it in time to watch the sunset with her, and when she smiled up at him, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling with happiness, his usual control had slipped. The next thing he knew, she was bent over the parapet as his codik plunged into her tight, welcoming heat. It had been fast and rough and hard, but she’d climaxed so intensely that he couldn’t even move as his codik released inside her, and when he carried her to bed, she’d snuggled against him with a contented purr.

The new planting techniques suddenly didn’t seem very important, and for the first time in a very long time, he let his desires overrule his duty.

“I’m returning to the house,” he told Jarla.

“Is something wrong, my Lord? I believe this technique will result in greater yields, but it is only a suggestion.”

“There’s nothing wrong. I trust your judgment. If you think it’s a good idea, then proceed.”

Another first. He always insisted on knowing every detail before making a decision. But he did trust her, he realized, and he had more important things to do—like returning the smile to Quinn’s face.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Jarla. You are an excellent manager.”

Her expression of shock changed to a pleased smile. He should have told her before that he valued the work she did. He had assumed that the generous salary he paid her was sufficient, but he had seen how well his people responded to Quinn’s quiet words of appreciation.

“Thank you, my Lord.” She hesitated. “I hope you find your mate well.”

Was he that transparent? He couldn’t find it in himself to care.

“I’m sure I will. I’ll see you tomorrow. Perhaps.”

Or perhaps he would take Quinn to the point above the bay where the entire coast was visible. He suspected she would enjoy that. He would take a blanket, he decided, and let himself enjoy the graceful lines of her body under the open sky.

Smiling, he headed for the morning room that was one of her favorite places. She wasn’t there, but signs of her presence were everywhere—the chair pulled away from the table to catch the morning sun, a pink blanket thrown across the small couch, and the pretty flowered tea service he had retrieved from his collection for her use.

As he went in search of her, he noted all the subtle changes she had wrought. His house was no longer the severely elegant residence it had once been. It had become a home.

He should let her know that he had noticed the changes, he thought as he entered the bedroom. The bed had been made—complete with the ridiculous number of pillows she liked—but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t in the baths, or the gardens, or any of the spaces she used for painting.

Fighting down a growing sense of unease, he summoned Cognar.

“Where is Mistress Quinn?”

“She went down to the village, my Lord.”

“She did what?” he growled.

“Went to the village. She goes most days,” his steward added nervously, taking a step back.

Why had she never mentioned it to him?

“Who took her?”

“No one. She said she enjoys the walk.”

His beautiful, fragile mate alone on the steep track to the village. What if she fell and was injured? Or what if she wasn’t alone? Was she meeting someone in the village? Was that why she’d never told him?

Rage blurred his vision as the primitive instincts he usually confined to the fight pit took control. Cognar backed up another step, and Dhar had to dig his claws into his palms to quell the impulse to pursue him.

“I’m sorry, my Lord. I didn’t think there was any harm—”

Ignoring Cognar’s apologies, Dhar headed for the door. His mate was returning home where she belonged. Now.

Quinn put down her teacup and smiled at Allana. The owner of the small bookstore had been the first one to greet her when she wandered down to the village, driven by curiosity and loneliness. As much as she loved her work, she got tired of her own company. Cognar was always friendly and willing to talk, but she knew how busy he was and didn’t like keeping him from his duties. She’d offered to help out, but he’d been so appalled by the idea that she didn’t pursue it.

Instead, she gathered up her courage and walked down to the village. It hadn’t started off well—the villagers ducked their heads politely in response to her greetings and quickly scurried away. But then Allana came out of her shop and smiled at her.

“You must be the new mistress up at the manor.”

She automatically started to deny it, then laughed. “I suppose I am, although I don’t really think of it like that.”

“What do you think of it as?”

“Just being with Dhar.”

Allana gave her an understanding smile. “I can see how Lord Dhar might consume your thoughts. Would you like some tea?”

Quinn had accepted, and that was how their friendship began.

She visited her frequently, and even though Allana never asked, Quinn suspected that the older female understood her loneliness. Allana had been widowed several years earlier, and although her husband had left her financially secure, she had opened the bookstore as a way of fending off her grief and staying part of the community.

“I’d better be getting back. I want to be there if Dhar returns early,” Quinn said wistfully as she rose from the table.

Not that he ever did. He worked all the time—to the point where she would have thought he didn’t want to be with her if it weren’t for their evenings together. He returned each night to share a meal with her. He would tell her about his day, and she would tell him about her latest project. They frequently bathed together, and he would wash her with exquisite, erotic thoroughness. And inevitably, at some point during the evening, his eyes would start to glow silver and he would reach for her.

She just wished it wasn’t their only time together. But he disappeared every morning, frequently leaving before she was even awake, and didn’t return until the sun was setting.

Allana gave her a sympathetic look. Quinn had never discussed her frustration with Allana, but she suspected the older female had picked up on that feeling as well.

“It is a busy time of year. Lord Dhar always makes sure we are prepared for the winter.”

Quinn had quickly discovered that the villagers were very loyal to Dhar, even though he was not Lapontan. He was a good landowner, who took care of his people, and they admired and respected him even though he rarely appeared in the village.

“Maybe he’ll be less busy after the harvest,” she said hopefully.

“I’m sure he will be,” Allana said cheerfully. “Do you want to take that book with you?”

Quinn picked up the beginning reader and gave her a rueful grin. Allana had been teaching her to read Kaisarian, but it was a slow process.

“Are you telling me I need more practice?”

“It wouldn’t hurt.”

She nodded and slipped it into her basket, then said her goodbyes and set off through the small marketplace.

“Afternoon, Mistress Quinn,” Hentas said. He was the butcher, a small, wiry male with a cheerful disposition that seemed at odds with his rather gruesome profession. “I am preparing to make some deliveries. Would you like a ride back to the manor?”

“No, thank you, Hentas. It’s a nice afternoon for a walk.”

“Indeed it is. Enjoy your walk.”

She smiled at him and continued down the street, exchanging greetings with the other store owners. Between her frequent visits and Allana’s friendship, the villagers had lost their reticence and treated her as one of them.

At least most of them did.

Pekseg, the baker, scowled at her as she approached. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to offend him, but he clearly despised her. Ignoring his surly face, she gave him a pleasant smile.

“Good afternoon, Pekseg. I’ll take a dozen of those berry tarts, please.”

“How are you gonna pay for them?”

“You can put them on his Lordship’s account, as usual.”

She hated doing it, but since Dhar had told her multiple times to order anything she wanted from Cognar, she doubted he would object to a few pennies for some pastries.

Pekseg sneered and muttered something under his breath. She was pretty sure he’d just called her a whore, but she didn’t care what he thought. She spotted a pair of dark eyes at the back of the shop and breathed a sigh of relief.

Pekseg threw the tarts in a paper bag, no doubt breaking half of them, and thrust it at her. She thanked him politely and moved a few steps down the street. As soon as he was distracted by another customer, she ducked down the alley next to the shop. Cinda was waiting for her.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she said softly. “How are you today?”

Those big dark eyes looked down at the ground.

“I’m fine.”

Quinn knew that meek agreement all too well. How many times had she said the same thing when some adult had asked her? She’d learned very early that responding honestly always made it worse. She knew it would take time for Cinda to trust her.

“I brought you some pastries,” she said, holding out the bag.

The child was far too thin, especially for a baker’s daughter. Cinda stared at the bag for a long moment, but Quinn didn’t try to hurry her. When the girl finally took it, she breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“If there’s something special you’d like, I can bring that next—”

“I told you to stay away from my daughter,” Pekseg’s angry voice interrupted.

Quinn looked up to find him looming over her. Her pulse started to race, but she did her best to keep her face calm as she rose to her feet.

“I was just talking to her.”

She looked over at Cinda and flicked her fingers towards the shop. The child hesitated, then scurried inside, and Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.

“I don’t care what you were doing. You stay away from her.”

Pekseg took a menacing step towards her, and she was suddenly aware that they were alone in the narrow alley.

“I oughta teach you a lesson. Throwing your weight around. Sticking your nose where it don’t belong.”

“I’m only trying—”

He didn’t even seem to hear her. “Thinking you’re better than the rest of us, just because you’re warming the Lord’s bed. Maybe I—”

He started to reach for her.

“You lay one finger on her and I will rip off your arm and thrust it down your throat,” Dhar growled.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Quinn breathed a sigh of relief as Dhar appeared at the end of the alley. Pekseg paled, and she couldn’t blame him. She’d never seen Dhar look quite so intimidating. His eyes had an eerie white glow, and the knife-like spurs on the back of his elbows flared as he stalked towards them.

“I didn’t touch her,” Pekseg muttered.

“Quinn?”

Dhar’s voice sounded odd, and she gave him a puzzled look as she shook her head.

“No, he didn’t.”

“You will never touch her, do you understand me? You will never even speak to her again.”

That was going a little too far. She’d rather maintain at least the pretense of a civil relationship so she could continue to keep an eye on Cinda.

“But Dhar—”

“Get in the vehicle,” he ordered, his eyes still blazing, and she frowned at him.

“Are you all right?”

“Now.”

Definitely not all right. But she could see a number of shocked faces at the entrance to the alley and she decided this was not the place to question him. Instead, she nodded and went to join him. As soon as she did, his hand closed around her arm and she felt the prick of his claws. They weren’t hurting her, but she was very conscious of their presence.

“You’re holding me too tightly,” she said softly.

His hand immediately loosened. Not a lot, but enough to remove the threat.

“Thank you.”

He didn’t respond, marching her through the crowd of onlookers to the waiting vehicle.

Allana rushed over as they reached it.

“Are you all right, Quinn?”

“I’m fine. Can you check on Cinda, please?”

“Of course I will. But—”

Whatever else Allana intended to say was lost as Dhar set the vehicle in motion. He didn’t speak during the short trip back to the castle, and after one look at his forbidding expression, she decided she would wait as well.

He brought the vehicle to a halt, fastened his hand around her arm again—carefully—and marched her into the castle and up the stairs to the sitting room off their bedroom. He still didn’t speak, but started pacing back and forth across the floor instead.

Rage radiated from every inch of his body. Or was it rage? She suspected that more than one emotion was at work.

She sat on the couch and waited. Finally he stopped in front of her, that big body looming over her, but she didn’t feel the least bit afraid. She simply looked up at him.

“You will not leave the manor again,” he growled.

“What?”

“You heard me. You will remain within these walls.”

“No, I won’t,” she said quietly.

“What do you mean you won’t?”

“I mean I have every intention of returning to the village.”

“You will do no such thing. You belong to me, and you will remain here where you are safe.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she kept her eyes on his face.

“You said I had a choice.”

“Not as long as you’re with me,” he growled again.

Another tear.

“Then I will choose to leave you.”

He looked as if she had slapped him, but as much as she loved him, as much as she appreciated the safety he provided, she couldn’t let him control her life. She’d rather be alone. Even though her heart felt like it was cracking open, she knew it was the right decision.

“You would leave me?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

“I don’t want to, but I will.”

He roared. A wordless cry of grief and rage, and her heart cracked even more, but maybe he would finally let her in.

“Talk to me, Dhar,” she whispered. “What is this really about?”

Quinn looked up at him, her beautiful face pale but determined. He had no doubt that she would follow through on her words and leave him.

“You can’t leave me,” he said, dropping to the floor in front of her so their faces were on the same level.

“Why not?”

“Because then I can’t keep you safe.”

To his relief, she reached out and gently touched his arm.

“You keep saying that, but I’m not one of the objects in your collection. You can’t lock me away in the dark.”

“You found it.”

It wasn’t a question, but she nodded anyway.

“I did. All that beauty, hidden away. Why?”

“To protect it and keep it safe.”

“Wouldn’t you rather be able to see it every day? To appreciate it? To let it be part of your life?”

He didn’t think they were talking about his collection anymore.

“I love you, Quinn.” The words felt like they were dragged out of the depths of his soul. “I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

Her eyes sparkled with tears, but she finally smiled at him. “I love you too.”

Thank Napisten.

He pulled her towards him, and for once his reflexes deserted him and they landed in a tangled heap on the floor. He didn’t care. All he cared about was kissing her—and that she was kissing him back.

“You can’t leave me,” he said when their lips finally parted.

“I won’t. But I won’t stay locked up in the castle.”

He forced himself not to tighten his grip on her.

“Is going to the village that important to you?”

“I have friends there. And they’re your people, Dhar. You should get to know them as well. But I’m also worried about Cinda.”

“Cinda?”

“The baker’s daughter.”

“I will have her brought to the castle,” he said immediately.

“I thought about that, but Pekseg is her father and I don’t know if something is really wrong. She’s starting to open up to me, and I don’t want to destroy that trust.”

Would he have turned to someone for help when he was a child? Perhaps, but it would have been just as difficult to win his trust.

“I understand. But please, don’t go to the village alone. If I can’t accompany you, take one of the household males.”

From the look on her face he suspected she was only humoring him, but she nodded. “All right. I promise.”

They were still entwined on the floor and he started to untangle their bodies so he could take her to their bed, but when he moved, her damp little cunt brushed against his ridge and he was suddenly, rampantly aroused.

“You are wet, little flower.”

Her cheeks turned pink but she smiled up at him.

“You were kissing me.”

“And that pleased you?”

“You know it did.”

He flipped her over on her back, and her eyes widened as he dragged his ridge across her soft folds.

“Do you remember the first time you were in my bed?”

“Yes.”

“You were aroused, but you did not want to be.”

“No. Although I think my body knew long before my mind that you were the right male.”

“The attraction was entirely mutual. You were—you are—the most beautiful female I have ever seen. And your mind and heart are just as beautiful.”

He pushed her gown up out of the way so that he could feel her slick heat surrounding his ridge. She shivered happily, her nipples stiffening beneath her gown. Disliking even the thin barrier of cloth between them, he ripped the rest of the gown away.

“You are very hard on my clothes,” she murmured, but her eyes were heavy with desire.

“They only obscure your beauty.”

He rocked his hips and felt her quiver around him.

“Back then you told me it was not your choice. Is it your choice now?”

“Oh yes. I will always choose you, Dhar. I love you.”

The slow seduction he’d been planning vanished as his codik sprang free. His tendrils swirled around her pleasure spot and as soon as she cried out, he lifted her hips and thrust into that hot, wet entrance. He worked his way deeper as she shuddered, but the pulsing of her tight little channel was too much for him, and as soon as his tendrils kissed the deepest point of her body he erupted, his hips jerking helplessly as he clung to her. She gripped him just as tightly, whispering his name as their bodies softened.

“I intended to take my time,” he said ruefully when he recovered the ability to speak.

“We have a saying on Earth—practice makes perfect.”

“Then we will practice.”

He carried her to bed and did just that—and she was right. It was perfect..

When Quinn woke up in the morning, she was alone, but even though she missed Dhar’s presence, she didn’t feel abandoned. He loved her. If he’d left her, it wasn’t because he was avoiding her. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t go and look for him.

However, as soon as she sat up, he appeared in the doorway and smiled at her.

“Good morning, little flower. You slept for a long time.”

“You kept me awake most of the night.”

“Should I apologize?”

She laughed. “Not at all. Are you working today?”

“Not yet. I have something to show you first. Come with me.”

As soon as she pulled on a robe, he took her by the hand and led her to the stairs leading up to his collection. The panel concealing the stairs had been removed, as had the one at the top opening into his collection room. She hadn’t realized that the heavy fabric panels lining the walls concealed windows, but they had all been pulled back and sunlight flooded the room.

The objects around the edge of the room remained, but the center had been cleared. Instead of the rows of pedestals, the middle of the room now contained a big sturdy table, an easel, and shelves overflowing with paints and supplies.

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s a studio—for you to work on your art.” He gave her a tentative look. “Jarla and I researched what you might need, but if there is anything I have overlooked, just let me know.”

“You didn’t get all these supplies here overnight.”

He shook his head. “No, I had already ordered them. I intended to convert another space to a studio for you, but somehow, this seems like a better choice.”

“But what about your collection?”

“You were right. It was foolish to hide it away. I thought perhaps you could help me decide the best places to put it so I can see it every day.”

Her eyes filled with tears. Unable to speak, all she could do was to tug his head down, trying to put all of her love and gratitude into the kiss.

He raised his head and smiled down at her.

“Does that mean you approve?”

“I think it’s the most wonderful thing that anyone has ever done for me. I love you.”

“I love you too, little flower.”

He didn’t work that day after all.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Mistress Quinn?”

Quinn was busily pulling weeds the next morning when one of the villagers appeared next to her. He didn’t look familiar, but she hadn’t met everyone in the village yet.

“Were you looking for me?” she asked as she rose to her feet and rubbed her aching back.

Dhar had reluctantly left earlier that day for a previously scheduled visit to one of the outlying villages, and she’d been unusually restless ever since. Unable to settle down with her paints even in her beautiful new studio, she’d decided to spend some time tending the planting beds in the outer courtyard. Autumn was closing in, and there was a lot of dead foliage to clear away.

“Is something wrong?” she added.

“It’s Cinda,” he blurted out. “Pekseg is acting strangely, and I thought I heard her crying. I heard you’re fond of the girl…”

Panic washed over her, and she cast a frantic glance around the courtyard, but there was no one else in sight. Dammit. Why had Dhar chosen this day of all days to leave? Allana had sent a message yesterday that everything was fine. What had happened?

“I think he might listen to you,” the man hurried on. “And everyone knows Lord Dhar warned him not to touch you.”

She took two steps towards the gate house, then hesitated. She had promised Dhar not to return to the village unaccompanied.

“Will you take me to her?”

When he nodded, she breathed a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn’t be breaking her word.

“Let me just tell someone where we’re going—”

“Begging your pardon, mistress, but I think we’d best hurry. Pekseg has been drinking.”

A memory flashed through her head—one of her foster fathers standing over her, his face flushed from alcohol and his fist raised—and she shuddered. He was right—she had to get to Cinda as soon as possible. They hurried down the winding trail to the village, moving as quickly as the steep path allowed.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.”

“I am Langas.”

The name sounded vaguely familiar, and she tried to remember where she’d heard it. Perhaps Allana had mentioned it? They were only a short distance from the bottom of the hill when she remembered. He was the one the cook had mentioned—the one who had left his mate and run off to join the rebels. What did he have to do with Pekseg?

She came to an abrupt halt.

“Wait a minute. Didn’t you leave the village?”

“Yes I did.” He grinned at her. “And now you’ll be leaving it too.”

Someone grabbed her from behind, pressing a cloth over her face before she could scream. She did her best to fight her way free, but the cloth over her face had a sickly sweetness and her head started to spin. She tried not to breathe it in, but her lungs demanded air and she didn’t have any choice. She gasped, and then the world went dark.

Angry voices woke her and for a confused moment, she thought she was back on the trail with the Sleestik caravan. Had it all been a dream? But then she realized she could understand their words, and she recognized Pekseg’s voice. Her head ached and there was a rock digging into her hip, but she kept her eyes shut and listened.

“I’m telling you, this is a bad idea,” Pekseg snarled.

“Oh, shut up, Pekseg. You were all for it last night when you were drinking our liquor.”

“Now it’s different. And I didn’t think you were really going to drag my daughter into it.”

A cold little hand crept into hers, and Quinn’s eyes flew open. Cinda was crouched next to her, her face pale and frightened.

She couldn’t see anyone behind the girl, only some furs heaped against the rock wall of what appeared to be a shallow cave. Moving as slowly as possible, she put a finger over her lips. Cinda nodded, still clinging to her hand as the argument continued behind Quinn’s back. From the low shadows slanting into the cave, it was late afternoon. Would Dhar have returned yet? How long would it be before he realized she was missing? And how far had they come?

She listened to the voices behind her, trying to identify the number of speakers. In addition to Pekseg and the person he’d been arguing with, she thought she identified three, no, four other voices. Her heart sank. How could they escape six males?

From what she could pick up from the argument, they were planning to hold her for ransom. They wanted enough credits to leave the island, but although they agreed on the amount, they didn’t all agree about the actual leaving.

“Fucking alien should be the one to leave. It’s our land.”

“Fuck the land. I’m tired of living in the woods. I want a big city and a fancy hotel and liquor we didn’t have to make ourselves.”

“Yeah, if we stay here, I have to deal with my bitch of a mate,” Langas said.

“You were happy enough in the castle when Lord Rhodak was around. Those were some good times.”

“I told you, we get the credits and we leave.” The harsh voice was clearly the leader.

“Yeah? What’s to stop that fucking alien from coming after us?”

The leader chuckled, and Quinn’s skin crawled.

“Because he’ll be dead, you idiot.”

“If he’s dead, we don’t need to go anywhere.”

“I told you. I’m tired of this place. It’s time to leave.”

The argument continued, along with the unmistakable sound of bottles being passed, and she allowed herself a sliver of hope. Maybe if they all drank themselves into a stupor, she and Cinda could get away. She had no idea where they were, but all they needed to do was to hide long enough for Dhar to arrive. She had absolutely no doubt that he would be looking for her.

But then Pekseg got into an argument with another one of the males. It grew steadily worse, their voices growing increasingly louder, and Cinda huddled against her side. Hoping her captors were too distracted to notice, Quinn put her arms around the girl and held her close. There was the sound of a fist striking flesh, followed by what was clearly a physical fight between the two males. The others cheered them on, but then there was a sharp crack and they all went silent.

“Oh, shit. What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” the male who had been arguing with Pekseg protested. “He tripped. Is he… is he dead?”

A short silence, then the leader spoke. “Yeah. He must have hit that rock when he fell.”

Quinn hoped that Cinda didn’t understand what had happened, but from the hot tears soaking her shirt, she was afraid that her hopes were in vain.

“Fuck. What are you going to do with the body?”

“Leave it, of course.”

“What about the girl?”

The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she was sure that the remaining males were all looking into the cave. She took a deep breath and sat up, keeping Cinda tucked against her side as she turned to face them.

“You’re not going to do anything to her. And you don’t need to worry about her. She’s staying with me.” To her relief, her voice didn’t shake.

The five remaining males stared at her. Langas had clearly cleaned up as part of the plot to lure her away from the castle. The other four were dirty and unkempt, as was the rest of their meager campsite.

“That’ll work. For now,” the largest one said finally, and she recognized his voice. He was the leader.

“Are you crazy?” one of the others demanded. “She knows who we are.”

The leader shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. The kind of male who’s going to purchase her isn’t going to care.”

“And the girl?”

“Like I said, the female can take care of her for now. I reckon there’s a market for children as well.”

Horror filled her at the casual way he spoke of selling a child, and even one of his males looked uneasy. “I don’t know, Carmac. That don’t seem right.”

“It’ll seem right enough when those credits are sitting in your hand. Now let’s get going. I want to get that trap set before his Lordship shows up.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m already here,” Dhar said, his voice cold and dangerous.

One of the bandits, either braver or drunker than the others, yelled and charged at him. Dhar whirled in one of his lightning fast moves, one of the knife-like spurs extending from his elbows slicing across the male’s throat. The male crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath his body.

“Don’t look, sweetheart,” she whispered, holding Cinda’s head against her chest.

The fight was over in a matter of minutes—if it could even be called a fight. Even though there were four of them remaining, they stood no chance against Dhar. He didn’t even glance at the last body as he threw it aside and headed for her, gathering her and Cinda into his arms with a prayer of thankfulness.

“Thank Napisten.”

Thank Napisten, indeed. She hugged him just as tightly, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Take us home, Dhar.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Dhar wrapped his arms around the child and his mate, shuddering at how close he’d come to losing her.

“How did you find us?” she asked at last, wiping the tears from her face. Her face was pale and tired, but he saw no signs of damage and her smile was as beautiful as ever.

The child also appeared undamaged, but his chest ached at the sorrow in her eyes.

“We have Jarla to thank for that,” he said gratefully.

“Jarla? She’s here?”

“Not yet, but it won’t be long.” He tilted his head as he heard the sound of an oncoming vehicle. “That will be her now. Close your eyes and keep the child’s face covered.”

He lifted them in his arms as he rose and walked quickly back through the campsite. He was afraid Quinn had already seen too much, but he wanted to get both of them away from the bodies as quickly as possible. Jarla was waiting at the edge of the woods, and she gave him a relieved smile as they approached.

“The information was correct?”

“It was. They were camped in the rocks down by the stream.”

“How did you know, Jarla?” Quinn asked.

“We’ve been having troubles in this sector and his Lordship asked me to investigate. All I had to go on was rumors. I’m so glad they were correct and he found you in time.”

“You came back early?”

She sounded so shocked he almost laughed. “That was also due to Jarla. She shortened our visit so that I could return home sooner.”

Jarla smiled. “I still remember what it is like to be newly mated.”

Quinn’s cheeks turned that delightful shade of pink, but she smiled back at Jarla.

“Then I am doubly thankful.”

“Will you see to the… removal?” he asked Jarla.

She nodded and climbed out of the vehicle. “I will. Why don’t you take this and return to the manor? I’ll ride back with one of the males who are on their way to join me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I would like to do some additional investigation while I’m here.”

He didn’t like leaving Jarla, but he had eliminated the danger and both the child and his mate looked exhausted.

“Very well. Send me a message if you require assistance.”

He placed Quinn in the vehicle, even though he was reluctant to let her out of his arms and gave the silent child a worried look.

“Is she all right?”

“She will be. Just as we were,” she added softly and he understood.

As soon as they arrived back at the manor, Quinn and Cinda bathed. Then his mate gave Cinda a mug of hot, sweet choca and told her stories until she fell asleep. She tucked the child into their bed, and came to join him in the sitting room. He had been afraid that she would be repulsed by him now that she had seen the violence of which he was capable, but she didn’t hesitate to walk over and climb into his lap.

“You don’t mind her sleeping in our bed, do you?”

“Of course not. You will want to be close by if she needs you.”

She hummed an agreement and snuggled against him. He would almost have thought she was asleep, except that her fingers were stroking his chest.

“I am sorry that you had to see that,” he said at last.

“I didn’t realize how good you were.”

“Good?”

“At fighting, I mean. I guess all that training pays off.”

“The training is not to make me a better fighter. Or at least, that’s not the main reason I train.”

“Then what’s it for?”

“To teach discipline and control. The Asing have a very violent history and we still possess that instinct for destruction. There is a rage that simmers inside all of us.”

“You’re always angry,” she said thoughtfully.

“Not exactly, but it is always there beneath the surface. The training prevents it from emerging. According to the legends, Napisten came to Asing and taught us the training rituals. Even though the Kaisarians believe that they are his Chosen, our priests teach that he came to us first.”

“I’m glad that he was successful. And that you are here today. I knew you’d come for me. For us.”

She kissed him, and even though he knew she needed time to recover from her experience, his codik immediately began to swell. He had come so close to losing her.

“Are you angry now?” she asked.

“Angry?”

“Angry that I left the castle. I would have waited, but Langas said that Cinda was in danger.”

He closed his eyes. “No. As much as I wish to keep you safe, I don’t want it to be at the cost of a child’s safety.”

“Thank you.”

“Were you like Cinda once? In need of help?”

“Sometimes. I’m an orphan. I was in and out of foster homes and orphanages my entire life. Some of them were good. Some of them were very bad.”

A shadow crossed her face and he tightened his grip. Now he was angry – not at her, but at the world that had hurt her.

“None of them lasted,” she said softly. “I was always abandoned again. I won’t do that to Cinda, Dhar.”

“Of course not. She will remain with us.”

Tears sparkled in the crystalline green depths of her eyes. “You don’t mind?”

“You forget that I needed a family too.”

“A family. I like the sound of that.”

“I do too.”

Unable to resist, he bent his head and kissed her again, groaning as passion flared between them. She squirmed against him, and he recognized the signs of her need.

“I guess there’s one drawback to having Cinda in our bed,” she whispered breathlessly.

“And what’s that, little flower?”

“I can’t drag you into bed and have my wicked way with you.”

His codik pulse against her at her words, even though it was still tucked within his body.

“I need you, Dhar.”

He started to strip away her gown, then remembered the sleeping child. He picked up his mate and carried her out onto the balcony, closing the door quietly behind them.

“I will hear her if she cries out,” he assured Quinn.

“Okay,” she agreed, already slipping out of her gown, her body pale and beautiful in the moonlight.

The evening breeze already held an autumn chill and her nipples immediately stiffened into tempting little peaks.

“Is it too cold for you?”

“No. You’ll keep me warm.”

She ran her fingers along his slit, and he made no further attempt to argue with her. He warmed her so thoroughly that her skin was flushed and glowing when he finally allowed himself to release inside her. His mate, safe once again in his arms.

A few weeks after Quinn’s kidnapping, a soft blow to his ribs jerked Dhar awake, but he was already smiling as he rolled over. As he suspected, a warm little body had insinuated herself between him and his beautiful mate. They had converted the Rose Suite into Cinda’s bedroom, but several times a week she would wake up during the night and pad along the hallway and climb into bed with them. Neither he nor Quinn minded. They both knew what it was like to wake up alone and afraid.

She had been very quiet after the events in the woods, but although they encouraged her to talk to them, they hadn’t pushed her.

And then one morning when they were all eating breakfast together, she climbed up on his knee and studied him with her wide, dark-eyed stare. Her small hand patted his face, then poked curiously at his crest.

“You look different than me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“But you’re going to take care of me?”

“Always.”

She studied him a moment longer.

“Does that mean you’re my daddy now?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

His throat felt thick and when he looked across the table, he could see tears sparkling in Quinn’s beautiful eyes.

“Okay,” Cinda said, and hopped down and trotted back to her place at the table.

And that had been the turning point. The too quiet, too restrained child vanished, replaced by a child who laughed and sang, and who never walked when she could run. One who was curious about everything. And who has a vicious right foot, he thought with a smile as she kicked him again. He wondered if she was running even in her sleep.

Big, dark eyes blinked up at him sleepily, and he smiled down at his daughter.

“Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”

He kissed her and climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb his sleeping mate. The sky outside the windows was already beginning to lighten, and he had some work that needed to be done. He had come to a decision over the past few weeks, and it was time to put it in place.

Once he reached his study, he opened the channel to the communication portal he used to arrange his fight contracts. He had decided to post a message announcing that the Queller had retired. He’d been thinking about it ever since that fight with the bastards who had stolen Quinn and Cinda. It had been a far more meaningful battle than anything he had ever experienced in the ring, but when it was over he was filled not with triumph, but with disgust.

Fighting to defend his family was one thing, but what reason did he have to continue fighting professionally? He didn’t need the credits. He had everything he had ever wanted, and he didn’t want to leave them behind for another season on the fight circuit. No, his fighting days were over.

Even though it would be several months before he would have started accepting engagements, there were already several offers waiting for him. He sent return messages refusing the contracts, but the last message was different.

He was staring at it when Quinn entered his study. He automatically blanked the screen, even though she was still not proficient in reading Kaisarian. She climbed onto his lap and raised her face for a kiss. He complied willingly, even as he tried to decide what to do. Should he tell her?

“What’s the matter?” she asked softly.

“Nothing. I just need some additional information.” He decided he would check with his agent on Maskah before telling her about the message.

She gave him a thoughtful look, but didn’t press the matter.

“And where is our daughter?” he asked, changing the subject.

“In the kitchen, of course. Helping Pottsi to prepare breakfast.”

He laughed. Cinda’s version of helping usually meant tasting the first sweet roll warm from the oven.

“Is today a business day?” she asked.

Even though he was delegating more of his work to others, running the estate still demanded a good deal of his time. But he did his best to limit it in order to spend time with his family. The knowledge still made him smile.

My family. The family he would do anything to protect—but not at the cost of his mate’s happiness. His chest ached at the thought of what the message might mean. He was sure she loved him, but he also knew she loved her friends.

“Just one more message and then I’m all yours,” he promised.

She yawned and relaxed against him as he sent off a quick coded message to his agent. He would do nothing else until he heard from him. In the meantime, it was time to take breakfast with his family.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Two days later, Dhar was once again in his study, frowning at the message he had received from Maskah. It was late afternoon, and he could hear Quinn and Cinda laughing in the garden. The first snowfall had begun, and they both seemed equally delighted by the flurry of white. He was on his way to join them when they rushed in through the garden doors, their faces pink with cold and big smiles on their faces.

“Brr.” Quinn shivered as she pressed her cold body against his side.

He bent down and picked up his equally chilly daughter—who immediately put her icy hands on his neck.

“Neither of you are adequately dressed for the weather. I will arrange for clothing.”

“We have plenty of clothes. We were just excited by the snow, weren’t we, sweetheart?”

Cinda nodded emphatically. “I like the snow. Can we play some more?”

“Not until you’ve warmed up,” he said firmly. “And not unless you’re suitably dressed.”

He kissed his daughter’s cold little cheek. “Why don’t you go to the kitchen and ask Pottsi for some hot choca? I need to talk to Mama for a few minutes and then we’ll come join you.”

Her big dark eyes looked from his face to Quinn’s and then she grinned, even as she wiggled down. “What kind of talking?”

She ran off to the kitchen without waiting for an answer, and Quinn laughed. “I think our daughter has already realized that you don’t really mean talking. You mean kissing.”

“Not that I would ever object to kissing, but in this case I really do need to talk to you.”

He scooped her up and carried her back to the study, settling in the big chair in front of the fire.

“What is it? Why are you looking so serious?”

“According to you, I always look serious.”

“I believe the exact word I used was forbidding. And you know I love the way you look.”

Her hand touched his cheek, her eyes warm with affection, and he couldn’t resist bending his head to claim her mouth.

“You see?” she said breathlessly when he finally raised his head. “I knew you meant kissing.”

He sighed and tucked her against him as he tried to decide how to tell her his news.

“You know I told you that I do not intend to fight again,” he said eventually.

“Yes, thank goodness.”

“I believe I should take one last contract. On Maskah.”

Her body tensed. “On Maskah? Why?”

“I received a message,” he said gently. “It is from a male named Baldric. He claims to be the mate of your friend Olivia.”

The color drained from her cheeks.

“Olivia?” she whispered. “We have to go back to Maskah. Right now.”

She started to jump up, but he kept her tucked in his arms.

“I already had my agent check and he is not in the city. The message said they would return to Almadin in the spring.”

She sagged against his chest.

“Not until the spring?”

“Assuming the message is genuine,” he said gently.

“Why wouldn’t it be? And Baldric is the name of the guard who jumped in the river after Olivia.”

“It might be intended to lure you back.”

She shook her head at him. “I think you’re just being paranoid. The message was just about Olivia? It didn’t say anything about Panda?”

“I’m afraid not.”

She sighed. “At least it’s something. Maybe I’ll actually get to see my friends again.”

His chest ached again.

“Does this mean you might choose to stay on Maskah?” he asked carefully, doing his best to conceal his feelings.

“What? I hadn’t even thought about—” Her face softened as she touched his cheek again. “I’m excited about the possibility of seeing my friends again, and I want to spend time with them, but this is my home. Our home. Olivia and Panda are part of my family, but so are you and Cinda. I love you, Dhar, and that isn’t going to change.”

A great wave of relief washed over him and for the first time since he’d read the message from Maskah, he allowed himself to relax. He gathered her close as he tried to decide if it was the right time to tell her about the response he’d received to his other inquiry.

Before he could decide, the door to the study opened and Cinda rushed in, a ring of choca around her mouth.

“I want to play in the snow now.”

He could wait. Right now, he had a mate and a daughter and a new snowfall to celebrate.

Quinn smiled at Dhar as he came into their bedroom that evening.

“She’s asleep all ready?”

“Yes. Apparently dashing in and out to play in the snow all day actually wore her out.”

She laughed. It did sometimes seem as if Cinda had an inexhaustible amount of energy.

“I don’t blame her. I enjoyed it myself. And it’s so beautiful. I think I might do a winter series. Perhaps single spots of color against the snow.”

She could already envision it. Maybe she should make a few sketches tonight…

“I’m sure that would be extraordinary,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “But I do have some additional news.”

“More news? I’m not sure I can take anything else.”

“This is, I believe, good news.”

She could clearly see the vulnerability on his face. How had she ever thought him unreadable?

“What is it?”

“I have been consulting a physician on Kaisar. He is part of the Royal Household and he works with the First Consort.”

Her heart seized.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“Of course not. The First Consort is human,” he added.

“The Emperor has a human mate?”

He sighed, and pulled her onto his lap.

“Yes, but that isn’t the point. I promise I’ll tell you everything I know about her, but can I finish telling you my news first?”

“All right.”

She mimicked drawing a zipper across her lip, and he smiled. She had been using the same gesture with Cinda.

But despite his request, he didn’t speak immediately, just stroked his hand up and down her arm.

“The First Consort has a child. With the Emperor. And she is not the only human to successfully breed with one of the races in the Empire. He thinks it would be possible for us to have a child as well.”

Her heart started to thud against her ribs as she stared at him in shock.

“You can speak now,” he urged.

“I… I don’t know what to say. Do you really think it’s possible?”

“Based on our messages, yes.”

“How would it even work?”

“I will allow my nendo to form inside me. Once it is ripe, it will travel down my codik and enter you.”

“Your nendo?”

“A collection of seed that forms a knot, about this size.”

He put his thumb and finger together to form a circle.

“You’re going to lay an egg in me?”

“It is not an egg. It is a nendo.”

“Will it hurt?”

“Of course not.” He hesitated. “But it may stretch you.”

He already filled her so completely she couldn’t imagine such a thing, but she loved the thought of adding to their family.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“Then we are still blessed to have Cinda. But I think you—we—have enough love for more than one child.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m very sure. Can we try tonight?”

“I’m afraid it will take time for my nendo to form, but soon,” he promised. “And in the meantime, perhaps we should make sure you are as prepared as possible.”

His eyes were already glowing silver, and she automatically responded to that heated look.

“I agree,” she whispered, and pulled him down for a kiss.

A week later, he told her it was time. She arranged for Cinda to spend the night with Pottsi, and while Dhar delivered their daughter, she prepared herself.

His eyes immediately blazed silver when he walked into their bedroom and saw her. She was wearing an exact replica of the dress she had been wearing when she was sent to him—except that it was pink. She’d almost forgotten the sheerness of the fabric panels and how little they concealed.

“Where did that come from?”

“I had a little help from Jarla.”

The two of them had become increasingly close after the kidnapping, and the other female had an amazing talent for locating whatever Quinn needed.

“I was right,” he said softly. “You are even more beautiful in pink.”

She shivered with excitement as he looked at her, and she reached for the shoulder clasps, but he stopped her.

“I prefer to undress my beautiful mate myself.”

He flicked his claws across the clasps and the back panel slid free, just as it had done the first night. She held the front panel in place, even though she was more than ready for him to touch her. One of his claws traced down her side, incredibly deadly—but never to her. The ribbon fell away.

“Let it fall,” he whispered, and she obeyed.

She could see the hunger on his face, and she expected him to take her right then. Instead, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed, worshiping every part of her with slow sensuous touches until her body was on fire with longing.

“Now?” he asked at last, his tendrils teasing her entrance.

“Oh, yes.”

His codik entered her in one long, firm stroke. As always he filled her completely and her pussy fluttered around him, still needing to adjust to his size. Despite, or perhaps because of the stretch, her body quivered on the verge of climax.

His eyes blazed, brighter than she’d ever seen them.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

His chest began to resonate, vibrating against her harder and stronger than ever before, and then she felt the first push against her entrance, trying to widen the already stretched ring of muscle. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as he kept pushing and the thick knot finally slipped inside.

“Oh my God.”

“Relax, little flower. You can take me.”

The knot kept moving, traveling slowly up the length of her channel, and she felt every tiny increment as she opened for him. There was a last burst of fullness as his codik released the nendo, and then the tendrils caught it, swirling inside her in a dizzying wave of pleasure before it shattered, setting off a million sparks of pleasure deep inside her body as she came and came and came.

When the spasms finally stopped, she barely had the strength to open her eyes and smile up at him. He was watching her intently.

“Do you think it worked?” he asked eagerly, and she managed a laugh.

“I’m pretty sure it’s too early to tell.” Her eyes started to drift shut. “But it’s a good thing we practiced.”

“I love you, my mate,” he whispered.

“Thank Napisten,” she murmured, and his laughter followed her into sleep.

EPILOGUE

Five months later…

“Stop that,” Dhar said firmly as Quinn gave an excited little bounce when Maskah appeared on the ship’s viewscreen. “You’re going to bounce our baby right out of you.”

She cupped her hand over the ever-growing mound of her stomach and grinned at him. He had been quite right about their ability to have a child. She had become pregnant that very first time.

“Don’t worry. It’s not time yet.”

“It is just as well, or we would not be making this trip.”

His face was back in the stern mask that had once been his usual expression, and after a brief check to make sure that they were still on autopilot, she went and climbed a little awkwardly into his lap. His arms automatically encircled her, and she snuggled against him with a contented sigh. No matter how big she was getting, she always felt small in comparison to him.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” she said softly.

His expression didn’t change. “I just don’t want you getting your hopes up.”

“I know, but I really don’t think the message was part of some elaborate plot to trick us into returning.”

She didn’t think that Dhar thought that either. She suspected that a part of him was still worried that she would choose her friends over him, and she understood that fear.

“Are you really going to fight?”

As part of his precautions he had arranged a fight contract just as he would have done if he had been returning to Maskah under normal circumstances.

“The only thing I have actually committed to is an exhibition match. Normally, I would also compete for the prizes, but…” He shrugged. “As I told you, the credits are unimportant.”

“Especially since you’ve stopped adding to your collection,” she teased.

His eyes glowed as he looked over her.

“I have no need to add to it. I already have everything I could desire.”

“Are we there yet?”

Cinda came rushing onto the bridge, and Quinn sighed.

“Sweetheart, the color is supposed to go on the paper and not on your face.”

“I hope that’s washable ink,” Dhar murmured.

“Of course it is. I have learned my lesson.”

Any liquid that got near Cinda had a tendency to end up on her face, her hands, and anything else within reach. Quinn didn’t care as long as her daughter was happy and healthy.

“We’re almost there, sweetheart. Come and sit with Mama while Daddy lands the ship.”

They both watched in awe as the planet grew ever larger beneath them and Dhar guided them into a smooth landing. As soon as they touched down, she jumped to her feet, too excited to stay still, and Cinda tugged equally impatiently on her hand. Dhar shook his head, but he handed them their cloaks and they headed for the landing ramp.

A breeze rushed in as the door opened and she almost swayed, the mingled scents of the city still familiar after all these months. He grabbed her arm.

“Are you all right? You could wait here while I investigate.”

“No, I’m fine. Just remembering.”

She had been so alone and so scared. But it was in the past.

They headed down the ramp, Cinda clinging to her hand as she took in the bustle of activity surrounding them. They had arrived in time for the Spring Festival, the other major celebration that took place in Almadin, and so had many others.

Just as they reached the bottom of the ramp, a strange male strode towards them. He was wearing a dark uniform, a striking contrast to his red skin and the small dark horns that sprang from either side of his forehead. He looked alarmingly devilish, but his voice was low and pleasant as he addressed them.

“You are the Queller?”

“I am,” Dhar replied, his voice cold and arrogant.

“I am Commander Trogar.”

The commander looked over at her and Cinda, and she felt Dhar tense. “I was informed that you had a human female with you.”

“This is my mate.”

The knife-like spurs on the back of Dhar’s elbows started to flare and Trogar took a step back, but his voice remained calm as he addressed her directly.

“And you are with him of your own free will?”

Dhar growled, and she put a soothing hand on his arm as she smiled at the officer.

“I am.”

“You should be aware that the Kaisarian Empire offers protection to human females who are in need of assistance.”

“That’s very nice of you,” she said politely. “But I don’t need your assistance. I’m very happy with my mate and my daughter.”

The officer looked from her down to Cinda’s wide-eyed gaze, and nodded.

“I am delighted to hear that.”

“Are there any other human females here on Maskah who asked for your assistance?” she asked anxiously.

“Not at all. Human females seem to be quite adept at finding protective mates.”

He gave Dhar a wry glance as her heart started to pound. But before she could ask him about those other females, a Guulli male came rushing over. He bore a disturbing resemblance to Temit, and the commander sighed.

“I heard you had taken over for your brother, Yamos. I trust you are doing a better job of obeying the law?”

“Of course, of course. We were shocked that such a thing would occur in our family.”

From the expression on Trogar’s face, he didn’t believe the male any more than she did, but he didn’t pursue it.

“And you’re the Queller. I can’t tell you what an honor it is to have you here for the opening matches,” Yamos said eagerly.

Dhar was still grim and silent, but when she squeezed his arm, he unbent enough to acknowledge the fight master.

“You have accommodated my requests?”

“Oh yes. I came to escort you. That is, if you and Commander Trogar have finished your business?”

Yamos’s glance was frankly curious, but Trogar only nodded.

“We have.”

“Excellent. This way, please.”

She saw Yamos watching speculatively as Dhar bent down and picked up Cinda, then put his other arm around her.

“How nice that you brought your family with you.” There was a faintly inquisitive note to his words which Dhar ignored, and Yamos hurried on. “The Spring Festival is the perfect time to be in Almadin. I would be happy to provide a list of all the entertainment which would be suitable for—”

“That will not be necessary.”

Dhar still sounded unusually grim, but she couldn’t blame him. It had not been the best start to their visit. Yamos continued to ramble on, espousing the virtues of Almadin as they moved through the crowded streets. Just as before, the crowd stayed well away from Dhar. Even with Cinda in his arms, watching everything with a curious gaze, he presented an intimidating picture.

As they crossed the open plaza in front of the arena, more memories flooded over her. This time her hand tightened around on Dhar’s arm to reassure herself. She hadn’t anticipated how difficult this part of their return would be.

To her relief, they entered through a door she’d never seen before and Yamos led them to a different set of rooms. A generous living room was flanked by two bedrooms, all of the rooms arranged around a small interior garden. Cinda wiggled down and raced off to explore as Yamos continued to talk. He finally wound down when he realized that Dhar was still standing at the door waiting for him to leave.

“I’ll just leave you to settle in. If you need anything, just ask,” the fight master said nervously, edging towards the door.

Dhar didn’t respond, and Yamos finally left, still mumbling pleasantries. The door closed behind him and silence finally descended.

“Are you all right?” she asked softly.

His body gradually relaxed as he gave her a rueful smile. “I think I’m the one who should be asking you that.”

“It’s harder than I expected,” she admitted. “Until we arrived, I was just thinking about seeing Olivia again. I’d forgotten how scared I was the last time I was here.”

“We do not have to stay,” he said immediately.

“I know, but I would face even worse memories for a chance to see my friends again. And my memories aren’t all bad. This is where I met you, after all.”

“Thank Napisten,” he said fervently. “I have been thinking about that as well. What if Temit had sent you to someone else?”

She shuddered and moved into his arms, letting his familiar scent comfort her. Cinda came rushing back a moment later.

“Are you talking again?” she asked suspiciously.

Quinn looked at her daughter and started to laugh. In the two minutes that Cinda had been out of her sight, she had acquired a streak of moss across her forehead, a tuft of grass in her head tails, and an unknown yellow substance all over her hands. Dhar laughed as well, and the bad memories finally slipped away. They had found each other, and that was all that mattered.

Dhar stood outside the door to his quarters, his arms folded and his spurs on display. He had insisted on meeting the messenger first despite Quinn’s objections. He refused to take any chances with her safety.

He glared at the approaching Daichin warrior with an intimidating array of weapons strapped across his naked chest. Despite the male’s barbaric appearance, Dhar didn’t make the mistake of assuming that the other male was either primitive or untrained. The Daichin were formidable opponents.

“I am Baldric,” the male said, giving him a speculative glance.

“You are the one who contacted me.”

“Yes. My mate is—”

A red-haired human female came charging down the corridor towards them, her fists clenched.

“Where is she? What did you do with my Quinn?”

Baldric sighed and lifted the female up in his arms as she tried to rush past him. The female looked ridiculously small against his broad chest, but her fierce expression didn’t change.

“I told you to wait,” Baldric said sternly.

“I didn’t want to wait. I want to know what happened to Quinn.”

Another human female appeared, this one accompanied by a Balain male. She was clearly pregnant, and her mate hovered over her as she hurried to join them.

“I’m sorry, Baldric,” she said breathlessly. “She got away from me, and Boxtar said you wouldn’t like it if he stopped her.”

“I would not.”

“I’m not a child, Panda.” The red-haired female directed the full force of her glare at Dhar. “Now where is she?”

“My mate agreed to wait until I confirmed the message was genuine.”

The female rolled her eyes, but both males nodded. The wariness with which they had regarded him lessened.

“You are clearly Olivia. Does that mean you are Pandora?” he asked the pregnant female.

“I am. Can we see her now?”

He looked at the two couples. The males were both dangerous warriors, but they were clearly as besotted with their human mates as he was with Quinn. And he couldn’t keep her from her friends. He nodded.

“You may. She is inside with our daughter.”

“Already?” Olivia’s scowl deepened. “What did you do to her?”

“Oh, stop it, Olivia.” Pandora put her hand on her stomach and smiled at him. “We’re both pregnant as well. I suppose you have a shorter gestation period.”

“Quinn is also pregnant,” he said, unable to keep the pride from his voice. “But our daughter is ours by the grace of Napisten.”

He unlocked the door and Olivia gave an excited squeal, practically throwing herself out of Baldric’s arms. The Daichin laughed and put her down. As she raced inside, Pandora only a few steps behind her, the other two males joined him in the doorway.

All three females were laughing and crying and talking at the same time, Cinda dancing around just as excitedly.

“Thank you for bringing her back to Maskah,” Baldric said softly. “My mate has been worried.”

“I believe that they were all concerned. The bonds between them are clear.”

So clear that he experienced a momentary flash of uncertainty, but then Quinn looked over at him, her face tear-stained but radiant, and he relaxed. She was still his female, and nothing would ever change that.

“And then we were snowed in forever,” Olivia said dramatically, and Quinn laughed.

Despite the strange circumstances that had led them to this place, being amongst her friends was like coming home.

“Apparently, you put the time to good use,” she teased, looking at the small swell of her friend’s stomach.

Olivia gave her a smug smile. “We certainly did. But Panda spent all winter on a tropical island.”

“Not entirely tropical,” Panda protested. “But we didn’t have much snow. We spent the winter treasure hunting.”

“Not just treasure hunting,” Olivia said, patting Panda’s much larger stomach, and Panda blushed.

“Not just that,” she agreed. “But I was right about the ore. Which means Boxtar won’t have to raid any more caravans.” Panda reached over and took Quinn’s hand. “I’m so sorry you were left by yourself. We did try to find you.”

“I know you did. And I survived. We all did.”

“And now we’re all together again,” Olivia cheered.

She saw Dhar tense, but he didn’t say anything.

“We’re just here for a visit, Olivia,” she said gently. “Our home is on Lapont.”

“But Panda and I are here on Maskah,” her friend protested. “I thought we were all going to be pregnancy buddies.”

“We can still be pregnancy buddies—just from a little farther away. We’ll come back to visit, and you can visit us whenever you want. We have lots of room.”

“I will send a ship whenever you would like to visit,” Dhar offered. Quinn could see the relief on his face even though she suspected no one else would be able to detect it.

“I would like to see your castle,” Panda said. “Do you have a library?”

“A very large one.”

Boxtar laughed. “I can see that a long visit is in our future.”

“You can sleep in my room,” Cinda offered, staring at Panda. Her daughter seemed fascinated by both her friends.

“Isn’t a sleepover what got us into this mess to begin with?” Olivia asked, then laughed at the expressions of outrage on all three male faces. “Well, it was a mess. But now it’s not.”

“No, now it’s perfect,” she said, smiling at Dhar.

“It is. But I’m afraid it is also time for my match. Do you wish to attend?”

“Not even one tiny bit.”

Baldric and Boxtar decided to accompany him, and the three males departed.

Panda gave her a curious look.

“Aren’t you worried he’ll get hurt?”

“No. I’ve seen him fight.” She shuddered at the memory.

The ever-perceptive Panda quickly changed the subject, and they exchanged the stories of their adventures until the males returned. Dhar had won, of course, and Yamos had promised to send them a feast in celebration.

Later that evening, she snuggled against Dhar and watched her friends. A wide-eyed Cinda was perched on Panda’s lap as her friend read her a story from an illustrated scroll. Boxtar stood over them, his face just as fascinated as her daughter’s. Olivia was on Baldric’s lap, whispering something to him that made him laugh.

“Happy?” Dhar asked softly.

“Very happy.”

“And you are still content to return to our home?”

“Yes. I want our child to be born there. I want him or her to grow up knowing where they belong.”

“You do not mind leaving your friends?”

She smiled up at him.

“I’m not leaving them. They are my family, just as you and Cinda and the baby are my family.”

Even when they had been separated, that bond had remained. She had never really been alone after all.

Six months later…

“Is she asleep?” Quinn asked as he walked into their bedroom. She didn’t look up, intent on the child nursing at her breast. Their daughter, Zetti, named after his mother. She even looked like he imagined his mother would have looked as a child, except for the deep green of her eyes.

“Finally. Although I’m not sure that she will stay that way.”

Quinn’s friends, their mates, and their children were all arriving the next day for a visit before the winter season set in on Maskah, and Cinda was beyond excited. He’d finally succeeded in lulling her to sleep by telling her the story of how Napisten once drank an entire ocean. His mother had told him the same story as a child, and he found an unexpected pleasure in carrying on the tradition.

As he watched his mate nurse their child, his codik swelled inside him, despite his best efforts to control it. She is providing nourishment, he reminded himself, but when she gently detached Zetti and he saw the bead of liquid on that pink swollen nipple, he almost disgraced himself. She looked up and smiled at him, then gave him a puzzled look.

“Is something wrong, Dhar? You look as if you’re in pain.”

“Nothing is wrong. You are very beautiful.”

“So you keep saying. Why don’t you put Zetti in her crib and come join me?”

He took Zetti, trying not to react as his arm grazed the soft curve of Quinn’s breast, and carried her into the small nursery they had added on to their rooms. He tucked Zetti safely in her crib, pressing a kiss to the tiny crest on her head, and returned to his mate.

She hadn’t bothered to refasten her gown, and her beautiful breasts glowed in the soft light. He forced himself to look away from the tempting sight as he joined her on the bed.

“There’s something wrong, isn’t there?” she said quietly. “Don’t you find me desirable anymore?”

Shocked, he turned to stare at her.

“Not find you desirable? I have never seen you more so.”

He couldn’t resist cupping the lush flesh and almost groaned at the feel of her silky skin beneath his hand.

“Then what’s the matter?”

“I want you too much. I know that you are nourishing our child, but you are so beautiful, so tempting.” His thumb flicked across the swollen nipple.

Her body relaxed, and she smiled up at him, her small hand resting on his.

“Don’t you remember the first time you kissed my breasts? I told you that they were for both nourishment and pleasure.”

“At the same time?” His codik jerked.

“Definitely. I want you to touch me, Dhar. Kiss me. Make me feel sexy and desirable.”

He bent his head and gave the pink tip a cautious lick. Sweetness flooded his mouth as she gasped with pleasure.

“That feels so good.”

He wrapped his tongue around the taut peak and tugged. More sweetness flooded his mouth as she grabbed his crest. He stopped trying to fight his desires and let his codik emerge. Moving from one delicious breast to the other, he finally forced himself to pause when he knew she was about to take her pleasure.

“Is it safe to enter you, my mate?”

“Oh, yes.”

He let the tip of his codik tease her for a moment, but his need was too great. The hot, tight entrance to her body gradually opened for him, and he slid carefully inside.

The familiar tingle ran down his spine, but he held himself still.

“Are you all right, little flower? This is not too much for you?”

“It’s always too much—perfectly, wonderfully too much. Now make love to me, Dhar.”

And he happily obeyed.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Quinn and the Queller! I love a wounded hero and a heroine who is much stronger than she believes. Thank for you joining our three adventurous heroines as they discovered love and happiness in a very strange new world. I’m taking a break from the Alien Abduction series for a while - but don’t worry, there will be more! I intend to take them all the way to Z. And if you’d like to know more about any of the characters we have encountered so far, please let me know!

Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon – reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!

As usual, I have to thank my readers for coming on these adventures with me - I couldn’t do it without you!

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

* * *

Up next - the first in a brand new series!

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

begins with Artek!

A whirlwind courtship and a hasty marriage are only the beginning for Artek and Nelly. Can two people who know nothing about each other possibly find happiness together?

Click here to order Artek!

* * *

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OTHER TITLES

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

Olivia and the Orc

Pandora and the Prisoner

Quinn and the Queller

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

Artek

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

The Outlaw Cyborg

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

A Family for the Alien Warrior

The Nanny and the Alien Warrior

A Home for the Alien Warrior

A Gift for the Alien Warrior

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Anthologies

Claimed Among the Stars

Adamant Spirits

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

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