ALIEN MOST WANTED: CAGED BEAST

FOLSOM PLANET BLUES

HONEY PHILLIPS

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Interlude

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

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 Kasmit Covers

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CHAPTER ONE

“P ut this on.” The alien guard thrust a dress in Amanda’s direction, a handful of sheer bronze-colored gauze only a few shades darker than her own golden skin tone. It glittered under the bright lights of her cell.

“I will do no such thing.” She crossed her arms and glared at him, despite the terror making her stomach churn.

He stepped closer, looming over her. His grey skin glistened with a slick, greenish shine that looked almost as disgusting as it smelled. “Would you rather go out there bare? I’m sure none of the prisoners would object.”

Her breath stuttered in her throat. No matter what they had in store for her—something she had been doing her best not to think about—it would only be worse if she was naked.

Reluctantly, she reached for the garment. The guard held it just out of reach, forcing her to come closer to him. As she glared and snatched it out of his hand, he grabbed her breast, his three thick fingers digging cruelly into the soft flesh. Pain washed over her, but she did her best not to flinch.

He smirked at her. “I just hope the Warden decides to give us a taste. Almost a pity to waste you on one of those animals.”

She bit back a sob. If this brutal male considered the prisoners to be animals, how much worse would she have to endure?

To her relief, he released her, shoving the glittery fabric into her hand.

“Now change,” he ordered. He leaned back against the wall, his arms folded across his chest, and it was quite clear he had no intention of leaving while she changed.

She would have turned her back to him, but the thought of having him behind her made her skin crawl.

Stepping into the dress, she brought it up over her hips, then very reluctantly pulled her baggy sleep shorts with the little red devils on them out from beneath it. She left her faded black panties, hoping they were minimal enough to satisfy him, but he smirked and gestured at them.

“Those too.”

Pushing down her underwear was even harder. The sheer fabric of the dress did very little to cover her, and she turned sideways, trying to shield her naked pussy from his lecherous gaze. A sudden wild regret that she’d had her dark curls lasered away swept over her—they would have at least provided some coverage.

“Now the rest. And hurry. Or I will do it for you.”

The look on his face scared her enough that she tugged off her tank top, then pulled the tiny straps of the dress up over her shoulders. They were woven from delicate golden chains and draped down her exposed back.

Somehow, it was even worse that the dress was so pretty. Back on Earth, she might even have chosen to wear it out dancing—with a silky slip and some underwear.

A device on the guard’s belt chimed, and he made an impatient noise, then grabbed her arm and started to drag her out of the cell.

“What—what about my old clothes?” she asked, casting a glance over her shoulder.

“You won’t need them again.” He laughed cruelly. “You won’t be in this for long either.”

The little pile of clothing disappeared, and she had to fight back a sob. They weren’t much, but they were the last reminder of her normal life. Before the alien had taken her.

She’d been curled up on her couch, watching a Hallmark movie and crying as the frosty corporate lawyer realized that she really wanted to stay in the small snow-covered town with the handsome widower and his daughter. Her favorite chocolate truffles were close at hand, and she knew full well she was being self-indulgent, but dammit, if a girl couldn’t cry when she found out her worthless boyfriend had been cheating on her, when could she?

The ironic part was that she wasn’t really that upset. Her pride was a little bruised—she and Oliver had been dating for over a year—but their relationship had been based as much on convenience as passion. They both worked for the same huge bank, although fortunately in different areas, and they were both new to the city. She just wished he’d told her they should see other people before she walked into his office and found him screwing a girl from the admin pool on his desk.

“Amanda!” He had looked so shocked she’d almost laughed, especially when she realized that he was still wearing his shirt and tie, even though his pants were around his ankles. The very young girl beneath him looked mortified.

“There’s a department meeting in five minutes—but knowing you, that’s plenty of time,” she said, and walked out.

He’d left five messages before she finally turned the phone off and buried it under a seat cushion. Tomorrow she would be a grown-up and take care of the messy details like handing back his keys and his few belongings. The fact that he’d only left two pairs of boxer shorts, a toothbrush, and an old hoodie at my place after a year probably should have been a clue that there was no future to our relationship, she thought with a sigh. And she hadn’t left much more at his place.

She was debating another movie when the lights flickered. Damn. They’d been getting a lot of power outages this summer. She put down the remote and had started lighting candles when there was a bolt of lightning directly outside the window, momentarily blinding her.

When the afterglow faded from her eyes, a figure was standing in the corner of her room. Tall and thin with an oversized head and grey skin.

Alien, her mind registered, even as she blinked repeatedly. She was still staring in bemused shock when the alien took three long strides across the room and pressed a device against her neck. The world slid away.

The next thing she knew, she was being wheeled through a long white corridor on what felt like a stretcher, unable to move. For a moment, she’d actually been relieved. She must have hit her head and hallucinated her strange visitor, and now she was in the hospital. But then the doors ahead of her slid open, and she saw the two males waiting for her.

Like the figure she had seen in her living room, they had grey skin, although theirs had a slimy quality. There was no other resemblance. Bald heads sloped directly into thick, powerful bodies clad in sleeveless black uniforms. They said something in a horrible gurgling language, and she watched helplessly as the original alien walked past her to join them. Two electronic devices were pressed together in what was only too clearly a transaction of some kind, and then the first alien returned and bent over her still immobile body.

He plunged a syringe into her arm, a burning pain radiating out from the injection site.

“Her ability to move will return shortly. Her fertile cycle has been terminated, although the process can be easily reversed if Warden Nazort wishes. I have also injected a translator.”

She could understand him perfectly, even though she could hear a faint clicking behind his voice.

One of the waiting males laughed. “Why bother? The Warden didn’t buy her for her conversation.”

She could understand him too, even though she almost wished she couldn’t. The implications of his words terrified her.

Her captor sighed, and she could actually see the disdain on his face. “I find it useful if a slave understands the commands she is given.”

A slave? She tried to open her mouth, to deny the words, but her body was still unresponsive.

“I bet I could make her understand,” the guard grunted.

“No doubt,” her captor said dryly. “But Warden Nazort did specify an undamaged specimen.”

Who was this Warden they kept referring to? And where the hell was she? She tried again to speak, but only managed a faint gurgle. The first alien gave her a quick, scornful glance.

“She will also be able to speak when the paralysis wears off—which is one of the reasons I prefer keeping them in stasis until they are sold.”

“So?” One of the guards grabbed the stretcher and started hauling it towards the doors. “We know how to keep prisoners quiet. We won’t have any trouble with her.”

“So primitive,” her captor muttered quietly, but then she was through the doors and he was no longer visible.

No, she tried to cry. Don’t leave. You have to take me home.

But only more gurgling noises came out of her mouth.

The heavyset males pushed her down another corridor, grey this time, and although she couldn’t turn her head, she could see clear panels at regular intervals along the walls. It was obviously not a hospital, but what was this place?

“Do you think the Warden is right? That they’ll fight harder with her as the prize?”

“Hell yes. I’d fight for the right to fuck that soft little body. No fangs, no claws. I don’t even think she has any armor.”

The stretcher slowed as one of the males turned to look at her, then licked his lips with a thick red tongue. Horror crawled up her spine but she still couldn’t move.

“Maybe we don’t have to fight for it. We’ve got her all to ourselves now.”

“Don’t be stupid, Bezor. You know the Warden has every inch of this place wired. Do you want to end up down there with the Undesirables? I bet they’d love having a guard at their mercy.”

Bezor scowled, but resumed walking.

They finally stopped outside one of the glass panels and tapped a control pad. The panel slid open, and they pushed the stretcher inside. To her immense relief, the glass slid closed again and they disappeared, Bezor still complaining.

Her ability to move gradually returned as a horrible sensation like pins and needles washed over her whole body. Eventually, it relented enough that she was able to sit up. She found herself in what was quite clearly a cell. The stretcher barely fit into the narrow space between a metal bunk on one wall and an oddly Earth-like toilet and sink on the other. The references to a warden were suddenly horribly clear.

She had been sold to an alien prison.

Her first impulse was to bang on the glass, to demand to be released. In the end, she decided against it, afraid to attract further attention from the two guards. She didn’t know how much time passed as she perched on the end of the hard bunk, trying not to panic. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—think about what might happen next. Instead, she concentrated on the movie she’d been watching—the peaceful snow-covered town, the adorable daughter, and the handsome hero. She’d been doing her best to remember each of the cute red outfits the heroine had worn when Bezor strode into the cell and demanded she change.

And now she was about to find out exactly why she’d been sold.

CHAPTER TWO

B ezor marched her through more of the grey corridors, and now that she was upright, she could see a terrifying variety of aliens behind the clear panels fronting the other cells. Many of them pressed against the surface to watch her pass. She could see mouths moving, but fortunately the cells were soundproof and she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Her legs started trembling, and Bezor smirked at her.

“You think they’re bad? Wait until you see the ones in the Pit.”

He hauled her up a set of steps, nodded at a guard outside a pair of double doors, then pushed her through them. The utilitarian grey walls disappeared, replaced by wooden paneling in rich, dark shades. Deep red carpet cushioned her bare feet.

Bezor came to a halt in front of an elaborately carved door made of the same dark wood as the walls, and pressed a button to one side. The door opened to reveal a small green male, also dressed in a black uniform. His tail flicked nervously behind him while a forked tongue darted in and out of his mouth. This was the Warden?

“You’re late,” the male said, a slight sibilance to his words. “They are already assembling.”

“She didn’t want to put on the outfit. I had to… encourage her.”

Black eyes swept over her. “I hope you didn’t damage her.”

“He grabbed me,” she said indignantly, and those thick fingers clamped down on her arm.

The green male sighed. “You were warned.”

“I didn’t hurt her, Ratchi,” Bezor said sullenly. “Look for yourself.”

Ratchi only shook his head and gestured for them to follow. “You’d best hope Warden Nazort agrees. Bring her along. Gently.”

“And you’d better hope I don’t get a chance at you, bitch,” Bezor snarled into her ear, but he kept his voice low and his fingers loosened a little.

The room they entered was so full of furniture they had to thread their way through the small amount of open space. A dizzying array of rich fabrics covered the upholstered pieces, while the other furniture was inlaid with contrasting woods or elaborate tilework. Jewels sparkled and metal gleamed from the numerous objects that covered every surface. The collection was clearly expensive and designed to impress, but the room was so overcrowded that it looked more like an assortment of junk.

The room on the other side of yet another elaborate door was a little less cluttered, but only because every inch was draped with fabric. A rather unimpressive-looking male reclined on an upholstered divan covered with purple fur, smoking what looked like a hookah. He had a round, almost porcine face, the piggish effect enhanced by his pinkish skin and flat nose.

“Finally. You know I do hate to be kept waiting.”

He had a high-pitched, complaining voice, and he should have been ridiculous, but something about him sent a shiver down Amanda’s spine.

“I apologize, Warden Nazort,” Bezor said respectfully.

“Don’t let it happen again.” The or else was only implied, but Bezor actually seemed to pale slightly. “Now let me see her.”

The guard dragged her forward.

“Very nice.” Beady little pink eyes surveyed her, his gaze both lecherous and coldly calculating. “Very nice indeed. Uffitzi may be an expensive bastard, but he always delivers.”

“He had no right to deliver me,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’m not for sale.”

The Warden laughed, a squealing noise like fingernails on a blackboard. “Oh, yes, you’ll be perfect.”

“Perfect for what?”

He ignored her, turning to Ratchi. “Are they assembled?”

“Yes, Warden.”

“Then we will descend.” He heaved himself up off the couch and discarded his embroidered robe to reveal a black uniform with rows of what looked like medals across his chest. “Follow me.”

She let Bezor tug her through a surprisingly utilitarian office, but when he tried to lead her into an elevator, she finally balked, fighting against his grip.

The Warden was already inside the elevator, but he sighed and stepped back out.

“Stop being so foolish. Even if you could escape Bezor, and somehow make it through the rest of the prison, there is nowhere to go. There are no ships waiting to carry you away, and this planet is deadly to even the strongest species—which you clearly are not.”

His words penetrated her useless struggle, and she stopped fighting, panting for breath. He moved closer.

“And if you make another such display below, I will have you stripped and dropped directly into the Pit. Do you understand me?”

She didn’t know what he meant about the Pit, but the ruthless coldness beneath the falsetto voice was quite clear. She nodded.

“Good. I would be very… displeased if my investment did not reap sufficient returns.”

He re-entered the elevator without a backwards glance, and she let Bezor pull her in without further struggle. Was the Warden right about the situation, or was he lying to her? There had to be some way out of this horrible place.

She was still trying to think of a plan when the doors opened, revealing yet another environment. The waiting corridor was roughly carved from dark stone. The temperature had dropped considerably, and walls gleamed with moisture. She shivered in the thin dress as she stepped out into the cold passageway.

At the far end of the corridor, she could see a flickering light and hear the sound of voices interspersed with growls and hisses. The Warden led the way, completely at ease, but she had to force herself not to struggle.

They emerged on a type of balcony overlooking a huge cavern. She had the impression of people below them, but the light was too uncertain to make out any details. Bezor kept her back in the shadows as the Warden stepped forward. The crowd quieted.

“I have a special prize for tonight’s victor.”

A roar of approval greeted his words.

“Fight well and triumph, and she will be yours for five days.”

Bezor thrust her forward into the Warden’s grasp as floodlights suddenly illuminated the entire space. There was a stunned silence, then the crowd erupted. Her stomach threatened to rebel as she finally got a clear view of the males below. The types of aliens were as varied as she had seen in the cells above, but all of them looked big and brutal. She caught terrifying glimpses of horns and fangs, of scales, and of what looked like armor.

They were caged behind a wire mesh that circled the space, and the guards were using what looked like shock sticks to keep them from approaching too closely. A bare stone floor filled the center of the cavern, stained with splatters of various colors. She was quite sure they represented different types of alien blood.

She swayed, and the Warden’s hand closed on her arm in clear warning. Tearing her gaze away from the chaos below, she concentrated on the opposite wall and tried to slow her breathing.

“Who will fight for this prize?”

Another eruption of noise was suddenly silenced, and she couldn’t help but look down. A male stood in the center of the floor. At first glance he looked almost human, although exceptionally large. His skin was a slightly greyish tan and his features looked normal enough, but then he looked up at her. His eyes were solid black, as cold and flat as a shark’s eyes. He grinned, revealing a mouth filled with a double row of spiked teeth, and licked his lips with a serpentine purple tongue.

She shuddered. Something about the way he was looking at her made her skin crawl. It was far worse than the Warden’s cold dismissal or the guards’ casual brutality. Through her horror, she heard the Warden sigh.

“If Hayvon wins her, she’ll be completely ruined,” he muttered quietly to Ratchi.

“If she lives,” Bezor interjected, and she clenched her hands on the balcony railing to hide their trembling.

“Shut up, Bezor. I might have to—ah, good. There’s Riker.” The Warden gave his odd, squealing laugh. “So this is what it takes to tempt him to fight. Excellent.”

A second male had entered the arena. He also clearly wasn’t human, not with that burnished red skin, not to mention the claws, or the fangs, or the small black horns rising out of his dark, close-cropped hair. But his body was definitely humanoid—and probably the finest one she had ever seen. Oliver worked out four times a week and he would have looked like an underfed teenager next to this male. Thick, powerful thighs, a broad chest, and immense muscular arms—all of it clearly visible because he was wearing nothing but a pair of brief black shorts that cupped the disturbingly large bulge of his cock.

His very size terrified her, but then he looked up and their eyes met. His eyes were dark as well, almost black, with little red sparks deep within. They were not human eyes, but there was something in them that helped stem her rising panic. He looked at her as if he saw her as a person, not just an object—the first person to do so since she had been taken.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he won…

But then Warden Nazort ordered the fight to begin. The two big males flew at each other, colliding with a thud that echoed through the cavern. The crowd roared again, and she couldn’t hear any more of the fight beneath the jeers and catcalls and shouting. There was a spurt of purple blood, although she couldn’t tell which male had been wounded, and then the bodies separated.

The two males circled. Despite Riker’s size and impressive muscles, he moved with a fluid, natural grace. The grey male’s movements were more spasmodic, but he was lightning fast. They clashed again, and this time she saw a trickle of dark fluid down Riker’s chest. Hayvon grinned and looked up at her, making a crude fucking gesture with his hands before he wrenched them apart.

“If he wins, we’re going to have to restrain him in some way,” Warden Nazort said matter-of-factly to Ratchi. “I paid too much for the female to lose her after one fight. The medical facility can only do so much.”

Oh, God! She glanced back down at the arena in time to see Riker sink his fangs savagely into Hayvon’s neck. Would he really be any better?

The fight dragged on, but she kept her eyes on the opposite wall and tried to imagine that she was far, far away. Then the crowd exploded again.

“Riker wins!” Warden Nazort announced.

She looked down, then hastily looked away again. Hayvon’s head had been torn half off of his crumpled body. Her stomach threatened to rebel.

“Clear the arena. Send the rest of the Undesirables back to their cells,” the Warden told Ratchi.

The assistant nodded and typed quickly into a device attached to his belt. Down below, the guards began herding the males back into the warren of tunnels leading out of the cavern. She caught the occasional spark from one of the shock sticks, but she was too focused on the big red male to pay much attention. Torn gashes and dark areas that must be bruises covered his body but he seemed oblivious to them.

A guard handed him some water and he poured it over his body, washing away the blood, but his eyes were focused on her the entire time. She could see the red flames dancing in his eyes, and her heart started racing again.

“Send her down,” Warden Nazort ordered, shocking her into tearing her eyes away from Riker.

No! She wanted to beg, to plead with them not to send her into the dark caves below, but as she looked at the three males, she knew that any plea would be useless.

Bezor pushed her against another section of the railing, then raised his device. The railing broke away, along with a small section of the balcony, and began floating down to the blood-covered floor far below. It landed with a gentle thud.

“Come,” one of the guards waiting with Riker ordered.

Her feet didn’t want to move, but somehow she forced herself off the platform and went to join the male who had just fought to the death to win her.

CHAPTER THREE

A manda had thought that Riker was big from above, but once she was standing next to him she realized just how huge he was. Her head barely reached his chest. She was still staring up at him in shocked dismay when he leaned over, grabbed her, and threw her across his shoulder.

Heat radiated from his skin, warming her chilled body, as he headed into one of the tunnels leading out of the arena. For a moment she was tempted to relax into his grip, but then she came to her senses and started to struggle wildly. No matter what she thought—hoped—she’d seen in his eyes, his intentions now seemed all too clear.

He smacked her ass, the sound reverberating in the tunnel, and the two guards following them sniggered. It had been a brief sting rather than an actual blow, but it shocked her into submission. His big hand remained on her butt, a clear warning.

And yet the warmth of his hand added to the faint, lingering heat from the smack and caused a different kind of warmth low in her stomach. No! She couldn’t possibly be responding to him.

His hand flexed, molding itself to the curve of her buttock, and it felt… good. She forced herself to stay rigid, not to respond to the delicious warmth seeping into her body, or that big hand, or the rich, spicy scent that emanated from his skin.

The tunnel through which he strode was oddly empty, with only a few cells hewn out of the dark rock set at the end of smaller tunnels. Thick metal bars enclosed the cells, rather than the fancy glass panels she had seen above. She tried to distract herself by coming up with an explanation for the completely opposite environments, but she remained overwhelmingly conscious of the male carrying her.

He stepped into one of the rock cells, and she heard the door clang shut behind them as he finally lowered her to her feet. He made sure she wasn’t going to fall, then moved away far enough to look at her, his eyes traveling over her with undisguised hunger.

She instinctively took a step back and hit something. She looked down and saw a cot covered by a rough blanket. Her knees started to shake.

“Down.”

The deep voice made her flinch, and her startled gaze jumped to his face. He gestured to the cot, and her heart pounded against her ribs so hard she thought she was going to be sick. She cast a wild glance at the entrance to the cell, but the two leering guards still waited there. They wouldn’t help her.

“Down,” Riker growled again, taking a step towards her.

Her breath escaped in a frightened gasp. She looked up at his face, seeking any sign of sympathy or reprieve on that hard, dark face. There was none.

Her knees trembled, collapsing under her as she tried to sit so that she ended up half sprawled back across the cot. Through the pounding in her ears, she heard the guards laughing, and tried to scramble up. She didn’t even get an inch off the mattress before Riker came down over her, his rock-hard chest blazing hot as it pressed against her breasts.

There was a distant ripping sound, and then she felt her gown disappearing. The thin fabric had provided no real protection, but it had provided an illusion of safety and she clutched at it with frantic hands. She might as well have been trying to keep a piece of paper from being blown away by a hurricane, and a second later she was completely naked. His enormous thighs caged her legs together, and she could feel the rigid bar of his cock against her stomach, impossibly large.

No!

Her hands beat against his huge shoulders, but they were no more effective than a butterfly’s wings. He grabbed them, manacling them together in one huge paw, and lifted them over her head. She tried desperately to free her hands, but even though his grip wasn’t painful, it was absolutely inescapable.

The position thrust her breasts even harder against the warmth of his chest, and she was shocked to realize that her nipples had turned into throbbing little points. She couldn’t possibly be turned on, could she? And yet some primitive part of her was succumbing to his size and strength, his sheer dominance.

He nuzzled his head in the curve of her shoulder, a surprisingly gentle, almost affectionate act compared to the rest of his actions. His fangs scraped the sensitive chord of her neck, and she shivered. She had seen him tear at his opponent with those fangs, but this didn’t feel threatening. Another little spark of unwanted excitement coursed through her system.

“Scream,” he ordered, his voice barely audible, too quiet to be heard by the watching guards.

“What?” Her voice didn’t sound like hers, dazed and husky.

“Scream for the guards.”

Her mind was still trying to process the words when he grabbed her ass in one massive hand and lifted her up against him. She felt the huge, hard head of his cock between her legs just as he bit down on her neck.

She screamed.

She screamed from fear and from helpless rage—but not from pain. She was so focused on the sound of her voice, that it took a moment before she realized that he hadn’t forced himself inside her, that the pressure of his mouth on her neck actually felt… good. He was thrusting and grunting over her, but he hadn’t penetrated her. He wasn’t hurting her.

She screamed again, a long overdue reaction to the horror of her abduction, but she also found her hands clinging to his shoulders. In the distance, she could hear the guards laughing and she realized they thought he was raping her. But he wasn’t. He had saved her from that fate.

An unexpected feeling of gratitude rushed over her, and in an attempt to help the illusion, she writhed against him as if she was fighting him. Unfortunately, the change in position thrust her clit directly against the heated length of his cock. Some sort of ridges slid back and forth across the swollen nub with increasing ease and to her horror, she realized her body was responding.

He growled in her ear, hoarse and desperate, and she was suddenly afraid she’d made a terrible mistake. She tried to pull her legs back down, but he only clamped down on her ass and held her tighter against him. He rocked harder, faster, and then her body exploded in a sudden helpless climax as she felt a fiery rush of liquid cover her exposed clit.

He shuddered, but the tension in his body didn’t ease. A rough tongue brushed her neck where he had bitten her, oddly comforting.

“Satisfied?” he growled over his shoulder when he finally lifted his head.

She heard more laughter, along with some obscene comments that sent the color rushing to her cheeks. His thumb stroked across her wrists where he still held them together above her head. Was he trying to reassure her?

The laughter finally faded away, and she realized that the guards must have left. Riker released her wrists and carefully lifted himself free, making sure not to crush her with his weight. Shock held her immobile for another minute before she gasped and frantically scrambled upright, clutching the blanket to her chest.

He stood watching her, apparently not in the least concerned that he was still naked. The brief shorts had not concealed much, but without them the full, heavy weight of his cock was revealed. Even though it was no longer erect, it hung halfway down his thigh, still impossibly large and covered with thick ridges. No wonder it felt so good, a wanton part of her mind whispered. But then she saw his shaft jerk and tore her gaze away. When she looked up at his face, he was watching her, his eyes still hungry. He clearly wanted her, and yet he hadn’t forced her.

“Why?” she whispered.

She was quite sure he understood her question, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he paced over to the other side of the cell—and the view from the back was almost as impressive as the view from the front—and retrieved something from a shelf carved into the rock. He tossed it at her, and she caught it automatically only to realize that she was holding a bottle of water. It was such an ordinary, familiar gesture that tears sprang to her eyes.

“Drink,” he ordered as he searched through the small collection of objects on the shelf.

She gave the bottle a wary look, then decided he had no need to drug her and drank thirstily. What looked like a protein bar came flying her way next.

“I know, I know. Eat,” she muttered, then winced. Probably shouldn’t be antagonizing the huge alien. She shot a quick glance in his direction, and she thought she saw a glint of humor in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly she wasn’t sure.

The protein bar had a faint nutty taste that reminded her of pecans, and she started devouring it eagerly. She ate half, then paused and somewhat reluctantly offered him the other half. He shook his head so she finished the rest of the bar, and drank the rest of the water.

Waves of exhaustion washed over her. The shock and terror of the long day had taken their toll. Her eyes kept trying to flutter shut, despite her best efforts. She must have fallen asleep at some point because she suddenly felt the blanket being pulled out of her hands. She tried to grab it, but before she could protest, he had shaken it out and covered her once more.

“Sleep.”

The last thing she saw was his big body between her and the rest of the prison.

CHAPTER FOUR

R iker looked down at the curvy little female asleep in his bed and swore silently. What the fuck was he doing?

He’d had no intention of fighting for the Warden’s entertainment—or the entertainment of those who purchased the illegal feeds of the fights—but attendance at the arena was mandatory. Then he saw her small figure trembling on the observation platform.

While it did not occur frequently, it was not unknown for the Warden to offer females as prizes for the illicit fights. It had occurred perhaps ten times over the three years he had been imprisoned. The prize females tended to fall into two camps. The first were bold-eyed and seductive, parading themselves in front of the prisoners and promising a night of ecstasy—and no doubt a knife in the back.

The second type were worn out and broken, standing hopelessly as they waited to be taken by the winner. He had fought for one of those once, seized by pity and hoping to offer her a night of respite. He hadn’t laid a hand on her, but in the morning he found that she had hanged herself using his blanket. She had been smiling.

He hadn’t fought for another female since then.

This female wasn’t like either of those types. Her shoulders were straight, her eyes gazing over the heads of the jeering prisoners as if she was royalty, despite the tremors of fear he could see shaking her small frame. Even across the arena, he caught a hint of her scent. As sweet and juicy as the sun-ripened fruit he and his brothers used to steal from his father’s orchard bursting across his tongue.

He might still have resisted, but then Hayvon had stepped into the arena. The other males who had been clamoring for the opportunity grew silent. Hayvon’s reputation was well known. He was strong, fast, and brutal, but so were many of the other prisoners. What set him apart was a sadistic delight in the suffering of others that stood out even in a place like this. He had once prolonged a fight for over an hour as he slowly and painfully skinned his opponent alive. Even the Warden had turned away and finally called an end to the match.

Riker couldn’t stand the thought of this delicate female in Hayvon’s clutches. He stepped into the arena. He had not enjoyed the match, although he had no regrets at the result. Hayvon might have been a sadistic killer, but it had been more like putting down a diseased animal then fighting a worthy opponent.

But now that he had her here, what was he going to do with her? And by the Horns, why had he bitten her? Such a bite was part of the mating ritual practiced by his mother’s people—and she could not possibly be his mate. But ever since their eyes had met, some part of him insisted that she belonged to him.

It wasn’t possible. He only had her for five days. There would be nothing he could do to stop her from being taken from him. Once again he cursed the gods that had led him to this place.

Although he and his brothers had been trained as warriors, it had been due to tradition rather than any real expectation that it would become their profession. But then the droughts came and they lost first their lands, then their father. Then again, their father had already been lost to them—he had never really recovered from the death of his third wife.

Riker had ended up as part of an elite fighting squad. It had been hard, demanding work, but he had felt a sense of kinship with the other warriors—the same sort of kinship he’d once had with his brothers. But then he had been assigned to what should have been a simple protection contract—and he had failed. His former comrades had turned their backs when his employer had condemned him to this fate.

At first, he had accepted his punishment, but as the years passed, his resignation had been replaced by anger. When he finally understood how deeply he’d been betrayed, it had been too late to change his course. Until the message from his brother reached him. Now, he finally had a chance of escaping this hell.

His gaze was drawn back to the female. If his plans came to fruition, he might not even have her for as long as he’d been promised.

She had felt so perfect beneath him, with her soft, silken skin and the generous mounds of her breasts pressing against his chest. His only intention had been to put on the expected show for the guards, but then he had felt her slicken against him while her scent grew thicker and sweeter and knew she was aroused. It had taken every last ounce of his considerable self-control not to bury himself in her delicious little cunt. The thought alone had been enough to make him climax in a way he hadn’t done since long before he was trapped in this accursed place. He had come so long and so hard that he should have been completely drained, but as soon as she gave his cock that wide eyed look, he had been on the verge of hardening again.

She is going to be trouble, he decided. The best thing would be to stay away from her completely. But even as he made that decision, she made a soft sound in her sleep and rolled over, pulling the blanket up against her neck. His heart skipped a beat as he remembered the female from long ago. He didn’t think this female was the type to take her own life, but he wasn’t about to take the chance. He lay down next to her, gripping the blanket firmly so she would be unable to take it away from him without his knowledge. To his complete and utter shock, she rolled over and buried her face against his chest.

Her eyes were still closed, her breathing regular, but she nestled in his arms as if she belonged there. He was definitely in trouble.

AMANDA WOKE up feeling warm and comfortable, nestled against Oliver.

No. Not Oliver. He didn’t like to cuddle, and his skin always felt slightly sweaty. And he certainly wasn’t this big.

Her eyes flew open to see a wide expanse of deep red skin. The events of the previous day came rushing back. Or was it a day? Her head started to spin as she wondered how long it had been since she was taken. She pushed it aside—it didn’t matter. What mattered was getting away from Riker before his obvious desire overcame whatever chivalrous impulse had prevented him from raping her yesterday.

She cautiously tried to shift backwards, but his arms immediately tightened around her and brought her back against his chest. That big ridged cock pressed against her stomach, and she gulped, half-expecting him to throw her on her back again. He didn’t, and his chest still rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He must still be asleep.

Now what?

He was on the outside of the cot, between her and the rest of the prison. When she cautiously reached back with her foot, trying not to move the rest of her body, she hit the rock wall of the cave. No escape in that direction. Maybe she could gradually wiggle out from under his arms…

Very, very slowly she tried to slip down his body. Her breasts slid across his chest, the firm, hard muscles turning her nipples into aching little points. Sternly ignoring just how good that felt, she gained an inch, two. But then she felt the broad head of his cock nudging the underside of her breasts. Oh, God. If she kept moving down, it would be nestled in the valley between her breasts.

“So, little bird, you want to play after all.”

Riker’s deep voice rumbled through her body, and then he rolled her over, just as she’d feared. But instead of trapping her beneath him, he put her on top, her breasts still poised just above his cock. She started to raise her body, then realized that it would only expose her naked body to that intense stare.

“Now that is a vision to stir any male’s blood,” he growled, looking down at her, then frowned. He reached down and grabbed the blanket, pulling it up to her shoulders.

“Why did you do that?” The question popped out automatically, even though it was the least of her worries.

He shrugged and his cock rubbed against her breasts. Which really shouldn’t have felt as good as it did.

“Watchers,” he said.

She darted a glance over her shoulder, but there were no guards outside the bars. He took her chin in two huge fingers and gently tilted it up to the ceiling. At first all she could see was rock, but then she caught the glint of glass over by the bars.

“A camera?” she whispered, then wondered why she was lowering her voice. Unless… “And a microphone?”

He frowned, then shook his head. Well, that was something at least. And the fact that he cared enough to cover her body was promising.

“Are you going to let me up now?”

“I don’t know.” His hands were on her hips, and he pulled her down a little further, enough that her breasts surrounded his cock. She could feel him pulsing against her, thick and hard and impossibly hot. He growled, his eyes fixed on the spot where the broad head was visible between the two mounds, the deep red a shocking contrast to her golden skin.

He slid her down again, leaving a trail of heated liquid on her skin, then thrust up. A confused swirl of emotions swept over her. He had protected her from the camera, but now he was using her body to satisfy his own desires. She didn’t want to be aroused, but his movements were creating a growing ache in her own body.

“Please,” she whispered, a tear dripping down her cheek.

She wasn’t even sure what she was asking, and she certainly didn’t expect him to respond, but he stopped. His eyes lifted to her face, those little flames dancing. His face didn’t exactly soften, but then he brushed a thumb gently across the mark he had left on her neck when he bit her. She gasped as a fiery streak of arousal raced through her body. The flames intensified.

“That is… unexpected,” he growled, and she could have sworn that his cock grew even larger.

“What did you do to me?”

Before he could respond, a guard strolled up to the bars.

“Hands in the cuffs, Riker.”

“No.” He sat up in one swift powerful movement, somehow managing to wrap her in the blanket before prowling over to the bars.

“You know the rules.” The guard put a meaningful hand on the shock stick hanging from his belt. “No cuffs, no meal.”

For the first time, she noticed a covered cart next to the guard. The thought of food made her stomach gurgle, and both males looked over at her.

“Are you going to starve her too?” The guard shook his head. “Although she doesn’t look too bad. You must have taken it easy on her.”

“I don’t do easy.”

Riker strode back over to her, tangled his fingers in her short dark curls, and tugged her face against his cock. She should have been repulsed, she really should have, but he smelled delicious. She had the oddest desire to reach out her tongue and taste him. Those tantalizing ridges were right in front of her, and for the first time, she noticed an odd bulge at the base of his cock.

And once again, she was only pressed against him. He hadn’t shoved himself down her throat, although she suspected that from the guard’s angle it would appear that he had. She obligingly made a choked sound, and the guard laughed.

“Is that all you’re planning to feed her?”

Riker’s body tensed, and then he pushed her away. He didn’t do it forcefully, but she jerked back as if he had shoved her. He looked startled, then a fleeting expression of amusement crossed his face before he went to the far side of the cell and raised his hands. Two cuffs descended from the roof of the cave on thick chains and snapped around his wrists.

The door clicked open, then the guard entered with a covered tray. He placed it on one of the rock shelves, carefully staying out of Riker’s reach. For a moment she thought he would leave, but then he turned towards her.

“So this is the new prize, eh?”

“You lay a hand on her, you die, Hammol.”

Riker’s voice was deadly enough to send a shiver down her spine, but the guard only laughed.

“You animals always seem to forget who’s in charge.”

He reached for her blanket.

CHAPTER FIVE

A manda clutched the blanket harder, even though she knew the guard could tear it away from her easily enough.

“And you are forgetting that our association has been… profitable for you in the past,” Riker said coldly. “Very profitable.”

The guard hesitated, scowling down at her. “I was only going to take a look.” He swung around to sneer at Riker. “But I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunities. Once your reward period is over.”

He sauntered out of the cell, and once the door closed behind him, he gave Riker a mocking smile as he released the cuffs.

“Or did you forget that prizes are only temporary?”

Riker immediately returned to her side.

“I remember. But I intend to take full advantage of my time.”

He pulled her face back against his crotch, his hand gentle despite the harshness in his voice.

The guard laughed, and she waited for him to move away. But he didn’t leave, and she realized with a sinking heart that he was waiting for her performance. What was she going to do? She didn’t really think that Riker would force her, or at least she hoped he wouldn’t, but he clearly wanted the guard to believe that he would.

The angle of Riker’s body still blocked the details of their interaction from the view of the guard. Very cautiously, she put her hand around the base of Riker’s cock. Or at least she tried to—her fingers wouldn’t reach all the way around him.

His body tensed as he looked down at her, but he didn’t immediately thrust against her grip. She closed her hand as much as possible and slid it down his shaft, the ridges pulsing slightly against her hand. He jerked, and his fingers tightened in her hair. He still wasn’t hurting her, but the slight sting sent a surprising streak of arousal through her body.

Concentrate, she reminded herself. Make this convincing.

Moving her head along with her hand, she hoped that from the guard’s perspective, it looked as if she was giving Riker a blow job. As she settled into a steady rhythm, she realized this wasn’t… bad. He wasn’t forcing her, despite the tension in his muscles, and she felt oddly powerful. His spicy scent surrounded her, and as she stroked down to the broad head, she impulsively licked the drop of golden fluid pearled at the tip.

He roared and exploded, his seed hitting her neck and chest as she instinctively pulled away. The spicy golden liquid was fiery hot, not burning her skin but leaving a lingering warmth.

The flames in Riker’s eyes intensified as he stared down at her. Somewhere in the distance she heard the guard make a comment as he finally moved away, but she was too focused on the male above her to decipher what he said.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, she was on her back on the cot again. Her body quivered, torn between fear and excitement as she waited for him to come down on top of her. Instead, he dropped to his knees in front of the cot and pulled her legs apart.

THE SCENT of Amanda’s arousal was thick in the air, and Riker could see her excitement coating her delicate folds, already flushed a deep rose. Will she even be able to take my cock? a distant part of his mind wondered, but right now he had something else in mind.

He lifted his hands to her hips and pulled her against his face, groaning as the first sweet, delicious taste washed over his tongue. Even sweeter and riper than the fruit he remembered.

He found the small entrance to her cunt, and tried to thrust his tongue inside, seeking more of her delicious essence. But she resisted even his tongue and he had to work his way into the tight little channel. He could feel her walls trembling at the stretch as he withdrew. He swiped his tongue higher, exploring every inch, and found a small nub at the top of her slit. She cried out as he licked it curiously, her hands seeking his horns. He licked it again, and sucked, and her hips arched against him so violently that he almost lost his grip.

This must be her clit, but how strange—and how convenient—that it should be on the outside of her body. He concentrated there, exploring the tempting little bud as she quivered beneath him. He sheathed his claws and brought his finger to her small entrance, then cautiously pressed inside. To his delight, she was softer, wetter now and he barely had to wait for her to adjust. The second finger was more difficult. Her whole body shook as he worked his way into that tight grip. Attempting to distract her, he sucked on her clit again, and this time he felt her climax. Felt her channel gripping his fingers in a hot, silken fist. His cock throbbed at the thought of being enclosed in that tight, wet heat.

Too impatient to wait any longer, he withdrew his fingers, preparing to replace them with his cock. But even as he felt the wet kiss of her flesh against him, he looked up.

She was staring down at him, her face flushed and dazed with pleasure, but he could also see the hint of fear in her eyes.

“Do you want this?” he growled.

Her teeth clamped down on her soft little lip as she gave him an uncertain look. Was she afraid to say no? Whatever his past sins, he would not force a female. He pulled back.

“I…”

He could see the conflict on her face, and he suspected he could convince her to accept him, but he was no longer lost in desire. He shook his head and readjusted the blanket over her tempting little body before pacing over to the other side of the cell. His cock throbbed angrily, but it had been years since he’d had female companionship. He could wait.

He opened one of the fresh bottles of water Hammol had brought with the meal, then dampened a cloth, and returned to her side. He wanted to be the one to cleanse her, to part her legs and soothe those flushed folds, but instead he silently handed her the cloth. The color in her cheeks deepened as she dropped her eyes.

He knew he should move away, but instead he stood there watching as she put her hand beneath the blanket. He could imagine her fingers tracing those delicate folds, and it was almost as enticing as the thought of touching her himself. The hand under the blanket moved higher, traveling across those luscious breasts, and he realized she was wiping away his seed. A growl escaped before he could help himself, and she gave him a startled look.

He didn’t want her to remove his seed from her skin; he wanted her covered in his scent so that everyone would know she belonged to him. His hand was on her shoulder, his thumb stroking across the mating bite before he could stop himself. As he stroked it, she shivered, and he saw her nipples thrust against the blanket. He repeated the gesture, and the scent of her arousal deepened.

That reaction was only supposed to occur with a true mate, and once again he reminded himself that she couldn’t possibly be his. Perhaps the neck was an erogenous zone for her species. He tried to convince himself that was the answer as he finally moved away from her and went to collect the meal tray.

As always, the food was plentiful if not exciting. There were two reasons for the generous quantity. The first, of course, was that the Warden wanted the Undesirables strong enough to fight for his entertainment and for the entertainment of his clients—the deviants who paid to receive the feed of the illegal death matches. But he also knew that they were fed so that they would remain alive, so that whoever was responsible for their imprisonment in the Pit would know that they still suffered.

The reminder awoke his ever-present rage, and he was scowling as he brought the tray over to—

“What’s your name?” he barked.

“Amanda.”

A strange name, but soft and beautiful.

“The Warden called you Riker,” she continued. “Is that your name?”

He nodded. Close enough. The honors and titles that had once followed it were no more.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Her stomach gurgled in response, and once again the color in her cheeks deepened. How adorable that she was embarrassed by the sounds of her body.

Adorable? He was losing his fucking mind.

“I guess it’s obvious,” she said with a shy smile. “What is this?”

“Grains in this bowl. These are savots, a type of vegetable, although so overcooked they’re difficult to recognize. And this is sarlan steak.”

His chef would once have been ashamed to present such a simple meal, but she only nodded and reached for an eating instrument. Then she hesitated and looked at him.

“Do you mind sharing this with me?”

“Of course not. I only wish it was more suitable.”

Fuck. One taste of her and he was already acting like an adoring mate. Two tastes, he amended, remembering her neck beneath his mouth. His cock throbbed at the reminder, but he stomped over to his small supply of clothing and yanked on a pair of training shorts.

She was not his mate; she was a complication at the worst possible time. He would not allow her to distract him.

CHAPTER SIX

T hey ate in silence, but Amanda found herself surveying her companion from under her lashes. He confused her. She had seen for herself the violence of which he was capable, and yet he hadn’t hurt her. He obviously desired her—even now she could see his erection pressing against his shorts—but he hadn’t forced himself on her. He spoke harshly to her, but he seemed far more concerned with her comfort than his own.

“What did you do to get sent here?” he asked suddenly.

A hysterical laugh threatened to escape. “Do? I didn’t do anything. I was in my own apartment watching television and crying over a man who wasn’t worth the tears.”

Rage crossed his face so quickly she shrank away.

“You were taken? For this?”

“I don’t think they specifically had the prison in mind, but I heard something about the highest bidder.”

“I will kill all of them.”

That was actually kind of… touching. And given the grim expression on his face, he was quite sincere.

“Thank you, but I think that would be a little difficult from in here,” she said, trying for a lighter tone.

An odd expression flickered across his face, so fast that she almost missed it.

“Are you planning on getting out?” she whispered, her voice so low it was barely audible.

He looked at her, then put an enormous hand over her breast, stroking his thumb back and forth across her nipple and letting her feel the faintest prickle of his claw through the blanket. Her teeth closed over her lower lip as sparks of excitement shot through her body.

Was he trying to distract her? Or was he implying that he might be willing to take her with him in return for a sexual relationship?

Before she’d been taken, she would have insisted that she’d never use her body that way. Now she wasn’t quite so sure. Would it really be so bad, she wondered, looking back at him. Her body responded to him in a way she had never responded to anyone before, but paradoxically, he also made her feel safe.

The blanket started to slide down off her shoulder, and his eyes locked on the bare skin, then moved to the place where he had bitten her. Something else she couldn’t read crossed his face.

“You need clothing,” he growled.

It was the last thing she had expected him to say.

“You destroyed my dress,” she reminded him. The flimsy scraps still glittered in the corner.

“I’m not sure that it served any useful purpose,” he said dryly, surprising her again with a flash of humor.

“But I don’t suppose I can just send for a tailor to whip me up another one?” she asked.

“No. But I think I can contrive something. Although you will have to give up part of that blanket you’re clutching so tightly.”

Her fingers tightened on the rough cloth.

“It’s cold in here.”

“I’ll keep you warm,” he promised, the flames dancing in his eyes again.

He used those frighteningly sharp claws to tear away a portion of the blanket, then created a rough but serviceable tunic that slipped over her head. The sides were open, but he used another strip of the blanket to form a crude belt, and there was enough fabric to keep her mostly covered. She had to admit it was a relief to have both hands free, and she couldn’t help grinning at him.

“My personal tailor.”

His eyes heated, and her heart rate increased. Then he frowned and turned away, leaving her feeling oddly disappointed.

A distant gong sounded as the cell door swung open. Her heart leaped into her throat. Were they being set free?

“Why is the door open?” she whispered.

“To allow access to the training rooms.” His fingers brushed her arm. “I’m sorry, little bird. Just because the cage door is open doesn’t mean you’ve been set free.”

“Oh.” She sagged back down on the cot, the sudden hope making her feel her captivity even more. “Why?” she eventually thought to ask.

“We are… encouraged to exercise.”

“So you can fight?”

“Exactly.” He looked at the open cell door, then back at her. “But not today.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t believe you will be safe if I leave.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You do not need to thank me. I am no longer a good male. I have killed. These hands have caused more damage than you could possibly imagine.”

She followed his gaze down to those big scarred hands and the vicious claws. She believed him—and yet he had never touched her with anything other than gentleness.

“Is that why you’re here?”

For a moment she thought he would change the subject again, but in the end he shrugged.

“I thought I was here because someone I was… caring for died while under my protection.”

“A female?”

“No!” He actually looked horrified. “Why would you make that assumption?”

“You said you cared for them.”

“I said I was caring for them,” he corrected. “I was responsible for their safety, and I failed.”

“You said that’s why you thought you were here.”

“I eventually found out that I—that we—had been betrayed. That’s why I’m an Undesirable.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means that someone wants to be very sure that you suffer.” He shrugged. “Some of us deserve it. But perhaps not all.”

“I don’t believe you deserve it.”

“Thank you, little bird.” He started to say something then shook his head. “Never mind. Tell me about your world.”

She let him change the subject, but as she told him about her life on Earth, it already seemed far away. The vivid reality of the prison—and of Riker—felt much more real than accounting and departmental meetings. They talked on and off throughout the day, although he was far less forthcoming about his past. The one thing he let slip was that he had two brothers, but he immediately changed the subject.

He didn’t touch her again, but she felt his eyes on her. She was equally aware of him, especially when he decided to exercise in the cell, his muscles straining until his skin gleamed. Most of the damage he had suffered in the fight had already healed, and he looked even more impressive. Her body responded to the display, but although she saw his nostrils flare and suspected that he was aware of her arousal, he still didn’t make a move.

The same guard—Hammol, she thought Riker had called him—brought their evening meal. He looked at Amanda’s dress, then burst into laughter.

“First time I’ve ever seen one of you males put clothes on a female.”

Riker was once again chained, but he managed to shrug, his voice casual. “I told you. I don’t share. No one else looks at my… prize.”

Before Hammol left the cell, he walked over to Riker and murmured something in his ear.

She wanted to ask him about it, but he seemed oddly distracted for the rest of the evening. When the lights dimmed, he joined her on the narrow cot. Although he put his arms around her, and she could feel the pressure of his erection against her stomach, he didn’t do anything else.

I’m not disappointed, she told herself, but she knew she was lying.

She eventually fell asleep, only to wake up half on top of him again. She looked up to find him awake and watching her.

“Are you going to try and escape again, little bird?”

“No.” The arousal that had taunted her all day yesterday hadn’t vanished, and he was so close and he smelled so good. She slid up his body and brushed her lips against his.

For a moment, he didn’t respond, but then she felt him sigh. He kissed her, his mouth gentle despite the tension she could feel in his body. When he lifted his head, he stroked a big finger across the mark he’d left on her neck, sending little ripples of pleasure through her body.

“Do you know what this is?”

“A bite?”

“We call it a mating mark. Does it excite you when I touch it?”

“Yes,” she admitted as he stroked it again. Her nipples were almost painfully hard where they pressed against his chest.

“We are not the same species. It shouldn’t be possible.”

He kissed his way down to the mark and drew it into his mouth.

“It’s possible,” she gasped. The sensation was almost as intense as if he was sucking directly on her clit.

He growled softly against her neck and kept sucking at the spot, while his hands came up to tug at her nipples in the same rhythm. She rocked against him, swept along by the building excitement until she slipped over into a long, rolling climax.

AS AMANDA’S body softened against his, Riker finally admitted what he’d been fighting since the first time their eyes had met. She was his mate. No matter how impossible, no matter how different their species, he could no longer deny their connection.

The message Hammol had passed to him the previous night had confirmed that his brother was waiting. It was time to put in place the plan they had worked out so laboriously over the past year in snippets of coded messages. But the plan would have to be adjusted. He wasn’t leaving without his mate.

But first…

He rolled her under him, watching as her eyes widened. This time, there was no fear on her face. He bent his head and kissed her, letting the passion flare between them until she was moving restlessly beneath him. He rubbed his cock across that funny little outside clit until she gasped, then poised it at her entrance.

And heard the creak of the approaching meal cart, reminding him of exactly where they were.

Fuck!

They were not going to have their first mating in front of a leering guard. He quickly rolled off of her and yanked on his training shorts. She looked adorably confused, her mouth still swollen from his kisses and her nipples like tempting little berries before he pulled the blanket over them.

“Cuffs,” the guard ordered.

Not Hammol this time, but that was no longer important. He moved into position without argument, while Amanda watched silently from the cot. Fortunately, the guard did no more than leer in her direction before moving on.

“Is that why you stopped?” she asked as he brought the tray to her.

“Yes. I heard him coming.”

“Oh.” She shot him a glance from under her lashes. “But tonight…”

“As soon as the lights are lowered,” he promised.

Her cheeks darkened, but he saw the smile on her lips.

The promise of the coming night hung between them all day. While they talked and while he exercised. While he fed her the best tidbits from the limited meals. While she shyly bathed beneath the gown he had made for her.

His cock was so hard it ached, and he was afraid that he would explode as soon as he touched her, but no matter. He would have the rest of the night to make it up to her.

But just before the lights were scheduled to dim, he heard the sound of voices and looked up to find Ratchi outside the cell, accompanied by two guards.

“What are you doing here?” he growled.

“Warden Nazort has reconsidered his decision.”

What? If that scaly little bastard thought he could take Riker’s female, he was sadly mistaken. But despite the anger raging through his veins, he’d never felt more helpless. The only way he could think of to protect Amanda was by pretending not to care.

“Oh?” he asked, doing his best to keep his voice casual.

“Your fight was quite… satisfactory. But our clients are demanding more. They wish to see you claim your prize.”

Watch their mating? “No.”

Ratchi ignored him. “From all angles. We will be installing additional cameras in your cell.”

“And I said no. She—I—am not some performing animal.”

“Oh, but you are.” Ratchi’s eyes flicked from him to Amanda, huddled silently against his side. “Now put your hands in the cuffs like a well-trained animal.”

“No.” He would not leave her undefended.

“If you do not, the guards will enter the cell and use the shock sticks.”

He didn’t care. It wouldn’t be the first time—

“On the female.”

He heard Amanda’s terrified gasp, despite the howling rage filling his head. The thought of burn marks on her delicate skin made him feel physically sick. It could be a bluff, but he couldn’t take the chance.

He couldn’t kiss her, couldn’t reassure her in front of them, but he let his hand trace across her back as he stood. Walking across to the other side of the cell, he heard her give a muffled sob, but he couldn’t look at her. He lifted his hands and waited for the cuffs to snap into place.

“Excellent. I told the Warden you could be reasoned with.”

Ratchi didn’t even look triumphant, simply complacent. He gestured for the guards to open the door to the cell.

Riker watched them enter, expecting them to begin installing the additional camera equipment. Instead, one of them walked over to the cot and hauled Amanda to her feet. He could see the male’s fingers digging into her soft flesh, but she refused to flinch. His brave female.

Then he realized the guard was taking her out of the cell.

“What are you doing with my… prize?” He forced out the last word.

Ratchi came closer. “Teaching you a lesson. You are an Undesirable. You are never leaving the Pit. And while you are here, you will obey whatever orders you are given.”

The lizard sauntered away, his tail swinging, but turned back when he reached the door.

“But don’t worry. She will be returned to you. Alive, but perhaps not entirely… undamaged.”

“I will kill anyone who touches her!” he roared, tugging frantically at his chains. He could feel one start to loosen with the force of his grip, and he yanked harder, but then the remaining guard hit him with the shock stick. The voltage sent a spike of agony through his body, but he ignored it. They were not taking his female away from him.

He continued fighting, even as more electricity arced into his body, as the smell of burnt flesh began to fill the cell. Despite his efforts, his vision eventually grew dark and he slumped forward in the chains. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was Amanda looking at him with wide, frightened eyes.

CHAPTER SEVEN

A manda watched in horror as Riker lost consciousness, dangling helplessly from his chains, his big body covered with burns.

“Let me go,” she demanded, trying to wrestle her way free from Bezor’s bruising grip on her arm.

“Shut up,” he snapped. “Or do you want to taste this as well?”

He pressed a button on the stick, and a spark of electricity arced from the top. If it had been capable of taking out Riker, there was no doubt it could take her down much more easily. She glared at him, but stopped struggling.

“You seem pretty fond of that animal,” Bezor sneered.

“Yes,” Ratchi agreed, inspecting her face. He had seemed so nervous and ineffectual in the Warden’s presence, but now she suspected it had been nothing more than an act. “This could prove most useful. In the meantime, proceed with your instructions.”

He turned and walked away as Bezor marched her down the twisting tunnel.

“Don’t forget the breeding liquid,” the other guard said.

“I don’t think she needs it. She can’t keep her hands off Riker.”

Her act had obviously been convincing. Because it wasn’t an act, she thought.

The guard shrugged. “Warden’s orders. And you know what S’quent is like. She might need to get him started.”

They both laughed, and she shuddered. They were giving her to another prisoner? One they thought was worse than Riker?

Of course, he had turned out to be unexpectedly sweet. Maybe this one wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe he’d listen if she told him that she was already committed.

Committed? The word popped to the front of her mind before she even considered it, but it felt… right. She didn’t want to be with anyone else. If the door opened right now and the most gorgeous man on Earth walked through, she would still rather be with Riker.

Maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome, she thought, fingering the bite mark on her neck. It felt like much more. He had fought for her, he had won her, and he had taken care of her. In the brief time they’d been together, she’d never felt safer. And he seemed truly fascinated by her, not just her body.

She was still turning the revelation over in her mind when the guards stopped at another cave. This one contained two desks and had no bars separating it from the corridor. An office of some type.

Bezor picked up a small vial of pink fluid from the closest desk and handed it to her.

“Drink this.”

She started to raise it to her lips, even though she had absolutely no intention of obeying his command, then tried to dash it to the ground. Unfortunately, he clamped his hand painfully around both the vial and her fist.

“So predictable.” He shrugged. “Hold her, Porcha.”

Despite her best efforts, in the end they managed to force her jaw open and send most of the liquid down her throat. More landed on her face and neck, but they seem to think she had swallowed enough.

It left a lingering sticky sweetness in her mouth and on her skin, but it wasn’t as unpleasant as she had feared. Until she looked at the guards and realized that both of them were rubbing their crotches.

“That’s some powerful stuff,” Bezor said hoarsely, staring at her breasts. “Maybe we should take advantage of it.”

He grabbed his cock through his uniform, his meaning horribly clear.

Fortunately, Porcha seemed to have retained a little more control, even though he was touching himself as well.

“We can’t. Warden Nazort…”

The name seemed to shock a little bit of sense back into Bezor. He peered at her face.

“She doesn’t seem to be feeling it yet.”

He was right. She didn’t feel any different, although her skin felt a little flushed. Was she supposed to be driven out of her mind by lust as well?

“Maybe it takes longer with her species,” Porcha said, confirming her suspicion. “Or maybe we should give her another dose?”

Maybe it would help to get this ordeal over with if she pretended. She let her mouth fall open, and moaned a little, and they both grinned.

“That’s it, slut. Pretty soon you’ll be begging everyone in the prison to fuck you.”

The thought horrified her, but as they dragged her down the tunnel, taking every opportunity to rub themselves lewdly against her, she still didn’t feel anything other than that slight warmth on her skin. Terrified that they might give her more—and that it would be more effective—she did her best to act as if it was working. She couldn’t quite bring herself to press against them in return, but she continued to moan and pant.

They came to a halt outside another cell, but this one seemed different from the rest. Instead of the standard cave, a long slit stretched back into the rock. Except for a thin sliver at the entrance, everything was in shadow. An atavistic fear of the dark sent a shiver through her body, but fortunately the guards seem to assume it was just another indication of lust.

“You don’t know what you’re in for,” Bezor sneered as he grabbed her ass.

It took everything she had not to fight back, afraid of what would happen if she revealed she wasn’t under the sway of the liquid.

Porcha pressed up against her other side, and for a terrible moment, she thought they would forget their orders. But then a huge, dark figure appeared at the edge of the shadows. Even then, the light seemed to avoid him, making it almost impossible to make out his shape and size. The only thing that was really visible was a pair of glowing silver eyes, and based on their position, he was easily as tall as Riker.

“Did you bring me a present?” he asked, his voice like rough velvet.

“Yeah. Compliments of the Warden.”

“She looks like a tasty little morsel, but you know I don’t play.”

Bezor gave his companion a baffled look, still rubbing against her. “Now what?”

“Maybe we should just keep her for ourselves.”

They crowded closer, and she couldn’t help but cast a desperate glance at the shadowy figure. No matter how bad he might be, at least there was only one of him. And his voice had sounded much more refined than these two.

She thought she heard a distant sigh, and then he stepped forward.

“Very well. I’ll take her.”

He had to repeat himself before his words penetrated the guards’ increasing lust, but they finally grunted and Bezor unlocked the door to the cell and thrust her inside with a last painful squeeze of her ass. She stumbled forward, right into that big body. His skin was as velvety as his voice. He reached down to steady her, then froze, looking over her head at the guards.

“What did you give her?”

Bezor sniggered. “The breeding fluid, of course. We don’t want her screaming the place down.”

His last words were obviously less than sincere as both of the guards laughed again. “Better take advantage of that. She goes back to Riker tomorrow.”

I do? A wave of relief swept over her, even though she was still far too close to the stranger’s body. She just had to get through tonight.

He grunted and started to pull her back into the darkness.

“Hey,” Porcha protested. “We want to see.”

“I assure you I can see quite well,” her captor—who she assumed must be S’quent—assured them and kept going.

She heard some muttering about no cameras there, but the voices faded in the muffled darkness of the back of the cell. To her eyes, it was completely impenetrable.

“Can you really see?” she asked.

“Oh, yes, little morsel. I can see every inch of that tempting little body.” His enormous hand skimmed down her side. He didn’t hurt her, or even touch her in an obviously sexual manner, but she was all too aware of the power in that big hand. He hesitated. “You are not aroused.”

It was not a question, but she stuttered an answer. “N-No.”

“Despite the breeding fluid.” His voice had dropped, rocks beneath the velvet now.

Even in the darkness, she could feel him moving closer, felt the brush of his breath as he bent down and inhaled.

“Interesting.” His voice sounded oddly strained, but he stepped away from her.

As he did, the chill from the cold stone walls began to seep into her bones. She stood uncertainly in the darkness, not sure what to do.

“There is a bed behind you. Two steps back. Well, perhaps four of your steps.”

“B-Bed?”

“Don’t worry, little morsel. I have never fancied an unwilling meal.” He hesitated. “Perhaps that is not entirely truthful, but I will not force you.”

“I’m fine right here. I don’t want to take your bed.”

“Lie down,” he ordered, his voice gravelly again. “Do not argue with everything I say.”

“Didn’t any of you ever learn the word please?” she muttered as she took a hesitant step back.

His laughter was unexpectedly appealing as it rolled over her body.

“Apparently not. Please lie down, morsel. I promise I will not take advantage of your luscious body.”

Somehow, she believed him. She fumbled her way back to the cot and lay down. The heavy darkness surrounded her, but she could hear the faint sound of his breathing and it comforted her. Tomorrow, she would be going back to Riker. She held onto that thought until she finally fell asleep.

CHAPTER EIGHT

W hen Amanda awoke, she was tucked firmly against a big warm body. For a moment, she thought she was back with Riker and snuggled closer, but then she realized that he didn’t feel right, didn’t smell right, and she remembered S’quent. Why was he holding her? She immediately started to struggle away from him but he clamped a leathery blanket around her body, holding her in position.

“Do not struggle, little morsel,” he warned her. His voice was hoarse and strained again, and she could feel his erection pressing against her back. She froze.

As soon as she stopped trying to get away, his grip relaxed, but he did not let her go entirely. The blanket was still wrapped around her and she couldn’t move her arms.

“Why are you here?” she whispered. “You told me you wouldn’t sleep with me.”

“Actually, I believe I said I wouldn’t fuck you.” His erection pulsed at the words, and she had to clench her hands to remain still. “But I’m here because you were cold and shivering in your sleep.”

“I’m fine now. You can let me go.” She did her best to sound confident, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“There is something we must discuss first.” He sounded distracted, and his hips moved, rocking gently against her butt.

She couldn’t help the sob that caught in her throat, and he stopped moving.

“You arouse my more primitive instincts,” he said. It was not exactly an apology, but at least he was no longer pressed quite so tightly against her body.

“What did you want to discuss?”

“I cannot let you leave this cell unscathed.”

Her pulse beat a rapid tattoo in her throat, but she managed not to move. “Why not?”

“It would be dangerous, for both of us. I have a certain… reputation. If the Warden decides that I would be softened by a female, he would hold that over me.”

She could see his point—the Warden was already playing that game with Riker—but…

“Why would that be dangerous for me? Not that I don’t understand what you’re saying,” she added hastily.

“Because if they do not think I am a significant enough threat to yank Riker’s chain, they will try again. And there are many in here who are far, far worse than I. I still have some pretension to being a civilized male.”

She shivered. “I guess I was just lucky they put me in here with you.”

“You’re lucky that you were smart enough not to panic and fight me. And that I have enough self-control left to overcome my instincts.”

His erection was pressing against her ass again.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked hastily, trying to distract him.

“I’m going to tear your garment.” That didn’t sound too bad. “Then I will use my claws on you. A single strike on each wrist—as if you had tried to fight me off.”

Her pulse sped up. “Will it hurt?”

“Yes.” He hesitated, then added, “I can soothe the pain afterwards, but you must pretend to be hurt.”

“I can do that,” she whispered.

“Do not struggle,” he warned her. “Or my instincts may take over.”

She nodded, knowing that he could see her in the darkness. He struck immediately, ripping her makeshift dress open at the neckline, then pinning her on her back and raking his claws down both arms. Lines of fiery pain followed the marks, but then he licked her. A soothing warmth immediately spread out from where his tongue touched her, and the burning pain faded to a sharp sting, no worse than a careless fingernail.

“That’s better,” she admitted, but he didn’t seem to hear. He kept licking, his tongue curling sensuously around her arm. His hips were beginning to grind against her again.

“S’quent,” she whispered frantically. “It’s fine.”

“What?” His voice sounded dreamy, almost drugged.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Mmm.” He licked her again, and a tear crept down her cheek.

“Please, stop.” This time, she seemed to get through to him, and he finally raised his mouth and moved his body away from hers.

“You are far too tempting, little morsel.”

“Maybe I should go now,” she suggested, and realized she really didn’t have a choice as to when she could leave.

“As it turns out, you are correct. I hear the guards coming.”

She felt the shift in the air as he stood, and then a strong hand fastened gently over hers as he lifted her effortlessly to her feet. He kept her hand in his as he led her back down the narrow cave and around the corner to where she could see the bars and the tunnel beyond.

“Remember, you are hurt and terrified.”

Both sensations were a little too close to the surface, but he had not really hurt her and she suspected he could have done a lot worse to her. He was still within the shadows of the cave and she could barely see him, but she lifted up on her tiptoes and cautiously pulled his head down. She pressed a kiss to the velvety softness of his cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

His whole body tensed, and for a moment she thought she had made a mistake, but then he sighed.

“Tell Riker he is a very lucky male.” There was a clatter in the distance. “Now run to the bars, sobbing. They must believe you are anxious to leave.”

She nodded, even though acting wasn’t one of her strengths, but then he took a step towards her and for the first time she really saw him. As she suspected, he was enormous, as large as Riker, but he was far less human. Silver eyes gleamed from a smooth skull with tall pointed ears, and he growled, showing long sharp fangs. Huge leathery wings unfurled and beat at the air, and he looked more like a bat than a man.

Her shocked scream echoed down the tunnel and the fright in her voice was genuine as she raced to the bars. As soon as she gripped the metal, she was ashamed of herself. No matter what he looked like, he had been kind to her. She wished she could apologize, but right now, she had a performance to put on.

She clung to the bars, sobbing, desperately hoping that they would return her to Riker.

Bezor strolled leisurely up to the entrance of the cage. He smirked as he took in the long scratches on her arms and the tear in her dress.

“Did you enjoy that, slut?” He scowled over her back at S’quent, who had returned to the shadows. “I’m surprised you took it that easy on her.”

S’quent’s voice was cold, casual. “She wasn’t much of a challenge. I grew bored.”

Bezor shook his head as he unlocked the cage and pulled Amanda out.

“You animals are too dumb to take advantage of a good thing.”

Bezor had barely finished talking when a thickly muscled arm covered in black velvet skin reached through the bars and yanked him up against them.

“I am not as easily satisfied as you pathetic worms. I have soared with the finest.”

Bezor scrabbled for the shock stick, but S’quent had already released him and retreated back into the shadows.

“You’ll pay for that,” Bezor snarled.

“You’re much braver when there are bars between us.” S’quent’s momentary anger was replaced by mockery.

Bezor hesitated, but he appeared unable to think of a comeback. Instead, he hauled Amanda up the tunnel, moving so quickly that she almost had to run to keep up with him.

When they reached Riker’s cell, he was still in the manacles but he was conscious. He roared at the sight of her, then went deadly still when he saw the marks on her arms, small beads of blood clearly apparent.

“What have you done to her?” His voice was low and deadly.

“Whatever we wanted,” Bezor sneered, but Amanda could hear the nervousness beneath the bravado. “Now are you going to be a good boy and give the Warden his performance?”

“Yes,” Riker said at once.

“Good. So you are capable of being trained.” Bezor opened the cell and shoved Amanda inside.

She rushed over to Riker, reaching him just as the manacles finally released. She tried to examine his healing burns, but he was far more concerned with her. He raised her arms to examine the scratches and growled.

“They took you to S’quent.”

“Yes, but—”

“I can smell him on you.”

“He didn’t hurt me,” she whispered, casting a nervous glance over her shoulder to see if Bezor was listening.

The guard was still there, his smile growing as the rage washed over Riker’s face.

“He dared to touch what is mine?” he roared.

He brought her arms to his mouth, licking frantically at the wounds. What was it with the licking? And why did it feel so weirdly exciting? She was suddenly aware that her nipples had turned to hard little pebbles beneath the rough fabric of her gown. His nostrils flared, and then he growled again, more softly this time, as he put a big arm beneath her ass and lifted her higher.

He kept bathing the wounds with his tongue, while his hand flexed on her butt.

Her arousal continued to build, even though she was still vaguely conscious of Bezor at the bars. Riker finally abandoned the claw marks as his mouth moved up her arms and over her shoulders. When he reached her neck, he froze again.

“They used the breeding fluid on you? I will kill them all.”

He started to put her down, clearly intent on inflicting as much damage as he possibly could, but he was still covered with the marks from his last rebellion. She clamped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, refusing to let go.

“It didn’t work on me,” she whispered frantically into his ear.

“You are aroused.”

“Because you’re touching me. You’re the only one I want.”

Perhaps he could hear the truth in her words, because the next minute she was on her back on the cot again. She heard the rip of cloth, and some distant part of her mind knew that he’d destroyed another dress, but she didn’t care. She was as frantic for him as he was for her.

“You smell like him,” he growled as he nuzzled closer. He abandoned her shoulder and went directly to her breasts, his mouth closing fiercely over her nipple. He wasn’t sweet or gentle, but he was exactly what she needed, and she arched against his mouth with a cry, her fingers tangling in his hair and brushing the base of his horns. He sucked harder, drawing her deep into his mouth and scraping the taut peak with his fangs before switching to the other breast.

She felt an answering pulse in her swollen clit, and she could scent her own arousal. A big hand parted her legs, and then a thick digit plunged into her channel, sending her flying into a sudden, shocking climax. He didn’t even pause, his finger continuing to work her body as his thumb swept across the hard little pearl of her clit. A second finger, stretching her and setting her nerve endings aflame. He barely paused before adding a third digit, sending her into a second climax.

“You’re ready,” he grunted, and then his fingers were gone. The broad head of his cock pressed against her entrance, but he paused, staring down at her face intently.

“Yes, my Amanda?”

“Oh, yes.”

He entered her in one long hard stroke, her body struggling to adjust to the massive invader, but once again, he didn’t pause. He pulled back immediately, and she felt every one of those hard ridges scraping her sensitive inner walls and sending her senses spiraling. The second thrust was easier, and by the third she was rising to meet him.

Her legs wrapped around his hips and he drew her closer with one big hand, so much like that first time, but this time, she had never wanted anything more. His mouth was at her neck, his fangs tracing the previous mark. She latched onto him as well, his skin hot and salty against her tongue. As he pounded harder into her willing body, his rhythm disappearing in his urgency, she clamped down with her teeth. He howled, his cock buried so deep inside her that it felt as if he were part of her, and she felt the hot liquid pulses filling her overstretched channel as the base of his cock expanded, locking them together.

CHAPTER NINE

A s Amanda slowly became aware of her surroundings, she heard Bezor mutter something about better angles as he stomped away. Even in his frantic haste, Riker had managed to shield her from the guard’s view. But how long would that last, she wondered, with the threat of more cameras hanging over their heads. If he tried to fight it, she would be taken from him again.

“Fuck it, I don’t care,” she whispered to him.

“What?” He raised his head, his face shocked, and she realized how he must have interpreted her words.

“I don’t care about the cameras,” she explained quickly. “As long as we’re together, I don’t care.”

His face relaxed for a moment, then he slowly shook his head. “If that were the only price we had to pay to be together, I would gladly pay it. But the Warden will never allow you to remain with me.”

Despair crept over her, and her hands clenched on his shoulders. His cock flexed in response, still locked inside her, and her pussy fluttered around him. He growled and licked the mark on her neck.

“You must be still, my mate, or my knot will never subside.”

She shivered at the tantalizing promise. The stretching sensation was keeping her body hovering on the edge of climax, and part of her wanted to forget the future and be swept away in the pleasure of the now. But the threat of separation was too frightening to ignore.

“What are we going to do?” she whispered.

“You remember that first day, when you asked me if I had a way out?”

She nodded, but couldn’t resist a small reminder. “I remember you grabbed my tit as well.”

“It is worth grabbing,” he said solemnly, but she could see the flash of humor in his eyes. “I was attracted to you even then.”

“I’m pretty sure I managed to figure that out,” she said dryly.

“As you were attracted to me.”

She couldn’t deny it. The connection had existed between them since the moment he had looked up at her from the floor of the arena.

“Do you have a plan?” she asked, returning to the original subject.

“Yes, but it is very dangerous, little bird.”

“More dangerous than remaining here?”

“Yes. If we are caught, we will be separated and I will not be able to protect you. You are fresh and soft and beautiful. Every male here will fight for you.”

He didn’t say anything else, but the implications were only too clear. She would be tossed to the winner at the Warden’s discretion.

“Then we mustn’t get caught,” she said, doing her best to look confident. “When?”

He rubbed his arm. “Tonight.”

“Tonight?” That seemed alarmingly close. It had been one thing to discuss the matter when it was in the future, but knowing that it was only a few hours away sent a shiver of dread down her spine.

Riker had been watching her intently, and he lifted a gentle hand to her cheek. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she whispered, then repeated firmly, “Yes. It’s the only way we can be together.”

“And is that what you want?”

“Yes. I want to be with you, Riker.” The words emerged before she could call them back, but she had known since last night. This huge, fierce alien was her other half.

“I want to be with you too, Amanda. You are the mate I have always wanted.” He bent his head and kissed her, so slowly and thoroughly that her toes curled. He was actually smiling when he lifted his head, his face softer than she had ever seen it. “But as much as I would like to celebrate that statement the way it deserves, we need to prepare.”

“I understand. As soon as we are free, we can celebrate as much as you want.”

“I will hold you to that,” he said, his teeth scraping her bite mark and making her quiver. “And we will be celebrating for a very long time.”

The rest of the day seemed to drag on interminably. Riker’s knot finally subsided and he pulled free, leaving her a little sore, a lot satisfied, and more worried than ever about being separated from him. She was a nervous wreck by the time the lights finally dimmed. Riker showed no sign of nerves, although he was clearly unhappy about her proposed change to his plan.

Now as Bezor approached, she sauntered over to the bars, letting the torn neckline of her makeshift dress fall open. The dress hadn’t been completely ruined after all, although he’d torn open most of the front, and the longer gap revealed more of her breasts. Bezor’s eyes focused there immediately, then he frowned past her at Riker’s body, slumped on the cot.

“What’s wrong with him?”

She giggled. “I think I wore him out. That stuff you gave me has made me very… needy.”

“Still?” he asked suspiciously.

“Maybe that’s the way it works on us humans.” Before he had a chance to question her further, she popped a finger in her mouth and sucked on it, before letting the damp digit trail down into the valley between her breasts. “Can you help me?”

“Are you sure he’s asleep?”

She pouted. “Positive. And he talked such a big game too. But if you’re worried, you have that stick thing.”

“I’m not worried about any of these animals,” he said, puffing out his chest, but she noticed that he kept his hand on the end of the shock stick as he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Better make this quick.” He reached down to unfasten his belt.

Hoping she was successfully concealing her disgust, she shimmied towards him, deliberately moving to the other side of the cell so he wouldn’t be looking directly at the cot. His eyes focused hungrily on her fingers as she untied the crude belt and slowly started to part the front of her dress.

“Hurry—”

Riker rose up silently behind him. He grabbed Bezor’s head in both hands, and twisted. A sharp crack reverberated through the cell, then the guard’s body slumped to the ground.

She stared at it in shock. It had all happened so quickly.

“You killed him.”

He shrugged. “I told him I would if he touched you.”

Bending over the guard’s body, he grabbed the device and the shock stick from Bezor’s belt. He did a quick check and pulled a knife from the guard’s boot, then glanced over at her. “Amanda?”

“I’m ready,” she said quickly, and retied her belt. Time to go.

RIKER DUMPED Bezor’s body on the cot and covered it with the remains of the blanket. It wouldn’t pass a close inspection, but it might buy them a few extra minutes.

He grabbed Amanda’s hand and they ran. He kept her close to his side as they raced through the maze of silent tunnels. They would have made better time if he carried her, but he wanted to keep his hands free in case he needed to fight.

A noise ahead made him dart down another tunnel, drawing back into the shadows as a guard strolled past the end of it.

“So the morsel and her victor are on the run,” a voice drawled from behind him.

Fuck. S’quent.

The bastard who had touched his female. Rage flared in his veins, and he took a step closer to the male’s cage. S’quent raised a challenging brow.

“Riker, what are you doing?” Amanda hissed.

“He touched you.”

“I told you he didn’t hurt me,” she said, tugging at his hand. “In fact, he was very nice to me. Maybe we could let him out as well?”

“No,” he growled.

“Probably wise,” S’quent agreed, his eyes going to Amanda. “I might be tempted to take the morsel away from you.”

“You could try,” he snarled. “And you would be dead.”

S’quent sighed. “As you will be if you don’t stop waving your cock around and get moving.”

“But—”

“No, Amanda,” he snapped, her anxiety over the male grating on his nerves.

The other male’s eyes seemed to soften slightly as he looked at her worried face. “No need to worry about me, morsel. Now go.”

Riker grabbed her before she could continue protesting and started running again. He knew she was tiring, but she managed to keep up until they emerged in the arena.

“Now what?” she panted.

“Climb on my back.”

She gave him a wary look but obeyed. As soon as he was sure she had a secure hold, he started to climb. The rough rock walls provided plenty of purchase for his claws, and he made rapid progress towards the viewing platform. Amanda’s arms squeezed his neck and he could feel her trembling, but she didn’t protest.

When he climbed over the railing and onto the platform, he bent over to let her down. Her face was pale, but she gave him a shaky smile. “Did I ever mention I was scared of heights?”

“You’re very brave, little bird. But we have to keep moving.”

As he had planned, Bezor’s device gave them access to the elevator at the end of the tunnel. He punched the top floor, then pulled Amanda against him as it rose with excruciating slowness. At any moment, he expected it to grind to a halt, the doors to spring open, and a phalanx of guards to confront them. But when it finally stopped, the doors opened to reveal a silent corridor.

This section was used primarily for storage, but he used the hard-bought information he’d acquired to make his way to an outer door, and from there onto the narrow walkway that circled the prison. They had emerged in a corner by one of the guard towers—towers that the Warden had been too cheap to staff once he realized how effective the barren plain and the dangerous jungle were in providing natural wards.

He took a cautious look over the wall, then crouched back down and cursed. He cursed the universe, the gods, his damnable luck, and most of all, he cursed S’quent. The bastard must have raised the alarm as soon as they were out of sight. The courtyard below swarmed with guards, and even as he watched, the heavy blast door separating the prison from the spaceship hangar swung closed.

He looked down at Amanda. Her eyes were wide and scared, but she hadn’t made a sound.

“This isn’t good, is it?” she whispered.

“No. Under other circumstances, I would still be willing to take the chance.” His blood sang at the thought of that battle, but the odds were not in his favor and now he had Amanda to consider. “And if that is what you want, I will take on all of them.”

“But?”

“But if I don’t win, we will be separated forever.” And he would most likely be dead, but that was irrelevant.

“We can’t go back!”

“You could,” he suggested, even though every atom of his being protested the idea. “The Warden might—”

“No.” Her hand tightened on his arm as she tried to smile up at him. “We’ll go out together, like Bonnie and Clyde. I’d rather die with you than go back alone.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her that death was probably the best of her options. Unless…

The sheer outer wall of the prison complex dropped down to a rocky, barren plain that stretched to a line of darker vegetation far in the distance. They would have to make it across the plain before the sun came up, and even if they reached the jungle, they were far from safe. Almost everything on this planet was poisonous or venomous or both. But all they had to do was survive long enough for him to figure out a way to communicate with his brother.

“There is another possibility,” he said slowly, as he ran his hand over the surface of the outer wall.

“What is it?”

“We can take our chances on the surface. Disappear into the jungle.”

“Down there?” Her hands trembled as she followed his gaze down the wall.

“Yes. I can handle the climb.”

“The Warden said the planet was deadly. Was that a lie?”

“No.” He felt his lips curve into a fierce grin. “But I’m just as deadly. Especially when it comes to protecting my mate.”

She looked up at him, and then she smiled back, a little shaky, but just as fierce. “Then what are we waiting for?”

He bent down so that she could climb onto his back. Her legs wrapped around him as he carefully swung his body over the wall, testing the surface. Faint lines indicated the places where the panels had been joined together. They were little more than tiny cracks, but they would be enough. Excitement pulsed through his veins as he began the treacherous descent. He had his mate at his side and a planet to conquer. They would survive. Together.

INTERLUDE

“Well?” Warden Nazort demanded.

Ratchi pretended to flinch, already anticipating the other male’s wrath. “We didn’t find their bodies on the plain.”

“How can that be? It’s too far to cross in a single night, even for a beast like Riker.” The Warden scowled. “What about the female?”

“No sign of her either. But a predator could have taken the body,” he added.

“True. She was a tasty little thing. You should have alerted me about the missing guard sooner—before they made it over the walls.”

Ratchi wouldn’t have discovered the body at all if he hadn’t decided to make sure that Riker had been sufficiently cowed by the threat to his female, but there was no point in arguing with the Warden.

“Yes, Warden,” he said obediently. “Do you want me to send a search party into the jungle?”

Fingers drummed impatiently on the desk before Warden Nazort finally shook his head. “No. We lost most of the males we sent last time. It’s already hard enough to find anyone who’s willing to take a job on this godsforsaken planet—I don’t want to have to replace anyone else. If that bastard did survive, let the jungle take care of him.”

He turned back to his datapad. “The revenue on the fight for the human female exceeds that of the last two fights combined. It seems I have discovered the right incentive. When can I obtain another one? Or perhaps two? I might want one for myself.”

Ratchi lowered his eyes and twisted his hands together. “They’re expensive, sir. And hard to come by.”

Warden Nazort waved a dismissive hand. “Sometimes you have to invest in order to accumulate. Find me a source. And I want them undamaged, do you hear? Even these animals want fresh females.”

Excellent. Ratchi hid his smile behind a shaky nod and hurried out of the room as the Warden turned back to his datapad. Warden Nazort was cruel and greedy—but he was also lazy and stupid, which created lots of opportunities for an enterprising male like Ratchi. He had plans to make.

Altrez waited patiently in the row of transport ships for his chance to unload, but beneath his nonchalant facade, his heart raced. A year’s worth of planning was about to come to fruition. If their plan had been successful, his brother Riker was already on his way to the spaceship hangar. He still found it impossible to believe that his oh-so-honorable brother had ended up here.

Riker was many things, but a criminal he was not. Altrez had far less respect for the law, and yet here he was, trying to break his brother out of prison. The irony would have made him smile if his nerves weren’t taut with anticipation.

Ahead of him, two guards were arguing with another vendor about the price of a case of Foldaran liquor. Perfect. That should keep them distracted while he created his diversion. He snuck another quick look at the vent shaft high on the wall separating the hangar from the prison watching for the signal. No sign yet.

A bright white light suddenly illuminated the already well-lit hangar, followed immediately by the drone of a distant alarm. Excitement raced through his veins. The alarms must indicate an escape. Had they discovered Riker’s absence already? It shouldn’t matter as long as his brother was already at the top of the walls.

But then a thick steel panel slid down over the hangar wall, sealing the entrance to the prison—and the vent shaft—behind it. Fuck. There were no other connections to the hangar from the prison. What were they going to do now?

A thick grey fist pounded on the door to his ship, startling him out of his desperate attempt to come up with an alternative plan. One of the Zammetan guards gestured impatiently at the door.

“Open up. We’re searching the ship.”

He forced himself to nod amiably as he released the locks.

“Sure. But why? Don’t tell me one of the prisoners has escaped.”

The guard snarled at him. “No one escapes from Folsom, understand me? And unless you want to remain here with the prisoners, you’d better keep your fucking mouth shut.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “Just asking.”

Thard, one of the guards he’d had dealings with in the past, shoved the first one away.

“Calm down, Piduk. Altrez has a big mouth, but he knows when to keep it shut. Let’s just get this stupid search over with. I told Ratchi no one could make it this far, but he insisted and you know what he’s like.”

So someone had escaped. It had to have been Riker, but why hadn’t he made it to the hangar? At least the fact that they were searching for him meant he was still alive.

As he desperately tried to think of a way to save his brother, he continued to play his part, scowling at the way Piduk was tossing his cargo around.

“Watch it! That’s valuable.”

Piduk ignored him, wreaking more unnecessary destruction before turning back to Thard. “Nothing.”

Somehow, it was even more discouraging to know that their plan could have worked. Piduk hadn’t found the concealed compartment where he’d intended to hide Riker.

“Go on now. Leave,” Piduk ordered.

“As soon as I rearrange my cargo,” he said, playing for time.

“I don’t give a fuck about your cargo. Just get the hell out of here.”

Altrez gave Thard a hopeful look, but the other guard just shrugged.

“Best be on your way.”

Reluctantly, he fired up his engines and lifted slowly into the air. The best he could do was keep his speed low enough to do an automated scan of the surface before he left the atmosphere. But he refused to give up hope just because this plan hadn’t worked. If there was one thing he was good at, it was scheming.

“Hang on, Riker. I’ll be back.”

CHAPTER TEN

T he sky along the horizon was beginning to lighten by the time they reached the edge of the plain, and Amanda’s body was limp with exhaustion. Even Riker looked tired, his face drawn in harsh lines as he lowered her to the ground. He had maintained a brutal pace throughout the night, carrying her for most of the journey. At her insistence he had let her down a few times to run beside him, but she couldn’t maintain his speed and he soon picked her up again.

The cracked black earth of the plain ended in a perfectly straight line where it met the jungle, the line extending out to both sides as far as she could see. Nothing crossed that barrier, not even a stray leaf or branch. The jungle looked dark and mysterious even in the growing daylight. The trunks of the trees were in dark shades of blue and purple, and many of the leaves of both the trees and the vines that twisted through their branches were in similar hues. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked at the alien landscape, the Warden’s warning echoing in her mind.

“Is it really that dangerous?” she asked.

Riker hesitated, then nodded. “It has many traps for the unwary. But I will protect you, little bird.”

Looking up at his big, strong figure, she couldn’t help but feel reassured. Even with his obvious exhaustion, he looked prepared to take on any battle. Her smile was a little shaky, but genuine.

“I know you’ll take care of me.”

“Then let us enter. I want to be as deep into the jungle as possible before full daylight.”

Given the clearly defined demarcation between the plain and the jungle, she almost expected they would have to push their way through some kind of forcefield. Instead, he simply pulled the branches of a bush aside and led her beneath the trees. Very little of the increasing daylight penetrated through the heavy canopy of trees. The air felt thick and damp, heavy with perfume from the dark, muted flowers.

Riker moved easily between the massive trunks, avoiding the tangled undergrowth whenever possible. Fortunately, the ground itself was mossy and thick with piles of discarded leaves, making it easy to walk.

“What happened back there?” she asked when he paused to look around. “Why doesn’t anything grow?”

“They cleared the ground before they built the prison,” he said absently, scanning the surrounding trees.

She swallowed uncomfortably at the thought of the destructive power it must have taken to eradicate all of the lush vegetation that surrounded them, but she was too tired to comment. She started to lean back against the trunk of the nearest tree, but Riker quickly pulled her away from it.

“Don’t do that. Look.”

He pointed at what she had assumed were natural knots in the trunk. When she looked closer, she realized that she could see the faint gleam of bone beneath the knotted bark. Each knot was formed around a small skeleton. She shivered and edged closer to Riker.

“Is this what the Warden meant when he said that everything out here was dangerous?”

“Not everything, but many things,” he admitted.

“But you know what to look out for?”

He hesitated for just a fraction too long before responding. “Most of them.”

“How—”

“Little bird, I’m happy to answer your questions, but we need to find a safe place to hide first. And rest.”

“Sorry.”

She gave him an apologetic smile, and he smiled back. The smile transformed his expression, and her breath caught. For a moment it didn’t matter that they were in the middle of an alien jungle—and probably being hunted by the guards. She was just glad they were together.

He started to pick her up again, but she shook her head.

“Why don’t you let me walk? That way you’ll have your hands free.”

He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Stay right behind me.”

She nodded and fell in place behind him. He moved through the jungle with surprising silence for a male of his size, his head up and eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. As the sky brightened overhead, she could make out more of the jungle, but the increasing light did very little to relieve the overall gloom.

Her legs ached, and she stumbled over a hidden root—or what she thought was a root. A thick vine reached up and seized her ankle, then started to curl up around her leg. She let out a startled squeak. Riker whirled around immediately and grabbed her, reaching down to slice through the vine with his knife. Even then, the part curled around her ankle did not want to let go, and he had to pry it loose. A trickle of fluid dripped out of the severed length, hissing slightly as it met the ground.

She clung to him, her body shaking.

“Perhaps I should carry you after all,” he said, his big hands stroking her back in a soothing line.

As much as she would have preferred to be in the safety of his arms, she could see his fatigue. She managed a shaky smile.

“No, it’s all right. I’ll just make sure to watch where I’m going.”

“Brave little bird.”

He gave her a quick hug, and then resumed the journey. She couldn’t see any discernible sign of a trail, but he moved confidently through the heavy vegetation as if he had a destination in mind. She wondered where they were going, but her curiosity soon disappeared as exhaustion took over. She stumbled again, over her own feet this time, and once again he turned back to her immediately. He took one look at her face and nodded.

“All right. I think this is far enough.”

“Far enough for what?”

“Far enough to discourage anyone that the Warden decides to send after us.”

Her fingers tightened on his arm. For some reason, she had assumed that if they made it this far, they were safe from pursuit.

“Do you think they will? Send someone after us, I mean?”

He hesitated, and she suspected he was trying to think of the best way to answer her.

“I’d rather know the truth,” she said.

“The truth is I don’t know. I don’t think it would be his first choice. I heard that the last time he sent guards into the jungle, most of them didn’t make it back.”

Well, she had asked for the truth.

“Does that mean we’re not going to survive either?”

He actually looked offended. “I am a much better warrior than the guards.” His hand cupped her cheek. “And I have someone far more precious to protect.”

“I know you’re better than them,” she said truthfully, remembering how easily he had disposed of Bezor.

“But to be on the safe side, I want us to be as hidden as possible.” He studied their surroundings again, then looked up into the trees. The immense trunks rose far overhead, and he nodded thoughtfully.

“I think we should take refuge above.”

“Up there?” She looked at him in dismay. The trip down the wall had been bad enough, but now he wanted them to climb back up? “I don’t think I can climb a tree.”

“I’ll carry you,” he promised, then hesitated again. “Under other circumstances, I would prefer to go up alone first, but until I’ve had a chance to study this territory, I don’t want to leave you alone down here.”

“I don’t want to be left either.”

He nodded and bent down, urging her to climb up on his back. She climbed on and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He stood easily, her weight not seeming to trouble him in the least, and gave her crossed ankles a reassuring pat.

Without any additional warning, he started to climb. Her arms and legs tightened around him instinctively, but he didn’t slow down. The muscles of his back and shoulders moved easily beneath her grip, and she concentrated on them rather than the rapidly receding ground. He climbed with astonishing ease, and she realized that his claws helped him find purchase on the rough bark. But despite the speed of his climb, they continued to move upwards for several minutes before he finally came to a halt.

“I think this will do.”

She didn’t respond, still clinging to him, her eyes firmly closed.

“You can let go now, little bird,” he said gently and unlocked her ankles.

She reluctantly slid down his back until her feet touched something firm, and finally opened her eyes. They were in something that looked almost like a nest wedged in the angle where a broad branch met the trunk. A tangled maze of vines and vegetation formed a shallow bowl that was at least six foot in diameter.

“Are you sure? You don’t think something… lives here, do you?”

He shook his head. “There are no signs of droppings nor any traces of food. There might have been once, but if so, it was long ago. I’m not aware of any large avians either,” he added, looking around at the interwoven vines. “It may be that there was something smaller here originally and it’s just gradually accumulated more vegetation over the years.”

“If you say so,” she said doubtfully. “How do you know so much about the planet?”

He settled down against the curved wall of the nest and pulled her down with him. “The reason I know so much is because this was the original escape plan—to cross into the jungle and then make my way to a pickup point.”

“Who was going to pick you up?”

“My brother.” Just like the few times he had mentioned his family while they were in the cell, his face turned stern and forbidding.

“You don’t look very happy about it.”

He sighed. “My relationship with my brothers has been… troubled for some time. But Altrez was the one who came looking for me. He bribed a guard to start transmitting messages to me—that’s how I learned that I’d been betrayed.”

“He sounds like a good brother.”

“Despite the company he chooses to associate with, I believe he has a good heart,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, he is also reckless, impulsive, and doesn’t hold the law in particularly high esteem.”

A giggle escaped before she could call it back. For a moment he looked offended, and then that attractive smile crossed his face.

“I suppose it is somewhat ironic for me to make that claim considering I was the one in prison.”

“I wasn’t going to point it out—” Her words were interrupted by a huge yawn, and Riker shook his head.

“You need rest, and so do I. We can discuss my brothers—and my problems with them—after we get some sleep.”

She was too tired to argue. She snuggled closer, her head resting comfortably in the curve of his shoulder.

“And we’re safe here?” she mumbled sleepily.

“Yes, little bird. You are safe. Now sleep.”

His arms tightened around her, and that was the last thing she remembered.

RIKER GATHERED Amanda closer as her body went limp with sleep. He scanned their surroundings, searching for any sign of danger. Despite his reassuring words about keeping her safe, he was well aware of the dangers of the jungle. It was one of the reasons they had decided to scrap the original plan. But despite his caution he saw no sign of danger. The plants in the vicinity did not represent a threat to anyone their size, and there was little sign of life amongst the treetops. Most of the real predators were nocturnal and would already have returned to their dens.

A fist-sized insect flew closer and he tensed. Most of the insect life could deliver painful stings, but this one didn’t seem interested. It buzzed around the edge of the nest, then flew away again.

Amanda sighed and shifted in her sleep, her soft curves rubbing against his body, and despite his exhaustion, his cock stirred. Their mating in the prison had been so rushed. He couldn’t wait to explore her at his leisure, but she needed sleep more than she needed his attention.

Not to mention the fact that he needed to come up with a plan. Despite his disapproval of Altrez’s way of life, he had no doubt that his brother would not abandon his attempts to rescue him. Remembering the many outrageous schemes Altrez had embarked on in the past did not exactly fill him with confidence, but he had to remember that his younger brother was no longer the reckless youth he remembered.

He thought back to the alternative plans they had discussed previously, trying to decide if one of them was still viable. He was still turning them over in his mind when exhaustion overtook him and he slept.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A  shaft of sunlight woke Amanda from a complicated dream about caves and devils. Had she forgotten to close the curtains again? But then she opened her eyes and saw the immense dark trees and the curling vines. And Riker, climbing back into their nest with a leaf cradled in his big hands. Her heart skipped a beat as he kneeled down beside her and offered her the leaf.

“Would you like some water?”

“Mmm.” She took a sip, enjoying the cool liquid slipping down her parched throat, but she kept her eyes on him. As soon as she was finished, she ran her tongue across her lips. The red flames appeared in his eyes as he followed the gesture.

“Where did the water come from?” she asked innocently as she stretched, knowing the front of her makeshift dress had separated.

“From dew captured by the leaves. The air is very damp.”

“I do feel very… wet.”

“Amanda,” he growled.

“Yes, Riker?”

“I intended to let you rest.”

“I don’t want to rest. I want you.”

He growled again, then hauled her body towards him with that shocking speed, lifting her hips to his face. His tongue swiped the length of her folds, hot and thick and covered with the same ridges that adorned his cock.

Oh, yes.

She made an impatient noise and tried to push against his mouth, but he held her hips firmly in his big hands as he settled into a leisurely rhythm. His amazing tongue traced every inch, circling her clit and bringing her to the verge of climax before moving away to probe at her entrance. He moved lower, circling her bottom hole, and she jumped as the unexpected touch awoke nerves she didn’t even know she had.

“Riker!”

He lifted his head and smiled at her, his mouth glistening. “Yes, my Amanda?”

“Don’t make me wait any longer.”

“As you wish.”

He bent his head and scraped his fangs across her swollen clit. Her body exploded into climax, but he didn’t let her go, continuing to lick the sensitive nub while aftershocks rolled through her system. When she finally gave a weak protest, he raised his head again. She had the oddest sense that she could see devils dancing in his eyes.

“Was that worth waiting for?”

“You can say that again.” She laughed when a puzzled look crossed his face. “Never mind. But what about you? Aren’t you tired of waiting?”

“Yes, and I intend to make up for it.”

And he did just that.

AFTERWARDS, she snuggled in his arms, feeling sleepily content. And hungry, she realized as her stomach rumbled. Riker heard it as well and gave her a rueful look.

“You remind me that I have been remiss in my responsibility to take care of you. I should have gone hunting instead of—”

“Instead of making love to me?” Her lips curved. “Believe me, I wasn’t thinking about food at the time.”

“But you are now.”

“I suppose so.” She looked around uncertainly. “Do you know what’s safe to eat?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know? You said earlier that you had originally planned to escape into the jungle?”

“That’s correct. In addition to sending messages, my brother bribed one of the guards to start providing me with information.”

“How did he make contact with you to begin with?”

“He started making deliveries and got acquainted with the guards. I suspect it wasn’t that difficult to find one who could be bought.” His brows drew together. “Altrez is good at taking advantage of people’s weaknesses.”

“You sound like you disapprove.”

“It’s complicated. He’s the youngest and all of us spoiled him.” An almost unwilling smile crossed his face. “He was a mischievous child, but I never thought he was bad. But when he was a teenager, his mother died.”

“His mother?”

“We all have the same father, but each of us had a different mother. Altrez’s mother was my father’s last wife, and he was devastated by her death. He stopped paying attention to anything other than his own grief. Altrez just went… wild. I had returned to the Academy and didn’t realize how bad the situation had become until I had to get him out of jail.” He sighed. “I did not handle it well. We’ve been estranged ever since.”

“Not so estranged that he didn’t come looking for you,” she pointed out.

“True.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I need to let the past go. I tend to dwell on it.”

“Then think about the future instead. Do you think your brother will know to look for you in the jungle?”

“I don’t know. One of the reasons we abandoned that plan was because all traffic to the surface is monitored. If the Warden detected a ship entering the atmosphere that didn’t come to the prison, he would send a team to investigate.”

Her heart sank, but she managed to smile. She had realized when she left the prison that there might be no going back.

She must not have managed to completely hide her dismay because his arm tightened around her.

“What I do know is that he’s too stubborn to give up. He’ll be back.”

Her smile felt more genuine this time. “All right. So what do we do in the meantime?”

“I need to prepare a shelter.” He looked around. “This is actually not a bad spot.”

“Except I can’t climb up here by myself. I would prefer something a little closer to the ground.”

“I’m happy to carry you. I enjoy having your body pressed against mine.”

Her pulse skipped a beat at the unmistakable heat in his eyes, but she shook her head.

“I enjoy it too, but I’d rather not be stranded this far off the ground.”

“I understand, but I hope you can tolerate it on a temporary basis.” He hesitated again. “I would like you to remain here for a short while.”

“Remain here? Does that mean you’re going to leave me?”

“I’m going to have to in order to hunt for food.” He must have seen the concern on her face because he cupped her cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t go far.”

She wanted to protest and demand that they remain together, but they did need food and she couldn’t imagine that she would be of any help. She forced herself to nod instead.

“All right. I’ll wait here.”

He hesitated, then handed her the knife he had taken from Bezor. “Here. I don’t believe that you will need this, but perhaps it will make you feel safer.”

Not really. The thought of trying to use a knife to defend herself horrified her.

“Don’t you need it?”

“No.” He held up a hand and flexed his claws. The sight was both disconcerting and oddly reassuring. She had no doubt he could take care of himself.

“All right. I’ll wait here like a good girl.”

“Brave little bird,” he murmured, and bent down and kissed her.

Despite his obvious desire to explore, he took his time, and her nipples were tight little peaks by the time he finally raised his head. He smiled down at her flushed face. “I will return shortly.”

A second later he was gone, slipping into the jungle with astonishing speed and silence. She had to fight back the urge to call him back. Her stomach rumbled in sympathetic agreement.

Now that she was alone, she climbed carefully out of the nest to attend to her bodily needs. After she used some of the water he had gathered for a quick cleanup, she climbed back in, feeling more secure with the edge of the nest surrounding her. She sighed as she settled back down. While this was considerably better than being trapped in an underground prison with the Warden controlling her every movement, it was a long way from her comfortable apartment. But my comfortable apartment wouldn’t have Riker, she thought with a smile.

Although she had encouraged Riker to think positively about his brother, it didn’t seem as if they would be leaving the planet any time soon. Deciding she might as well prepare for a long stay, she started making a mental list of priorities. A home base closer to the ground came first—with a roof, she thought, looking up at the small wedge of sky visible through the leaves. Not that she had any idea about the weather, but the lush vegetation suggested that the area must get a considerable amount of rain.

As she continued to stare upwards, something moved in the branches above her. Her heart skipped a beat. She was sure it had been a deliberate movement, not the casual sway of branches in the wind. Gripping the hilt of her knife, she did her best to locate whatever had been moving. There was no further movement, and she had almost started to relax when she realized that something was watching her.

Two big dark eyes peeped down at her from amongst the leaves. Once she focused on them, she could discern a small triangular face covered in dark blue fur, almost the same shade as the leaves and sporting a similar pattern. Her pulse started to slow as she studied it. She could make out a button nose and two outsized ears, and it reminded her a little of a monkey. Neither its size nor its stillness seemed threatening. Perhaps it was just curious.

“Hello there,” she said quietly. “Are you wondering what I am?”

She felt rather silly talking to it as if it could understand her, but she saw it cock its head before it made a soft chittering noise in return. Encouraged by the response, she kept talking.

“Are you just going to sit up there and watch me by yourself? At least I hope you’re by yourself,” she added nervously, squinting into the leaves.

One little alien monkey didn’t seem too bad, but if there was a whole gang of them up there… But despite her scrutiny, she could only see the one little face.

“If I had some food, I’d offer you some.”

She tried to think of a way to tempt it closer, but she had nothing to offer. They looked at each other a little longer, and then the monkey dropped from the branches to land easily on the edge of the far side of the nest. Her heart skipped a beat. Not really a monkey after all, she thought as her horrified glance took in a total of eight legs each of them ending in a small three fingered paw.

“Eight is a lot of legs,” she whispered as she stared. Its whole body was covered in the same short dark blue fur with a faint silvery pattern, and even with all its legs stretched out, she suspected it wouldn’t come any higher than her waist. It was looking at her just as hard, and she wondered a little hysterically if it found her four limbs just as unusual.

“I’ve heard of spider monkeys before, but this is ridiculous.” A choked giggle escaped before she could stop it.

The little creature made a noise in response. They stared at each other for a moment longer, and then it hopped down into the nest itself, walking upright on its bottom two legs. She gripped the knife and tried not to panic. It didn’t do anything threatening but seemed curious instead. It found the leaf with the water and stuck its finger in it, then sucked thoughtfully on the dampness before crouching down to sniff at the place where they had made love earlier.

Amanda could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, even though it was silly to be embarrassed. Even if it did understand what had happened, sex was a perfectly natural part of life. Finally, it settled down on its bottom four legs, then chittered inquisitively. She had the oddest feeling that it was asking her a question.

“I’m Amanda.” It seemed silly to be talking to an animal, but there was a surprising amount of intelligence in those big dark eyes.

“Manduh.”

The word was garbled, but the inflection was quite clear. It was repeating her name. She did her best to hide her shock. Perhaps it simply had the ability to mimic her words. She nodded.

“Yes, that’s right, I’m Amanda. And you?”

There was no response, and she wondered if it had been mimicry after all.

“Amanda,” she said tapping her chest, then pointed at it. “You?”

It triggered a long string of syllables that she had no hope of repeating.

“Kiki?” she asked doubtfully.

It repeated the word again, but she got no closer to the correct pronunciation. The spider monkey finally gave an oddly human sigh and patted its chest. “Kiki.”

She smiled at the obvious air of resignation. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep working on it. I wonder if you’re a girl or a boy.”

Since she hadn’t seen any obvious genitalia, she decided her new friend must be female.

“Well, Kiki, what are you doing out here by yourself?”

She didn’t expect a response, but she continued to talk and Kiki chittered back every time she paused.

Kiki suddenly tilted her head, then rose on her bottom two legs again and stepped in front of Amanda. Her fur bristled and the rest of her legs spread out as if to make her look larger. A low hiss erupted from her lips. Amanda grabbed her knife again, her heart thumping wildly. What had disturbed her visitor?

A second later, Riker dropped onto the branch. He froze as soon as he saw Kiki, then growled. Kiki hissed in response. One of her paws dropped to her midsection, and Amanda noticed an odd-shaped dark knife attached to a length of vine the same color as her fur.

“Move away from it,” Riker ordered.

“No, no. It’s all right. She’s not hurting me. And Kiki, he’s a friend.”

In her distress, she put a hand on one of Kiki’s arms and felt the wiry little muscles beneath the soft fur.

“You don’t need to protect me. He’s a friend.” She tried desperately to think of a way to make the little creature understand and fell back on the naming ritual.

“Amanda. Kiki. Riker.” She pointed to each of them in turn, then repeated the names again, hoping that Kiki understood. Riker looked between them in astonishment.

“Why are you talking—”

“Riekuh,” Kiki said, her fur flattening and her legs dropping.

“It talks?” Riker’s astonishment was clear on his face.

“Yes. I’m sure she understands it too.”

“She?”

“I think so.”

Riker sighed and climbed into the nest, keeping a wary eye on Kiki, who was watching him just as closely.

“I leave you for ten minutes and you’re already getting into trouble?”

“I’m not getting into trouble. I’m making a friend.” She looked at the leaf-wrapped package in his hand. “Is that breakfast?”

He nodded and handed it over. Inside, she found several slices of what looked like raw meat, along with a handful of globe-like pink fruit. She picked up a piece of fruit and offered it to Kiki, but the spider monkey leaned in and grabbed a piece of meat instead. Her jaw dropped further than seemed possible, revealing a set of surprisingly sharp little teeth that tore into the strip of meat enthusiastically. Amanda quickly averted her eyes as Riker followed suit.

“I brought that for you, not your pet,” he grumbled.

“She’s not a pet. She seems very intelligent. Did your jungle studies cover her species?”

He chewed thoughtfully, then shook his head. “No. Which I find rather surprising. But perhaps they were concentrating on the more dangerous animals.”

“Maybe,” she agreed, and picked up another piece of fruit.

She bit into the shiny pink fruit, then immediately made a face and spat out the bitter tasting flesh. No matter how appealing it looked, the fruit was inedible. But could she really eat raw meat?

Kiki made that amused noise again and picked up another piece of fruit. She dug a sharp thumbnail into it, then pulled. A thick outer shell split to reveal a shiny dark pink center, which she offered to Amanda. She licked at it cautiously and smiled.

“Oh, that’s much better.” The inside was sweet and juicy, with a pleasant taste reminiscent of melon.

“What are these called?”

“Rengi.” Riker had been watching their interchange with a frown. “I should have realized that they needed additional preparation.”

“Don’t be silly. How could you?” She smiled at her new friend. “And maybe Kiki has other secrets she can teach us.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

R iker frowned thoughtfully at the jungle creature perched next to Amanda. Despite his initial impression, it—she—was clearly intelligent. What’s more, she was protective, he thought, remembering the way she had moved in front of Amanda. He couldn’t really fault her for that, although he continued to watch carefully to make sure that she presented no threat. But what kind of creature was she? And why was there nothing in the materials that had been smuggled into him about these creatures? An intelligent species should have been registered at the Imperial level if nothing else.

Or perhaps not, he thought cynically. If the Empire had decided on this planet as the site for one of their prisons, they were unlikely to let a group of small jungle-dwelling aliens prevent them. He winced as he remembered the acres of scorched earth surrounding the prison. How much of their lands had the prison buildings destroyed?

As he watched Amanda talking cheerfully to the alien, he realized she had yet to eat any of his kill.

“You should eat some of the meat. It is more nutritious.”

Her nose wrinkled adorably. “I’m not sure my stomach can handle raw meat. Although I suppose that if you can’t make a fire, I’ll have to adapt.”

“Of course I can make a fire. It was one of the first things I learned how to do.” Her face lit up, but he shook his head. “That doesn’t mean we can have one here. I don’t think lighting a fire in a tree is a very good idea.”

She nodded, looking resigned. “But maybe tonight?”

He looked up at the sliver of sky visible through the massive leaves overhead. It was already starting to darken, and he suspected it would not be much longer before the sun set.

“Probably not tonight, but soon. While I was hunting, I spotted a stream. I thought perhaps we could go there to drink and refresh ourselves.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful.” She cast a reluctant glance over the edge of the nest. “Although I suppose that means we have to climb down.”

“I’m afraid so, but you’re perfectly safe with me.”

“I know I am, but it still makes me nervous.” She frowned at her new companion who was listening to the two of them talk, the big dark eyes switching between their faces as they spoke. “But what about Kiki? I don’t want to leave her if she’s all alone.”

“If this is her territory, I’m sure she would prefer to remain here. Many animals prefer solitude.”

“She’s not an animal.” Amanda scowled at him. The expression was as adorable as her disgust. Would he ever get tired of watching her expressive face? “And besides, she was the one who came up to me. I think she was lonely.”

“Then she may choose to follow us. I can’t carry her as well,” he added as she started to object. “And she is equipped for the jungle—more so than either of us. There is nothing to stop her from coming along.”

“I suppose you’re right. Are you going to come with us, Kiki?”

The little creature chittered something, her head slanting to one side as she studied Amanda. The fact that his translator couldn’t interpret her language suggested that the species had never encountered an Imperial ship before. Which was a strike against his cynical theory that their presence had been known and ignored.

He was still mulling over this thought when they finished their meal. He wrapped the remains back in the leaves and stood. “I’d like to get moving before it’s completely dark.”

“Dark already? It seems like it was only a short time ago when the sun was rising. But then I guess we slept most of the day. Slept and… other things,” she added with a mischievous look as she rose gracefully to her feet.

His cock automatically jerked in response, but he ignored it. His first priority was to find a safe place for them to spend the night. Of course, once she was safe, he had every intention of exploring more of her luscious body. He bent down, and once again she climbed up on his back. The feel of her soft curves pressed against him did nothing to lessen his arousal.

“We have to go down, Kiki. Are you going to come?” Amanda asked.

As if in response, the creature rose up on her bottom legs, and then leaped easily into the air to catch hold of a hanging vine. Each of her legs wrapped around the slender length, and he realized how accurate his statement about her abilities had been as she began climbing down swiftly.

“So that’s why she has all those legs,” Amanda said thoughtfully, and clutched his neck as he took hold of one of the vines as well and began the climb to the jungle floor. She didn’t relax during the downward journey, but she didn’t protest. When he reached the ground and let her down, she gave him a shaky smile.

“I suppose I’ll have to get used to that.”

A pang of guilt went through him. She was so delicate and clearly unsuited to this kind of environment. How could he have brought her here? But then again, he couldn’t have left her in the prison either. All he could do was to provide her with as many comforts as he could devise.

Putting his arm around her shoulders, he started to lead her towards the stream he had seen from above. Kiki continued to accompany them, swinging easily through the vines overhead, although she never came down to ground level. The sun was just beginning to set when they reached the stream, and the low slanting rays created small sparkles of light on the rushing surface. The rocky streambed created small pools of still water amidst the tumble of the current. As they headed for the closest pool, Kiki suddenly jumped in front of them, chattering excitedly.

“What is it?” Amanda asked. “What’s wrong? Is it dangerous?”

Kiki reached down and gathered up a small piece of moss, then tossed it into the pool. It floated there for a moment, and then there was a sudden swirl of activity and he caught a glimpse of teeth as the moss disappeared beneath the surface. That had not been in his information either.

“I guess I don’t need a bath after all,” Amanda said, staring at the lingering ripples in the water.

Kiki tugged on Amanda’s hand, and Riker reluctantly let the small creature lead them further down the bank of the stream. Kiki stopped at a shallow area where the current moved swiftly, then skipped out into the water. The aggressive fish that inhabited the pools appeared not to venture into the current. He followed her into the stream to confirm that it was safe, then turned and offered Amanda his hand. A little uncertainly, she stepped into the water, swaying as the current rushed around her ankles. He steadied her, then helped her reach down and grab a handful of water. She drank thirstily, and he followed. Then she washed her face and arms, shivering slightly.

“Considering how warm this area is, the water’s pretty cold.”

“I suspect the stream originates in the mountains.”

“Mountains?”

“There is a long ridge of them along the center of this continent.” They had been on the topographical map he had seen. “My original intention was to head for them, but now I think it would be better to stay closer to the prison.”

She shivered. “Are you sure? What if they do send someone after us?”

“I won’t allow them to take you. And if my brother has to land at the prison, I don’t want to be too far away.”

As soon as they had finished drinking and washing, Kiki looked up at the sky, then tugged on Amanda’s hand. Amanda gave him a helpless look.

“I think she wants us to go somewhere.”

“Daynjuhr.”

The word was clearly intelligible, despite the strange accent, and he immediately dropped down next to Kiki.

“What danger? What do I need to do to protect Amanda, and you?”

Kiki waved at the darkening sky.

“Daynjuhr,” she repeated.

He had a sinking feeling that she was referring to the coming night.

“Is there a safe place? Not dangerous?”

She tugged on Amanda’s hand again, and he found himself nodding in agreement.

“I think we should go with her.”

Amanda looked up at him, her eyes wide and dark, but she nodded.

“I agree. Lead on, Kiki.”

As soon as Kiki realized that they were following her, she dropped Amanda’s hand and skittered ahead, although she kept checking over her shoulder to make sure that they were still behind her. Although she kept her upper body raised, she dropped down from two legs to six so she could move quicker, and Amanda shuddered.

“I know she’s trying to help us, but that’s kind of creepy,” she whispered. “She reminds me too much of a real spider when she moves like that.”

“What’s a spider?”

“It’s a kind of bug. They come in various sizes but they always have eight legs. I just hope she’s not taking us to her web. Spiders make webs to trap insects for food,” she added.

“Don’t worry, little bird. I really don’t think she intends to eat you.” He bent down and swiped his tongue across her mating mark before murmuring in her ear. “That’s my job.”

He felt her quiver and caught the sweet scent of her arousal.

Fortunately for Amanda’s concerns, Kiki simply led them to another tree and started climbing. Amanda gave a resigned sigh and climbed up on his back so they could follow. He was not entirely surprised to find that Kiki had led them to another one of the nest beds. This one seemed to have been used more recently. The entwined vines were newer and the vegetation covering the bottom of the nest deeper. Once they were settled inside, Kiki dug around in the bottom of the nest before pulling out a bag of woven vines. Yet another confirmation of her intelligence, he thought as Kiki opened the bag and pulled out a yellowish fruit which she handed to Amanda. Amanda looked over at him.

“You think it’s safe?”

“I don’t recognize it, but she seems very intent on protecting you. Do you want me to try it first?”

“I don’t want you to get poisoned either!”

“It would take a lot to poison me.” He reached for the fruit, and Kiki chittered disapprovingly. She reached into the bag and tossed him one of his own. Again, he couldn’t blame her for wanting to make sure that Amanda was fed.

He inspected the skin. This time it was thin and broke easily beneath his teeth. The flesh was tangy, but pleasantly so, and he nodded at her.

“It’s fine. Go ahead and eat.”

She took a cautious nibble, then smiled happily and devoured the rest of the fruit. Kiki gave her another one, while he offered Kiki the last piece of the meat he carried. She took it eagerly.

After they completed their simple meal, Kiki climbed up onto the wall of the nest and curled her body into a small ball. He noted she was facing out into the jungle, and he suspected that she was keeping watch, but right now he had other things on his mind. Hearing Amanda’s little moans of approval as she bit into the succulent fruit and watching her small pink tongue swipe at the sweet juice had reawakened the arousal that never seemed far away.

He reached over and pulled her onto his lap, closing his hand around the luscious mound of her breast. She leaned into his touch, then cast an uneasy glance over her shoulder.

“What about Kiki?” She murmured.

“To hell with Kiki. We’re free and safe and I need you. If she doesn’t like it, she can leave.”

“But—”

“I’m far less worried about her than I was about the guards.”

“But—”

He stopped her protest with a kiss. He could feel her uncertainty, but it only lasted for a few seconds, and soon she was melting into his arms. And despite the jungle, despite the alien creature only a short distance away, despite the uncertain future, he had never been happier.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A manda snuggled into Riker’s arms as his knot kept them locked together. She’d never felt so close to anyone before. It was more than just the physical closeness of having their bodies locked together. There was a connection between them that seemed to reach deep into her soul. She had no idea how far she had come from Earth, but it was all behind her now. Riker was her future.

Full darkness crept over the jungle, everything going dark as night fell. Even the shape of the trees was hard to make out in the overpowering blackness. Her eyes started to close. Despite the long nap that she’d had earlier, it had been an exhausting couple of days. As she blinked sleepily into the darkness, she saw a faint glow. At first, she thought she had imagined it, but then it became more prevalent. It was as if the jungle was turning on the lights.

“Look, Riker. What’s happening?”

“Some type of bioluminescence, I think. I remember reading about it.”

The glow continued to increase until she could pick out the source—or rather the sources. Many of the surrounding plants had veins in their leaves that glowed in shades of bright pink and blue. The flowers that had seemed so dull during the day sported multi-colored patterns. Random lines of vivid green ran up the black bark of the tree trunk behind them. When she looked at Kiki, she saw that the pale markings she had noticed earlier now glowed hot pink, and she realized that the spider monkey’s nighttime camouflage would be as effective as her daytime disguise.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “But deadly.”

They watched as a small flying insect approached one of the glowing green lines on the tree trunk. It landed there, then started to buzz angrily when it couldn’t fly away. The illuminated area was sticky, trapping the insect against the bark. She gulped, remembering the tree they had encountered when they first entered the jungle.

“But you think we’re safe here?”

“I believe so. And your guardian is keeping watch as well.” He nodded at the front of the nest where Kiki had raised her upper body, observing the jungle nightlife.

A harsh cry came from far below, and for a moment, the jungle went silent. She shivered, and he hugged her close as the noises slowly resumed.

“We’ll keep you safe. Go to sleep.”

Despite his command, she continued to watch the brilliant display and the increasing activity around them until her eyes finally closed.

The next morning, she woke up to find Riker’s big body behind her—and Kiki clinging to her leg with all eight of her limbs. It was both sweet and oddly disturbing.

“This makes repeating our previous wakeup routine a little difficult,” Riker grumbled, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.

“We can’t start off every day with sex,” she protested weakly.

“Why not?” He bent his head to nibble at her mating mark, sending a spark of arousal straight to her clit.

“Because—”

“Fud,” a small voice chittered, and she looked down to see Kiki’s eyes sparkling as she released Amanda’s leg and sat up.

“Because food, apparently,” Amanda laughed.

He started to mutter a protest, then frowned. “Kiki is right. I am neglecting my duty to care for you.”

“There’s more than one way to care for me.” She reached back between their bodies and skated her fingers lightly across his cock. “But maybe this is the time for food.”

“You are a tease, little bird.”

“Just consider it a promise for the future.”

His body went still.

“What is it?”

“I just like the sound of that. The future.”

He brushed a quick, sweet kiss across her lips, then rose gracefully to his feet. She watched his muscles flex as he reached for a vine, then disappeared into the trees.

“You know, Kiki. If we’re going to stay friends, you can’t cock block Riker all the time,” she said severely.

Kiki chittered back at her, and she could have sworn the little creature’s face was bright with mischief. Amanda laughed and went to take care of the morning necessities.

By the time Riker returned, she had succeeded in teaching Kiki several more words. Her own attempt to mimic the spider monkey’s language had not met with equal success.

“I don’t think my tongue is shaped the right way,” she muttered to Riker as he handed her more fruit.

“I think it is shaped perfectly, but I would be happy to investigate it further.”

“Maybe later.”

He also tried to hand her some more meat, but she shook her head. He sighed and shared it with Kiki instead.

“I think the first thing we need to do today is find a place to build a fire. You need to eat more.”

“That’s not how most Earth men feel,” she said ruefully.

“Then they are poor males. It is an honor to provide for you.”

She rewarded him with a kiss, then looked around at the nest. “Couldn’t we just make a shelter like this at ground level?”

“Most of the larger predators are on the ground. I suspect that’s why Kiki lives up here. But it probably wouldn’t hurt to build a fire for a short time during the day.”

He wrapped up the remains of their breakfast and once again she climbed on his back for the descent. She kept hoping it would get easier, but she still found herself clinging desperately to him as he carried her back to the ground.

Because he was still worried about a fire spreading, they returned to the bank of the river. He insisted on clearing a circle of ground while Kiki watched in fascination. Amanda didn’t find it quite so interesting and moved a short distance away to admire a cluster of pink flowers growing in the rocks edging the stream. They reminded her of lilies of the valley, and she wondered if they smelled as sweet. She bent down to pick one of them.

RIKER TURNED to look for Amanda and saw her bend down over a patch of flowers.

“Daynjuhr!” Kiki shouted, but it was too late. Amanda had lifted one of the flowers to her nose, and Riker watched in horror as a puff of pink pollen blew directly into her face. She made a soft, startled noise and simply collapsed to the ground.

No! This couldn’t be happening. Not now. He had promised to keep her safe. He couldn’t have failed her the same way his father had failed each of his wives. The way he had failed his client.

He raced to her side, reaching her just as Kiki did. Her body was utterly still, her cheeks pale and her body limp. He put his shaking finger to her pulse and felt a faint, shallow beat. She was still alive.

What was he going to do? He had no medical training other than basic first aid. Returning to the prison was the only option he could think of, but would that really be the best thing for her? Even if they could save her life, she would be condemned to a life of misery at the Warden’s pleasure. And Riker had no doubt that he would make her suffer for having dared to escape. Yet he couldn’t bear the thought that she might die out here.

I got her out of there once. I’ll just have to get her out again, he thought grimly, ignoring the possibility that he might be shot on sight. But as he bent over to lift her into his arms, preparing to run back to the prison, Kiki tugged urgently on his arm.

“Hep.”

Had he understood her correctly?

“You can help her?”

Kiki nodded in a strange imitation of one of Amanda’s gestures. “Hep.”

He had no reason to believe her, but it was a shred of hope, and he clung to it desperately. He lifted Amanda into his arms and rose. “Lead the way.”

He suspected the frantic race through the jungle would figure in his nightmare for years to come, but all he could do was follow Kiki’s fleeing figure. Amanda’s limp body seemed to grow even paler by the second. He wanted to stop, to check and make sure that her heart was still beating, but he didn’t think they had the time to spare.

When they reached the base of the largest tree Riker had seen so far, Kiki leaped into the air, grabbed a vine, and began climbing. He followed her, awkwardly using one arm and the claws on his feet to assist as he scrambled up the trunk. As they reached a wide branch, he realized that Kiki was most definitely not alone. An entire village perched among the treetops. Open-walled buildings with leaf thatched roofs were connected with vines and rope bridges.

He caught the flicker of movement as the occupants noticed them, but he was more focused on following Kiki as she skittered down one branch and across another before halting in front of one of the larger roofed platforms. Someone who looked like an older version of Kiki came to meet them, listening as their companion chattered excitedly. The older female nodded and beckoned them inside, pointing at a nest bed on a raised dais to one side of the platform. He carefully laid Amanda on the padded surface, his fingers going to her neck and searching desperately for a pulse. It was still there, but even slower now.

“Can you help her?” he demanded, but both females ignored him.

Kiki continued talking as the older female stirred something in a simmering pot. The fire beneath it was safely enclosed in a clay cooking pit, and he immediately resolved to build something similar for Amanda if—no, when—she recovered.

The older female ladled some of the liquid in the cauldron into a cup, then added pinches of various herbs from a row of baskets along one wall. She stirred the contents of the cup and brought it over to the bed, gesturing at Riker to lift Amanda’s head. He hesitated as the tangy herbal scent reached his nostrils.

“Are you sure it’s safe for her?”

“Hep,” Kiki insisted, and still uncertain, he lifted Amanda’s head.

It took time, all of them working together to force Amanda’s unconscious body to drink, but in the end they got most of the potion down her throat. He stared at her, hoping desperately for any sign that it was working. Did she look less pale? He checked her pulse again and although it was still painfully slow, he was sure that the beat was faster than it had been. He found himself looking at Kiki’s face, seeking something, hope perhaps.

She repeated the odd little nod she’d given before.

“Hep,” she said firmly. All he could do was trust her and pray. He settled down next to the bed, determined not to leave Amanda’s side.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A manda’s limbs felt too heavy to move, and for a horrible moment, she thought she was back under the control of the grey alien who had taken her. Then the humid jungle breeze wafted across her face and she heard Kiki chattering away, and she relaxed. But where was Riker?

She thought she caught the scent of smoke. Had he succeeded in building his fire?

Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she found him sitting next to her. His head was bent over the bed, his forehead resting against her arm. Was he asleep?

“Riker?” she whispered, her voice oddly hoarse.

His head rose immediately, but he barely looked like himself. His face was worn and shadowed, and he looked more exhausted than he had when they escaped.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Wrong with me?” He gave a choked laugh. “Little bird, you’ve been unconscious for almost a week. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“A week? What happened?” A memory struggled to the surface. “That flower?”

Before he could answer, she heard an excited shriek and then Kiki jumped onto the bed. All eight of her paws seemed to pat Amanda at once as she chittered away.

“Stahp,” a voice said firmly, and Amanda looked up to see another spider monkey hovering over the bed.

The resemblance to Kiki was unmistakable, but where had she come from?

“Amanda, this is Kayora. She’s a healer. She saved your life,” Riker said, his voice strained.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She had a million questions, but right now all she wanted to do was sleep.

“Thank—” She couldn’t even get the words out before sleep took her.

The next time she woke, Riker was still at her side, but from the rhythmic rise and fall of his shoulders she suspected he was asleep. Remembering the exhaustion on his face, she decided not to wake him, but looked around instead.

The older female—Kayora, she remembered—was placing small flowers in a shallow tray, but she looked up and smiled.

“Ahwayk,” she said softly, and nodded with obvious satisfaction.

She dipped a ladle in a simmering pot, then brought Amanda a cup. The herbal scent seemed vaguely familiar, and she suspected that she’d had it before. Kayora helped her sit up enough to drink, and even that didn’t disturb Riker.

“Is he all right?” she asked.

Kayora chittered softly, then nodded. “Sleep.”

“You mean he needs to sleep?”

“Yes. Wahch.”

Had he been watching over her the entire time she was sick? Her heart ached, and she placed a gentle hand on his head between his horns. He was such a good male, and she loved him so much. Had she ever even said those words aloud?

She smiled at Kayora. “I think I fell asleep before, but thank you.”

Kayora nodded, obviously accepting the thanks as her due. They sat silently as Amanda sipped her drink, and for the first time she looked outside the wooden hut. An entire village surrounded them, and she could see more of the spider monkeys moving easily between the buildings, leaping from vine to vine to narrow bridge with gravity defying ease. She shuddered and looked away.

“Where’s Kiki?”

“Fud.”

The disapproving expression on Kayora’s face made her laugh.

“I know she doesn’t like to miss any meals.”

“Once you have recovered, I will make sure she never misses another one.” Riker lifted his head and smiled at her. He already looked better than he had the last time she was awake. “Kiki led me here, even though Kayora says they don’t allow outsiders.”

“Oh no. She isn’t in trouble, is she?”

Kayora gave an oddly human shrug. “Famlee.”

“Apparently, we’ve been adopted,” Riker said.

“That’s nice. I always wanted a big family.”

An odd expression crossed his face, but the warmth in her stomach and the comfortable bed were working their magic. She yawned.

“I think I’m going to sleep again. Why don’t you join me?”

Kayora chittered a laugh and nodded.

“Sleep,” she ordered.

Amanda couldn’t decide whether the command was directed at her or Riker, but he joined her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed happily, breathing in his familiar scent, and slept.

Her strength continued to come back over the next week, although she still tired easily. Riker recovered much quicker, and she finally sent him off hunting to release some of his energy. He reluctantly obeyed, but she could tell he was pleased by the exuberant welcome from the villagers when he returned with a kill.

The Maki’pinga—as she learned they called themselves—were enthusiastic meat eaters. Now that Riker had access to Kayora’s fire and could cook the meat, she happily joined them.

Kiki was almost always around, and she began to show Amanda how to weave different types of vines into the bags and baskets they used—although the technique had to be adapted for two hands instead of eight. Amanda enjoyed her company, and that of Kayora, but as her strength returned, she began to miss the time alone with Riker.

He continued to sleep with her, and his rigid erection left no doubt that he wanted her—but he did nothing more than hold her. When she tried encouraging him, he leaped out of their bed, muttered something about a hunt, and disappeared.

She was still scowling when Kayora returned from her errands. She took one look at Amanda’s face and laughed.

“Why do I suspect you know exactly why I’m upset?” Amanda muttered.

Kayora chittered a response, but Amanda’s limited knowledge of their language couldn’t make sense of it. She found out later that day when Kayora led her out of the hut and along a rickety rope bridge, ignoring Amanda’s protests.

The perilous journey ended at another hut, but this one was different. It was circular in form, with an enormous nest bed taking up most of the floor. A raised shelf on one side held a pitcher of water, a tray of fruit, and some woven cloths. Kayora gestured her inside, then began lowering thin woven curtains around the exterior.

“I don’t understand.”

Kayora smiled at her. “Mayt.”

“Mate? You mean it’s for…”

She knew her cheeks were burning, but Kayora only nodded again as she lowered the last curtain. Then she disappeared back down the bridge, and Amanda sat down to wait for Riker to return from his hunt. She was unexpectedly nervous, as well as excited, and she jumped up to pace back and forth across the hut several times before she shook her head.

“This is ridiculous.”

Deciding to take advantage of the wait, she unfastened her bedraggled tunic and used some of the water to wash herself before settling down again on the bed. To distract herself, she imagined Riker returning. Imagined him looking at her with the flames dancing in his eyes. Her nipples tightened and she brushed them with her thumbs, gasping at the resulting sensation.

“If he doesn’t hurry up, I’ll just have to take care of myself,” she muttered.

“Is that what you want, little bird?” Riker growled, his deep voice rumbling across her naked skin.

“No. I want you.”

“Good answer.”

He stepped inside the hut and stripped off his clothes before stalking the short distance to her side, huge and muscular and gloriously erect.

“You are so beautiful,” he said as he kneeled next to her.

“I was beginning to wonder if you still thought so.”

“How could you doubt it?”

“You didn’t seem to want me.”

“I always want you.” He hesitated. “But I came so close to losing you. I kept telling myself to wait until you were fully recovered.”

“I am fully recovered.” She reached out and ran her fingers lightly down his magnificent cock. “So what are you waiting for?”

His control seemed to vanish as he rolled her beneath him, kissing her with frantic urgency while he ran his hands over her body. He scraped a claw across her nipple, then dipped between her legs to tease her swollen clit.

She urged him on, just as frantic, and then the wide head of his cock was at her entrance. He gripped her hip and plunged into her with one hard stroke.

Despite her excitement, she wasn’t quite ready, and the way he stretched her hovered on the knife edge between pain and pleasure. But then he scraped his teeth across her mating mark and her body softened around him. He repeated the gesture as she quivered.

“I’m going to mark you again,” he growled, his voice harsh and strained.

“Yes,” she gasped.

He roared and began thrusting into her, wildly, frantically, as she clutched his shoulders and tried to meet each stroke. His teeth clamped down on her neck, and a bolt of ecstasy shot through her. Her body arched helplessly into a climax as he buried himself in her channel, filling her with heat as his knot expanded, locking them together in a never-ending wave of pleasure.

She clung to him, her body still shaking as he wrapped her so tightly in his arms it was almost painful.

“Promise me you’ll never leave me, Amanda,” he demanded as their bodies slowly relaxed.

“Never. I love you, Riker.”

“I love you too, little bird.”

Unexpected tears filled her eyes, and he frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve never actually said it before.”

“Of course I have—” A startled look crossed his face. “Perhaps I haven’t. But I have known since the moment in the Pit when I looked up and our eyes met. You are mine, Amanda, and from now on I will remember to tell you every day.”

“In between hunting?” she teased.

“I suspect I will be hunting much less. I have a new project in mind.”

“What’s that?”

“Building a hut of our own.”

She laughed. “I approve. But in the meantime, let’s take advantage of this one.”

EPILOGUE

O ne month later…

“PULL ON THAT VINE,” Riker said.

He tried to keep his face impassive, but he was no longer the harsh warrior Amanda had originally met and she could see the excitement he was trying to hide. She gave him an amused look, then reached out and tugged on the wooden knob he had fastened to the end of the vine.

A stream of water erupted from a wooden pipe hanging from the branches above their heads, splashing down to a wooden grill on the floor.

“A shower? You made a shower!” She put her hand in the water and laughed with delight. “And it’s warm! How did you do that?”

“The water tank is positioned so that it receives enough sunlight to heat the water. Do you like it?” He looked both proud and anxious at the same time.

“Like it? I love it. Bathing in the stream is nice, but it will be wonderful to take a shower right here.”

And she wouldn’t have to worry about water snakes or sharp toothed fish. Riker always kept a close watch when she was bathing, but this would be much more relaxing. She threw herself into his arms.

“Thank you so much. I can’t believe how many ways you’ve found to improve our house.”

He shrugged, an embarrassed look on his face, but it was true. After much debate, he had chosen a spot between the village and the stream to build their home. He had started by building a platform with a leaf roof over it, very similar to houses of the Maki’pinga but on a much larger scale. He’d also built it closer to the ground—close enough for her to use a ladder to climb up and down by herself. But the rope ladder could also be pulled up behind them to satisfy his desire to keep her safe.

Then he set about making improvements. He had built her a clay fire pit with a grill and enclosed oven, while she had learned how to weave storage bags from Kiki. Now they hung over the wooden kitchen counter, filled with the bounty of the jungle.

He hadn’t stopped there. He had built them a nest bed like the Maki’pinga used and put it on a raised area to one side of their shelter. He had also built a table and four chairs—a large one for him, a smaller one for her, and two even smaller ones for Kiki and Kayora since they were frequent visitors. She had used Kiki’s weaving technique to make a cover for the bed—a little lopsided maybe but soft and comfortable. Her latest project was a rug for the floor. Neither Riker nor Kiki seem to understand why she was spending so much time on something that they would step on, but she liked the homey feeling it would give their house.

Looking around now, she remembered the first day she had woken up in the jungle and her dismay at the primitive surroundings. She hadn’t anticipated having such a cozy home. But of course, even then knowing that she had Riker had been everything.

“You know,” she said seductively as she reached for the tie holding her woven tunic on her shoulder. Neither Kiki nor Riker had understood her desire for additional clothing either, although Riker’s objections were based more on his enthusiasm for her naked body. She loosened the tie and let the dress slip free as she moved under the wooden pipe. “We should really test it out. Why don’t you join me?”

His eyes heated with the familiar red flames and a second later he was just as naked, stalking towards her across the platform like the powerful predator he was. Even in those few steps, her body was ready for him. He growled approvingly as he ran a big hand across her taut nipples.

“If the shower excites you this much, I will build more.”

“It’s not the shower,” she said breathlessly as he lifted her easily into the air so that he could fasten his mouth around her nipple. “It’s you. It’s always been you.”

He growled again and sucked harder, the deep pull sending a corresponding pulse of excitement through her already aching clit. She wrapped her legs around him, trying to rub against his chest. He clamped a big hand on her ass and helped her move against him as he sucked harder, then gently bit down on her nipple, the sharp sting sending her into a sudden abrupt climax. He held her as she shuddered, smiling down at her as he lowered her back to his feet. His cock throbbed between them, but there was no urgency. They had all the time in the world.

He reached out and pulled on the vine and warm water cascaded down over their heads, leaving them both wet and slippery.

“That’s convenient,” she laughed. “You can get me dirty and then immediately get me clean.”

“And then get you dirty again.”

Before she could respond, he lifted her again, but this time only until her pussy was hovering above his rigid cock. With one powerful movement, he pulled her down onto his cock. The sudden stretch to her already sensitized channel sent her into a second orgasm, her channel pulsing helplessly around his thick shaft. She could feel the tension in his muscles as he held her there, waiting as she convulsed his arms. She was still quivering when he abruptly abandoned the shower and strode towards their bed with her still impaled on his cock. Each step sent another streak of excitement through her body until he lowered them onto the soft woven covering, their bodies still locked together.

“But what about the shower?”

“We can use it again later. I want to get you thoroughly dirty first. So dirty that it will take all the water in the tank to make you clean again.”

She smiled up at him, loving the little red flames dancing in his eyes and the fierce hunger on his face. Reaching up, she tightened her fingers around the sensitive base of his horns and squeezed. “Challenge accepted.”

He roared, and began thrusting into her willing body, hard and fast as his mouth dropped to the mating bite on her neck, scraping his teeth across the sensitive area and building her excitement to match his own. A third climax swept over her and she felt him tense, but he didn’t come, and she realized he was trying to prolong their encounter just as he promised. She sighed happily and gave herself over to pleasure.

RIKER HELD A DOZING Amanda in his arms and looked around with satisfaction. The shelter was beginning to come together nicely, although it was a long way from the polished stone halls and elaborate decor of his childhood. Would my brothers have done the same? He couldn’t even imagine Leavent abandoning his elegant surroundings for a jungle home. Altrez, on the other hand, would probably have gone completely native and not made any attempt to improve his shelter. But Riker intended to provide Amanda with every comfort possible for as long as they remained on Folsom.

He was sure that Altrez would eventually contact him, but he didn’t know how long it would take. And in the meantime, they had food and shelter and an endless list of improvements to tackle. Now that he had resolved the shower situation, perhaps his next project should be a sink for their small kitchen area. He was so busy working out the possibilities that it took him a moment to recognize the faint pulse in his arm.

Finally.

“Amanda,” he said softly.

“Mmm?”

“I have some news for you. Do you remember I told you that my brother would come for us?”

Her eyes widened, the sleepy pleasure on her face disappearing. “Of course I remember.”

“He’s here. On Folsom.”

“How do you know?”

He took her hand and ran her fingers over the slightly raised spot on the inside of his arm.

“My locator is responding to his presence.”

“Is he close?” She started to sit up. “We need to let the Maki’pinga know. You know how they are about strangers.”

“There’s no rush. The pulse is weak, so he’s not nearby.” He debated with himself silently, then admitted, “I suspect he may be in the prison.”

“You mean as a prisoner? Why would he do that?”

He sighed. “It was one of the plans we discussed. I rejected it, but Altrez always was reckless.”

“How do you know it’s him? What if it’s Leavent instead?”

“He wouldn’t drag himself away from his political maneuvers to come to my aid,” he said bitterly.

She gave him a thoughtful look, but she didn’t argue.

“But if he’s in the prison, how’s he going to rescue us?”

“I’m not sure, but no doubt he has some kind of outrageous plan. At this point, all we can do is wait. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“This isn’t the life you deserve.”

“It’s certainly not the life I would have imagined for myself, but I’m happy. We have food and shelter and friends.” She reached up and cupped his face. “But most of all, we have each other. No matter how long it takes, as long as we’re together, everything is right with the world.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast! This story starts out darker than some of my other stories, but I knew that together Amanda and Riker could fight through to their happy ending!

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!

Altrez is up next! Are his schemes going to work - or will he end up trapped in Folsom Prison?

And what will happen when a human female complicates matters even more?

Click here to order Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate!

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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

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

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

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

with Bex McLynn

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

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Anthologies

Pets in Space 6

Claimed Among the Stars

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…

www.facebook.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.bookbub.com/authors/honey-phillips

www.instagram.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.honeyphillips.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Interlude

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author