Abruptly, Taio turned and walked from the room. She blinked at the empty doorway. The cold surface of the wall was against her back. Without meaning to, she’d backed herself flush up against it. She held the sword close to her chest, shielding her body, her breathing rapid and pulse bounding. She stayed there until her arms shook from the sword’s weight.
She was no one’s slave.
Chapter Eight
“We will dock in Sonis airspace tonight,” Ship said.
Her pulse quickened. “Really?”
She was sitting on the edge of the bed in her small cabin, pulling on her shoes. At least the entity waited until she was out of bed and dressed before dropping the news on her. If he had given it to her before, she might have decided to spend the whole day in bed, buried beneath the covers.
“Are you afraid?”
“I’m never afraid.”
“Your heart rate and breathing have increased tremendously. It only does that when you are in the presence of Taio.”
“Stop reading me!”
Would she ever get any privacy? The entity had been in her presence since she woke up. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him, because she did. So far, he was her only friend. But he was constant; even when he pretended not to be by her, she still felt his presence.
Eventually he would know her innermost feelings. Although she was sure the entity couldn’t tell the difference between fear and arousal, he would figure it out soon enough.
“It is perfectly fine to be scared of the unknown, Eva. You have been through a lot in the past three cycles.”
“I know. I just don’t want to seem weak.”
“There is a lot of talk about you on the vessel, but weak has not been mentioned at all.”
Interesting.
“Can you tell me what Taio plans to do with me?”
“I am not sure. You will have to ask him directly.”
She snorted. “Not in this lifetime.” She had not seen him since the day in the training room, avoiding him at all costs.
“I told you before, Taio has never harmed a female. You do not need to be afraid.”
“Whatever. I already had a run-in with him. I want to stay as far away from that giant as possible.”
“Then I guess we will both learn your fate together. I thought maybe you would want to have some say in it, for a change.”
“You are so getting on my nerves.” The entity was right, it was time to take control of her destiny. She would just have to suck it up and talk to the giant who both scared her and made her knees weak every time she saw him. “Where can I find him?”
“He is on the bridge. I will tell him to expect a visit from you.”
“Thanks, Ship.” Putting all fears aside, she made her way to the control room.
The door slid open. There were five males, including Taio, in the room. He sat in the captain’s chair. The large room of monitors and lights gave her a moment’s pause as she entered. The men didn’t pay much attention to her, except for a quick glance her way before returning to their duties. No one yelled for her to leave, so with her head held high and shoulders back, she walked in his direction, nodding to the crew members as she passed them.
She could feel his eyes lingering on her body, making her conscious of how the suit molded to her, how the neckline was too deep and how her nipples reacted by hardening under his gaze. She hated it, she should’ve been offended by his smoldering looks, but it had the opposite effect on her body.
She stopped in front of him. “King Taio, I wondered—”
“Taio,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“Taio. I prefer to be called Taio.” He leaned back in his chair. His soft black leather uniform stretched across his muscles, defining each one.
“Okay. Taio, I wanted to know what you planned to do with me.”
“What
should
I do with you?” His eyes roamed slowly up and down her body.
When she felt her pussy lips swell and the wetness between her legs, she stood ramrod straight. She held her ground and pulled back her shoulders. Her body might betray her, but she would never submit to it.
When his eyes finally met hers, she glared at him. “I don’t know what you have planned for me, but I’m here to remind you that I’m no one’s slave.”
His nostrils flared and he took a deep breath. “Interesting, because I have your ownership paperwork. I was not even expecting to get any, but I can only guess that since you were nothing but trouble for the Tresdonians, they wanted a record of you leaving their possession.”
“I don’t care what ‘paperwork’ you have.” She took two steps closer to him. “I already warned you.”
“Warned me?” Instantly he straightened in his chair. “Do you hear, guards?” he yelled. “The female has ‘warned’ me.”
All of the guards erupted in laughter.
“Asshole.” Why did she even bother trying to talk to him? It was all Ship’s stupid idea. She turned around to walk away.
Growling low, he reached out and grabbed the back of her suit, yanking her onto his lap. Caught off guard, she struggled. He threw an arm over her stomach and tightened his grip, pinning her in place.
“You will not leave unless I dismiss you,” he said. He growled deep in his chest.
She bucked and wiggled against his grasp. Her neckline stretched low across her breasts. “You don’t own me!”
“I will…in every way.” Taio inhaled deeply. “I can smell how much you want me.”
“Let me go, you Neanderthal!”
Her bun unraveled as she banged her head on his chest.
“I like the view from up here.”
“Let. Go. Of. Me.”
He instantly stiffened. Noticing the change in him, she stilled as well. She followed his gaze to find it resting on her naked breast. It had sprung free during their struggle.
Oh shit.
“Leave us.” His voice was deep and possessive.
“Let me cover myself at least,” she whispered. Her hands gripped his forearm, her nails digging into his flesh.
Only after the last person exited the room did he release her. She shot up and adjusted herself with her back to him.
“You embarrassed me,” she said. She worked at righting her suit.
“I am not concerned about your embarrassment. You came onto my bridge and challenged me in front of my guards.”
“It wasn’t meant to be a challenge.” She turned around, her face reddening. “I wanted to know your plans. Can’t I just live out a normal life? Do my own thing?”
“I am not in the habit of acquiring beings of different species and taking them to my home to ‘do their own thing’.”
For the briefest moment, they stared at each other. They were at a standstill. Her fists balled at her sides. Her eyes fixed on the tattoo on his face. This was the first time she had seen his tattoo up close.
“What is that a picture of?” The words escaped her lips before she could stop herself.
She thought he wasn’t going to answer as he ran his hand over the claw on his face.
“It is a
varitizar
.” His hands caressed the talons surrounding his eye.
“How did you get it? It looks like some kind of tribal marking.” Everyone on the vessel had a facial tattoo of some type or another.
“When males come of age, we go through a ritual called an enlightenment ceremony. We become warriors. During the ceremony, our animal guides reveal themselves to us. In my case, it was the
varitizar
.”
“Is it as bad as it looks?” She extended her hand to touch his face. Then, realizing what she was doing, she pulled back.
Mess with fire and you will get burned.
“Worse.” A sinister smile graced his lips.
“What about the females? Do they participate in the ceremony?”
“Never.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is unheard of.” He raised his eyebrow. “Do you want to see the rest of it?”
She nodded and he pulled his shirt over his head in one swift movement, revealing a perfectly chiseled torso. Her eyes roamed over the elaborate tattoo of a red and blue beast.
Its head spanned one side of his chest. It had yellow eyes and oversized fangs too big to fit in its ugly mouth. The body extended down into his pants and wrapped around to his back. One of the arms extended to the other side of his chest, with the claw resting right above his heart. The other arm snaked up the side of his face with the claw holding his eye.
“Besides, females are not warriors. They are good for other things on my world, and right now I am more interested in
those
things.” He spread his legs wider, revealing a massive hard-on.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t fantasized about it. Hell, every time she looked at him, she had naughty thoughts of running her tongue down his body. Who wouldn’t? The man was built for sex. Well, fighting and sex. Her body pulsated, wet with just the thought of him spreading her legs and plunging between them.
He grabbed the front of her suit and pulled her close to him again. This time she didn’t resist. Settling her between his legs, he reached for her zipper, slowly working it to her waist.
With both her breasts finally free, he slid her arms out of the suit.
Shit.
She should really stop him. Really, she should. If she could just get her hands to comply and push him away or at least get her mouth to obey her and tell him to stop, she would.
Positioned between his legs, she should turn away and leave. But her feet wouldn’t obey her screaming mind either. Her body was putty in his hands. Funny, she thought. When she had thought of Taio trying to rape her, she envisioned kicking his ass and sending him to the healing bay.
But since this didn’t border on rape, there was no Plan B.
Chapter Nine
A hot mouth on her rib cage jolted her from her thoughts. Taio was tracing her ribs with his tongue and damn did it feel good. Too damn good. Eva inhaled and fluttered her eyes closed.
“I can smell your musk.” Taio’s voice was a hard whisper. “Your body is calling to me.” His tongue found its way to the underside of her breast and then trailed to her plump, hard nipple.
She brought her hands up and gripped his shoulders.
“Don’t try to fight me,” he said.
She let out a ragged breath and he devoured her entire nipple, pulling it into his mouth and gently sucking it.
Her hands moved to cradle the back of his head, drawing his hot mouth closer and harder to her breast. Taio’s deep groan rippled off her breast. Eva raked her nails across his scalp as his lips and tongue teased the erect nipple. Through heavy eyelids, she watched as he concentrated on sucking her nipple, his eyes closed, his hands holding her waist.
Taio’s teeth nibbled and then moved to do the same to the other one. Eva moaned, grabbing him tighter, arching her back to meet his mouth.
She needed more, her body melting into him. She murmured as he dipped an oversized hand inside her jumpsuit. His fingers slid between her moist folds, seeking out her wet treasure. Slipping over her small nub, he hovered there and stroked. Eva held on tighter and opened her legs wider, giving him all access.
“What is this?” Her clit throbbed and pulsed under his touch.
“A clit,” she replied breathlessly.
His calloused finger slowly rubbed and stroked. Her legs started to weaken from underneath her.
Oh shit.
“This feels good to you?”
“Yes.”
She was falling apart around him. His finger rubbed painfully slow on her clit while he used his other hand to lower her body to the ground. She melted to the floor without resistance.
“If I had known you were going to be this compliant, I would have woken you up rubbing on this.”
Once lowered, he stopped only to slide the jumpsuit down her legs. She lay naked before him, wondering how different she was from females on his world. His lavender eyes turned a shade darker as he hungrily watched her. Groaning, he took her by the ankles and spread them wide. Whatever embarrassment she had quickly disappeared as he leaned forward and brought her clit into his hot mouth.
Oh my!
A moan passed over her lips and her back arched high.
Taio sucked and licked, taking his time, enjoying his newfound toy. With every tug and caress, her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Reaching down, she grabbed at his hair, grinding on his face.
Growling, he dipped his tongue deep into her pussy. He lapped at the liquid there, finally replacing his tongue with a large finger.
Her hips instinctively pumped against the finger that slid in and out of her wet sheath. It had been too long since she had been touched as he was touching her now. Her core tightened and contracted around his finger. Her stomach knotted as he lowered his mouth, covering her pearl again, expertly licking, sucking and fingering her.
She moaned and bucked against him. “Please, Taio, please. I need you now.”
He ignored her plea, choosing instead to continue his probe. Eva couldn’t take anymore, she needed him now. She clawed at his hair and shoulders, trying to lift him.
Taio sat back on his heels, eyes focused on her throbbing channel. She was dripping and waiting.
His hand hooked in the front of his pants, tugging them down. Displayed before her was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The tattoo didn’t stop at his torso— one leg of the beast stretched down Taio’s leg. Her eyes followed the path of the other leg and widened as they rested on his long, thick shaft. The beast had its claw wrapped around the wide base.
Eva gasped as it aimed right at her. The size! It was huge! He was definitely in proportion with the rest of his body. There was absolutely no way she would be able to take it all.
“You faced two Tresdonians, but you are scared of this.” Taio grasped his thick cock in his hand.
“I’m not scared of anything.” She licked her lips. Her mouth salivated as she anticipated her mouth around it.
“Next time, little one.” He chuckled. “I have to finish what I started.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He raised his eyebrow.
“Someone else used to call me that.”
He grabbed her feet and opened her legs wider. “Right now I am the only thought you should have.”
Heat radiated from her pussy as he moved to hover over her, nestling himself between her legs. Taio pressed the tip of his oversized head to her small, wet opening.
Eva tried adjusting herself under him. He weighed more than she thought. She wanted him bad, but she didn’t want to be crushed in the meantime. Taio paused before rolling onto his back, taking her with him.
“I would not want to injure you.” Taio smacked the hard floor with his hand.
Eva rose and planted both feet firmly on the floor. With her hair streaming around her, she squatted above him. Her hand trembled as she reached down, grabbed his cock and positioned it to her tight opening.
She hesitated. She really wasn’t afraid of the size or the man, but what this would mean for her future.
Taio caressed her thighs, urging her down. Taking a deep breath, Eva slowly lowered. The head pressed against her tightness, not budging, too big to enter her. Determined, she tried to work it in, wiggling onto it.
His fingers tightened on her thighs. “If you keep that up, you will make me spill my seed.” Taio pumped up in a hard thrust. The large head penetrated her.
She closed her eyes and threw her head back. “Oh fuck!”
Taio grabbed both thighs, holding her unsteady body while he thrust his hips up and down, inching his thick cock deeper into her tight sheath. Her slick walls coated him as it stretched her open.
She slowly moved her hips to meet his rhythm, taking more of him, inch by glorious inch, pumping the length of his penetrating shaft.
Taio’s hands moved to grip her hips. With the pain receding, Eva was soon overcome by pleasure. Her pace slightly quickened. He filled her up and she wanted more.
The sounds of his shaft now slickened by her juices filled the bridge. Moaning, she dropped to her knees. His shaft filled her to the core, completely stretching her to the limits.
With a groan, Taio rolled his eyes back into his head. “Great Ancients.”
His fingers dug painfully into her skin. She rocked on his shaft, increasing her pace. Each time she rose, her pussy milked him, sucking him back in.
He grabbed her tighter and pumped her faster and harder. Her breasts bounced and swayed in his face. He took one of the hard nipples in his mouth and sucked. His teeth grazed against her sensitive bud.
She slammed her hips down on him. Any fears she had before were long since gone, replaced by intense need.
“You are mine,” he groaned.
Eva erupted with a scream, her walls contracting and spasming against his rod. Holding her tight against his body, he thrust up, spilling his seed deep inside her.
Spent, they both lay quietly, breathing hard, trying to catch their breaths. Eva tried sliding off him but was stopped short by a firm hand. Taio’s cock thickened and pulsed inside her again.
“Again?”
Taio answered by pumping his thick shaft in her swollen sheath. Sore, but wanting more, she rose to her knees and elbows. Her hair fanned across his chest. His fingers dug into her hips, holding her in place as he pumped fast and hard.
She would surely have trouble walking but didn’t care. Never before had she felt anything as good as this.
After they were done, Taio carried her back to her quarters. Feeling the soft cushion of her bed, Eva curled in a ball.
“This doesn’t mean that you own me,” she said groggily.
“You are already mine.”