by T. J. Quinn
“Yeah, right,” she mumbled, playing with the food on her plate, still tensed up.
I could tell Maya was still upset, and I didn’t even need my telepathic power. I probably shouldn’t have told her about it, but I didn’t want lies between us. She needed to understand how I was wired and how that would affect us when I claimed her.
The link between us would be much stronger, and we would feel everything the other one felt. We would literally become one, one heart, one mind, and one soul.
However, she wasn’t ready for that kind of information. Now that I had her in a safe place, I would take things slow and give her all the time I could to get used to me.
“Will you read your list for me?” I asked while we were eating.
“I guess I’ll have to, right?” she sneered but picked the paper I handed her. “I need fabric. This place needs some curtains for more privacy, and I could also use some paint and painting tools. It would make a huge difference to the house,” she read it out to me.
“I’ll see what I can do. It might take me some time getting some of those items, but I’ll do my best,” I promised her.
She scoffed. “I’m not going anywhere. Time is all I’ve got.”
I let her comment pass and finished eating in silence. She barely ate, and as soon as she saw me put down the cutlery, she got up and started clearing the kitchen.
I helped her, like I had the night before, and watched her leave the kitchen, still in sulky silence.
Once in the bedroom, she walked straight to bed.
“Aren't you going to shower?” I asked her, already knowing her answer.
“I showered earlier,” she informed me, in a blatant tone, clearly defying my order, as she slid under the bed covers.
I stared at her, my eyebrow raised, demanding an explanation. She refused to acknowledge it.
“I told you to wait for me,” I reminded her.
“I was bored, with nothing else to do,” she said, shrugging.
“I expect you to follow the rules,” I pointed out in a grave tone.
“Then, don’t. I didn’t ask you to bring me here. I didn’t ask for any of this,” Maya ranted, her hands resting in her hips, her face up, challenging me.
“I saved you from a far worse destiny,” I reminded her.
“So you say. As far as I know, I could have been destined to become an outcast, and I would be finally free of you and the rest of the aliens. After all, I’m way past eighteen, when they usually select all of the kids at the quarters,” she pointed out.
“I was the reason behind that. I kept you safe from them for as long as I could,” I assured her.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because you’re mine,” I replied in a confident tone.
“No, I’m not. I’m not an object or a doll for you to own. I’m a person, damn it,” she stomped her foot on the ground.
I closed the distance between us and cradled her face. “You know I don’t mean it that way. You’re as mine as I am yours, and though you might not see things like that, I’m sure you will, soon,” I assured her.
“Your words make no sense,” she complained, putting her hands over mine, probably to pull them away from her face, but I didn’t give her a chance.
Leaning forward, I claimed her lips in a passionate, breathtaking kiss, demanding her to surrender her whole self to me. Her resistance only lasted a few seconds. Moments later, instead of pushing me away, she was caressing my hands and pulling me closer.
There was no way anyone could deny the passion burning between us. It was too powerful, too overwhelming, and certainly unstoppable.
Breathless, I stepped away and tried to get my head back to what really mattered tonight. Not my desire or the sheer hunger gnawing at my guts, but I needed to address her disobedience.
Though it sounded silly, I needed to know she would follow my rules, no matter what. Our lives depended on that.
“You know you’re mine; you’re just not ready to admit it,” I said in a firm tone. “And so, I expect you to follow my rules, even if you think they aren’t important.”
She stepped aside, angry once more. “Oh, please…” she scoffed.
“Your safety depends on it,” I insisted.
“How is that even possible? I’ve been bathing alone for a long time. My safety is never at risk,” she mocked me.
“This is not about the bath; it’s about you not following the rules,” I explained in a harsh tone.
“I would follow them if they weren’t so stupid,” she grumbled.
“It’s not your place to decide whether or not they’re stupid,” I pointed out, and her hazel eyes turned into melted chocolate.
She wasn’t happy.
“You have to be kidding me,” she spurted out.
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” I asked with my sternest expression.
“So, now what? What are you going to do?” she asked in a bold tone.
“I’ll punish you,” I announced, in a cold tone, observing her reaction.
She stepped back, startled. “What do you mean?” she asked in a cautious tone.
I closed the distance between us and grabbed her by the arm. “For now, you’ll spend some time in the safe room. I’m sure you’ll learn pretty fast the importance of following the rules,” I informed her as I guided her out of the room and down the stairs to the safe room I had built there. “Have a good night, Maya. I’ll see you in the morning,” I added, pushing her inside and locking the heavy door.
She banged the door and called me. “Ryoko! You can’t do this!” she protested.
But I ignored her. I knew she would be safe in the room, and though I hadn’t turned on the lights, her eyes should soon adjust to the darkness, and she would be able to walk to the small bed placed against the wall.
I would miss her in bed, but she needed to understand the importance of following the rules, even the stupid ones, as she called them.
Chapter Seven
Maya
I pounded the door with my strength, furious he had left me in this tiny room, all by myself.
When I decided to break his rule, I knew I would have to pay for it. I just hadn’t expected he would throw me in here. I hated small closed spaces, and though it wasn’t a phobia, it wasn’t that far from it.
My breathing hardened, and I struggled to keep calm, knowing I was safe here and that Ryoko would never let anything bad happen to me. However, fear was never a rational emotion, and no matter how many times I told myself I was going to be already, my heart didn’t slow down.
Trying to remember what was in the room, I moved around, trying to find the bed. It was too dark for me to see much. The room had no windows, and the door was sealed tight, so no light came from the outside.
The monitors that streamed the videos sent by the cameras installed all over the place were turned off, so I couldn’t count on that either.
“Damn you, Ryoko. I’ll make you pay for this,” I yelled at him, though I doubted he could hear me.
I finally bumped into the small bed and let myself fall in it, closing my eyes, still struggling to keep my self-control.
My heart slowly went back to an acceptable pace, and I dedicated my time to analyze Ryoko’s words. His words and actions didn’t make any sense. He claimed he was protecting me when he took me out of the children’s quarters, but for all he had told me, taking me out of there had always been his plan.
What I couldn’t quite understand was why. Why me? Why now? What made me different from all the Septians that swirled around him and his men?
Too many questions and no answers - there was nothing more frustrating than that. I spent the whole night wide awake trying to make some sense of my current situation with little luck, too restless to sleep.
I would never admit, not even to myself, that I had missed him in bed with me. I had never felt so lonely before.
When he finally opened the door and turned on the lights, I was staring at t
he ceiling and barely reacted when he came in.
“Have you learned your lesson?” he asked in a soft tone.
“Will that take me out of here?” I asked, not bothering to look at him.
“If you have, then yes. Otherwise, you’ll spend the day here, as well,” he warned me.
I jumped out of bed, sneering at him. “Lesson learned, sir. Any new rules I should know about?” I asked, letting loose my tongue.
He crossed the room and snatched my chin in one hand, pulling me forward. “Feeling brave, salavíf?” he whispered, his face only inches away from mine.
My heart jumped in my chest, and for a dark moment, I realized I knew little of this man. I had been provoking him at will, ignoring just how strong and powerful he was and how helpless I was.
I blinked to hide the sudden dread coursing through me. Ryoko smashed his lips against mine in a demanding, soul-eating kiss, each move of his harsh tongue, a firm statement of his power over me.
When he finally released me, my legs were wobbling so much I almost fell to the floor. He picked me in his arms and carried me out of the room, straight to his bedroom.
Ryoko dropped me over the bed, and I crawled as far away from him as possible.
He sneered at me. “Get some sleep. There’s food over the table. Eat it when you get up. I’ll see you tonight,” he said in a cold tone before he left the room.
Damn man!
I crossed my arms over my chest and stayed there for a while, sulking.
I must have fallen asleep at some point because when I opened my eyes again, the sun was way up in the sky. With my stomach roaring, I jumped out of bed and went looking for the food he had left me.
The day was almost gone, which was good since I had nothing to do, but having spent the day sleeping had been a terrible idea. What was I going to do at night, lying in bed next to him?
When I finished eating, I cleared the kitchen, made the bed, and washed some of my clothes. I had completed my chores a while ago when he finally arrived.
“How was your day?” he asked, putting down the food he had brought that night.
“As usual,” I replied, in a cold tone, still mad at him.
“Did you get some sleep?” he asked, coming up from behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
My heart jumped at a frantic pace, and my entire body thrived on his warmth. “Yes… I was tired,” I admitted, tilting my head to a side when he started to nuzzle me.
“I’m happy to hear that,” he assured me, kissing and nibbling my neck’s sensitive skin. “Did you miss me?”
I scoffed. “As much as you missed me.”
He chuckled and turned me around, forcing me to face him. “I missed you more than I thought possible to miss someone,” he confessed before he took my lips in a passionate kiss.
I moaned and leaned forward, my treacherous body easily surrendering to his touch, to his passion. With his hands buried on my auburn mane, and his lips firmly pressed against mine, he was slowly but relentless tearing down all the walls I had spent the night building against him.
Barely breathing, I put a hand on his chest and begged. “Wait!” He stopped and stepped back a few inches. “You’re going too fast,” I whimpered, feeling I was on the verge of losing control over the wild passion burning inside me.
“Am I?” he asked in a husky tone. “You seem ready to me,” he added, breathing hard.
I ran a trembling hand through my hair and took a few deep breaths to regain control over my body. “My body might be, but I certainly am not,” I assured him, scowling.
He shrugged. “If you say so…” he walked to the kitchen table and displayed the food he had brought.
“Where do you get so much food?” I asked, curious, as I looked at the soup and the meat stew he had just put on the table.
“I have an agreement with the Septian female in charge of the kitchen,” he explained, taking a seat at the table and inviting me to do the same.
“An agreement?” I asked, cocking my eyebrow, surprised, trying to ignore the feeling creeping through me that looked a lot like jealousy. “What kind of agreement?”
He looked at me, amused. “Why do you care?” he asked, tilting his head, inquisitive.
“I don’t… I mean, do you think it’s safe? She could tell someone else about it. It could be dangerous…” I babbled.
“She knows she wouldn’t get what she wants,” he said, shrugging.
“So, you give her something in return,” I concluded, more intrigued than ever.
“Of course. No one does anything for free, and especially not a Septian,” he assured me.
I frowned. “What can you possibly give her that keeps her quiet?” I asked, too curious not to.
He chuckled. “Not what you’re thinking,” he said, with a naughty grin on his face.
I blushed. “I’m not thinking anything,” I grumbled.
“She loves wild turnips, but they don’t grow in the greenhouses, so I ask the dragons to find them for her,” he explained, amused.
I grimaced. “Wild turnips? Who the hell likes that?” I asked, surprised.
“For what I know, most people feel the same way as you. That’s why they don’t waste soil and water on a vegetable most people don’t like. But Greta does, and she pays me for bringing them to her.”
“It tastes terrible,” I assured him.
“I wouldn’t know. Never tried them myself, nor felt compelled to,” he explained.
“She doesn’t ask you any questions?” I asked, still intrigued by the woman’s behavior.
“No. As long as I provide her with her vegetables, she will keep providing me with all the food I ask her.”
“I guess that’s great. But wouldn’t you have trouble explaining that if you’re caught by any other Septian?” I asked, a bit concerned.
“They usually ignore us. They hate that we can’t speak their language and hate that we use telepathy,” he told me, with a smirk that told me the Septians reactions amused him. “Of course, you could cook, and that would reduce the chances of me getting caught,” he suggested.
“I can’t cook, remember? You told me you would get me some cooking books, but you haven’t,” I pointed out, finishing my meal and getting up.
“I forgot about it, but I will get some for you,” he promised.
“Yes, that would be nice, along with the things I asked you,” I reminded him.
“Those require a bit more time, but I will get them for you,” he assured me, getting up as well and helping me clear the kitchen.
That done, I walked straight to the bedroom, trying to find a way to get through the shower time unscathed. After the kiss we shared a couple of hours ago, that felt more and more impossible.
“Ready for your shower?” he asked as he entered the room, right after me.
“Do we have to do this?” I asked, trying not to show the desperation I was feeling.
I wasn’t scared. That definitely was not the problem. For some mysterious reason, I knew that being with him would change my life forever. It would change me, and I wasn’t ready for that.
Ryoko was still the enemy, an invader that had taken over my planet and killed so many of my people. The feelings I was already experiencing for him felt like treason, and I didn’t know how to handle them.
“How else are we going to know each other?” he asked, sliding his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck.
Damn! The man knew how to undo me. It didn’t take much, of course, and that upset me more than I could explain.
“There are other ways,” I grumbled.
“I like this one,” he insisted, his hands strolling through my belly and coming dangerously close to my already swollen breasts.
My nipples were hard as pebbles, and my heart was thundering deafeningly in my chest.
“It’s torture!” I complained, against my wishes, but his caresses were more than I could take.
“Does it hurt?” he asked, startled
.
“Not that kind of torture,” I corrected him, breathless.
He lifted my hair and filled my nape with kisses and nibbles until I was shuddering with sheer need.
I stepped away. “That’s not fair. You’re trying to seduce me, and you promised me time…” she protested.
“I told you nothing you will happen against your will,” he rephrased my words.
She snorted. “That’s the whole problem.”
“It wouldn’t be against your will,” he concluded with a smug smile.
I pursed my lips for a moment, clenching and unclenching my hands, struggling not to hit him and erase the smugness off his face. “I need more time,” I said instead.
He nodded. “I’ll give you more time,” I sighed, relieved. “We’re still bathing together, but I will keep my hands away from your body,” he added, making me frown.
“The shower stall is too small for that,” I protested.
“We’ll make it work,” he insisted, and something on his tone told me he would change his mind if I kept protesting.
“Fine!” I mumbled, pursing my lips and heading towards the bathroom.
I was right, of course. Our bodies rubbed against each other with every movement we made, and by the time we were done, I was as aroused as if he had touched me.
Lying in my side of the bed was a relief. At least, for a little while, I could stay away from Ryoko’s tempting body and pretend he didn’t exist. However, my body always seemed to find its way to his, and I knew I would, once more, wake up wrapped up in his arms, with his hard cock pressing my body.
“Goodnight, Maya,” he whispered from the door, and I could tell he was amused.
The little experiment in the bathroom had been a complete failure, and he knew it.
“You’re not coming to bed?” I asked, intrigued, as I watched him put on one of his clean suits.
“Not yet. I’ll be back soon,” he said before he walked out of the room.
I should have felt relieved he was gone, but I wasn’t. Like last night, I rolled in bed, restless, missing his presence in bed.
However, when he returned a couple of hours later, I pretended I was already asleep, ignoring his soft chuckle.
