by Lil Gibson
"A word," she fired back, lightening shooting from her emerald depths.
After observing him pickup one woman after another for the last ten hours, "tom cat" had taken on a whole new meaning, mainly illustrating that her ‘tom’ couldn't wait to get laid by any slightly in-heat-female available. He obviously cared more about assembling his harem than securing women for his planet; ready, and willing to repopulate it single dickedly. Her patience snapped. The time had come to state her position and ascertain his.
His hand brushed the cheek of his latest find, as he whispered to the witch. "Do not move from this spot, I will not be long." His eyes promised hot things to come; then he turned to Cat with murder in them. He followed her to an empty meeting room.
"What are you doing, beginning a new career as a male prostitute available to any halfway attractive sleezette?" Cat accused, her eyes shooting enough fire to supply Hell for a year. Every part of her vibrated with rage and betrayal. So furious, Zorroc could not read her feelings; he did however have ears, and knew his cream verged close to scalding. He had a choice to make, placate her and recapture her good will or begin the process of teaching her, her place. He chose the later.
His glare, boring into hers, was colder than she would’ve believed possible; derision and disgust fought each other for supremacy. She felt like her soul had frozen. Her time with him had clearly come to an end.
"Do not question me! I will save my race by whatever means required and no small, inconsequential, sexually suppressed earth female will get in my way."
That about summed it up. She was out of there. With her commitment to the Gattonians fulfilled, she was taking her shattered heart; no, her shattered ego; and disappearing like so much used trash.
Zorroc wondered if he had perhaps overdone her latest lesson, he could have used more tact, she had, after all, worked hard on their behalf. However, she should never have questioned him; what had she been thinking? Perhaps she was just tired, he conceded. Hell, they were all tired. He would fix it later when he finished with this overly eager female. Confident everything would be fine with his out-of-joint mate, he once again assumed the role of available male. "What is your name sweet one?" he inquired, as he approached, noticing she had not moved from the spot he had left her. Zorroc smiled, pleased, that she had followed his direction without question, unlike his own Catarina.
"My name is Sandra," she responded. "Can we go somewhere more private?" she wheedled with a practiced insipid pout. She would do very well, Zorroc observed, and led her out of the building.
Cat went home to collect the rest of her belongings in preparation to leave town; she'd tell the aunts only that she’d be in touch and not to worry. Everything appeared quiet as she let herself into the house. Everything had disappeared—her aunts, her kittens, the furniture, everything. She ran up to her room and checked her closet and found it empty, as well. What could have happened? When she visited yesterday, all seemed normal.
She sped to Dees; the three would leave for Angel's cabin immediately. She pounded on the door for three minutes before realizing no one was home and proceeded to Angels convinced the two were together. But as before, everything was still. She fetched the extra key kept under the porch and let herself in. The place stood empty, deserted. My God, she realized with dawning horror, the Gattonians had stolen them. She sank to the floor unable to control her grief, her guilt, and the crowning devastation. She’d trusted him and he’d betrayed her with a ruthlessness she could barely conceive.
Zorroc found her huddled in the middle of Angel's front room holding a key. He had searched for hours, castigating himself for bungling their last confrontation. He had gone too far.
"Prolinc," he mind-thought, "I have located her; have Carpov ready to assist." He gently lifted her boneless form and they melted away.
Things moved quickly as Zorroc arrived on the trans-pad. Med staff transported Cat straight to the Med-center for treatment, while Zorroc resided in a self-imposed hell; he would never forget how she looked when he found her. She had shrunken into herself looking profoundly alone. He knew her upbringing had made her vulnerable; for all her resilient outer shell, she remained fragile and he had shattered her with his lack of sensitivity and careless arrogance. What must she have thought when she discovered that everyone she loved had been taken from her, along with his own commitment and regard?
Cat had sensed Zorroc's presence at Angel's but lacked the strength for another battle, so said nothing. When they arrived on the ship, she could have told them she was fine but decided against expending the effort, not when she'd been expending so much just to keep herself from flying apart. She wondered idly why he'd visited Angel's.
"Catarina is in shock. I have given her something to make her sleep, after which she will be fine," Carpov informed Zorroc softly. “Angel and Dee are on their way to her so there is plenty of time for you to rest because to be honest, you look worse than she.” Zorroc's state of mind concerned him more than Cat's for the moment. He had not moved for hours, would not speak to anyone; would not say what had occurred to put his pinball in her current stagnant state.
Zorroc, determined to repair some of the damage his careless words had set into motion, grimly proceeded to the Med-center. As the panel slid open, two sets of accusing eyes glared at him with suppressed outrage. He came in and touched his beautiful, still Catarina, gently smoothing her hair from her face. She looked peaceful, sweet, and innocent. What had he been thinking to treat her so carelessly? He had told her he would take care of her, protect her, and he had failed—just as he had failed to protect his people. What kind of a leader did that make him?
Just then, she looked up and smiled sleepily at him. "You look so stern, come to bed and hold me, I'm cold."
Everyone in the room froze; Carpov had just entered and stood staring purposely at Angel. Cat sensed the room was populated and looked around, her eyes widened as she took in the occupants. She couldn't fathom why everyone sat in their chamber staring at her. Had she grown a few inches overnight, had her hair gone straight? She glanced beseechingly at Zorroc, begging for an answer.
"Leave us, I will take care of her." Angel and Dee gave him identical looks of skepticism but did not challenge him. Carpov shrugged uncertainly, glancing first at his patient then at Zorroc and strode after Angel.
"What do you remember, flame?" he asked while softly kissing her brow and eyelids. He wanted to assess the damage in an unobtrusive manner. As her gaze drifted up to meet his, he held it in an effort to divine the truth. He still could not read her; her mind remained static.
"Why did you call me that and what are my friends doing here on the ship, did I get sick?" she inquired with detached curiosity.
"Flame is what my crew named you when you first came aboard because of the color of your hair and the way you move. They have been very concerned; you have slept for some time. What is the last thing you remember?" Slowly her eyes focused on his and became hard. Obviously, she had remembered a great deal.
"What do you want with my friends and family; you have your harem, you don't need us. I will not be one in a long line of willing sleezettes, Zorroc; the only way you'll have me is by rape, and I'd think that you're huge, arrogant male ego would keep you from that course." She sat up and leaned forward continuing her tirade. "You have countless others at your disposal, why bother with one small, inconsequential, repressed virgin?" she hissed, throwing his words back at him. "You can and have done better, as I witnessed first hand."
He flinched as his words hit their mark. He had not enjoyed luring unsuspecting females into a situation they may not survive and had taken his frustration out on Catarina without realizing what exactly he had said or how it would be interpreted. She looked around for the first time to discover she was in the Med-center and bounced off the mat, determined to find her friends and family and exit this nightmare any way possible. Zorroc, however, had different plans.
"I know how it must have appeared. We do what
we deem necessary in order to ensure the continuance of our race." His full considerable concentration centered on her. "Our people, when they lifemate, are monogamous; that is what has occurred with us, though the ceremony has not yet taken place. The women that I lured from the conference; nothing happened. I was not with them sexually." He pushed his hair straight back gripping the back of his head with both hands, his face a study of hard shadows and plains as his eyes continued to bore into hers, "I think you must know this in your heart and maybe are just afraid of the inevitable." He stared at her with purpose and began advancing on her. Cat began subtly backing away, not wanting it to look like a retreat.
"I am not afraid of you, because there is no inevitable for us. Let my friends and my aunts go; they are not a part of this. I have said I’ll go with you and I will; but if you don't release the others, you will never have my trust again and I'll strike at you in any way I can," she threatened, hands on her small hips, her eyes riveted to his.
"Carpov wants Angel, and Prolinc, Dee, when he is not considering throttling her," he admitted haltingly, "and your aunts are not your aunts, but my aunts. Female Gattonians sent to evaluate your suitability as my mate and to look after you until I could claim you," he finished with determined, unvarnished honesty.
"They can't be your aunts; they look like your regular, run of the mill, eccentric humanoid aunts; my parents told me they’re my aunts, do you expect me to believe my parents lied to me in order to deliver me to you?" she accused with obvious skepticism.
"Marie and Helen are both citizens of Gattonia, they are a mix of our races. I told you our races had frequently mated and they are a result. Their job has been to monitor the progress of your planet and execute certain assignments, such as yours. Your parents are both half Gattonian and gave their permission to collect you. It was not easy for them, but you have Gattonian blood on both sides. It was imperative for our race to have you." He watched, as the light in her usually expressive eyes died.
She’d been betrayed. Who would have thought that her parents would sacrifice her and not even COM to let her know? She’d had two strangers living in her house for almost a year, how could she have been so stupid. And Angel and Dee—their capture rested directly on her shoulders. How could they forgive her? She'd ruined their lives. She felt like a bowling ball that had just made the mother of all strikes. Her glazed eyes began to clear and settle on Zorroc, his expression showed concern and pity. He ought to pity himself, she decided, he was as stuck with her as she with him. The perfect way to incinerate an already doomed relationship.
"Well, at least I'm good for something. So, should I lay spread eagle and make the rape easy or are you going to wait until I'm asleep to attack?" she proposed, with icy detachment.
"Do not push me Catarina, we both know I can take what I want from you and make you like it, and if you continue to push me I will do exactly that. I want to make love to you, my cream; it is the only way to push through your barriers until you admit that you are more afraid of your feelings for me than in the situation you now find yourself. I will take you as many times as necessary until you face the truth about us. We are bound." He grew hard, knowing that the time had come to make her, his. The final lesson was about to commence and for the sake of the two of them and their future children, he would make sure she loved every moment of it. He moved in.
Cat knew exactly which way her cat man was blowing by the smoldering in his cat-eyes and the pole jutting prominently from his uniform. Unlike jeans, every male reaction could be seen clearly because of the flexibility of Gattonian clothing. The amber in his eyes had caught fire, burning her from the inside out. The final lesson had arrived. It would be an inferno and she would not be the same at its conclusion. Well she'd see if she couldn't give her proposed mate a little return fire. She relaxed her stance to let him know she accepted what was to occur. He read the change in body language and gave her his hottest, sexiest smile.
"You will not regret this, my one," he purred. "I will teach you well and satisfy us both beyond bearing." He closed the distance between them and reached for her; she in turn took his hand, stepped up, and kneed him in the groin before whipping around and throwing him to the ground. Score one for the earth girls; she knew those self-defense lessons Dee had forced on her would come in handy some day.
She exited the Med-center in search of her friends, leaving Zorroc doubled over on the floor.
Chapter Six
Cat had no problem locating Dee; she just followed the verbal hurricane. She was letting Prolinc have it again. She entered without knocking, feeling particularly pleased with herself for getting a little of her own back from Zorroc. She sighed; it looked like an exact replay of the first time she came upon them, sans Angel. She looked around for a moment, realizing they were in a sleeping chamber. Though not quite as elaborate as Zorroc's, it still provided spaciousness and comfort. They didn't notice she’d entered so she waited for a break in the action to make herself known.
"I see communication between you continues to spark, Dee, but you're going have to learn to keep your finger off Prolinc; he could get the wrong idea and think you’re trying to have your way with him. This is a different culture after all, and Prolinc, I've noticed, tends to take things very literally."
Silence finally. "Prolinc, I'm sure you'll excuse Dee, we need to round up Angel and disappear. Please meet us in five minutes at the trans-pad and your chest will be finger free forever."
He looked at her oddly, trying to change gears from Dee's assault to her Miss Congeniality act, no doubt. She smiled sweetly, grabbed Dee's arm, and propelled her to the exit panel, looking back to make sure Prolinc didn't intend to stop them. Nope, he still looked as befuddled as the first time she'd seen him. They almost made it through the exit but as she turned, she hit a solid wall vibrating with suppressed energy; make that rage; she amended, as she got a look at Zorroc's expression.
"Dee will stay with Prolinc, you will come with me. Now." He ducked down, scooped her over his shoulder, and proceeded toward their quarters.
"Zorroc, be reasonable, it won’t work between us, so you may as well let us go home. You have an entire harem to choose from; what's a little Gattonian blood, when all is said and done? Think of this as ensuring the continuance of your family line because if you don't let us go my knee will constantly be planted exactly where you don't want it, which could cause serious repercussions long term. Zorroc—will—you—hear—me!" she shrieked, punctuating each word with her small fist pounding his back. To hell with a finger.
It would not work between them? He would prove to her exactly how wrong she was. He sensed the sexual tension humming through her body and felt their hot-wired connection. Why did she continue to defy him? "Quit fighting, it is too late. We left earth's atmosphere while you were under sedation. Your friends, the aunts and seventy-three additional earth women are bound for Gattonia, and you, my obstinate mate, are bound for my mat."
Cat was stunned. Seventy-three? How had they found seventy-three willing women in one day? The answer was perversely clear. They'd stolen them. He hadn't even had to lie about it; she’d gone along willingly and condemned all of them to an uncertain future at best. He'd manipulated her as easily as a parent bribing a child with a puppy. Only she wasn't a child. She wanted her old life back and her friends safe from these dictatorial feline space pirates.
"This is cave man strategy, let's discuss it, you’re about to do something you'll be sorry for later," she pleaded, knowing it to be fruitless or fruitful depending on how things progressed.
"It will be my strategy with you from now on, accept it," he said as the panel slid silently open then shut with finality.
He dumped her on the platmat and began to strip with slow purpose. She had seen him naked before, of course, but the unleashed raw sexual energy oozing off his powerful frame held her spellbound. She stared helplessly; he personified the most awesome forces of nature as sensuality surrounded him…and engulfed her sense
s. The top of his uniform seemed to separate on its own as he slowly drew it down his shoulders and torso; she'd have to be dead not to be affected.
She squirmed at the dampness between her legs.
He smiled.
God, he was breathtaking. Her very own living, breathing, burnished gold statue. His massive shoulders and arms rippled with power; his stomach muscles, clearly delineated, clenched as her gaze fastened on them.
She couldn't catch her breath.
He continued to reveal himself, drawing his garment past his abdomen to his manhood. He hung huge and hard and she grew nervous, wondering how it would fit inside her. Angel had assured her they did, but then she’d been talking about men, not Gattonians. Were they larger down there? Would he rip her to shreds? She began to have second thoughts about the whole process, and the more she stared, the larger it bulged and jerked. He discarded his uniform in a rectangular panel that opened and sucked it in then turned and headed toward the console. Hard and firm, his buttocks flexed in time to his strides, and his legs, long and solid, corded and gleamed as he leaned over to issue orders of privacy. He would take no chances of being disturbed this night. She inched closer to panic mode. Her destiny had arrived too soon.
Zorroc read her unease and prepared himself for yet another futile round of negotiations. He would have his way in the end and nothing she could say or do would alter the outcome. He had a lot to teach her and he wanted to give it his full, considerable attention.
His Cat looked in danger of bolting. A little fear was a good thing he decided; just look what she had done to him earlier. She could have crippled his man root for life. Luckily, it seemed to have recovered nicely. She had many weapons at her disposal, as he continued to learn first hand.
"I will have you naked, Catarina," he began calmly as he sauntered toward his female. "I will help you undress and then we will begin the petting," he whispered hypnotically, all the while mindspeaking that all would be well, they would fit as a hand in glove; her pleasure would be his foremost desire. "Now, my present, we will unwrap you."
