by Anna Hackett
Desire coiled through her. Everything about this man called to her. She wondered what those hands would feel like on other parts of her body, and at the thought, her chest tightened. Sliding along her thighs. Cupping her breasts. Slipping inside her. She felt herself go damp between her legs.
That’s when Thorin pulled in a sharp breath, his face going hard.
She looked up at him and her eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”
“My species…we have enhanced senses. Sight, hearing…smell.”
She went stiff as metal. Oh, my God. He could smell her arousal.
“God.” She dropped her head against his chest. “This is so embarrassing. I know you don’t think of me that way. You’re so big and bold, and I’m…not. You can have any woman you want—”
He gripped her chin, forcing her gaze up. “You don’t think I want you?”
Her brow furrowed. “Of course you don’t.”
He made a noise close to a growl and grabbed her hand. He pulled it into his lap.
Regan felt the huge bulge beneath his leathers. Her eyes widened. Oh. My. God. It was his cock. Hard, huge, throbbing.
“Thorin…”
His fingers stroked her jaw. “You’re pretty and delicate, but you are smart and have a resilience that is captivating. You survived captivity, beatings, everything the Thraxians threw at you. I know that in time, you would have used that clever mind of yours to free yourself. You’re wrong, Regan. I want you more than I want anything else.”
He cupped the back of her head and drew her forward. When his mouth met hers, something hot shot through Regan. Her lips parted and his tongue dove into her mouth. As Thorin kissed her, she felt the world tilt.
His kiss was hard and demanding. She slid her hands up, sliding over his shaved head. He had a small goatee and it scratched against her skin, adding to the thrilling sensations.
She arched into him, kissing him back. God, she wanted. She wanted to touch him and be touched. She was pressed against his wide chest, shifting until she straddled one of his hard thighs.
Suddenly he stood, dumping her out of his lap and back onto the couch. She looked up, her eyes level with the hard, enormous bulge in his tight trousers. She licked her lips, then forced herself to look up.
He looked like a conquering barbarian. His face was set in hard lines, his eyes blazing. He looked dangerous, a man on the edge.
“I vowed to protect you.” His voice was strained. “I want you, but I’m not the man for you.”
She frowned, her gut cramping. “What?”
“I’m dangerous, Regan. You don’t know where I’ve come from, the things I’ve done, who I truly am. You deserve better.”
“Don’t I get a choice?” She felt her anger rising. She could see he believed every word he was saying to her. “You’re a good man, Thorin, I’ve seen that—”
“You don’t understand.” He shook his head. “I was dumped here in the arena…by my brother.”
She gasped. He’d been sold by his own family?
“I was already feared by my own people. I was a fierce Sirrush warrior, a weapon, and I’ve killed with these hands.” He lifted them up. “They have no right to touch your skin. I am a killer, a gladiator who makes others bleed in the arena, a man who fucks hundreds of women whose names I never know.”
His words hit her like bullets. She wrapped her arms around her middle.
“I’ve made a life here. A life I can live with, but this isn’t the life for you.”
Oh, so her gladiator was too bad for the little woman from Earth. She lifted her chin. “I think you’re just surviving, Thorin, not really living.”
His brows drew together. “What?”
“I think you’re afraid to reach for more.”
He stared at her for a second, tension pumping off his body. “I will help you learn to protect yourself. I will help you find your cousin, but that is all.” He spun and walked out.
Regan slumped back against the couch and closed her eyes. Then she opened them, her jaw tightening. Her gladiator was going to find out just how strong this Earth girl could be.
***
Thorin ushered the two teenage boys through the backstreets of the city.
Ahead, Raiden, Kace, and Saff were on point, keeping a look out for any trouble. Nero and Lore were somewhere behind them, hidden in the shadows. Thorin calculated that they weren’t far from the spaceport now. Just a few more blocks.
Sneaking the boys out of the House of Gorm’lah had gone off without any problems. He was almost disappointed. He would have liked a fight.
They rounded a corner and he saw the glow of the spaceport above the buildings. He glanced at the boys. They were too thin and looked tired. They’d told him they’d been abducted off a transport with their family several weeks ago and ended up being sold to the Gorm’lah.
Galen had booked them flights back to their homeworld. It must be nice to have a home to go back to.
One of the boys stumbled and Thorin grabbed his arm. Big blue eyes looked up at him, and for a second, they reminded him of Regan. The same fresh innocence.
“Thank you,” the boy whispered.
“Almost there.” Thorin tried to keep his voice from sounding too deep and harsh.
When the boy stumbled again, clearly out of energy, Thorin scooped him into his arms. They couldn’t afford to get off schedule.
“You’re so strong,” the boy said. “I wish I was strong.”
“You’ll get strong once you’re home with your family.”
The boy nodded. “Do you have a family?”
Thorin shifted his gaze straight ahead. “No.”
“Did you get taken from them?” The boy’s voice wavered. “Like me?”
If only he knew. “Something like that. These gladiators are my family now.”
“Don’t you wish you had a home? Someone to hold you? Someone to take care of you?”
The boy’s innocent words lanced into Thorin. A part of him—a part of him that he’d hidden deep inside him—wanted that.
He thought of Regan. The way she’d kissed him, touched him, the sweet taste of her. He released a harsh breath. Yes, he wanted someone to hold him. He wanted Regan to hold him.
He scrounged up some control and held onto his vow to protect her.
“I don’t deserve a family,” he said gruffly. “And I have a life here.”
He felt the boy watching him.
Thankfully, they turned another corner and the metal fence of the spaceport lay straight ahead. Bright lights illuminated all the ships on the landing pads. Raiden waved them forward and they moved to an unguarded side gate, well out of security range.
Thorin set the boy down beside his brother.
“That’s the ship over there.” Raiden pointed to a bulky freighter. “The captain will be waiting for you.”
“Here you go.” Saff shoved a small bag at the oldest boy. “It has some clothes and other essentials.”
“Thank you so much.” The older brother gripped the bag tightly. “We can never repay what you’ve done for us.”
“We don’t want payment,” Raiden said. “Now go.”
“Be safe,” Thorin told the younger boy.
“You, too.” The boy leaned closer. “And everyone deserves someone to love them. No matter what.” With one final, long look, the boy turned and grabbed his brother’s hand.
Thorin stood with the others, and they silently watched the boys cross the landing pads and reach the freighter. They waited until they saw their small forms enter the ship and disappear.
“It never gets old,” Saff murmured.
No, helping people who didn’t belong in the arena head home, was always satisfying. Thorin thought of Regan again. He wished he was able to send her back to where she belonged.
But she had no way home.
Their group melted back into the shadows, moving quickly back toward the arena.
“We’ll take the southern entrance back in.” R
aiden moved up beside Thorin. “So, you seem rather overprotective of our new House of Galen member.”
Thorin felt his neck stiffen. “Who?”
Raiden snorted. “Really? You’re going to pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about?”
“I’m just helping her out.”
“Hmm. By tossing her over your shoulder and issuing her orders?”
Drak. Thorin stared into the darkness. He did not want to have this conversation.
“She’s been through a lot, Thorin—”
“You have a point? If you’re going to warn me to stay away from her, don’t bother. There is no way I’d sully her with my hands.”
“Hey.” Raiden grabbed Thorin’s arm and pulled him to a stop. “What the drak is that nonsense? I was going to warn you to tread carefully with her, but I’ve seen the way you watch her.”
A muscle ticked in Thorin’s jaw, but he stayed silent.
Raiden shook his head. “I’ve also seen the way she watches you.”
Thorin shook his head. “You know better than anybody what I am. You know I can never have a small, soft female and not put her at risk.”
“Thorin—”
“Just drop it, Raiden. I’m pleased you found Harper, but don’t go trying to meddle with me.”
Thorin charged ahead. Regan Forrest was not for him. No matter how much he might wish differently.
Chapter Six
Thorin watched Regan stride across the training arena. The morning sunlight was bright, both the suns moving into the sky. It reflected off the sand and made Regan’s hair glint like gold.
Harper had obviously found her some training leathers, and they slicked over her slim legs and rounded curves.
He gritted his teeth. Any harder and he was pretty sure they were going to crack under the pressure.
“Any news on Rory?” she asked when she reached him.
“No.”
Her face fell. “I know I need to be patient, but it’s hard.”
“Come on. We’re going to try a few different weapons this morning.” He led her over to the weapons rack. He eyed the weapons and realized they probably weighed almost as much as she did. He picked one of the smaller swords and held it out. She tried lifting it, but could barely get it off the ground.
He grabbed a large dagger. For him, it was small, but for Regan, it was almost a short sword. “Try this for now.”
He pulled a sword for himself and started showing her some basic moves. The axe was his weapon of choice. He liked the weight of it, but he kept up his training with the sword.
Step, step, thrust. Step, step, thrust. She followed his moves, watching him carefully. He knew that smart little mind of hers was working overtime. She did well and was damn near graceful when she moved.
He lost himself, watching her. She was right, she’d never be a gladiator. She didn’t have the strength or the killer instinct for it. But he could teach her how to protect herself.
Thorin moved behind her to correct her stance, holding her elbow in close to her body. “Now move through that step again.” Her rounded butt brushed against him. He hissed in a breath. Drak.
He stepped back and cleared his throat. “Try again.”
She went through the moves again. When she moved wrong, he stepped in to correct her. Every time he got close, her curvy body brushed against his. It was driving him crazy.
“Again,” he said hoarsely.
Her cheeks were pink now, a small smile flirting on her lips. “Okay, I’ve got it this time.”
She moved the sword through the air, moving her feet through the sand. As she turned, her body brushed his again. Her face was flushed and covered in a sheen of sweat. She looked beautiful.
Thorin shifted, the pressure in his trousers beyond uncomfortable.
When she stepped back, her hip brushing against his, his gaze narrowed. She was brushing up against him on purpose.
He stepped away. “Good. Let’s move on to another weapon,” he told her. He grabbed up a net from the weapons rack. He held out the small, egg-shaped device.
She held it in her palm, testing its weight. “So this opens up into a net?”
He nodded. “All you need is pretty good aim, and the net will take your opponent down. It has sensors in it to help it target whatever’s in its range.”
She nodded and they moved over to some of the targets. There were several humanoid-shaped mannequins set up.
“Okay. Let’s see how you do.”
She pulled her arm back and tossed the net. It arrowed through the air and the net exploded outward. It slammed over the first mannequin.
“Yes!” She clapped her hands.
He smiled. She had good aim. It didn’t take long for her to get the feel for the net. She was pretty damn good with it. He nodded. It was a good weapon for her, because it meant she didn’t have to get too close to a bigger opponent.
“Good job,” he told her.
She turned, shooting him a beaming smile. It was the happiest he’d seen her since they’d rescued her from the Thraxian ship. He knew she was still acclimating and was worried about her cousin. He felt a shot of warmth in his chest, somewhere in the vicinity of his heart.
Thorin cleared his throat. “I suggest you keep practicing with the net. It’s a good weapon for you. When you take down your opponent, you turn and run. You don’t have the strength or the training to tackle a larger fighter. So you get out of there.”
She nodded. “Got it.”
Thorin lifted his axe. “Okay, let’s see how you do in a sparring match.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “We’re going to fight?”
He shifted his feet through the sand. “That’s what we’re here for.”
She gave a determined nod, then lifted her sword and palmed a new net device. “Okay, big guy.”
Soon they were circling each other. Thorin swung his axe at her a few times, watching as she ducked and weaved. She tossed the net device, but it sailed past him. The first few times, he laughed, and he could see she was getting angry, her brows drawn together.
“I think you need more practice, yet,” he said with a grin.
As he turned around, the net struck him in the chest. The metallic ropes covered him, tangling him up and tripping him over.
She stood over him, her hands on her hips. “Who needs more practice now?”
He stared at her.
She bit down on her lip, looking like she was trying to contain a laugh. She crouched, helping pull the net off him. “God, I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” He pulled the ropes away, glaring at her. “You’re supposed to run.”
She froze. “I’m not afraid of you. And I am sorry, you made me mad.”
“You don’t apologize to your opponent.”
He sat up. Across the training arena, he could see Kace and Saff laughing their heads off.
Giggling, Regan grabbed the net and tossed it away. She was flushed and happy with herself. He rose, and a second later, she went up on her tiptoes and smacked a kiss against his jaw. It was quick, friendly.
But Thorin’s hands came up and gripped her wrists. Her giggling died away.
“I said there was nothing between us. The kissing, the rubbing your sweet body against me…it has to stop.”
They stared at each other, and he could feel it, the connection between them, filling the space, throbbing in the air. What the hell was it about this small woman that affected him like this?
“You want me,” she said quietly. “I want you. I don’t see what your problem is.”
She was killing him and he needed some space between them. Thorin released her and waved Kace over. “Kace, take over Regan’s training.”
His friend nodded and Thorin shot Regan one last glance. She’d wrapped her arms around her middle, hurt stamped on her face. Steeling himself, he strode away, sand kicking up around his boots.
He needed to do something about this burning need, or he was going to lose his mind
. He strode into the tunnels and then into their living quarters. A second later, he was in his room, slamming the door behind him. The wood rattled on its hinges.
He had to cool off. He needed some control. He, one of the best gladiators of the Kor Magna Arena, couldn’t even control himself around one tiny woman.
He stormed into his bathroom. It had smooth, rock walls with a large bathing tub, and an even larger shower. He flicked on a control that had a waterfall of water streaming from the ceiling. He made sure the settings were turned to cold.
He stripped off his leathers and dumped them on the floor. Then he stepped under the cold stream.
It slicked over his body, but it didn’t stop the images in his head. Of flushed cheeks and a pretty smile. Of a curvy female body brushing against him. Of the taste of her.
Thorin slid his hand down his abdomen, and circled his throbbing cock. He started to stroke himself. He needed some release. Maybe that would help him find the control he needed.
But as he roughly slid his hand up and down, it was still Regan in his head. He growled, pumping harder, desire twisting in his gut. It was her slim legs and wicked curves that had him spilling his seed all over the floor.
***
It was fight night again.
Regan sat in the stands, and this time, she didn’t find the crowds so overwhelming. Maybe it was just that she knew what to expect now. But she knew that it wasn’t just that. She knew that she was finding her footing, gaining her strength back. She’d kissed Thorin, teased him, yelled at him. They were all things the Regan she’d been before would have been terrified to do.
But the biggest feeling coursing through her veins tonight was excitement. She couldn’t wait to watch Thorin fight, his big, powerful body moving across the sand. Harper was fighting tonight as well, and Regan was excited to see her friend in the arena.
“Would you like some mahiz?”
From beside her, Kace handed over a small bowl filled with a crunchy-looking snack. He was wearing a crisp blue shirt that matched his eyes, and dark trousers.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s made from a vegetable. You cook it until it bursts open.”
