J pressed closer to the glass, and the Cobrini reached out, tracing the curve of her breasts, the gesture strangely seductive and hypnotic. The holding cells should’ve felt cold, but somehow, heat radiated between their bodies. J shivered for no reason, remembering the dominating but confident phantom hands plaguing her dreams.
The dreams always started with those two faceless large figures. She should’ve been frightened, but she wasn’t because while those hands were capable of killing they were also capable of control and unexpected gentleness. Then the nightmare would start. Those figures were wrenched away from her, and she imagined running like a frightened mouse, footsteps thumping harshly behind her.
Her nightmares seemed far away now. J’s breath quickened when his fingers lingered down her ribs to the crevice between her legs. Her cheeks heated up. Moisture flooded there, and she wondered if they could see the wetness under her white sleeping shift.
“Are you wet, J?” the Hadarian asked, and her gaze fell to his handsome face and dipped lower to the visible bulge under his suit. “Don’t bother lying because even with this thin layer of glass we can both smell your arousal.”
“We’ll show you ours if you show us yours,” the Cobrini said in a teasing voice.
She shook her head, visibly shaken. How could these two strangers make her skin flush and her pussy wet so easily?
They hadn’t even touched, yet here she was reacting like a slut. The Cobrini’s suggestion sounded like a game children played, but they all knew the game they played was dangerous.
The right thing was to apologize, to simply run out of here and back to her pod where Farr and the rest of his crew were sleeping. Farr, her master and her prince who had promised he’d treat her like a princess.
Still, J stayed. She nearly jumped at the harsh sound of zippers being jerked down. Clearly they were as aroused as she was, but weren’t the two men lovers? Why did the sight of her make them react this way, and more importantly, why did they make her body react this way?
“Now your turn,” the Cobrini said thickly. His eyes were dark and heavy with desire, and J lifted up the hem of her shift. “Good girl.”
Was it wrong a bolt of excitement went directly to her pussy hearing him say those words?
“Not enough. Take off your dress and underwear,” the Hadarian demanded hoarsely. Something about his voice, the desperation there made her heart unexpectedly ache.
J apprehensively glanced at the door, then back at them.
“Please.” The Hadarian’s words undid her.
J pulled off her dress and panties and knelt back again. The Hadarian reached out against the glass, tracing a circle over her nipple. He looked so wistful, so unbearably sad that J touched her hardening tits until they hardened to pebbles.
“Fuck,” the Cobrini said harshly, hand moving up and down his thickening length. “Spread yourself for us, baby. Give us one last good show.”
Last good show. Why did those words sound like a finality?
J lay flat on her back on the cold ground, pulled her knees up and spread her legs. She still wasn’t sure why she was offering herself up like some lewd whore for a bunch of prisoners she didn’t even know, but J didn’t feel repulsed or dirty. Not like those strange occasions when the crew dined and either Farr or Gael would place her on their laps and feed her bits of food like some sort of pet.
No use thinking now. Time to give in to the sensations and see where this will lead.
“Touch yourself, J. We want to see your beautiful body strain and come.”
J closed her eyes and eased the heat between her legs with her fingers.
“Does it feel good, baby?” the Hadarian asked.
“Gods, yes,” J murmured. “Farr hasn’t allowed me to touch myself or let anyone else touch me. It’s been so long.”
A moment of silence followed. Then came the Cobrini’s smug voice, “Good. That’s it, J. Part those pussy lips. I want to see just how wet you are.”
J parted her lips with her fingers, wondering how fucked up it was she was obscenely turned on by this. Someone groaned. J rubbed her clit in circles, moaning, imagining one of the men’s mouths was on her, sucking the swollen nub until she cried out. The image was so strong she gasped.
“What are you thinking, baby?” The Hadarian asked.
“Your mouth on me.” J’s entire face reddened at the confession, but she didn’t care. It felt too good.
“It’s only fair to tell you,” the Cobrini panted. “We’re getting so hard seeing you touch yourself. I can’t imagine sliding my cock into that virgin pussy of yours, followed by my mate.”
“Oh gods.” The graphic image was too much. Still rubbing her clit with one hand, she used the other to slide one finger in her.
“Put another inside you, baby.”
J obeyed, still fantasizing about the warriors taking turns sliding their long meaty lengths inside her waiting hole, finally taking her maidenhead.
“We’re going to be much larger than your fingers, so stretch yourself wide.”
J did, furiously rubbing at her clit, feeling the pressure building inside her about to explode. One of the men, she wasn’t sure who, let out a gasp, and she had a feeling he’d come.
“Come for us, J,” the Cobrini commanded.
The command triggered her orgasm and the Cobrini’s. She bit her lip, trying to muffle the scream of pleasure threatening to tear out of her. She heard the Cobrini grunting, cursing softly under his breath. Waves of pleasure assaulted her body, leaving her gasping and limp on the cold floor.
“Good girl. That’s our good girl.”
J closed her legs and sat up. All she could say was, “I still don’t know your names.”
They looked sad at that, but the Hadarian shook his head. “It’s okay, baby.”
Tears, real tears this time, sprang up in her eyes. Her heart felt like it was churning, screaming in a vortex of confusion. Why couldn’t she remember?
“No. No it’s not okay. Why can’t you just tell me your names? Why can’t you explain why I’m drawn here night after night?”
“You should go back, J. The guards are about to wake up,” the Cobrini said quietly.
Suddenly angry, J quickly donned her clothes, aware both men continued watching her every movement. When the doors closed behind her, she sighed with relief. Then she froze when she caught sight of Gael frowning down at the unconscious bodies of the two guards.
“Gael, I can explain,” she whispered, suddenly terrified of the looming shadow angrily striding up to her.
Gael had never given her reason to fear him before, but she didn’t recognize Gael now, not when lines of anger strained his face. She took a hesitant step backward, feeling like a cornered animal with no chance of escape.
“There are cameras on this ship, little one,” he said flatly. “Farr allowed your little rebellion to go on because it amused him, but the time for amusement has come to an end.”
Gael gripped her hand, and J struggled to free herself from him. He easily subdued her, pinning both her hands above her head one-handed. Time froze. Gael took out a leather pouch from the inside of his coat, and the thin syringe glinted inside. J kicked at him with her legs, but her kicks didn’t even seem to bother him.
“It appears you’ve proven me wrong, J. Maybe the heart is really the stronger muscle, but I won’t make the same mistake twice. This is a stronger dosage than before.”
“Gael, please. What are you doing? What do you mean before?” She whispered, tears streaking down her eyes.
Why was she crying? Something at the back of her mind nagged at J. This scene felt sickening familiar. Repetitive. The needle came closer, and Gael continued to ignore her pleas. Gods. She was so close. So close to remembering the names of those two prisoners who were capable of making her body sing, of stringing it like an instrument.
“They—”
The needle went in. Gael let go of her, and when she slumped down he easily caught her and
hefted her in his arms.
“We should get you back to your pod, J,” Gael said in a reprimanding voice. “No more wandering around at night, understood?”
J nodded weakly, suddenly feeling so sleepy. Gael mentioned she was sleepwalking? Why was there a slight pulse between her legs?
“My head hurts,” she mumbled, wondering why Gael’s fingers felt wrong. She usually liked being touched.
“You’ll feel better soon, I promise. You think too much, J. Leave the thinking to your masters, hmm?”
Gael’s words didn’t sit well with her, but he was right. J’s purpose was to obey, to yield herself completely to her owners.
“Okay?” Gael prodded, settling her in her pod.
Farr was awake, too. Did she wake him? She hadn’t planned on worrying him. J looked up at him, afraid he was angry, but Farr only stroked the side of her cheek absentmindedly.
“It is done?” Farr asked quietly.
“Done,” Gael agreed.
“How much will she remember?” Farr asked, smiling down at her finally when she leaned into his hand and kissed his fingers. J felt exhausted, although she wasn’t sure why.
“She won’t remember a thing.” Gael reached out, petting her hair. “Sleep, J.”
“Okay,” J agreed, curling her body while Farr lifted up the blanket to cover her.
Chapter Eight
After being caged up for weeks like an animal, Brale was filled with relief when he felt the ship tremble and quake for a few seconds, and then its humming engines died down. They were on solid ground. Planet Hadar he guessed, from the way the crew was rejoicing and the way the air in the cabin was changed, but where?
The primary military base on the capital perhaps, or a smaller base somewhere in the provinces? Farr must be a heavyweight in the military to be able to acquire a second cruiser in the nick of time and catch up to them, so Brale had to assume the worst. He and Dyos needed to keep their minds sharp for their escape, but his mate looked the worse for wear.
From his cell, Dyos’s eyes were narrowed to half-slits and his entire body was wound up tightly like a coil. The last time Dyos had been on his homeworld, Planet Hadar had been in the midst of a war. He had been a dispensable foot soldier in the frontline, watching his brothers die senseless deaths as his military leaders struggled to buy time against the invading Cobrini horde.
Knowing Dyos was reliving dark memories and knowing he could do nothing about it, made Brale seethe with anger.
“Get yourself together,” Brale whispered to himself.
He couldn’t lose his nerve. Not during this critical moment. The doors hissed open minutes later, revealing two Hadarians who were fully garbed in standard military wear and armed to the teeth.
“Get up, filth. It is time you meet your rightful fate,” a guard sneered.
Brale was nudged to his feet, and he didn’t fight the shackles slapped to his wrists.
“How are you boys treating our little darling?” Brale drawled, trying to ignore the sharp barrel of the plasma gun pointed to his back as they were marched out of the cell.
“Your foul mating mark has almost faded, Cobrini,” the warrior behind him said smugly. “Once our priests have acknowledged and witnessed our mating, we will finally be able to partake of her sweet flesh.”
“Indeed?” Brale hoped he sounded disinterested enough.
“Indeed, Cobrini scum. I myself cannot wait to hear the sound of her lovely cries or feast on the sight of her body convulsing and shuddering as we take turns mounting her.”
The Hadarian leaned close to whisper vehemently in his ear, “I understand Breeders have more stamina compared to the average Terran female, so I believe our rutting can last all night long. We’ll let her sleep during the day, and repeat the entire night all over again until she is heavy with child.”
It took all of Brale not to punch the warrior in the face. Just imagining J in the hands of Farr and his crew made his stomach turn. Knowing J would be an eager and willing participant with her memories altered made it all worse. Damn it all.
“Well, I hope she bites your cock off,” Brale added, tasting blood when the Hadarian mutely delivered a painful punch to his jaw.
“That’s enough, Killian. We all know the Cobrini are uncouth and uncivilized beasts,” Farr said as they joined them by the entrance of the cruiser.
Brale spotted J’s small frame sandwiched protectively between Farr and Gael’s bulky bodies. The brief look of disinterest she gave them felt like someone had cut open Brale and ripped out his insides. No tortured confusion marred her features. Her young face and her body bubbled with unsuppressed excitement as she asked questions about Hadar.
Had she chosen to easily forget their last stolen moment?
Farr and Gael took turns answering, giving her small protective touches here and there. Seeing Farr idly stroking her back and Gael occasionally rubbing at her arm or touching her hair nearly made Brale snap off his mental leash.
“Calm down,” Dyos hissed beside him.
Just the sound of Dyos’s voice was enough for his rage to ebb. Brale gritted his teeth and ignored the triumphant and lofty look Farr directed to him. The hatch to the cruiser was opening, revealing the disconcerting streaked blue-green skies of Planet Hadar and a sea of pale faces. The primal sound of drums mingled with the sound of a singular chant uttered by multiple voices.
Oh gods. Farr wasn’t serious about an official mating ritual, was he? Walking down the stairs of the hatch and touching solid ground, the chanting grew louder, almost to a deafening level.
In the distance, polished marbled stairs led to an impressive structure supported by multiple marble columns. It was a Hadarian temple, and it wasn’t just any temple, but the grand temple at the capital. Brale stared at it with disbelief for a few seconds. A quick look at the surrounding tall buildings told Brale they were indeed inside the capital.
A group of white-robed priests, high-ranking politicians, and military leaders awaited them. An unsettling feeling began to line at the pit of Brale’s stomach at the sight of the politicians. Just who the hell was Farr to have this much of a welcoming party?
“Welcome back, Prince Farrian. We are pleased you have succeeded with your efforts to claim a mate,” one elderly priest greeted.
Brale’s mouth fell open. Prince Farrian? Lieutenant Farr is the third in line to the Hadarian throne?
Dyos took an indrawn breath beside him, telling him Dyos hadn’t known about that little tidbit either. All the clues were there. The state-of-the-art weapons Farr and his crew were toting and how fast he’d acquired a second ship to pursue them.
Brale strained his mind for any news or gossip he’d heard about the prince. He remembered that unlike his two older brothers, who were both renowned warriors and commanders, Prince Farrian was blandly mediocre, hardly even worth a gossip or two. Other than that, Brale came up with nothing.
“Are the preparations ready?” Farr asked briskly.
“Indeed, prince. Everything is as you’ve asked. After the temple ceremony there will be a feast celebrating your union,” the priest answered. “This way, please.”
Their party followed the priest, and with guns pressed against their backs, Brale and Dyos had no choice but to follow. Brale felt numbed and helpless. The prospect of escape no longer seemed like a daunting one, but a hopeless one. Why did Farr bring them along when he could’ve shoved them in the palace dungeons and left them to rot? Killing them would be the safest option, so why leave them alive?
“I didn’t know you were a prince.” Brale was close enough to hear J speak.
“My station doesn’t change anything, lovely. Do not be afraid,” Farr said in a soothing voice, pulling her close.
“I’m not afraid, just surprised.” J said, leaning close to him.
“Good girl,” Gael said, whispering something close to her ear. Whatever he said made her laugh.
Brale gritted his teeth. This torture was beyond unbearable. Farr was
doing this on purpose. Brale ignored the painful shove of the gun behind him, urging him to move forward as he pondered on that thought. Stealing an expensive mate right from under his nose must’ve been a painful blow to his honor, and a prince had more pride than the average man. Suddenly, it made a whole lot of sense why Farr would risk keeping them alive. Farr was a sadist. Killing them after obtaining J wouldn’t leave him satisfied. Farr needed to see them suffer to reclaim his lost sense of manhood. Forcing them to watch him claim J in front of an audience would hurt more than any other kind of torture.
Pushed forward, they were herded past the crowd and up the stairs where more white-robed priests and temple attendants were waiting by a stone ritual table. Seeing the table quickened the despair growing inside Brale. While he wasn’t familiar with all aspects of their religion, he knew this one well enough.
In a Hadarian mating ritual, after the males and the females recited their pledges in the eyes of their gods and their priests, they consummated their union in front of witnesses. Farr and his men were about to mount J in front of an entire crowd. They made sure Brale and Dyos were watching, helpless to do anything else as they ruined J.
Rage swept over Brale like a fierce storm. He howled, fighting against his restraints, but blows easily bought him down to his knees. Brale bled from a dozen cuts and his ribs were probably cracked, but he didn’t care. He would’ve fought more, but stopped at Dyos’s concerned shout. He’d already been shamed and brought low, but his pride couldn’t take another hit if Dyos was hurt, too.
“Quiet down, Cobrini. This is a sacred ceremony,” his captor hissed.
Farr tossed Brale an ugly triumphant look, clearly enjoying their useless struggle, but Brale ignored him to stare up at J’s wide-eyed gaze. She tore herself from Farr and Gael, but Gael grabbed her arm in a bruising grip before she could reach them.
“Who are they?” she asked Farr uncertainly, pressing a hand to her forehead. “It feels like … it hurts to remember.”
“Hush, little one. They are insignificant prisoners beneath your notice,” Farr crooned, settling her to the crook of her arm. She looked impossibly small and lost as she looked up to him. “That’s right, you trust me and Gael with your life, don’t you? I’m your master. Remember? We know what’s best for you.”
Merchandise Page 6
