Maid for the Beast

by Grace Goodwin

  I sighed. Why was my heart beating out of my chest? Why did my skin prickle with disappointment? He wasn’t here. I’d been avoiding him, but I was sad he wasn’t around.

  I was an idiot. And a hot mess.

  I still had my job, so that meant I had to clean the suite. The thankfully empty suite.

  When I went to collect my supplies, the suite door was closed. I gasped.

  With his back to the door, blocking my exit, was Braun.

  The alien.

  The cyborg.

  The sexiest fucking man I’d ever seen.

  He looked bored, arms crossed over his chest—which, unfortunately, was covered with a tight T-shirt. The shirt matched the honey-brown color of his hair. He had golden eyes that would have looked unusual, even without the odd circle of silver I could just make out around his irises. And he was tall. Taller than I remembered even from the day before. The ceilings in this suite were just a few inches above his head.

  Heaven help him, he’d have to duck to walk around without banging his skull on the light fixtures.

  “Tell me your name.”

  Well, that wasn’t what I had been expecting, and his order irritated me, especially since he was blocking my exit. I clenched my hands into fists, then flexed them. “I don’t think so. I’ll be going. Please call down to the front desk when you are ready to have your room serviced.”

  He didn’t budge. Not. One. Inch. He didn’t even blink, his golden eyes focused on me like twin lasers. I should be afraid, a guest not allowing me to leave a suite. I wasn’t. Not with him.

  “Please, female, I would be honored if you would deign to share your name with me.”

  I frowned. I hadn’t heard anyone speak in such a formally polite way before. “Where did you learn to speak English?”

  He was an alien from another planet. Last night I’d spent hours wondering how he had spoken to me. I’d heard about the NPUs that a bride received when she was matched so that on their new planet, she could understand her mate and any other language in the universe. But just because she could understand what she was hearing didn’t mean she could speak the alien’s language.

  “To be eligible for the trip to Earth to find a mate, we must study and learn your language on The Colony,” he replied.

  “Do they make you take a test?”

  “Of course. Have I misspoken?”

  He looked genuinely upset at the idea, so I shook my head. “No. Your English is perfect.”

  “Your name. Please.”

  I’d shown him my name tag the day before, but it was possible they didn’t have such things in space.

  I had no hope of resisting him, not really. Not when he was being a gentleman. “Angela. Angela Kaur. My mom was born in Alabama, and my dad’s from India. He’s an engineer.” Overshare much? Like a dam had broken, I kept going. Babbling. “And you’re Braun, here for the Bachelor Beast show. Why did you chase me down the hallway yesterday? Why did you roar? And did you see all the women just waiting to sink their claws into you? The show hasn’t even started yet, and they’re circling you like beauty pageant vultures. How many followed you back to your room?”

  It had to be pheromones, right? His. Making me babble and stare and want. And sounding like a jealous wench.

  Stop. Talking.

  His grin made my heart skip a beat. Holy crap, that smile was ruthless. It changed him from a formidable, possibly dangerous alien to… climb-him-like-a-monkey hot. “All of them.”

  “All of them?” Shit. I’d been joking. Mostly. I’d never felt so pea green with envy before. I hated every one of those bimbos and their fancy hair products.

  “Were you jealous?” he asked.

  Shit. What was the right answer here? The truth? The truth was hell yes, but I remained quiet and he kept talking.

  “Do you know what I wished for?” His voice wasn’t any softer, but it had gone quiet. As if he were sharing a secret even though we were completely, totally alone.

  I shook my head as he moved away from the door and toward me. Slowly. Like I was a jumpy alley cat ready to bolt. I held myself still and swallowed. The closer he got, the more I had to tip my head back.

  “You. I waited for you to come back.” He reached up and touched the dark locks surrounding my face, rubbed the strands between his fingertips. “I called the front desk to ask for your name.”

  “You… you did?”

  “Yes. They refused to give me your comm information or tell me where you live.” His fingertips traced the arch of my brow before sliding down the side of my cheek. Goose bumps broke out along my skin. “All I could do was wait.”

  “Wait?”

  “And hope.”

  “For what?” None of this was making sense.

  “For this.”

  I should have taken a step back, excused myself from the room and gone about my business.

  Consorting with guests would get me fired.

  Letting one of them place his hands on my face and lean down like he was going to kiss me? That was definitely consorting. Worse, I needed this job. I’d just moved into my own apartment, and I was still helping my parents pay for the new experimental treatment Gramps was getting. He was doing great, seemed to be on the road to full remission. But that shit was expensive, and insurance didn’t cover all of it. If I got fired, I’d never finish nursing school, and that was the gateway to a career and a good salary. And the only thing I hated more than cleaning toilets was looking for a new job.

  No. I couldn’t—

  His thumb stroked my cheek, and I lost the ability to think. I wanted those hands all over me. All over. Every inch. He was huge. Powerful, yet his touch was beyond gentle, as if he was trying very hard to be careful. His chest was twice the width of a normal man’s, and everything about him screamed power. Safety. Comfort.

  Pleasure.

  Shit. He was holding perfectly still, staring into my eyes as I fought this internal war with myself. If he’d moved at all, said anything, I probably would have bolted like a rabbit. Instead I stared back. And wanted more.

  “What… what are you doing?”

  His face hovered so close I was drowning in those gold and silver eyes. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to kiss you, Angela Kaur of Earth.”

  Holy shit.

  “Why?” Confusion was a living, breathing thing inside me. Why me? I was a maid. Poor. I had a hint of mascara on, but nothing else. My clothes were a two-day-dirty maid’s uniform—and if I was careful, I could stretch it to three before hitting the laundromat. The most confusing factor? He had two dozen gorgeous, eager, elegant, perfect women ready to give him anything he wanted the second he stepped out of this room. Clothed or naked.

  “Because you are beautiful and perfectly curved and you smell like—”

  The way the words rushed out of his chest made my knees go weak. “Like what?” I desperately wanted to know exactly what he was going to say.

  “Mine.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “You weren’t kidding about the language classes, were you?”

  “May I kiss you, female? Touch you? I need to touch you.” His voice had taken on a fascinating timbre, almost like a growl, and he was breathing hard, the pulse at the base of his throat thundering away like a drum just beneath the skin. He wasn’t lying. He wanted me.

  Me!

  Which was insane. But his touch, his gaze. I’d watched the video of Warlord Wulf taking out a cameraman to get to his woman. Braun wasn’t acting that crazy, like knock down sets and growl, but he was intense. The longer I stood so close to him, the heat of his body enveloping me like a promise, the more turned on I became.

  “Um…” Yeah, real smooth.

  “You may kiss me, if you prefer.” He inched closer until all I had to do to claim his lips was go up on my toes. Just barely.

  Good God, this guy was lethal. Panty-melting, lose-your-damn-mind-and-give-him-anything-he-wants lethal.

  And what did I want? Stupid, foolish, romantic me w
anted that kiss. And more. A lot more.

  Enough to get fired for it?

  Yes. Turned out the answer to the question was yes. Hell yes. An I-want-him-naked yes. Casey wasn’t wrong. I should get some.

  My insecurities popped up to question everything, though. “Wait. You’ve got all the contestants. They’re gorgeous.”

  “So are you.”

  “I’m a maid.”

  “You are honorably employed.”

  I’d never thought of it that way before.

  “They’re literally here for you.”

  “Who?”

  “The contestants,” I said, my frustration mounting.

  “I have no desire for any of them. My language skills must be poor if you still don’t understand. My cock was hard for you yesterday as it is today.”

  I glanced down between us. Even though he was fully clothed—this time—I couldn’t miss the thick outline of his interest in me.

  My pussy clenched thinking of that thing fitting. Women across the world would bitch-slap me if I didn’t shut up and take a beast for a ride.

  “Okay.” Once I made a decision, it was done. Finished. I didn’t have time to second-guess my life.

  Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his head, dug my fingers into that gorgeous, honey-brown hair the way I’d wanted to since the first time I saw his photograph on a promotional graphic, and pulled him down to me.

  Our lips met, and I could tell he was holding back. If I was going to get fired for this, that simply would not do. I wanted kissing and hot, up-aganst-the-wall, blow-my-mind sex. There was no way a condom was going to fit on Braun. I’d seen how big he was, knew that even the magnum size wasn’t going to work. Fortunately I was on birth control. It wasn’t like I was going to get pregnant with an alien baby. And I wanted him.

  I wanted skin-on-skin action. I wanted to feel those muscles crushing my aching breasts. I wanted his hands all over every inch of skin. And I wanted his hard body buried deep.

  I stepped back, breaking the somewhat chaste kiss. He groaned but let me go, his eyes going wide as I began to unbutton my uniform.

  “What are you doing, female?”

  “I want you, and I think you want me. And since everyone thinks I’m in here cleaning, this might be our only chance—” I let the thought hang in the air as I kicked off my shoes and tossed my uniform shirt across the arm of a chair. I was standing in my pants and bra, wondering if I’d just made a huge—HUGE—mistake when Braun dropped to one knee, his head down. One hand clawed at the carpeting; the other was in a fist at his side.

  He moaned like he was in pain. Serious, terrible pain.

  While he was kneeling before me, our heads were the same height. “Are you okay?”

  “I cannot control him much longer.”

  “Who?” I looked around the room. What was he talking about? “Do you want me to go? I’m so sorry.”

  I reached for my shirt, freaking out at how I’d messed up. Again.

  “No!” The barked command made me jump. When Braun lifted his face, I gasped. His jaw was wider, his face taking on a primitive structure that was still gorgeous, but more… just more. Thicker bones. Intense eyes. He looked like a wilder version of himself.

  Then I knew. I’d seen that happen to Wulf on the show when he chased Olivia. “Your beast? Are you talking about your beast?”

  “Yes.” The word was not really a word. More a grumble of sounds that I could just make out.

  “Will he hurt me if you let him out?”

  “He will take what you offer, female.”

  “So, the beast likes sex. Will he hurt me, though?”

  I had no idea what to do in this situation. Alien sex was not like wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am Earth-guy sex. Braun had a beast in him, and the beast wanted out. It wanted me.

  That brought Braun up short, his body snapping to attention. “Never.”

  The vehemence of that statement made my pussy spasm with want. Holy shit. I dropped my shirt onto the floor. If this sexy beast man wanted me—me—instead of the parade of perfect women stalking him just outside this room, who was I to deny him or myself?

  Wouldn’t Casey be proud?

  The thought made me smile, and I put my hands on my hips, my bright pink, lacy bra like a neon sign directing this man—alien—where I welcomed some attention. Man. Alien. Beast.

  Whatever. I wanted him.

  “Then let him out.”

  4

  Braun

  Four words and this female made me come undone.

  The beast within took over, and I had no chance to control him. For years I had held him in check, fought the mating fever back with cold logic, patience and pure will.

  Now, because of what she’d said, he was hers. He would obey her. She was mine.

  “Mine.” I stood and watched Angela’s dark eyes widen as I walked toward her, my beast breaking free, my body changing with every step.

  With my last ounce of control I stopped before her, drew her scent into my lungs, my cock so hard I feared it might burst. But the agony was a welcome one. She was here. My mate.

  My beast had chosen, and she was stunning.

  Her hair was nearly black, not colorless like deep space but the rich darkness of human coffee. I lifted a hand to her shoulder and stroked her from collarbone to elbow, enjoying the soft slide of her skin. Her face had been even softer, and a low rumble of pleasure slipped from my beast’s throat as I petted this female who stood before me, unafraid.

  Her courage made me want her more. This female—Angela—was mine. I would kill to protect her. Do everything in my power to see to her happiness. Her pleasure. My beast had chosen, and so far, the male within was in full agreement.

  I was also still in control, if barely.

  Moving forward, I dropped to my knees directly before her, determined to feast on her breasts. The bright pink underthing she wore was tantalizing—and in my way.

  “Off.”

  She moved her hands behind her back, which thrust her breasts forward. I buried my nose between them, eager to taste her skin, drown in her scent. I was not disappointed. The scent of something sweet—perhaps earthly flowers—and spice and female filled my head, and I had to growl at the beast to bring him back to heel.

  I wanted this too, and that hulking bastard was just going to have to wait his turn. Her skin was the softest thing I’d ever felt, her curves ample to fill my hands.

  The pink fabric dropped away, and I feasted on her nipples, pulling one then the other into my mouth as she buried her hands in my hair. She pulled and the beast fought me, hard.

  “Do not move, female. I will lose control.” The scent of her pussy flooding with wet welcome made me growl even louder, the sound nearly a roar. And again, another surge of musk and heat and female from her core. Hot, wet pussy driving the beast mad.

  If I’d thought the threat would frighten her, I was mistaken. She laughed. Actually laughed.

  “I’m not scared,” she said as she tugged at my hair. “But you better keep that noise down or everyone in the hotel will know what we’re doing in here.”

  “Yes.” I wanted them to know this female was mine. My mate. My female. Mine.

  “Yes, what? You want their noses in our business?”

  “Yes.”

  She laughed again and pulled my face from her breasts. She leaned forward, her lips touching mine as she spoke. “Well, I like my privacy. So please don’t be crazy loud, okay?”

  The beast chose to respond with a low, rumbling growl, which made her smile as she pressed her lips to mine. She kissed me, and I was so shocked that this female was mine, that I had found her, that I could barely move as reality shifted.

  I lifted my hands to her legs to learn the curve of her hips. I pushed her pants down until I came into contact with the small piece of fabric preventing me from reaching her core. Unacceptable.

  With one tug, the irritating garment was gone and beneath my palms were the soft, full curve
s of her ass.

  I devoured her now, her mouth mine. Slipping my fingers to her center, I dipped them just inside her pussy and found her hot. Wet. Ready.

  The beast would not be denied.

  Tearing myself from her kiss, I stood, reached for a chair with fully padded armrests and placed it on top of the bed so I could have what I wanted. Her pussy. Hot. Wet. A feast.

  This hotel was made for humans, not Atlan beasts. I’d have to make modifications to get what I wanted… her pussy on my mouth. Now.

  She gasped when I lifted her, her hands flying to my shoulders as I placed her on her back in the chair, then worked off the rest of her clothes so she was completely bare. With the chair on the bed, she was at the right height for me. My beast was fully in charge now, which meant I could not say much.

  Reaching for her legs, I splayed them wide, her pussy open and waiting before us.

  “Stay.”

  The command—and it was a command—made Angela smile. Relaxing a little, I let my beast have what he wanted. Fuck that, what we both wanted. Our mouth on her. Tasting. Making her scream.

  He was not gentle with her, and it was hard to fight him when her first moan of pleasure reached my ears. More wet heat. She threw her head back and held her knees wide on the chair. One finger in her pussy, I sucked and licked, playing with her sensitive flesh until I found the spot that drove her wild.

  That drove me insane. That made me blissfully happy. That made me think… finally.

  Her cries, however, were reserved, as if she were saving her pleasure for me and me alone. I discovered that as much as I loved that, the beast wanted more. He wanted her to lose control. Scream. Spasm all over his fingers as he sucked her wet flesh into his mouth.

  I raised my free hand to pluck her nipple, squeeze and knead her breast as I finger fucked her with my other hand. I would not be denied.

  She was panting now, her hands flying everywhere as if looking for something to hold on to. My beast did not like that.

  “Me. Hands on me.”

  The deepness of my voice made her shudder, but she obeyed, burying her hands in my hair. Pulling. Hard.

  The beast loved it. So did I.