by Lynnea Lee
“I’ll leave these with you, child.” Nouma left the pouch of cosmetics on the vanity. With a wave, she left, and they were alone.
“Just as beautiful as I remember.” Kean held up a bejeweled tiara, silver with green jewels to match her dress and shoes. “These were clips, but your hair is too short to keep them in. So I had them put into a circlet.” He approached and placed the delicate and understated piece of jewelry onto her head, clipping it into place at the sides.
It wasn’t overly showy, and like the rest of the outfit, it was quietly elegant. Sarah appreciated that. Like the rest of his compound, Kean’s taste ran to the subdued rather than the flamboyant. The outfit suited her very well.
He held out an arm to her, and Sarah took it.
“Did I tell you how much I dread making small talk? Even with the army of people out there helping me collect information, I’ll still need to socialize. I hate it. If this event wasn't crucial to my keeping Vosthea, I would skip it altogether.”
Sarah understood this event was work rather than fun for Kean. He pulled her in close until she was plastered to his front. He smelled so good, and Sarah couldn’t stop herself from inhaling his intoxicating scent.
He gripped her chin lightly with rough fingers and tilted her until she was lost in his green eyes. “Do you know what the best part of the night is going to be?”
Not trusting herself to speak, she just shook her head.
“The best part of the night will be when I take you back to my room and tear that dress off of you.” The words were a low growl, and her body reacted immediately. “I’m going to devour you whole.”
Then he walked them out the door as if he didn't just turn her entire world upside down.
Kean almost regretted the words he said before leaving her room. How was he going to stay calm and composed now when the scent of her lust for him drowned his ability to think? He needed his wits about him tonight. Not everybody he invited were friendlies, and some would prefer if Kean disappeared permanently.
Sarah was ravishing as they made the rounds through their guests before dinner. But Kean couldn't stop noticing that Sarah kept looking towards one small-time thug. Everywhere they went, her head turned to look back at that male. Jealousy surged through him. Who was this male that Sarah kept staring at?
His grip on her arm tightened until she tried to wiggle away, but Kean did not let go. He walked her to a quiet spot in the room away from their guests.
“Who are you staring at?” The words came out angry and jealous. Why was he reacting like this?
“I think Gadrek sold my sister to him, the one with the braids. He was visiting right before she disappeared. Please,” she said as she looked at him with pleading eyes, “I need to know if she is still on Vosthea. I need to find her.”
So that was why she had been staring at the low-level criminal. Sarah had a sister here on the planet. Kean hadn’t known. He relaxed, knowing that her attention to the other Tallean male was not due to attraction or desire. This possessiveness, this jealousy, was new to Kean, and he didn't know how to deal with it.
“Then let's go give him a visit and see where your sister is.” Unlike the strange, new emotion, this was something actionable. Actionable, Kean could handle.
They approached the local thug, and he nodded solemnly to Kean, putting his fist on his chest with his pinky side out. Kean returned the gesture of respect.
“Kean, it is an honor to meet you. The name is Horin.” Then, the male noticed Sarah and furrowed his brows. “You look familiar.” Then his face brightened. “You look like a slave I used to own.”
Kean spoke now. “Used to. You do not own her anymore?”
“No, I fell on hard times and had to sell her to make ends meet.” his eyes dropped, and he almost looked sad. “Chrissy was sweet, and I regretted my decision the second she left my arms. I tried to buy her back, but the buyer refused.”
Next to Kean, Sarah stiffened. Chrissy must be her sister.
“Who did you sell her to?”
The male stared at Sarah some more, and Kean resisted the urge to punch him for looking at his female so closely.
Instead of answering his question, Horin asked, “Is your female related to Chrissy? The more I look, the more they look alike.”
“Any information you can give us to locate her would be appreciated.”
“I don't remember the buyer’s name, but he was from off-planet. I'm sorry.”
The drooping of Sarah’s body was immediately noticeable, but she kept a calm face, and Kean respected her ability to stay cool and collected. They ambled their way back towards their table on the platform at the head of the room, stopping to speak with various guests. They arrived just the servers came out with the first course of their evening meal.
Kean gave Sarah’s arm a squeeze. “I didn't know you had a sister here. We will find her.”
He had a brother once and understood the pain of losing a sibling.
“He said the man he sold her to was from off-planet.” There was a small trembling to her lips as she spoke.
“That doesn't mean he has already left. And many males who come to Vosthea do so for my Euphora. These males come back often.”
He pulled her chair right up next to him at the table and guided her down so they sat side by side, legs touching. Kean could relax and recharge now for the next hour as they served dinner. He had purposefully arranged the tables so that the only person who could talk to him during dinner was Sarah. The two of them sat at their own table, overlooking the guests.
Finally, they could enjoy a meal together without interruptions!
Chapter 8
Sarah perched on the arm of Kean’s chair like a kept woman holding a glass of amberberry wine. She kept her other hand on Kean’s back. While many of the guests were enjoying the night of good food and music, this was not a night of enjoyment for Kean, and it showed in his posture.
He was working, analyzing every one of his guests. A low hum of stress ran through his body, and Sarah sensed it through their closeness. He was stiff and tense. Her hand on his back calmed him and relaxed the clenching of his jaw, so she kept it there.
Kean kept one hand possessively on her leg, the one that stuck out through the high slit of her dress. Whenever someone new came by to suck up to the new planetary ruler, his hand tightened on her thigh.
Kean’s job required him to tread the water of social interactions, but it was clear to Sarah that he did not enjoy it. He seemed the happiest, most relaxed, when they had been eating dinner together, at their own private table, up on the raised platform overlooking the rest of the event.
For a moment, during dinner, Sarah could have pretended they were two people on a date. But one thing stayed on her mind, ruining her appetite and happy mood. The temporary thrill of possibly finding her sister followed by the disappointment of knowing she had been sold off-planet had worn her down emotionally. It felt like losing her all over again. She had mourned her loss once already.
Music started playing, and entertainers filed into the large room. They had cleared an opening, like a dance floor, for the performers. But Sarah knew what they would perform, and it was not a dance. Tallean party entertainment often included live sex performances. She’d seen so many when Gadrek had first acquired her that it was no longer shocking. Often, the guests coupled up and joined the performers in their own fun.
Luckily for Sarah, Gadrek had been impotent. After she had spilled the beans in anger, Gadrek stopped taking her to social events.
What did surprise Sarah was that a few of the performers were human, and they were just as enthusiastic as their Tallean counterparts. And unlike some of the human slaves she’d met, these humans looked like they wanted to be on the stage, with genuine smiles and real moaning. Not the fake sounds the slaves had been coached to perform.
She’d even heard one of the Tallean males call the human woman coming apart in his arms in public his mate. It wa
sn’t a rumor that Tallean could form mating bonds with humans after all.
Sarah looked at the other guests. Some of the Tallean males had humans in their arms or by their feet. How many of them were slaves? How many of them were consensual lovers? And how many of them were mates?
The guests mixed and mingled, splitting off into groups. Some watched the sexual displays, while others ignored the proceedings to converse. Servers walked around the event, offering trays of drink, refreshment, and the house special, crystal clear pods of Euphora.
Occasionally, guests approached Kean to engage in some small talk. It usually ended with them declaring themselves an ally or offering future business endeavors. Some were honest through and through, while others were so slimy, Sarah felt like taking a shower after they left.
Sarah made an effort to fight her Dominion slave training, which told her never to make eye contact. She greeted the guests as they approached, making sure to meet and hold their gaze. Kean had stressed that he wanted her by his side, not at his feet. So Sarah copied the stance and demeanor of the other females who were there as guests and companions.
As Kean conversed with the guests, Sarah smiled at the females who decorated their arms. Some of them were friendly, and they exchanged a few words. Some of them were cold and looked down at her as if they couldn’t be bothered with a lowly human. The ones who were there as companions, or guests themselves, spoke to Kean as well, while others stared at their toes and avoided Kean’s eyes.
There were many guests, and despite trying to remember each name and face, they all started to blur together. No wonder Kean had said the entire event would be recorded so they could weed through the information after.
But as the night wore on, thoughts of her sister returned. She looked around the room for the thug they’d talked to earlier and spotted him in the back corner, laughing with a group of males. Maybe she could get more details from him.
A menacing growl alerted Sarah that Kean had followed her gaze. Kean had a jealous streak, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. It wasn’t like she was truly his, was she? Sure, he’d killed her owner and technically claimed her, but there wasn’t anything else between them, was there? They haven’t even done it yet.
“I’m thinking of my sister, not of him.” It was best to ease his worries. She didn’t know yet what might trigger him to switch from sweet gentleman to heartless murderer. Chrissy was out there suffering, while Sarah was stuck playing arm candy to a very wealthy and very powerful killer who had a jealous streak. It was a far cry from her secretary job back on Earth.
Kean motioned a server over and whispered something into his ear. The server disappeared from the room and returned with a tray of Euphora. But instead of the full-size pods, these were smaller and had a green band on the applicator end. Kean picked one up before ordering the server to offer the pods to guests with human companions.
Twisting the applicator tip, Kean motioned for her neck. She hesitated.
“Come here.” The words were soft but still demanded to be obeyed. “You need to relax. I will care for you. Trust me.”
Trust him? He was a wolf, dressed and acting as a shepherd. She backed away, but Kean’s arms held her firm.
“Be calm. I will care for you. I will allow no one to harm you.” His grip on her softened, and he rubbed at the center of her back.
She believed him. She might not trust him, but she believed him. She nodded.
Kean titled her neck and applied the tip of the pod to the skin there. A barely noticeable sting and hiss later, he tossed the spent pod on the table. He shifted their bodies and held her gaze, and his eyes lit with a predatory light. Something about the world changed—becoming safer, lighter—and Kean grinned at her.
Sarah smiled back, wondering why she'd been so stressed just a moment earlier. They were at a party, and everyone was here to have fun.
Kean pulled her from her perched position on the arm of his soft, oversized chair into his lap. Sarah tumbled in with a giggle. Arranging her across his lap, Kean held her in place with his arms of steel. It felt like the safest place in the galaxy, and she wanted to stay in his lap forever.
The rest of the world faded, and the only thing surrounding Sarah was Kean, his strong arms around her body and the lap under her hips. His lips curled as he smiled at her, showing some super sexy fangs. The line of his cheek crease, so alien and different, gave him a chiseled look as if he was a GQ model, but more dangerous. Everything about him was perfect.
Sarah knew she should be wary of this mesmerizing and powerful man in front of her. But she couldn’t remember why. How could someone that embodied perfection be bad in any way?
Sarah dropped her head onto his shoulder and breathed in his scent. He even smelled beautiful. Was that possible? Unable to stop herself, she wiggled off his lap, turned to face Kean, and climbed back on, straddling him, suddenly appreciating the high slit on one side of her skirt. He welcomed her, pulling her against his chest. She hummed in appreciation at the feel of his rock-hard body. The shirt he wore was opened at the front, with loosely tied lacing, and she slipped her hand in to enjoy the velvet smoothness of his skin.
Kean spoke to someone behind her, and his body relaxed as if he conversed with a friend. He trusted whoever was there, and there was no need for posturing. Even his voice changed, becoming warmer, and the words flowed more comfortably out of his mouth. Sarah liked this more laid-back version of Kean. This was the real Kean, not the strict, formal ruler he portrayed.
He laughed heartily, and the vibrations from his chest tickled her fingers. She gazed up at the lips that spoke and marveled at the interesting way Kean’s cheek creases moved as he talked. Reaching a hand up to his face, she stroked at the cheek crease. They were so strange, so alien. Her fingers paused at his lips, and suddenly she wanted to taste them.
She pushed up and kissed him mid-sentence. Surprised, Kean moved his head to finish his words. Frustrated that those delicious lips were getting away, Sarah gripped his face with her hands and pulled him down to her lips again. This time, Kean kissed her back, his hand gripping the hair at the base of her neck. It was a huge turn on, and she wanted more.
“She is a demanding one,” an amused voice rumbled. “I thought you said she was terrified of you.”
Chapter 9
Kean loved this demanding version of Sarah. Euphora released a person’s worries and loosened their inhibitions, but it didn’t create anything that wasn’t there to begin with. It only magnified existing traits. Ignoring Ulrek’s question, Kean kissed her back, devouring her soft, plump lips. Small hands held onto the side of his face, and he leaned into them.
“Mmm, more.” It wasn’t a request; it was a demand. But it wasn’t one Kean could comply with at this moment, though he really wanted to. He needed to keep his attention on the guests. Besides, he wasn’t sure sober Sarah would forgive him. Again, he didn’t want to sleep with one eye open for the rest of his life.
Eventually, as Sarah got used to him, this demanding version of her would come out to play again, even while sober. Kean couldn’t wait for that. But he would need to wait.
Reluctantly, Kean pushed her back down onto his lap, and Sarah took the opportunity to rub herself on the hardness that had sprung up there from her kisses. He groaned.
“Be still, little one,” he ordered, before guiding her head to rest on his chest. He took her hands from his face and threaded his fingers through one hand, and held it. He slipped her other hand back into the opening of his shirt and onto his chest. She started rubbing his chest in small circles almost immediately. Euphora made anything tactile very pleasurable, which should keep her busy. Then her hips moved against the bulge of his erection once more.
Kean blew out a breath. He would have to adjust the dose for her. The human dose was much weaker than a full Tallean capsule, but it was still too strong for her small body. She would be fine, but he would need to keep her tactilely entertained
until it left her system. He smoothed his free hand up and down her back, and she settled onto his body.
He looked up at Ulrek, who watched them with his usual smirk, the one most people wanted to punch.
“The fear will be back when she’s sober tomorrow, though hopefully much reduced. She wasn’t supposed to watch me kill the thief.” Kean knew she listened. “But I had to do it. Showing weakness will put my compound at risk, and it will put her at risk as well.” He moved his hand up to play with her hair.
Ulrek pulled up a chair and sat by them. Kean had announced Ulrek’s position earlier, and as expected, some had strongly approved of his choice while others were less than happy at the arrangement. Having a male he trusted there would help maintain order and give him peace of mind. The last few days had been exhausting, and Kean doubted he could continue much longer. He only survived due to Zharor’s constant help.
Where was Zharor anyway? The knife-throwing competition was up soon, and Kean knew the male would not want to miss it. Kean scanned the room and found him talking with a few guards by the door. Catching his second in command’s attention, Kean waved him over.
Zharor frowned as he approached and found Ulrek there. The two did not see eye to eye. His second in command hated the former Dominion captain. He hated anything Dominion, and Ulrek still acted like a Dominion asshole most of the time. Kean didn’t blame Zharor for not trusting the space captain. And if Kean and Ulrek hadn’t saved each other’s hides so many times in the past, Kean wouldn’t trust him either. The truth was, Ulrek was an asshole, but he was a loyal one.
Then Zharor noticed Sarah plastered to his body and his brow rose.
“Don’t be so surprised, Zharor. She still might steal my knife and stab me in the back tomorrow.”
Zharor bellowed a laugh. And Sarah slapped him on the chest. Ouch! As he had known, she was still listening.
Ulrek looked at them confused, and Kean explained how Sarah had stolen a knife, intent on murdering her former owner, when they’d first met.