Mastering Their Human

by Ivy Barrett

  Long, dark hair flowed past his shoulders in messy waves and his features were rugged, unapologetically masculine. The smaller man moved out of his way as the dark one stalked toward her.

  She took a deep breath and met his gaze. If this was her time to die, she would face death straight on, content in the fact she’d done everything in her power to survive. Lorelle would be proud.

  “We don’t have much time,” he said quietly.

  Relief washed over her in a giddy rush and a tardy sob escaped her throat. That voice. He’d only said a few sentences through the intercom, but his deep tone was unmistakable. “It’s you. Are you going to…” He unlocked her restraints and she swayed, embarrassed by her rubbery legs. “Where are we going?”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her against him as his night-black gaze searched her face. “Speak honestly. Are you strong enough to walk?”

  She wet her lips. Being cradled in his arms was ridiculously appealing, but it would also slow them down. Now was not the time to play damsel in distress. She was a modern woman, not some helpless waif. “I can walk. Forget that. I’ll run. Just get me out of here!”

  To her astonishment, he tugged his tunic off over his head and handed it to her. “Hurry.”

  His arms, shoulders, and torso were corded with highly defined muscles. As if the shape of the man wasn’t impressive enough, his supple skin was marred by a variety of scars that proved his ferocity was not a fashion statement.

  He was a warrior. A bona fide warrior.

  “Do you need assistance?”

  The teasing question had enough of an edge to snap her out of her stupor. “Sorry.” She wiggled into his tunic and fought back a groan. The plush material was still warm from his body and his unique, spicy-fresh musk clung to the fabric. She felt surrounded and a bit overwhelmed as awareness arced between them.

  He took her by the hand, his long, strong fingers swallowing her flesh. They rushed down one hallway and then another, pausing at each corner then running with obvious purpose. She heard voices and the clank of metal on metal. How many were imprisoned in this building? She’d been blindfolded when they brought her in.

  “Bring the skiff around to this door. We can’t risk dragging her through the commons.” The blond man looked as if he might argue, but then he offered a sharp nod and hurried off to do as he was told.

  The dark one pulled her into a small office adjacent to the exit. A window beside the door allowed them to watch for the blond man’s arrival while remaining out of sight. He maneuvered her against the wall beside the door and stood at an angle, his big body half covering hers.

  She tried not to touch him, but his chest pressed against her and his shoulder brushed her cheek whenever he shifted his weight. “Why are you helping me?” And what would he expect in payment when and if he succeeded in this escape?

  “Would you rather I left you in chains?” He rested his forearms against the wall and focused on her face, his gaze intense and commanding.

  He stood so close he eclipsed the rest of the room. All she could see was his harsh features and the endless depths of his eyes. Despite his barbaric appearance, she sensed complexity in him, something far more sophisticated than his first impression. His every touch was careful, controlled. He was aware of his far-greater strength and went out of his way not to hurt her. Why? She was less than nothing to him. Why should he care if he bruised her wrist?

  Understanding nonverbal communication had been crucial for a lawyer who thrived on litigation. People often revealed more with gestures and expressions than with words. She’d needed to be able to read witnesses, to know when they were lying and when she was wasting her time. Though her life on Earth seemed as if it belonged to someone else now, certain skills from before had helped her survive.

  She’d spent much of her captivity watching her captors, studying their mannerisms and the way they interacted with each other. She could usually tell who was in charge, who took credit for the work of others, and who was a genuine threat.

  This man confused her. He was dangerous. There was no denying the menace in his posture and his expression, yet she sensed no imminent danger. “Who are you? What are you risking by helping me?”

  “You can’t imagine what I’m risking by helping you and all I’ve asked so far is your name.” He collared her throat with his fingers, not hurting, just creating a hot, inflexible presence against her skin. “You have yet to offer me even that.”

  The motion sent fear racing down her spine, but again his control was impressive. He was threatening her. Sort of. So why did she feel all tingly and hot? As the shock of his aggression receded, his question registered within her sluggish mind. What the hell was he talking about?

  “My name is Brianna San Carlos. Does that mean anything to you? I doubt you’ve heard of my planet, much less my people.” She stood perfectly still. She couldn’t break his hold even if she wanted to and she wasn’t really sure she did. His hand felt good against her skin, so incredibly strong yet even more unbelievably gentle. An intoxicating contradiction. “Whoever took me away from Sean had to have me mixed up with someone else. I’m not important to anyone anymore. This is all a big mistake.”

  He glanced out the window and tensed. “Ceddrik is here. We’ll continue this conversation on my ship.”

  So the blond’s name was Ceddrik. She still didn’t know tall-dark-and-deadly’s name, but they were making progress.

  They rushed across the corridor and ducked into the small ship awaiting them beyond the exit. The unassuming exterior made the luxurious interior all the more shocking. A small cockpit was separated from the main cabin by a sliding panel. Storage compartments and utility access closets were located in the aft.

  Brianna stood at the edge of the passenger cabin transfixed by the splendor. Rather than individual chairs or even utilitarian benches, the space was taken up by a pleasure pit. The oval-shaped area had a padded bank that dipped and rose, creating a variety of ledges and angled benches. Within the padded enclosure, pillows and cushions of every conceivable shape and size had been scattered.

  “Oh. My. God. This is an orgy ship.” She took an automatic step back and bumped into the bulkhead.

  “Was, sweetheart, was an orgy ship. I confiscated it from a ruthless pimp years ago. The pleasure pit is really rather comfortable and I don’t have the funds to refit it, so here we are.” He held out his hand and offered her a smile. A quicksilver expression that faded nearly as fast as it materialized.

  The ship vibrated, announcing their departure. “Don’t we need to be buckled in or—” A faint rush passed through her abdomen and then she felt nothing at all. If she didn’t know she was standing in the passenger cabin of a ship, she wouldn’t have known they were moving. “This thing must have serious inertia dampeners.”

  “Motion sickness doesn’t put people in the mood to fuck.” He stood near the pleasure pit, his hip resting against the raised embankment.

  She was unrestrained and clothed from neck to knees for the first time in weeks. So why did she feel so vulnerable? He’d just rescued her, hadn’t he?

  “Who are you?” She crossed her arms over her breasts, refusing to cower before him. Strong people seldom responded well to weakness and this man was the personification of strength. Authority emanated off him. He was no guard or foot soldier. Ceddrik followed his directives without argument. And only someone with authority would be in the position to confiscate a ship, even from a ruthless pimp. “Is this some sort of game?”

  His head tilted and his eyes caught the light, making the dark orbs gleam. “Why would you think such a thing?”

  The gentle mockery in his tone didn’t fool her for a moment. She recognized a predator when she saw one. He was toying with her. There was no doubt about it. “I think the interrogator realized I wasn’t just being a pain in the ass, but it took them a while to find someone who spoke Standard. Was this escape plan your idea? It was
pretty ingenious. Gain my trust. Let me feel like you’re on my side.”

  He reached back with both hands and grasped the embankment then crossed his legs at the ankle. “Whose side are you on, Brianna?” His tone was as indolent as his stance. “Who built the lab in the United Territories and what the fuck were they trying to produce?”

  “I was imprisoned in that lab,” she cried. Surely he didn’t think she was part of that madness. “I watched them experiment on Karris, knowing each step of the way that I was next.”

  He pushed away from the pit, the subtle bunch and flex of his muscles mesmerizing. He knew good and well she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He was using that amazing body to distract her.

  This was ridiculous. She was a mature woman. She’d seen a well-built man before. Perhaps not quite this well built and perhaps not—

  “Who built the lab?” His tone was rough and whisper-soft, drawing her attention as well as any shout.

  “They were careful never to use names around me.” If she focused on his face it wasn’t quite so bad. He had nice features, but he looked mean, reminding her of the danger. If her answers didn’t please him, he could snap her neck or motivate her to provide different answers. “I’m not part of it. Honestly.”

  “What happened to Karris?”

  His lips looked soft, almost kissable. It was cruel to put such sensual lips in such a ferocious face. She had to stop this! If she kept gawking at him like a ravenous teenager, he was bound to interpret her distraction as an invitation.

  Taking a deep breath, she focused on his nose. Surely her rebellious libido could handle his nose. “They took Karris away for some sort of demonstration. That’s why so many of them were gone when you attacked. Sean… appeared in my cell and told me he’d take me to Lorelle.”

  “Who is Lorelle?”

  She hesitated. He wanted information about the lab and the people who operated it. She had no problem telling him what little she knew, but Lorelle was a different story. She would say nothing that might in any way endanger her sister. “She’s my sister. We were kidnapped from Earth along with eighteen other human females.” She knew why they had been taken, but sharing the secret with him would be foolish. She had no intention of being treated like a commodity again. And the secret locked within their physiology was valuable, extremely valuable. “There must be something about human biology that makes us unusually receptive to this treatment.” That explanation was as good as any.

  His gaze snapped toward the cockpit and anger hardened his features. Without explanation he strode toward her, not stopping until he loomed over her. “Do not lie to me again.”

  How had he known? She lowered her gaze to his chest and tried to compose her expression.

  Those long, warm fingers grasped her chin and tilted her head back until she looked into his eyes. “Tell me what you know and you will not be harmed, but I will not tolerate lies. Speak falsely again and you will be punished.”

  A wicked image formed within her mind. He sat on the embankment with her face down across his lap. The tunic was bunched beneath her arms exposing her lower body as he swatted her ass and caressed her legs.

  What was wrong with her? She had never wanted to be spanked, never imagined a man holding her down, warming her skin, igniting her senses, driving his long fingers into her aching pussy…

  She licked her lips, feeling his proximity with every cell of her body. “Would you please go back over there?”

  “No.” His fingers pushed into her hair, splaying against the back of her head as his face lowered.

  She needed to stop him. If she kissed him he wouldn’t stop. He’d fuck her hard and fast against the wall. She could see it in his eyes, the consuming heat, the lustful promise. Her core tensed, a slow, rippling spasm, so intense it made her moan.

  She didn’t want to be fucked by a complete stranger, no matter how stimulating she found his body.

  His mouth brushed back and forth across hers, his breath warm and moist against her lips. “I’ve never taken a lover against their will.” The tip of his tongue teased her lower lip. “I see interest in your gaze, but there’s uncertainty too. I don’t think you’re ready for my cock.”

  She’d known him less than an hour, for God’s sake. What an arrogant jerk. Before she could find a snappy putdown, his mouth settled over hers and his hand slipped under the tunic, cupping her ass. He drew her forward, pressing her against his erection—the long, thick, inescapable ridge of his hard cock. Another helpless moan parted her lips and he took full advantage of the reaction, slipping his tongue deeper as he angled his head to fit their mouths more firmly together.

  Unable to resist the temptation, she ran her hands up his arms and squeezed his shoulders. Hard, hot, smooth skin over sculpted muscle. He was strong, fierce, able to protect her, able to shield and shelter her. She’d be safe in these arms.

  Protection. Safety. Shelter.

  The concepts extinguished the flickers of desire. She didn’t want a lover, she wanted a bodyguard! Someone strong enough to drive away the danger and hold back the night. She had been terrified for so long. She just wanted to feel safe again.

  This man is not your champion. He didn’t even rescue you. He’s your captor, just like all the others.

  The kiss slowed and he pulled away, staring down into her eyes. “Has uncertainty won this round?” She nodded and he released her. He took a moment to compose himself then placed his hand against the wall beside her head. “Do you know who brought you here from Earth?” A bit gentler now, but he was the interrogator again.

  “I’ve never heard a name, but some have slipped and referred to the chancellor.” He nodded as if the information were no surprise. “It’s more complicated than that. There was a mutant rebel named Max who intercepted us before we arrived.”

  “Really? You’re sure this mutant’s name was Max?”

  “That’s the only name I ever heard.”

  “Then Max is responsible for the lab?”

  “No, the lab and everything in it was definitely the work of the chancellor.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’ve been kidnapped from my kidnappers so many times it’s almost funny.”

  “Which brings us back to the original question. Why does everyone want you so badly?” His gaze trailed from her eyes to her lips and lower as he muttered, “Beyond the obvious, of course.”

  Her emotional shields snapped into place. She didn’t really want him. She was attracted to his brawn, his savagery. He was intimidating enough to make her feel safe. That’s all there was to it. It was a false sense of security and now that she understood the source she would ignore these irrational longings.

  He grasped the tunic and drew it up along her thighs. “What are you doing?” She grasped his wrist.

  “If you’re not going to answer my questions, then I’ll help you make up your mind.”

  “Make up my mind about what?”

  “Whether or not you want me to fuck you.”

  She’d walked right into that one. “I don’t.”

  His brow arched and his fingertips curved inward, skating across the sensitive skin on her inner thigh. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” She tugged on his wrist, her breath trapped in her lungs until he moved his hand. Could she say something that was true yet vague enough to protect her and the others? If there were any others left. The depressing thought fogged her mind for just a moment and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. “What was the question?”

  “Why are they hunting you?” His gaze narrowed and he moved his hand to her hip. It was still under the tunic, so the material bunched, revealing her legs and even a hint of her pussy.

  “I don’t know.” Even as the words passed her lips, she recognized her mistake.

  Without warning or explanation, he dragged her to the padded embankment and sat. She quickly found herself face down over his legs—just like she’d been in her fantasy. H
e flipped up the tunic and ran his hand over her upturned ass.

  “Lovely,” he murmured, his fingers lightly teasing. “This will be a pleasure, at least for me.”

  His first swat dragged a startled gasp from her lips, but it hadn’t really hurt. Her skin felt tight and warm, yet the sensations quickly faded. He spanked the other side, a bit harder, making her wiggle and kick.

  “Enough,” she snapped after another two spanks. “You made your point.”

  He chuckled, easily trapping her thrashing legs between his. “I say when it’s over.”

  She reached back, covering her bare butt with one hand. The other was trapped beneath her squirming body. “No more lies. I get it. You don’t have to beat me.”

  “Beat you?” He laughed and caught her wrist with one hand, pulling it to the small of her back. “I will never beat you, but dishonesty will be punished.” His spanking hand fell fast and hard, alternating sides. Fire spread across her skin and throbbing discomfort sank deep into her flesh.

  It hurt! She gritted her teeth and fought back tears. He was actually hurting her, driving home his point with ruthless clarity. His hand connected with her ass again and again, until a harsh sob tore from her throat.

  “Stop,” she cried, sounding miserable rather than indignant. Humiliation rapidly replaced her anger, leaving her weak and shaky. “Please, stop. I’ll tell you the truth.”

  His next spank never came. He left her over his lap for a long, silent moment as she contemplated the lesson. He’d warned her not to lie, told her she’d be punished if she did it again. She’d never doubt him again. She was pinned down over his lap with her well-reddened bottom on display for a total stranger. This was simply horrifying.

  Then he drew her to her feet between his long legs and turned her face up until she looked at him. “That is the last warning you will get. If you anger me again, you will know true discipline.”

  True discipline? Then what the hell had that been? Her ass was on fire and her aching body flushed with humiliation. “Yes, sir,” she whispered, instinctively knowing it would please him.