by Jaci Burton
"Tonight we'll just look around," Zim said, nearly shouting to be heard over the blaring music. "Get you familiar with how this works. Lars will be your contact point here, along with the man at the door, Tiny."
Marina swallowed a laugh. Tiny? That seven foot hulking monster who guarded the back door was named Tiny?
"Marina. You will dance with me," Zim said.
Marina turned to Kaden, who didn't look at all pleased with Zim's suggestion.
"I don't think so," Kaden responded.
Zim shook his head. "You misunderstand, my friend. It wouldn't do at all for you to be seen dancing only with her. The best way to get women to agree to go outside with you is to have them start seeing you here alone. Go ask someone to dance. It's good for business."
Marina read the murderous look in Kaden's eyes, feeling somewhat comforted by the fact he didn't want another man touching her. But he finally nodded and Zim dragged her onto the dance floor.
It would have to be a slow song that started up, requiring Zim to pull her close. Nausea rose as she felt his erection pressing up against her mound. The man made her sick.
"Someday, Marina, I would very much like to fuck you."
Someday, Zim, I will squeeze your balls so hard you'll scream like a girl. "I am honored, Master Zim," she said, choking the words out.
He rocked against her, and she had no choice but to endure his blatant sexual advances. "I'm sure I could convince Kaden that I could make it worthwhile. Besides, part of your duties as a slave is to serve all masters."
"Yes, Master Zim."
Didn't any of the Doms practice monogamy? Well, Kaden did, at least so far. He hadn't once wanted to touch another woman. Was it that he was truly satisfied with her, or was he just staying close to her because he was doing his job?
Some questions had no answers, and she had no time to search for them now.
She bowed her head, grateful not to have to look Zim in the eye. Surely he'd be able to read her hatred in them. She looked for Kaden, who was leaning against the bar talking to a gorgeous redhead. Jealousy filled her and she fought it back. This was a job. She was doing hers, and he was doing his.
Besides, after this mission was over, she'd have no claim on Kaden. Hell, for that matter, she had no claim on him now. He'd never once led her to believe that he wanted to have anything to do with her after their job was finished.
The dance seemed to go on forever. Finally, it ended and Zim returned her to the bar. He warned her to steer clear of Kaden, who was occupied talking and laughing with the redhead. Putting her brain into work mode, she turned to Lars, who smiled at her and offered her a drink.
She asked for water, not trusting any sweet-tasting drinks a stranger offered ever again.
The night wore on and Marina grew more and more irritated at having to stand by and do nothing but fend off the men in the bar who came up and asked her to dance. Lars and Zim spoke in hushed whispers at the other end of the bar. Kaden remained with the redhead, dancing and laughing and buying her drinks while Marina steamed, mentally plotting ways to slice off his dick and hiding it where he'd never find it again.
Jealousy wasn't very becoming on her, she decided, reminding herself that this was all an act, including what Kaden was doing with the redhead. When the redhead left for the bathroom, Kaden approached the bar, motioning to Zim.
"She wants to go with me," he said.
"Excellent!" Zim announced. "Marina, you and I will go outside and wait for Kaden. Tiny will make sure no one else comes out after Kaden and the woman. Then we will open the portal and leave. See how simple all this is?"
She was counting the minutes until they could turn the tables on Zim. When Zim went to tell Lars the plan, Kaden quickly leaned over and whispered to her.
"When we get outside, I'll take Zim down. I need you to distract him first, so that I can get to the controller embedded in his arm. You know what you need to do."
"Of course." As much as it sickened her, she knew exactly what would capture Zim's attention.
"Good. Follow my lead. We have enough to bring them all in now."
She nodded, eager to get into action.
Kaden quickly moved back to his position at the bar, and Zim led Marina outside and down the alley. He lifted his sleeve and pressed a green button glowing inside his wrist. "The portal is prepared. We just have to wait for Kaden and the woman. Lars will have put the drug in her drink, so she should be getting very woozy right now."
Marina remembered the feeling.
Now it was her turn to keep him occupied. "Master Zim, may I speak?"
"Yes."
She crept closer, winding her arm around his neck. "I know this is improper of me, but I couldn't help but be aroused at your suggestion earlier."
Zim's eyes darkened. "You want me."
In your dreams, dickhead. She lowered her eyes and grit her teeth. "Yes, Master Zim. I'm sorry, but I felt compelled to tell you. Please do not punish me."
Zim lifted her chin. "You will not be punished. At least not right now. You make my cock hard for you, Marina. I want you to suck it."
She feigned wide-eyed fear. "But my sire--"
"You don't need to worry about Kaden. He will share you. Why, it will excite him to see you on your knees sucking me. Wouldn't you like to arouse him?"
"Very much, Master Zim." Ugh. She might barf if she had to speak in such a subservient tone for much longer.
"Then suck me. Now."
She dropped to her knees, palming his shaft and fighting back the shudders that threatened to reveal her utter revulsion. Turning Zim so that his back was to the alleyway, she slowly unzipped his pants, reaching for his cock and grasping it firmly in her hands.
Ick. This whole scenario was disgusting. But if it saved Kaden and put an end to the portal and slave trade, she'd do whatever was necessary.
Zim groaned and closed his eyes. Perfect, since she spotted Kaden approaching, carrying the unconscious redhead in his arms.
She kept her eyes on Kaden as she yanked Zim's pants to his knees and began to stroke his cock in earnest.
"Suck me woman. If I don't have your mouth around me soon I'll explode."
Oh, he was going to explode all right. But not in the way he wanted. Kaden laid the woman gently on the ground, then crept toward Zim, a murderous expression on his face.
Whatever Kaden intended for Zim, it wasn't going to be good. She hoped he'd bash Zim's head in. In fact, she'd like to do the honors, but her position didn't give her much of an advantage. At least not toward the head attached to his neck.
Zim hadn't heard Kaden's approach. He was so focused on her attentions to his shaft that he probably wouldn't notice a bomb exploding nearby. Kaden was only inches away now. She licked her lips, drawing her mouth closer to the head of Zim's cock. Just one more second and--
Zim must have heard Kaden, because he whipped around and quickly pushed a button on his arm just as Kaden was about to hit him with the tazer. A sharp green blast emanated from Zim's wrist, striking Kaden in the chest.
Kaden dropped to a heap on the ground.
Fear filled her. She had to think, quickly. Her first instinct was to run to Kaden and see if he was all right, but she knew she had to subdue Zim first. With him out of action, she could get to Kaden.
She quickly bent over and laid her head on the ground, feigning a wailing cry. "Master Zim! Please do not blame me for this. I knew nothing of what my sire planned!"
She made numerous whimpering noises until Zim lifted her by the hair. "Shut up woman, or you'll draw a crowd!"
He looked at Kaden, who remained motionless on the ground, then further down the alley where the redhead lie unconscious. Turning back to her, he smiled. "It is time for us to go, but not until I get what you promised me. Hurry, bitch. Suck me and make me come."
His cock was still erect. The bastard.
Which gave her the perfect opportunity to do exactly what she'd wanted. "Yes, Master Zim. Thank you so much."
"Do it and quit talking!" He slapped her hard across the face. Sonofabitch, that stung! Real tears sprang to her eyes and she had to shake her head to regain her focus. She grasped Zim's still hard cock...the prick obviously got off on hurting women. She stroked him, drawing ever closer with her mouth, then reached underneath and caressed his balls with her fingers, eliciting a loud groan from him. Capturing his gaze in hers, she mesmerized him by licking her lips, darting her tongue out so that it was only a fraction of an inch from his swollen cock.
His eyes glazed over in passion and he tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling her closer to him. She took that moment to grasp both his balls and squeeze them like she was drawing juice from a lemon, digging her fingernails into the soft sacs.
Zim squealed in a high-pitched tone and dropped to his knees, taking her with him. Dammit, her hair was wound in his fingers and she couldn't get free! She struggled to move him, but he was just too damn big. Finally she tugged hard, viciously pulling at her own hair until she whimpered with the pain.
On her knees, she struck at him, leveling a punch to his nose that sent blood flying everywhere.
Fury boiled in his eyes and he lunged for her. She stood and kicked his ribs, then planted her foot on his windpipe. Zim gagged, but grabbed her foot and wrenched it sideways.
Marina heard the sickening pop and leaped away, limping. Zim stood and took off after her. The throbbing in her ankle kept her from running at her usual speed, but she hoped he was too injured to give a quick chase.
She wasn't fast enough. Zim caught up to her, whirled her around and grabbed her by the throat. Despite having to hold her weight on her injured ankle, she leveled a kick at his chin, catching the side of his jaw before he backed out of the way. He grabbed her swollen, throbbing foot and tossed her to the ground.
The wind temporarily knocked out of her, she was helpless to move. Zim descended on her stomach, punched her in the face, then reached for her throat, cutting off her windpipe. Marina fought to remain conscious after the brutal blows, but the sick pounding in her temple nearly caused her to lose it.
"Traitorous bitch! You'll die for this."
Hot pain surrounded her, the choking sensation unbearable. She grabbed for his hand, trying desperately to pull it free of her throat, but he was too strong for her. He scooted forward onto her chest, further cutting off her ability to fight him.
She was going to die. As white spots appeared in front of her eyes, she realized she would die at the hands of this sick vermin.
But then his fingers relaxed. Marina coughed and wheezed, sucking in air. She reached for his wrist to pull him away from her throat, horrified when she realized that his hand and wrist were no longer attached to his body. She quickly threw the unattached limb to the ground and looked up to see Kaden standing over her with a laser device in his hand.
The weapon had sliced Zim's arm from his body. She turned to see Zim crumpled to the ground, holding the stump of his arm and writhing in shock and pain. She felt no sympathy for him.
Kaden slipped the device in his pocket and reached for Zim's severed hand, tucking it into his other pocket. He gently pulled her up and lifted her into his arms. Marina swayed and fought off the dizziness, but one eye was already swollen shut from the beating Zim had given her, and her throat was so raw she couldn't speak.
She tried to open her mouth to say something, but no words came out, only a searing pain from the attempt. Her throat felt like it was ten times the normal size and her ankle throbbed incessantly.
"Shhh, zejehr, don't speak. We have the device and I've notified your authorities, who are on their way to arrest Lars and Tiny. We can close the portal and then I'll deal with Telor later. We need to get you to a medical facility."
She shook her head, not wanting to go to a hospital. She wanted to go home, and managed to croak the single word.
Kaden shook his head. "Hospital first."
The sound of sirens drew closer, and Marina knew she didn't have the strength to argue with him. She laid her head on his chest and gave up, letting the blissful darkness overtake her.
When she woke, she was in the emergency room, where the doctors quickly checked her out and applied bandages to the cuts on her face. She was bruised, badly, but her windpipe was sound. The doctors told her not to speak for the next few days. Her ankle was sprained and swollen, but no break and no ligament damage, fortunately. She should be able to walk on it once the swelling went down.
Kaden stayed with her, talking via communicator with Laren and the authorities. Lars and Tiny had been taken into custody and the portal codes had been deciphered and closed. Marina drifted in and out of consciousness, trying to fight the effects of the painkillers they had given her.
Finally, the doctor released her and Kaden took her home. He treated her so tenderly, first bathing her and washing the dirt stains from her body, then tucking her into bed with a glass of warm liquid that soothed her raw throat.
Every time she tried to say something, he glared at her and warned her not to talk.
How could she not speak? She had so much to say to him. Questions to ask, to feel him out, see how he felt about the two of them now that their mission was over. At least the part of the mission that required them to be together.
Or maybe he'd bring it up and she wouldn't have to.
"You get some rest, and no talking," he said, pulling the covers up to her chin. "I'm heading out to tie up some loose ends and file my report. I'll see you tomorrow."
He kissed her on the forehead and shut out the light. In a few seconds, she heard the door to her apartment close.
A kiss on the forehead.
After all they'd been through together, he gave her a kiss on the forehead.
That didn't bode well for their future, did it?
*
Kaden stormed out the door and jumped into his vehicle, slamming the door and taking off much faster than he should have.
Dammit, she looked way too vulnerable lying there in her bed, her face all bruised and swollen, purple handprints around her neck.
Fury still boiled within him, so much that he wanted to search out Zim and show him what strangulation really felt like.
He'd also wanted to stay with her, crawl into bed with her, hold her tight and swear that he'd never let anyone hurt her again.
But he knew she'd hate that. Strong, independent Marina wouldn't stand for a man who wanted to protect her, to dominate her in every way possible, including her safety. She had too much pride in her job and self-sufficiency to ever want a man like that.
Problem was, he was that man.
The wrong man for a woman like her.
What he was going to do with that knowledge, he wasn't certain. It sure changed his thoughts about what would happen between them, though. Now that she was back on Earth, he realized that he'd been wrong in thinking he could just tell her the way things would be between them. What they'd had on Xarta was a game, not reality. And he'd fallen under a spell of dominance and submission, thinking Marina had really accepted his lifestyle.
But she hadn't, and she never would. Marina was a dominant woman who would never be happy taking a submissive role. She was strong, capable, and able to take care of herself. Except tonight, with Zim. And only because Kaden had put her in that position in the first place, assuming she'd act like a true submissive, not as the strong enforcer that she was.
His mistake had almost cost her life, and he wouldn't make an error in judgment like that again.
She'd be much better off when he was out of her life for good.
Chapter Thirteen
Two days later Marina was back in the office, her voice nearly restored and the swelling gone down enough that she didn't quite resemble Quasimodo any longer.
Besides, she was tired of staring at the walls in her apartment, wondering what Kaden was doing.
He hadn't been back to see her since the night he'd tucked her in and placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead.
That night he'd told her he'd see her the next day. She'd waited, but he hadn't shown up. Nor had he called.
Which only made her worry and conjure up all kinds of things in her mind. Things she shouldn't be thinking about.
Time to focus on work instead of on Kaden. She headed to Laren's office for her debriefing, knocking lightly.
The door slid open, as did her mouth when she saw who was in there.
Kaden.
Dressed all in black, his blond hair sticking out like he'd just gotten out of a wild wind. Just the way she loved him.
Wild.
She loved him. She was pissed as hell that he hadn't come back, and yet so damn glad to see him again she could drop to the floor and sob. God, what was she going to do?
"How are you feeling?" Laren asked.
"Great. Fit and ready for work."
Laren laughed. "That's so typical. You're still bruised and battered, Marina. You'll be doing paperwork for awhile longer."
"I'm fine, really," she said to Laren, but she couldn't take her focus away from Kaden. She'd missed him. Her heart felt like someone had clenched it in their fist. Just the sight of him brought her to near tears. What the hell was wrong with her, anyway?
"You look fine," Kaden said, neither smiling nor frowning at her.
"Thanks."
"Uh, I have a meeting to attend. Kaden, please fill Marina in on the past couple days' happenings while I'm gone."
Kaden nodded and Laren stopped in front of Marina, a worried expression on her face. "I'm glad you're okay. Welcome back."
"Thanks."
Laren left and the door shut behind her. Kaden motioned Marina to sit in the chair across from him.
"Zim is in the holding cell awaiting transport back to Xarta. Your judicial system will take care of Lars and Tiny. The portal has been closed, and Telor has been detained on Xarta awaiting my return."
"Sounds like you have things wrapped up then."
"Yes. I'm sure you're glad this is over. Now you don't have to fake being a submissive any longer."
What did he mean by that? That he was glad he didn't have to deal with her any longer? "Yes, it's nice to get back home again and resume my normal life." My normal, boring, routine, no excitement existence.
Kaden frowned. "Yes, I'm sure you're happy that you don't have to deal with being something you're not."