by Mary Auclair
And caught on Golden Boy’s.
He thrust his electric-blue stare into her eyes with an intensity that made her quiver, then inhaled sharply, as if he was unsure of the decision he was about to make. With a rolling of his large, muscular shoulders, he stalked onto the sand and stood beside the other males. There was a moment of stupor from the males gathered, the lined-up warriors staring at him, wide-eyed and uncertain, as if Golden Boy wasn’t supposed to participate in the fight, but nobody said a word as the golden warrior stood with the others, waiting for the horn to sound. All that time, he kept his blazing gaze fixed on Tamsin, as if she was the only woman in the cage, ignoring his brothers. The crowd, previously silent, became restless, and Tamsin could see males whispering to one another, some with an approving nod, some with frowns so deep they seemed carved into their brows. Nothing happened, though, and seconds trickled away in an eerie wait.
The horn finally sounded and the fight started. Fists flew and connected with flesh, breaking bones and spilling blood from ruptured lips and broken noses. Tamsin had been right, these warriors were stronger, more savage and clearly more skilled. Where the previous ones simply charged at each other in complete rage, these seemed to form instantaneous, fleeting alliances, pairing together against a taller, stronger opponent until he was defeated on the ground, only to turn against each other as soon as their goal was met.
All that time, Golden Boy stood alone, fighting sometimes four or six opponents at a time. He was magnificent and Tamsin found she couldn’t take her eyes off him all the time he moved. He ducked every assault and hit every opponent straight in the chest, sending them rolling away in large clouds of dust. His mighty legs kicked with precision, disabling permanently his adversaries in a single hit. Tamsin couldn’t be sure, but she swore he inflicted no serious injuries, and she was sure it was on purpose. He was obviously the superior warrior, but reined in his incredible strength. Somehow, it made him even more impressive.
Finally, only two warriors remained standing. Besides Golden Boy, the other warrior was shorter and orange-skinned, but a vicious sneer stretched his mouth and the hatred that poured out of his yellow eyes made Tamsin’s skin prickle with fear. This one was bad, all the way to the bone. A heavy silence wrapped the arena, even the injured stifling their moans of pain. Golden Boy and Yellow-Eyes circled each other a few times, gauging each other.
Tamsin saw it but it was too late.
Yellow-Eyes glanced down, meeting the cold stare of a fallen warrior, and nodded almost imperceptibly. The fallen warrior’s mouth stretched in an ugly smile, and he reached, just as Golden Boy’s feet came closer to him. Tamsin tried to scream, warn him of the impending treachery, but the sound got caught in her throat and all she could do was croak.
Tamsin watched, mesmerized, as Golden Boy’s balance was swiped away by the fallen warrior. Surprise registered on his handsome face before he fell on his side. The yellow-eyed warrior didn’t lose a second, and leaped over Golden Boy, his foot aiming straight for his opponent’s head. This hit was meant to do more than hurt, even Tamsin knew that. This was meant to maim, possibly kill. It was a treacherous move and the crowd, to date solemn, went wild with shouts of indignation mixed with cries of encouragement. Golden Boy’s eyes locked on the foot and at the last minute, he rolled away but not far enough to escape completely. The blow hit his shoulder and the handsome golden face contorted with pain. A furious roar filled the air and it rippled all the way to the goose bumps on Tamsin’s skin.
Tamsin’s chest began to burn and she realized she had been holding her breath. Glancing down at a sharp pain emanating from her hands, she saw she was holding on to the bars of the cage, clutching so hard her knuckles were white. She had walked away from the group still huddled at the back of the cage, all the way to the front. Again, she stood alone, entranced by the golden warrior.
Still Golden Boy was able to roll away and he was back on his feet quickly. A new expression spread on his face, something cruel and merciless, and Tamsin understood he knew about the treachery of his adversary. He would not hold back now.
Yellow-Eyes faced Golden Boy, his posture uncertain now that his plan to cheat had failed. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, waiting for the attack that was sure to follow. His wait wasn’t long and with a deafening roar, Golden Boy sprang at the yellow-eyed warrior. His fist connected with the head of his opponent, sending him to the ground at the golden one’s feet. Without pausing, Golden Boy kicked the traitor squarely in the guts, extracting a roar of pain from him. Yellow-Eyes lay on the sand, defenseless, able only to look up with hatred at Golden Boy.
The golden warrior stood still, surprising Tamsin with his self-control, and hovered over his opponent’s now-defeated position. His chest heaved fast and deep and his handsome features were rendered unrecognizable with anger but still he didn’t strike. Yellow-Eyes looked up, blood flowing from his open mouth, murder shining in his eyes. In a slow, resentful gesture, he lifted his right arm over his head, his palm open.
Whatever the gesture meant, the crowd went wild. Golden Boy’s body relaxed and he lifted his gaze to the crowd. Shouts and names were mixed in a cacophony of noise and here and there, Tamsin saw faces looking at Golden Boy with somber, cold stares. His victory wasn’t appreciated by all, it seemed.
The golden warrior threw back his head and a powerful roar split the air of the arena. His head snapped forward into position again, and he marched in long, resolute strides toward the cage, his gaze pinned on Tamsin.
Chapter Three
In a few hard paces, the golden alien was at the bottom of the pedestal where the women were caged, his blazing-blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on Tamsin, like a large cat poised to pounce on its prey. Just as he was about to climb the steps, Yellow-Eyes spoke loudly, stopping Golden Boy in his progression.
“You have a too-great appetite for power, cousin Jareth. The Sikosh House will have three females, if you Claim one today.” Yellow-Eyes flung out the challenge while wiping sand from his face and chest, struggling to kneel on the sand. “You promised a female for each Great House yet here you are, Claiming one.”
“The Vallerisc clan has a female, Creel. Your brother’s Ajena,” Golden Boy growled, turning his gaze from Tamsin and facing the other male. “But if you want to challenge me in a fight to the death for this one, I will meet your demand.”
The alien named Creel froze and his orange cheeks visibly blanched at the mention of a fight to the death. He shook free of his trance fast, though, and straightened his posture.
“I would never dream of challenging you after you rightfully won this Claiming joust.” Creel bowed his head slightly but his eyes shone with a malicious hatred as he retreated with the others outside the arena.
Jareth, AKA Golden Boy, watched Creel leave, his mouth closed in a tight line and his fists clenched in deadly balls at his side. Tamsin didn’t need anybody to tell her there was some kind of old, foul history between those two and all she wanted was to keep out of it. Yet something in the way Jareth turned and set his blue gaze on her told her it wasn’t going to happen this way and she swallowed as the other males moved out of his path. In a few steps, Jareth covered the distance between him and the cage to peer down at her, his face tight with anticipation.
Tamsin’s gaze was glued to his and she knew he was going to choose her even before he moved. With a mind-binding speed, he reached inside the cage and as if by magic the bars dissolved for him to grab her wrists. She was yanked out of the cage and her face found itself against his chest. Before she could find enough air in her lungs to scream, strong hands pulled her close against stone-hard muscles. Surrounded by warriors, with the biggest of the bunch holding her in a viselike embrace, there wasn’t much chance for an escape. The hot bulge she felt against her stomach snapped her out of her stupor and she began to struggle. The big hunk was aroused and she didn’t need a drawing to understand what the goal of a “Claiming” was.
“Let me go!” Tamsin scr
eamed and tried to jerk her wrists free, only to have powerful hands close on her upper arms. He wasn’t hurting her but he held her with enough force to let her know there was no chance of escape. It was no good.
The giant glanced down on her with a flicker of amusement in his eyes before two hands closed around her waist and her feet lifted from the ground. Tamsin found herself hanging over broad shoulders, facing his formidable back, and the crowd of warriors, both above the walls and on the sand, erupted in a roar of cheers and hoots. She froze for a second or two as the giant started walking, then instinct kicked in.
Tamsin began yelling, then kicked and hit the large back with both her fists. The broad expanse beneath her provided ample space for her raging fists but she wasn’t sure it did anything more than tickle him. Her feet kicked like a demon in a frenzy but he wrapped one muscular arm around her legs, immobilizing them. They couldn’t move enough to do much damage anyway and the fact that she was barefoot was a disadvantage.
Tamsin was about to resort to her teeth when the giant stopped. The crowd fell silent so she followed suit. She couldn’t see what caused the commotion but she sensed a tidal wave of tension flowing through the room.
“Jareth,” a low, deep voice said. “I must congratulate you.”
Her feet hit the ground and she stood behind her golden god. She had to peek around the side of his broad back to see three other aliens. Tamsin stared and felt her eyes widen in her face. It would be funny if it wasn’t so terrifying. The male standing in front of the two others was only slightly smaller than Jareth, his skin as black as onyx. He glared from a pair of glowing red eyes that would give her nightmares for months. His skull was adorned with a flowing mass of pure white hair that ran to his shoulders. If she didn’t know better, she would think he was the devil and the two others his hellish minions. Not that they looked much like the traditional idea of a minion, more like carnivorous centaurs, with their glowing red eyes and white manes. She instantly felt bad for the poor girl who was going to find herself in his possession. Her Golden Boy was terrifying but not a villain out of a fairy tale.
“I trust the products of our joined Claiming cement our renewed alliance with the Tigrine nation, Lord Arga.” Jareth spoke with a calm dignity that could only come from legitimate leadership.
“Indeed, it will. May we both grow from this alliance against our common enemy,” Lord Arga replied in a tone that spoke volumes about past tensions. “Now, I collect my mate.”
“Of course,” Jareth said. “I trust we will meet again soon. May your mate bless you with many offspring.”
Lord Arga bent stiffly, then turned and walked toward the cage. With one swing of a powerful arm, Tamsin found herself over Jareth’s shoulder again. She was too stunned, and too cautious, to make a scene. Not with the menace of that devilish alien behind her. As Jareth walked, the raucous roar started again but it didn’t have the spontaneity of the moments before.
He transported Tamsin, thrown over his shoulder, away from the crowd of warriors and along a long narrow space lit with warm floating lights that made his skin look like liquid gold. Once they were alone, he flipped her so she could face forward, a fact for which she was grateful. It was harder to plot her escape if she couldn’t see where she was going.
When Tamsin stared at what lay ahead, her throat clenched and the world crumbled. They were walking down a long corridor set with tall windows and at the end was a single transport, hovering over a rocky cliff. Golden Boy stopped in front of a large door midway along the corridor and pushed it open, revealing a bedroom that seemed carved from stone. If the alien managed to get her in that room, her chances of escape were no more than ludicrous. She had to do something now, or she was lost.
Her mind twisted in panic and she searched for a possible escape but there was nothing to be found. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Her eyes fastened on the small two-people transport up ahead and she knew this was her only chance. All she had to do was get rid of Golden Boy, take the ship and get as far away as possible from the horny guy. Not a solid plan but it was the only one she could come up with under the circumstances. She would just have to wing it when it came to piloting.
Tamsin gathered every bit of courage she had left and suddenly screamed like a banshee, aiming it straight at Golden Boy’s ears.
He startled and stopped dead, turning his head to stare at her, his eyes wide with surprise and his mouth twisted in a painful wince. He was clearly stunned that she dared resist him and that was a mistake she intended to take advantage of. There was no point in hitting him; he was so big it would be like a mouse punching a tiger. Instead, Tamsin concentrated her focus on lesser weapons, such as her nails. With the manicure she’d received as part of her pampering, they were sharp and long. In a flash of lucidity, she decided against using them on his face. She wanted to be free but not have him so angry he wanted to crush her with his bare hands. Because he could, she had no doubt about that.
The skin of his broad chest offered a perfect target and a slightly less suicidal outcome. With all her strength, Tamsin dug in her new artificial claws as deep as she could and heard the giant roar in pain. Blood pearled at the scratch site and she was filled with a vindictive satisfaction.
He flipped her down and she stood, facing him directly. She was so close she could almost taste the musky, masculine salt of his skin. The top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulders and she felt like she shrank even more when he leveled a volcanic stare down at her. She stared up, bending her neck painfully as far as she could to look into his eyes. They were the most wonderful shade of dark velvet-blue, so warm and full of intelligence she almost lost her resolve. His full lips were pressed together in a tight line and veins were pulsating at his temples. It seemed she’d angered him after all.
Tamsin didn’t give him time to reflect on the best way to punish her. With all her strength, she brought her knee up to his groin.
Another roar of pain erupted and he bent to grab his battered genitals. She didn’t take the time to savor her victory, flipping around and running as fast as she could. She felt like the gingerbread man in the old story, only it wasn’t a cunning fox who wanted to eat her but a colossal monster with all the attributes of a Greek god.
Tamsin made good use of the short time she had and the ship approached as she ran toward it. Loud thumping noises came from behind her, announcing her opponent had reclaimed his composure and was hot on her trail. He had recovered fast, too fast. The thumping noises were getting closer and she knew he was going to catch her. Still, she wasn’t giving up, not with panic driving her heart to work harder and her muscles pumping as fast as they could.
All of a sudden, the thumping noises stopped and elation filled her. He must have thought she was insane, not worth it after all! He was probably on his way to the Agency, yelling at the Iksen clerk for a refund. Her lips stretched in a smile. The ship was only a few feet in front of her. She’d made it. She would escape.
Then a golden god landed between Tamsin and her freedom.
Tamsin screamed and tried to stop but there wasn’t enough time and she crashed right into the middle of his glorious chest.
Strong arms closed around her and her face was pressed onto golden skin. The smell of him, strong and male, penetrated her nostrils. Her lips stung, smashed on his skin, and his salty, intoxicating taste reached her tongue. He tasted spicy and smoky and she felt aroused, despite herself, even through her fear. Her body was pressed against his all the way to his groin, making her aware of the hardness of his erection through the thin clothing. He was aroused, even after she’d kicked him with all her strength! Rough hands immobilized her body, running over the skin on her back and resting on her ass, squeezing her butt cheeks, pressing her into him. His large, hard member pressed against her stomach and he groaned in her hair.
“So fiery, so soft,” the giant whispered in a husky voice that sent ripples up and down her skin. “I cannot wait to Claim you.”
Pa
nic gripped her again and she screeched. Then, with her last instinctive defense, Tamsin sank her teeth into the skin of his chest. No rational thought penetrated her brain, not even the knowledge that her resistance was futile. She might as well go bite the walls of a rocky cliff. His caressing hands stilled and he screamed but didn’t let go. She unlocked her jaw as the metallic taste of blood registered on her tongue. If he wasn’t letting her go, she wasn’t psycho enough to keep biting.
He lifted her and carried her with his arms stretched out, as if she were a toddler having a tantrum. It took only a few steps and they stood inside the door of the large room, a door which Jareth kicked closed behind them with a powerful bang. He walked them through a long room, then into a spacious bedroom. With a frustrated groan, he jerked her onto the large bed and she yelped when her back hit the soft mattress. Jareth towered over her, his chest heaving fast from both anger and arousal. Tamsin’s gaze flicked to his pants, where a large tent of fabric pointed straight at her.
Instantly, she rolled into herself and off the bed, to face the hulky male with her fists closed and ready. She wasn’t going down without a fight, even if her chances of winning were null.
“Stop this nonsense immediately!” Jareth’s strong voice filled the room. “Are you insane, attacking me like that?”
“Let me go!” Tamsin yelled back at him. “You have no right to hold me prisoner.”
He glared at her, his chest rising up and down. He was so obviously furious she pressed her whole back on the far wall of the room, frozen with fear. Stupid her, grabbing the tiger by the tail, she thought. Now she was going to get bitten. He glared for a few unnerving seconds, then gathered the calm to speak.
“I have every right over you.” He articulated every syllable carefully, as if he were talking to a naughty child. “I Claimed you, you are mine.”