Stolen, page 11
Hands folded at his back, Jules approached the window to look out over the beauty of the European city. “We possess the ships you lack. We have an entire ruin to loot for resources, making us capable of building anything we desire and going where we please. Bernard Dome’s stores are finite. We could change that. Shepherd is not looking for war. The war was won and it is over. Now he is looking for allies.”
“Against whom?”
Vibrant blue eyes cut across the room and seemed to look straight through Jacques. “Time. Inevitability.”
Jacques crossed an ankle over his knee, sitting back in his chair to ask, “Why orange trees?”
Jules’ expression did not betray the direction of his thoughts. “Our queen is very fond of them, and he is fond of pleasing her. It is the only thing he’s fond of. I suggest you remember that when dealing with him.”
The bruising on her wrists was beginning to fade, her health returning now that Jacques made a point of seeing she was fed regularly. Now that he was free to fuck her, his demeanor had greatly changed. He still seduced her at his whim, but he also doted… at least that’s the word he used.
Lavish meals, long baths that always ended with him penetrating her under the water.
Most days he left her alone for a few hours here and there to attend state business. When he returned, after he fucked her, he would invite her to play games, talk, ask a million questions she could not answer.
Sometimes he’d rub her feet. Sometimes he’d tell her to get down on her knees.
He liked to be rough, would make himself be gentle. And each new mating left her with new marks—a roadmap of where he’d been.
Brenya looked at the latest scuffs marking her knees, remembering a time when bruises were common but earned in a different sort of labor.
She missed fiddling with the mechanics of broken infrastructure, she missed being useful to the Dome. Now… what? She was left with little to do but dissect an ancient bedside clock while Jacques was away. Spread before her on a table nearest the window with the best light lay the cogs, dials, springs, the weighted pendulum, all the inner workings that when put in the perfect order, functioned seamlessly.
She could take it apart, put it together. Take it apart, put it together, over and over, and every piece would function seamlessly. It would always work so long as each component did their job. As she had done her job as a Beta.
Unit 17C had been a cog in the Bernard Dome machine.
Knowing that now, knowing how Centrist Alphas regarded the Beta workers, troubled her. All that effort, the peace of her previous life, the cohesion, what did it matter here? Was it okay that Betas lived so completely removed from the realities of the Dome?
Yes. They were safe that way.
Central was dangerous. Alphas were dangerous.
Brenya was beginning to suspect that Jacques was the most dangerous of all.
Look what he’d already done to her.
After that first night he’d penetrated and knotted her, he’d held her close and assigned her duties: perform for him sexually, bend over at his whim, learn the tricks that any Centrist female already knew. In return, he would cherish her with bruises and fluids, with ecstatic moans and orgasms.
When estrous came, he would teach her to love him. All would be well. Trust in your Commodore. Obey.
She was still a cog. A cog who knew things she wished she didn’t.
Even the most menial engineering task had been more fulfilling than whoredom.
But was she a whore when the anticipation of his return had… marked the soft chair where she sat? There was little he had to do to prepare her body now. A rich purr when he set eyes on her and her underthings were ruined.
If he growled, slick dripped down her leg.
In her weeks in Jacques’ care, he’d trained her well enough.
Well enough that she knew he would not be pleased to find his clock in pieces. Still she took it apart every time he left, fingering the bits as if they held the answers she lacked.
It was always completely sound before he returned, back on the bedside table and ticking softly.
There was nothing she could not take apart and put back together. What did that matter now?
Serve the Dome with advanced skills, or learn to suck Alpha cock practicing exactly how to squeeze a knot in your hands as a male shot gobs of sperm down your throat.
That she had yet to master, choking both times he’d drawn her head to his lap.
Absently her fingers went about their business, rebuilding the clock because it was almost time for the Commodore to return.
Setting the clock back in its home and tucking away the tools she’d used to take the thing apart: a nail file and a pilfered fork. She smoothed her skirt just in time to hear the click of the door.
She was supposed to greet him in the foyer, even pretend to smile just as Annette had practiced with her. She was supposed to put her hands on him, maybe press a kiss to his cheek.
These things she had tried, and each day performed better.
He had his arms open. Her body would fit there, tucked against him while he might kiss the top of her head and say hello. Sometimes it was nice.
If she closed her eyes hard enough as he murmured to her, it wasn’t so bad.
All she had to do was think of jasmine.
Turning her nose into his chest, Brenya inhaled deeply. She could practically smell the sweet flowers. In fact, all of him was drenched in sweetness.
She froze.
He smelled of other females.
But not of Betas.
Dumbstruck, Brenya backed away and tried to analyze the strange feeling in her stomach. When her rigging had failed and she’d plummeted down the side of the Dome, the same feeling had wreaked havoc on her gut. “I don’t understand.”
Jacques took pity on her desperate look, and explained, “Three days ago a transport ship from Greth Dome landed. Ten Omegas have been offered citizenship so long as they are mated to Alphas of my choosing. Today I was introduced to the women. Interviews were conducted so I might get to know them better.”
Real Omegas, here? Real Omegas who knew how to be Omegas, who weren’t… what had Ancil called her? Disfigured?
Hand creeping up to her cheek to hide her worst flaw, Brenya swallowed, completely at a loss. “Am I to be reassigned?” Terminated… was she to be terminated?
“No.” Jacques reached forward to pull her palm from her cheek, leaning down to kiss the long scar that pulled down her lower eyelid and puckered the flesh into an unseemly Y. “You are to be adored, by me. Forever.”
Blinking, breathless for reasons she could not comprehend, she took another step away. “I feel strange.”
The Alpha’s purr took on a tenor close to the roar of an engine, loud and pronounced. When he crooked his fingers and she failed to come to him, he made no hesitation of moving to take her.
She did not resist, thoughts whirring. In fact, she hardly paid attention to anything he was doing.
For once, he was not trying to fuck her. There were no fingers slipping under her skirt, or wet kisses placed on her skin. Jacques was only rocking her, whispering nonsense as he purred and held her on his lap.
Deep down she knew that if he stopped, she was going to cry.
And that confused her more than anything.
14
Saliva was dripping in a long string from her chin, his Brenya’s face red and eyes watering. He held her face down longer than he should, always a touch too rough, but unable to control himself when her throat spasmed into choking gags around his cock.
She made the most beautiful noises of desperation.
With an extended groan, he threw his head back and shot this first and largest burst of come straight down her esophagus. Her arm flailed and her back bowed beautifully just in time for another mouthful.
She may have only learned to suck cock a week ago, but Gods there was no one better.
Letting her up for air, Jacques watched as she panted around the fat crown of his head. She knew not to let it slip from her lips, that he’d want to feel her tongue and even the slight scrape of her teeth while she fought to breathe. Because he was going right back down that raw throat once the second wave of his orgasm hit.
Ten times they would repeat this, twenty. If she could make it through his whole knot there was always a great reward.
Fist tangled in her hair, he grimaced, pulling her back down to fuck her skull as another large rush shot down her throat.
She almost threw up on him.
He loved that.
Loved all the more how rich the air was with her excitement. His naughty Omega could not hide such a plentiful reaction. She was dripping slick; no doubt it was running in rivulets down her bared thighs to mark the carpet.
“Be a good girl. Suck it down.”
Knots never persisted long without the rhythmic spasms of Omega pussy to squeeze the blood vessels properly. She might have her grip wrapped around him, she might be trying to do as ordered, but he’d be coming less than ten more minutes.
Which meant he’d be hard in twenty and fucking her like she deserved in her cute little nest.
He had not told her what her new habit of arranging pillows might mean. He had not whispered in her ear that her need to have the bed made in a certain way was adorable to him beyond all measure. Such talk made her shy.
But she was more Omega day by day.
Certainly more vocal.
Their life together had improved innumerably since the evening he found her presenting on the bed.
Was Jacques to be furious at Ancil for interfering, or grateful his comrade was made to be the villain, when, in fact, he had been determined to force his way inside her one way or another that night? Was he to laud his friend for creating such a clever scenario, or hate him for terrifying his female?
Either way, it had saved Jacques from once again earning the title of rapist. Brenya never need know about what could have been.
She gave a wet cough and he showed her a moment’s mercy.
Drool shined both her chin and the throbbing mass of his cock. He was undone, one fist caught up in her hair, his other hand gently stroking her pink cheek. “Does your Alpha’s come taste good? Is that why you’re licking it all up?”
Her little tongue was slavering over his slit, licking clean any escaped drop just like he’d trained her to. Or had he taught her that?
“Answer me, Omega.”
His use of her designation instead of a name seemed to disrupt her performance. Brenya went still, jaw slack around his girth. Just in time for him to force her head down and shoot another round of sperm into her belly.
She took him smoothly as he whined out such pleasure. Her throat did not struggle, nor did she fight for air. She just lay bent forward, still and blinking. For that he made her hold him longer than he would have had she protested.
Raising his hand, he ended the game, leaving his cock jammed down her throat. She would have to disengage of her own will… her occasional distant behavior never encouraged.
It was some time before she put her hands to his thighs and drew back.
His knot was already fading.
Aggravated for reasons he could not pin, Jacques asked, “Trying to drown yourself?”
She didn’t answer, rolling back on her heels. Dress split down the front so he might fondle her beautiful breasts, hair mussed and face slimy from their sport, she looked to the carpet and seemed lost.
He took her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. Jacques smiled at her. “I want you to show up at dinner like this. Oh, how I’d love to parade you before them so perfect and so freshly used.”
When she shook her head no, he chuckled and amended, “But, of course, then they would want you more than they already do. Since I am greedy, you must be made presentable.” Using his thumb to wipe her wet lips, he asked, “How was the first course?”
He knew her jaw must ache, that her throat burned, and her eyes were swollen from choking. He also knew that some part of her liked it very much. He’d guide her to embrace that part.
They were going to be so happy.
Brenya’s answer was honest. She was always honest. “Your body tastes different than George’s. Better. I am still hungry though.”
He hated the reminder that she’d been with other men, aware his jealousy was hypocritical considering the hundreds of men and women he’d fucked. “It is impolite to mention former lovers when in the company of your mate.”
From the passing confusion on her face, Jacques was certain her thoughts were tripping over the concept of her tech being her lover. She almost seemed ready to argue before thinking better of it. Instead, she muttered, “I would appreciate some water.”
Slacks open, softening cock proudly displayed, Jacques smirked and reached for a nearby glass. He held it up to her lips, enjoying that she knew better than to try to take it from his hand. When she had swallowed enough, he pulled it away, wiping her chin with his fingers.
Purring, Jacques licked his lips. “There is something I wanted to try with you, something I think you’re ready for.”
Unfolding from the ground, Brenya’s fingers went to the buttons of her dress, the Omega acting as if she had not heard him. “I’d like to go visit Annette. It’s been many days, and I’ve never seen a baby before.”
But she was dripping slick. A good Alpha must see to her needs first. “Now?”
Wrecked, but smoothing her hair as if it might help, Brenya softly added, “There isn’t much time before your formal dinner… and it would make me happy. I imagine babies are very interesting.”
She’d said just the thing to tempt him to consider. “You want to hold a baby?”
“I have not seen Annette since…” There was something like anger in her eyes, an emotion an untried courtier like Brenya could not hide. “I’d like to see Annette.”
Setting ankle to knee, Jacques sighed. “I ordered her presence at dinner this evening so she might keep you company while my cabinet entertains the Greth Ambassador.”
His mate’s disappointment was obvious. “And the baby?”
He relented. “Shower first, then go visit your friend. I’m certain Annette will be glad of your attention.”
There was a brief sparkle before Brenya turned to trot off toward the bathroom. A beam. Perhaps the first genuine one outside of sex he’d witnessed—which didn’t exactly make him feel better about all the tight smiles she’d been giving him at the door. Calling after her, the man said, “Don’t take apart any of her clocks.”
The Omega froze so suddenly she almost tripped. When he saw her hang her head before she disappeared to shower, Jacques wished he had not teased her. But, it was better that she understood.
Under his breath, he muttered to the empty room, “That’s right, mon chou. I’m always watching.”
“Jacques told me these were an appropriate gift. I hope he was correct.” Arms weighted with a bouquet of fragrant flowers almost as large as she was, Brenya dipped down to show their beauty to the woman resting back upon a mountain of pillows.
The blonde smiled, her skin pale as she motioned for an attendant to gather and prepare the gift. “It is so good to see you, Brenya. You’re the first to visit since I was placed in confinement…” Annette winked. “You must have powerful friends to get past that door.”
But it had been many days since the baby had come. “What of Ancil?”
Voice cracking, Annette whispered. “I’ve been told he’s indisposed. He has yet to see his son.”
The concept of parenthood was foreign to Brenya. Those chosen for the breeding bank did not keep the child after early weaning, if at all. She was not even sure if males were aware offspring existed. Uncertain what to say, she sat on the edge of the bed and peeked into the nearby bassinet.
The baby inside was awake and wiggling in his wrappings. He looked like a cherub version of his angel mother.
Gently touching a foot, Brenya marveled. “He’s so small.”
A tired chuckle preceded, “Matthieu didn’t feel so small on the way out.”
Now that Brenya knew was abnormal. All Beta women asked to participate in procreation were told delivery was conducted painlessly while they slept. Several of the women in her Corps had undergone the procedure.
Hesitation led to awkward silence before Annette said, “It was on Ancil’s order. In the last minute, he demanded a natural birth for his heir.”
An heir he had yet to visit…
The medical room was full of light, decorated so as to give the impression of a boudoir. It was nothing like the med station in Beta sector. When the attendant returned and set the crystal vase of flowers beside the bed, it was hard to see anything but beauty. Yet it would seem it had been Annette’s prison.
She didn’t know if it was the right thing to say, but Brenya felt she had to offer something. “He promised me you would be safe… after I did what Ancil ordered. Jacques promised me.”
Considering the way the attendant was watching their every word, Brenya was certain both Alphas would hear a report of all that was said—though, now she suspected Jacques was most likely watching by other means. “If he lied, I would never do it willingly again.”
“Dear, Brenya.” A pale hand fell to her much darker one, Annette forcing a soft smile as if she held a great horrible secret. “You were beautiful that day you know, in the white dress with your hair curled. It’s a pity Jacques was denied what we had planned. I think he would have preferred you coming to the door as you were, all innocence and smiles. You had a wonderful surprise prepared for him.”
After the way he’d torn his clothes in his rush to cross the room and slam inside her, Brenya doubted it. “It only hurt a little.”
Letting out a deep breath, Annette lay back and stared at the ceiling. “I suppose I could say the same. He didn’t even leave a bruise.”
“I don’t like your husband.” It had come unbidden and with venom that tasted bitter on Brenya’s tongue.
