Theirs to Tame, page 10
Glaring right into his eyes, she said, “Two years and ten months.”
Of course, he should have guessed. “He was a soldier.”
“He ran a security company,” she sneered, tears gathering behind her lashes. “His name was Jacob Phaeton, you murderous bastard.”
All the pieces to the puzzle suddenly fell into place. This was why she’d joined the rebellion and why she hated the Kobar so vehemently. Still, the relief didn’t make sense. “If we murdered the love of your life, why are you relieved that he is dead?”
She gasped, standing so suddenly her chair toppled over. “What a horrible thing to say. I do not feel relieved that Jacob is dead. You don’t understand humans at all.”
That was absolutely true, but emotions were emotions regardless of species. The causes of each emotion might vary greatly depending on culture, but anger always felt like anger.
“We were actively planning our wedding when you arrived,” she sneered, angry tears spilling down her cheeks. “We should be celebrating our second anniversary in a few weeks. Instead I’m a fuck toy for the creatures that killed him. Now you know why I will always hate you!”
“I upset you, so I will ignore this outburst, but I will not tolerate your disrespect indefinitely. Calm down and right your chair. You need to finish your salad.”
Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a rebellious line. He didn’t need to be empathic to anticipate what was to come.
“Fuck you! I told you I didn’t want to talk.”
“Sit down or there will be consequences. I seldom offer warnings and you already had yours.”
Still glaring at him, she batted her plate off the table. The salad hit the display, creating a shower of colorful debris. “You’re hateful and chauvinistic and ruthless. Chris is right. The only way to cleanse Earth of this infestation is to eradicate your useless species!”
He caught her wrist and pulled her around the table as he scooted his chair back. Then he drew her down to sit on his lap. She fought like the vixen whose name she’d adopted, twisting and kicking, swiping at his face with her hands curled like claws. He captured her other wrist but she continued to thrash, tugging against his hold with all her strength.
“Let go!”
She head-butted his face, barely missing his nose so he flipped her over and wrestled her down over his legs. She shrieked and twisted, trying to break his hold on her squirming body. Throwing one of his legs over hers, he controlled one half of her body. The other half, however, was still going wild. Damn, the female had spirit, and she was surprisingly strong—for a human.
With some effort, he brought her hands to the small of her back and pinned them there. Then he pulled up her shirt, baring her rounded ass. Gods of Destruction, those curves never failed to harden his cock. He swatted one side and then the other, reminding them both what this was about.
“Your attitude is unacceptable and your behavior will immediately change.” He spanked her hard for a moment in silence, unable to ignore the enticing jiggle of her flesh or the color rising to the surface. “If you do not learn to control your temper your bottom will be bright red for the rest of your life.” He stroked the sensitized areas intensifying the sting.
“Fuck you!” Jerking one arm free, she elbowed him in the gut.
His hand fell hard and fast until her cheeks turned deep pink and her skin was warm to the touch. “You will apologize and then get on your knees and clean up the mess you made.”
“Like hell I will.” She twisted violently, slipping down between his legs then scrambling across the deck on her hands and knees.
Shocked that she had escaped him, he dove after her, tackling her to the deck. Her breath whooshed out and she stilled for a moment. He flipped her onto her back and quickly pinned her arms to either side of her head. He spread her legs with his knees and she came back alive with a vengeance. Bucking and twisting, she inadvertently worked the shirt upward with each furious arch of her body. Soon her pussy was on display and he noticed the movement of her breasts beneath the clingy fabric.
Noticing the direction of his stare, she stilled and glared up at him. “Don’t touch me,” she sneered, her teeth clenched.
“I was trying to share a meal with you, to become better acquainted.” Shifting her wrists into one hand, he pulled the shirt up to her shoulders. “Apparently, you like having my hands on you.” He stroked her breasts, teasing her nipples as she twisted and squirmed. “If it weren’t for your temper tantrum, we would be seated at the table conversing like civilized beings.”
“Civilized beings don’t use corporal punishment or force their captives to have sex over and over.” Her voice shook and her chest heaved, making her breasts quiver.
He released her hands as he licked his lips and stared deep into her eyes. “I’m not forcing you to do anything. I’m going to suck on those sweet little nipples and you’re going to lie there and let me.” He squeezed one of her breasts, rubbing the nipple with his thumb. “Then I’m going to lick your pussy.” He pressed his cock against her mound, rocking gently as he went on, “I’ll circle your clit and tongue-fuck your cunt until you come so hard you scream.”
“Stop it.” She pushed weakly against his shoulders but her hips lifted, echoing the rhythm of his.
“You’ll be lightheaded and tingling all over when I push my cock deep into your sopping wet core.”
She shook her head, her breath shuddering out as she moaned.
“I’ll fuck you nice and slow while I kiss that sassy mouth. My tongue will still taste like your pussy but you won’t mind because my cock will feel so damn good as it fills you over and over.” He cupped her breast, supporting the fullness from below so her nipple was still accessible. “Do you want up, little rebel?” He lowered his head and sucked hard on her nipple.
“I want…” She arched, fighting back a moan as her hand slid around his neck.
“Or do you want me to lick your pussy?”
“I hate you,” she whispered then turned her head sharply to the side.
He sucked on the other nipple then turned her face back around. “Do you want my cock deep inside you?” All playfulness left his voice as he stated, “I’m giving you the choice.”
“No, get off me.” Even as the words left her mouth, she lifted her hips, rubbing her pussy against him.
Lowering his mouth to hers, he kissed her deeply. Her lips parted for the first brush of his tongue and smoldering need flowed into his mind. She didn’t want to want him but she did. She ached to be filled, to be fucked by her captors.
He kissed his way down her neck as his fingers pinched her nipples. “Say it, Tori. Tell me what you want.”
“I can’t,” she said more firmly. “Use my body if you must, but I will never admit how much I want you.”
He chuckled. Obviously, Rytez had it right. She would only respond if her conscience was silenced by the illusion of force. He loved these sorts of games as long as consent was clear at the onset. He scanned her mind, searching the full spectrum of her emotions. There was no doubt that she wanted him, but she wasn’t ready to accept that she could ever desire a Kobar. The dichotomy was clear. She wanted to be taken. The only way she could make herself submit was if there was no choice but surrender.
He pinched her nipple hard enough to make her cry out. “Put your hands over your head and do not move them unless I tell you to.”
She immediately raised her arms and opened her eyes. “You’ll burn in hell for this.”
He grinned, giving her nipple a cruel twist. She cried out louder, arching off the deck. “We’ll both be burning shortly, fox fire.” He licked and sucked on her nipples, not stopping until they were tight and deeply flushed. His mouth lingered on her breasts as his hands wandered lower.
Continuing to suck on her hard little nipples, he drew her hands down to her sides. She tugged and slapped at him but there was no conviction behind her struggles. He draped her legs over his shoulders then pulled her hands beneath her hips. She wiggled and twisted but he simply covered her pussy with his mouth and ended her struggles with the first swipe of his tongue.
He circled her clit over and over and she soon moaned openly. Her flesh was so soft, her taste instantly addictive. He knew she would be like this. Her scent made him desperate to taste her and having her juices fill his mouth was utter bliss. Driving his tongue right into her core, he eagerly fucked her wet pussy.
She cried out sharply and her cunt tightened around his tongue. Euphoria flowed into his mind followed immediately by shame. He sighed and let go of her wrists. He didn’t want her to resent the pleasure they gave her. He wanted her to… to what? Fall in love with them? She was not a potential mate. She was their prisoner, an enemy they needed to tame, to interrogate and punish.
Grabbing the backs of her thighs, he pushed her knees to her chest then spread them wide. Alarm ignited in her eyes and she looked confused and worried. He thrust into her roughly, confident that she was sopping wet and ready to take him. She cried out and returned her hands to their earlier position above her head.
“That’s right, fox fire.” He pulled back and thrust even harder. “Feel how tightly your rebel cunt has to stretch to take my hard Kobar cock. You belong to us now. This body is ours to enjoy whenever and in whatever way we desire.”
Her pupils dilated and she groaned, lips parted, eyes unfocused. “You are no longer in control.” He punctuated the claim with a hard thrust. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Her emotions were as unfocused as her eyes. She had retreated beyond the present and he wanted her here with him, fully aware of who was fucking her. He slipped one arm beneath her neck and covered her mouth with his. Letting his kiss speak for him, he offered the affection and tenderness absent in his pounding cock. He fucked her pussy, but he made love to her mouth.
She whimpered and tried to turn away. “Please, don’t. I can’t.”
He ignored her, taking the kiss deeper while still keeping it passionate.
Gradually, he felt her surrender. Her emotions engaged and she touched him, caressing his face and stroking his chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and started lifting into his thrusts.
Her emotions unfurled before him, her raw need for affection stealing his breath. That was how they could reach her, how they could win her… if only she were their potential mate instead of their prisoner.
Xoktal sat at the workstation in his office, fidgeting like an errant trainee waiting to be reprimanded by his commander. The analogy was closer to the truth than he cared to admit. Jesorax expected an update on Tori and Xoktal had nothing noteworthy to report. She had been aboard the Exlotiss for three full days yet his cadre hadn’t even begun to interrogate her.
She was every bit as defiant as they had heard, but her feistiness protected a wounded spirit. Their captive fox lashed out at the world because she was in pain. He was all too familiar with the concept. Each member of his cadre, himself included, had utilized the strategy at some point in his life. Rytez had been using the strategy for so long, Xoktal wasn’t sure his second was capable of letting go of his anger.
As if sensing Xoktal’s hesitation, Jesorax initiated the comm.
Xoktal activated his end of the connection and greeted his brother with a casual, “Morning.”
“You don’t look nearly as exhausted as I’d hoped. Are you taking this assignment seriously?” Jesorax spoke in a calm, even tone revealing nothing about his mood. However, dark humor often lurked behind his nonchalance. There was a strong family resemblance between Jesorax and Xoktal. They had the same angular features and gold/green eyes. Xoktal’s hair was much shorter, but both had a tendency to curl.
Striving for the same level of control, Xoktal informed, “We each spent one night alone with our captive in the hopes of gaining individual perspectives. We will need a variety of tactics if we hope to tame her.”
“Is that still your hope?” Jesorax challenged. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he were fighting not to smile.
“What’s so damn funny?” Xoktal grumbled, unable to shake the feeling that his brother was amusing himself.
“I targeted one hundred human females to be controlled and shaped to our advantage. The majority of them are now soul-bonded with the most powerful warriors on New Kobar.” Jesorax lost the battle with his smile. “I am honestly not sure who is controlling whom. There is something about these females that turns seasoned warriors into fools. Obviously, Vixen has already sunk her claws into you.”
“Odd that this phenomenon didn’t exist until Project Evolution launched.”
Jesorax stilled, his gaze locking on Xoktal’s face. “What makes you say that?”
“I contracted a lottery girl for my cadre shortly after we arrived. We tried to make her year with us as pleasant as possible, but none of us, the female included, was even tempted to continue the relationship once her term of service elapsed. Three days with Tori and my cadre is ready to murder anyone who brushes up against her.”
It was Jesorax’s turn to look uncomfortable. “We knew there was a risk that the female transformation would affect the males as well. Dr. Parsett estimated the side effect at fifteen percent. The actual number is somewhat higher.”
“‘Somewhat higher?’” Xoktal challenged. “Give me a figure.”
“Approximately sixty-five percent of males are experiencing bonding fever when exposed to a transformed female.” Before Xoktal could respond, Jesorax rushed on, “You have to remember that the transformation is triggered by natural attraction. These couples would have been drawn to each other with or without the nanites. Project Evolution just helped things along.”
“And you didn’t think any of this was worth mentioning?” He suddenly understood why Tori was so angry. He felt manipulated and used, by his own brother! “We should have been warned, so should the females. This entire concept was ill-conceived.”
Jesorax’s chin came up and his expression hardened. “Watch your tone. This is official business.”
“Yes, sir. As you have guessed, I have nothing to report. We are making strides toward taming Vixen, but we have not yet questioned her.”
“I anticipated this complication, which is why I moved on to plan B.” Jesorax pressed back into his chair, looking rather pleased with himself. “Many humans have those in their lives that they care more about than themselves. If you can figure out who that person is, the weakness is easy to manipulate.”
“I don’t consider loyalty a weakness, but the primary reason Tori is behaving is to ensure the wellbeing of her mutant friend.”
“Bad choice of words, and I saw your report on Fanaris. There are many things that can result in malformed features. What makes you think he is a product of the Wraith Program?”
“Cassik is adamant. He saw Fanaris in action, so I am inclined to believe him.” When Jesorax didn’t offer an opinion, Xoktal asked a question he’d been dying to ask ever since he first saw Fanaris. “You had no direct involvement with the Wraith Program, but you inherited all the records. Was Hefftos the only survivor?”
Jesorax shook his head. “There were others, quite a few. Be careful. If Fanaris is a Wraith he is more dangerous than you know.”
“Understood.”
“I would very much like some time with Fanaris at some point, but it can wait until my schedule is less insane.”
Xoktal responded with a tense nod, then asked, “Was there anything else?”
Jesorax dismissed the impatience with a wave of his hand. “I haven’t told you about plan B.”
“Sorry.” Xoktal was relieved that Jesorax wasn’t furious. Still, he was ready for the conversation to end.
“As it happens, your captive is the person my captive cares more about than himself.”
Understanding opened like a book, allowing Xoktal to smile. “Chris Phaeton finally started talking?” No wonder Jesorax hadn’t been harassing him about questioning Tori.
“I showed him the security feed of his precious stepdaughter being led to your cabin naked and on a leash. Needless to say, it had the desired effect.”
Xoktal cringed. “I would think that particular image would have made him angry, not cooperative.”
“Oh, he indulged his temper for about an hour, then he seethed for several more, but once guilt crept in I had him.”
A terrible possibility occurred to Xoktal and his entire body tensed. “Did you offer Tori’s freedom in exchange for information?” Everything within him balked at the thought of being separated from her. Their courtship had barely begun but Xoktal would not relent until she agreed to mate with his cadre.
“I offered her life,” Jesorax stressed. “That didn’t seem to impress Chris, so I pointed out that Tori is only being used by you and your cadre at the moment. If he remained silent, tomorrow she would be given to the officers. If he still remained silent, the day after that she would start making the rounds through the entire crew.”
Xoktal came up out of his chair and leaned toward the camera. “I would never let that happen.”
Jesorax waved away his outrage. “I know that, but Chris didn’t. The bastard already thinks we’re monsters. I decided to prove him right.”
“Idle threats are dangerous,” Xoktal pointed out. “What would you have done if Chris called your bluff?”
“It doesn’t matter because Chris started talking and hasn’t stopped since. He gave me names and locations, contacts and supporters. It will take me some time to verify the information, so do not mention any of this to Tori.”
“It has already been three days. She will wonder why we are not interrogating her.”
Jesorax’s shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. “Let her. The uncertainty could work to our advantage. Eventually I will want you to ask her about the things I am unable to verify. But for now, continue taming her. She is the personification of the rebellion. I want everyone to see that her belligerent spirit has been broken.”
