Page 11 of Tamed

He released her hands but remained astride her as he addressed the class. “Sparring is meant to help you develop muscle memory. It’s not necessary to hurt your practice partner to develop these skills. If you were attacked, however, you would do everything in your power to cause as much damage as possible.” He heaved himself off her and helped her to her feet. “I think that’s enough for today.”

Arcon spoke briefly with the other warrior then both males left the room.

“Oh, my God,” Heather cried. “I thought you two were going to go at it right there on the training room floor. We all wondered what goes on behind Arcon’s blank expression. Apparently, he likes an audience.”

“You’re disgusting,” Kendra muttered and headed for the door.

“You were just as turned on as he was,” Heather continued. “We all saw the way you arched and twisted. Did he make you come or are you heading to your room to finish what he started?”

Kendra reached the doorway without a backward glance and hurried down the hallway. Heather was a catty bitch, but she was also right. Having Arcon on top of her, holding her down had sensitized Kendra’s entire body. Her nipples still tingled and her core ached so badly she was tempted to do exactly what Heather suggested. She’d been miserable after he spanked her, but this was even worse.

Deciding that a cold shower was her only hope for sanity, she went to the nearest elevator but she had just stepped inside when a computerized voice said, “Kendra, please report to President Zevon’s office immediately.”

Shit. Had Arcon reported her needless aggression? No. That wasn’t his style. He’d seen her taking out her frustration on Heather and dealt with it right then and there. This had to be something else.

She finger-combed her hair and refastened the ponytail, lamenting the fact that she was in shapeless workout gear. At her best, Kendra considered herself passably attractive, but she was far from her best right now. What difference did it make? She’d be heading to Houkdi in a couple of weeks and she would likely never see Zevon again.

Zevon’s assistant told Kendra that she was expected and she could go right in. She thanked him and eased the door open. Zevon’s office was large and well organized. The decor was simple and masculine, combining black with various shades of gray. She moved just inside the doorway then stopped. Unlike the other times she’d been here, Zevon was alone.

“Come in.” He motioned toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.” His black and gray uniform enhanced his authoritative bearing. His long, dark hair had been pulled back, drawing attention to his angular features. Sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline balanced out his penetrating stare. Only his lips offered any hint of softness, and they were usually pressed into a compact line. Everything about Zevon was unyielding and hard. So why did she find him so compelling?

Tension and a strange restlessness churned within Kendra. The heat ignited by her wrestling match with Arcon still simmered. She licked her lips as she moved to the chairs he’d indicated and sat down. “Am I in trouble?”

Zevon chuckled as he pressed back into his seat, fingers entwined against his flat abdomen. “Why was that your first suspicion? Have you done something naughty?”

Naughty? She could think of all sorts of naughty things she’d like to do with Zevon, or better yet with Zevon and Arcon. “Not yet.” She tried to match his casual tone, but her voice came out low and throaty.

His golden gaze locked with hers, assessing and analyzing her. Then he cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desktop. “Eden updated me on the process agreed upon by all of the conduits, but I thought it wise to check in with the first group. I wanted to make sure you had adequate input regarding your destination. You chose to relocate to Houkdi. That planet is considered less hospitable than the others. Do you feel that the selection process was fair?”

The question brought feistiness surging to the surface. No one asked her opinion before the alliance was finalized. Why bother asking now? “Fair?” she scoffed softly and shook her head. “I don’t consider any of this fair.”

His expression hardened, his gaze burning even brighter. “Explain.”

“Do I have permission to speak freely?”

“Within reason,” he cautioned.

“You bartered us away as part of a treaty. How is that fair? I have no desire to travel to Houkdi, and I’m pretty sure the other conduits are equally resentful. We’re independent females with the potential for incredible power, yet you traded us like a commodity.”

He glanced away, released a sigh, then squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I understand your frustration and involving you was not my choice.” His gaze returned to her face, the golden intensity mesmerizing. “The alliance is essential to restoring peace in this star system and access to conduits was the price the other leaders demanded.”

Arguing with him was pointless. Negotiations were complete. Nothing she said or did was going to change any of it. Still, he’d asked for her honest opinion and this might be her last opportunity to voice it. Houkdi customs were unusually restrictive, and in this star system that was saying a lot.

“You should have fought for us, protected us. Instead, you took the easy way out. That makes you a coward.” The second the words passed her lips, Kendra knew she’d made a mistake. President Zevon Raydo tolerated defiance from no one. Even females were held accountable for their behavior and she’d just crossed the line.

He rose slowly and came around to the front of the desk. “Your anger is understandable, so I will ignore the insult this one time. I did not ask your opinion on the terms of the alliance. I asked whether or not you felt the selection process was fair.”

His autocratic tone and stern expression only fueled her rebellion. She didn’t work for him and had not come to this star system voluntarily. Why the fuck should she offer him respect? Besides, what could he do to her now? Exile her to a desolate planet far away from most of her friends?

Pushing to her feet, she glared up at him. “The selection process is irrelevant because I didn’t want to be part of a fucked-up alliance.” Her heartbeat raced and her breasts felt heavy, the tips overly sensitive. Why was he affecting her like this? Even while she wrestled with Arcon she hadn’t been this aroused. “I want to make my own decisions and choose my own mates. Is that too much to ask?”

“I don’t think you know what you want.” He stepped closer, features hard, gaze burning. “Your words indicate anger, but your scent begs for something else.”

She said nothing, just challenged him with her heated stare.

He advanced, backing her up until her hips hit the edge of his desk. “If you’re in need of a good hard fuck, I’ll be happy to oblige you. But I’m not looking for a mate.”

“Oh, my God, you’re such an arrogant jerk,” she cried, masking her excitement with indignation. “You summoned me to your office and asked me about a situation that was sure to piss me off. If anyone is hoping for a quick fuck, it’s you!”

---