Page 24 of Primal Bond

The door to the shower block, which was supposed to have been locked, clicked shut.

And he didn't have to think twice about who had been spying on him.

The hot water slid over him, washing away the evidence of his fantasy, but it couldn't cleanse what had just happened.

Zanik panted, trying to get his breath back. He clenched his fists, water dripping from his fingers like droplets of molten frustration.

Humans are trouble,he reminded himself.

This human is trouble.

Chapter eleven

Finn perched high on a shelf in the cargo hold, legs dangling over the edge, catching a rare moment of peace. The hum of the ship surrounded him, a constant reminder of his captivity, but up here, it almost felt like freedom.

He leaned back against the cool metal wall, closing his eyes and letting his mind wander.

And it only wanted to wander in one direction.

Finn's cheeks heated up at the memories. He’d seen Zanik’s muscular frame under the steaming water, the way his muscles rippled and the sheer size of him. Finn exhaled softly.

The Borraq had been relieving his tensions, two impressive cocks in hand, and Finn couldn’t tear his eyes away. The image of Zanik’s powerful body, his strong hands moving with purpose, the raw, primal look of pleasure on his face — it was seared into Finn’s brain.

What the hell is wrong with me?he thought, feeling both aroused and disgusted with himself. Ever since he got back intouch with his body, it had been like an untrained dog, refusing to obey his commands. He couldn’t control the rush of heat, the way his body reacted to what he'd seen.

“Get a grip, dumbass,” he muttered to himself. “You’ve had enough Borraq for a lifetime.”

But the memory of Zanik wouldn’t leave him alone. Finn’s mind replayed the scene, Zanik’s groan echoing in his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push the images away, but they only grew more vivid. The way Zanik had looked, lost in his own pleasure, powerful and untamed — it was intoxicating.

Stop it, Finn. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.You don’t care how Zanik looks. It doesn't matter if he's hot. It doesn't matter if he's got two huge cocks. He’s the enemy.

If only saying something made it true.

There was something about Zanik that drew Finn in, something more than just physical attraction. Finn had seen a glimpse of vulnerability in the Borraq, a hint of the burdens he carried.

No.He shook his head, forcing himself to focus. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down, not now. He needed to stay sharp, keep his wits about him. Zanik was dangerous, and getting involved with him — emotionally or otherwise — was a risk Finn couldn’t take.

He took another deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. Up here, away from everyone, he could almost pretend he was free.

Almost.

Kelara’s sharp voice echoed through the cargo hold. “Human!” She spotted him, her sharp eyes narrowing in disbelief. “What in the stars are you doing up there?”

When Finn had first saw Zanik's second in command, he'd been scared of her. The more he'd seen of her, though, the morehe'd grown comfortable around her barked orders and stern tone.

He scrambled to a more secure position, flashing her a defiant grin. “Just enjoying the view, Kelara.”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “You humans are like dvarr. Hairless climbing beasts, always getting into places you shouldn’t.”

Finn shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Gotta keep things interesting, right?”

“Interesting? More like dangerous. Get down from there before you break your skinny little neck.”

With a reluctant sigh, Finn began to climb down. The moment his feet touched the floor, Kelara was on him, herding him toward the door.

“Move,” she said, pushing him along. “I'm taking you to the bridge. At least someone can keep an eye on you there.”

Finn didn’t resist, knowing it was pointless. Kelara had a way of making him feel like a bratty kid caught in the act.

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