Page 20 of A Savage Bargain

The restof the Auction passed in a flash. I’d retaken my seat after sliding my dress back up and around my body. With the Collector’s last triumphant call of “sold” and a thank you to the assembled aliens, the human females on stage shuffled to exit down the stairs. There was no reason to hurry or dawdle. I simply moved with the small sea of women. At the top of the stairs, I hesitated. Unlike on stage, here I could see the knot of alien purchasers waiting below to claim their purchases.

My gaze searched among the throng, uncertain how I would know which male had purchased me. I watched a red-skinned alien with a small beak nose take Olive’s hands in his. She must have sensed me staring because she glanced over her shoulder. When our eyes met, she beamed at me. Her pleasure heightened my displeasure.

Where was my purchaser? I assumed male, but I supposed it could be a female, or a member of a genderless species like the Collector.

My heart stuttered and confusion flared when I saw Krake off to the side as I reached the last stair. What was he doing here? He’d seen the conclusion of the Auction. He knew I’d been purchased, that nothing unusual had happened.

“Bailey,” he called out.

“I need to find my male,” I responded flatly, my gaze downcast while my feet moved toward him of their own volition.

He reached out a hand to lift my chin to meet his intense green eyes. “I am your male.”

“No. That’s not how this works. Whoever purchased me?—”

“I am your male,” he repeated with more intensity.

“You? You purchased me? What about your finder’s fee?” I asked the inane question.

Krake chirped a laugh. “The Collector discounted my bid by the finder’s fee.”

“That’s good.” I didn’t know what to say. Part of me didn’t believe this was real. With a shock, I acknowledged that I didn’t think I could stand the crushing disappointment if it wasn’t real. I wanted to stay with Krake. Did I fall asleep on stage and this was a dream? “Why?” I asked instead.

“I did not want to let you go.” He rested his hands on my shoulders. “I never want to let you go.”

I blinked back tears of hope and relief. “You could have just asked me to stay.”

“I could not. You were a stowaway. This was the way.”

Understanding dawned. Stowaways were not allowed. The only way for me to safely stay was as a potential Obedient. He couldn’t just tell the Captain he wanted me. “Ah. That makes sense.” I stumbled over what to say next. “Thank you.”

“I knew you wanted me too. Even though, for me, you chose the Auction.”

“I don’t understand.”

“In my room, I smelled your mating interest.”

“Oh.”

Krake caressed my upper arms. “Like now.”

I offered a sly smile. “You can smell my mating interest right now?”

“Yes, I can.”

His sincerity almost made me laugh, but I remembered the time before. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings if he misunderstood my laughter. Instead, my arms encircled him. “Let’s go to your quarters.”

We practically jogged the length of the ship to return to his quarters, barely making it to his bedroom before we stripped off our clothes. I finished while he was still removing the ever-familiar tighty-whities.

I threw myself onto the bed, my body throbbing in response to both the bed’s luxurious contouring to my body and the need for Krake to join me. He didn’t make me wait long, his lean form molding itself to me as he lowered his face toward mine. I lunged up, my mouth capturing his. His lips crushed against mine while his hands explored my body. My hands enjoyed the silky texture of his bare skin as I returned the favor.

With a low growl, I pushed him over and straddled him. My gaze found the gills in his neck and I hesitated before asking with a motion if I could touch them.

Krake gave a tight nod and closed his eyes.

My fingers moved over and around the slits. His head tilted back in apparent pleasure at the touch. I increased the pressure, enjoying his reaction. One day, I hoped to see him using them underwater.

My hands drifted over his supple chest before sliding my body lower to take his cock into my mouth. I doubted I would ever get used to the feel of his member. I was optimistic that I could learn to love the unusual taste of his cum. At least I wasn’t allergic to fish! My tongue lapped up his pre-cum while my hands stroked and fondled, enjoying the feel of his penis and clasper growing taught with desire.

---