Page 30 of Rebel Fates

He jumps onto the bed, chasing after me. My heart frantically beats in my chest. Grabbing my arms, he calls out, “Leva, wrist locks.”

Two strap-like appendages appear out of the wall where a headboard would be. Serrat moves my arms closer, so the straps wrap around my wrists.

Panting, his body once again between my splayed legs. He stares at my face—not saying another word. Not moving, like he is trying to make up his mind.

I worry about what he intends to do.

I try to press my legs together, reminding him where he is, but he doesn’t move.

His body heat feels like a blowtorch where our skin touches. I sense his heavy cock waiting to dive into me. His scent descends over me like a blanket. I have a jolt of lust and realize that isn’t my normal reaction to an unfamiliar male.

Fight or flight. My default mode kicks in—anger. I chose to fight. “I just want to go home!” I shout at him. “I didn’t know I was going from slavers to dickheads!”

“Why did you attack me?” he demands.

“I was scared! You were running down the hall, carrying me, and I thought… I thought you were going to hurt me.”

“I wasn’t going to hurt you!” Serrat says angrily. Yeah. That’s convincing.

“Well, I don’t know you.”

He trembles with frustration. “I almost died saving your ass!”

“I didn’t ask you to!”

“Well, I did it anyway!” he snaps.

“Why?” I yell, but sounding a bit confused.

“I don’t know!” he shouts, and sounds even more confused. But something has clicked back into place for him. His breathing becomes calmer, his sanity returning. “I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he whispers. His eyes soften, but I don’t believe the threat is over.

To make him understand my innocent intentions, I say, “I didn’t mean to put you all in jeopardy. But what was I supposed to do? Just let them sell me to some vile asshole who would torture and murder me?”

“No. I would have done the same thing in your situation.” Serrat nods and his green eyes pierce my soul. “But you didn’t end up in a safe place.”

There’s a strange tone in his voice, and I ask, “What do you mean?Areyou going to hurt me, after all?”

Abruptly pulling away, he rushes toward the door. “If you want to survive… you’ll stay in here.”

14

ESCAPE

GEMMA

Iyank on the wrist restraints. I don’t want to be left like this. “But—”

Before he leaves the room, Serrat narrows his green cat eyes at me. “Promise to stay here?”

I nod in response. However, if Leva lets my wrists go after he leaves, I will figure out how to get somewhere safe—anywhere else in the galaxy.

If these males don’t think I’m safe here, then I’m probably not.

Serrat glares at me suspiciously, his eyes lingering on my face. He appears regretful of whatever the hell just happened between us. I sense his hesitancy to leave me like this, but he walks out with the other two in tow.

I wonder what disaster awaits me next.

A few seconds later, Zeek reenters the room. Studying his movements, I wonder what he’s doing back so soon.

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