Page 10 of Guardians

“No,” Kane said firmly. “You are humbling yourself to prove your sincerity.”

“You chose to come here,” Zion reminded. “You chose Kane’s coalition. Now you will do this willingly or you will leave. It’s as simple as that.”

With a defeated nod, Lexie took off her coat and handed it to Tara.

Miraculously, Tara offered Lexie a tentative smile.

Lexie had never been spanked before, not even by a hand. Her parents didn’t believe in corporal punishment and her lovers wouldn’t have dreamed of being that aggressive. That might have been why she always felt restless and discontent after sex. But this wasn’t foreplay. It wasn’t a tantalizing game. Zion wanted to teach her a lesson and Kane was going to make damn sure she learned it.

After tugging off her boots and socks, she pulled her hoodie off over her head. A baggy sweater was followed by a flannel shirtand then her T-shirt. Finally she wiggled out of two pairs of jeans.

“Jesucristo,” someone muttered. “Are you wearing every garment you own?”

She whipped her head to the side and located the speaker. He wasn’t as tall as Kane or as muscular as Malik, but he looked even more dangerous. His sleek black hair, pronounced cheekbones, and swarthy complexion revealed his Hispanic heritage. His eyes were endlessly dark and expressed lustful interest and a hint of amusement.

“Diego,” Kane greeted. “You arrived just in time. We’re about to discipline our mate for the first time.”

“Our mate?” He sounded excited, not surprised. “Has Lexie accepted our claim?”

“She has,” Lexie answered, sounding more certain than she felt. “And she’s perfectly capable of speaking for herself.”

Diego’s brows arched and he moved closer to where Lexie stood. His night-black gaze swept the length of her body, lingering over her breasts and the juncture of her thighs. “What did she do?” He continued to speak to Kane, ignoring her interruption.

What a jerk.She folded her hands into fists and glared at him.

“She has been rude and disrespectful,” Zion provided. “She needs to learn her place.”

“Well, we’re just the coalition to teach it to her,” Diego assured the pride leader. Ironically, his blinding smile made him look even more menacing.

“This is likely the first time she has been disciplined, so I am going to belt her,” Kane insisted.

Diego looked as if he would argue, but he just shrugged and said, “Am I allowed to touch her?”

“Of course. She belongs to all of us.”

Lexie sucked in her breath. Malik’s answer warned that they would all be touching her before this was over. Her nipples peaked beneath the clingy cups of her bra and heat flooded her pussy. Three mates. She was about to experience the reality of having three mates.

Kane shifted his attention back to her. “Get busy.”

She was standing there in her bra and panties. The leering gazes of the other guardians made her intensely uncomfortable. “Surely this is enough,” she pleaded.

“All of it,” Kane said grimly. His handsome features were utterly expressionless.

She closed her eyes and fought the sting of tears. She would not cry in front of these animals. She would endure this with her head held high. Determination restored, she opened her eyes and unfastened her bra. Outward appearance had never been important to her. She was frequently in situations that made primping and girlish clothes impractical. She hadn’t bothered with makeup since she arrived on Rydaria, and all her outfits were utilitarian. Her self-worth and confidence had always come from her intelligence and accomplishments rather than her physical appearance. She lowered the straps of her bra then took a deep breath and let it fall to the floor. It took her a moment to muster the courage, but her panties soon joined her bra.

A low rumble rippled through the lodge as the males admired her naked body. Lexie fought the urge to cover herself or, better yet, run from the room. Then anger strengthened her resolve.Screw this. Let them look. She refused to be embarrassed by this nonsense. She stood still, arms at her sides, chin slightly lifted.

“Lovely,” Diego muttered as he slowly circled her. He ran his fingertip down her arm and paused behind her to release her hair and drag his fingers through the long length.

Malik approached her as well. His gaze descended to her breasts and stalled out. “Kane knows how to pick them,” he said as he cupped her breast.

She tensed, upset more by his casual words than his inappropriate touch. Did Kane ‘pick’ women often? There were no women on Rydaria, and they had been captives for years before that. Her flare of jealousy was not only childish, it was also misplaced.

“Look at me,” Malik ordered, his hand squeezing her breast. He didn’t speak again until their gazes connected. His eyes were brown, but a much different brown than Diego’s. Malik’s eyes were warm and inviting, with gold flecks that made them shimmer. “It’s more than likely that you will never see Earth again. The sooner you accept that this is a different planet with very different rules, the easier your life will be.”

She had no idea what he expected her to say so she just nodded. He moved his hand to her other breast then bent and brushed her lips with his. The tenderness was unexpected so she didn’t respond. He fisted the back of her hair and tilted her head to the side, then ravaged her mouth with an aggressive kiss. His lips forced hers open and his tongue pushed into her mouth.Lexie instinctively started to struggle, but the fingers in her hair tightened painfully until she relaxed and let him explore.

By the time Malik pulled away, Lexie was panting harshly and her nipples were tight, aching points. His fresh woodsy scent lingered in her nose, and it felt as if his taste had permanently combined with hers. How could a kiss be so… consuming? She felt as if he’d devoured a piece of her soul.

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