Page 32 of Fighting Gravity
Norm’s lip curled up. “Still biting, even with a collar on your neck.”
“What happened to needing me?”
“You’re a bit of a handful. I’m reevaluating your usefulness.”
“I hate you. Why are you back here?”
“I just have a bit more business to take care of,” he said, pinching my chin between his fingers. “Hang tight. I’m getting you back.”
I pulled away from his grip and snapped my teeth at his hand, which seemed to excite him.
It wasn’t the reaction I wanted by any means.
But then I realized what he said. He was getting me back?
Likely to put me through more hell…
Still… he was my only chance at getting off that rock.
14: Rhone
I didn’t return to Ket thinking I could get out of a good fight. I knew I was going to have to offer something in return for Quinn and all I had was that arena fight we first discussed. My plan was to walk in and demand the match, but when I saw Quinn sprawled on the table, three shikari holding her down while Ket touched her, my words nearly choked me.
I should not have cared what happened to her. None of it was even about the human, but seeing the wet glisten in her eyes when she looked at me took the breath from my lungs. It wasn’t as If I didn’t expect Ket to turn her into some exotic sex slave. Humans had never been seen in that part of the galaxy. She would never do well in the arena. Her skin was too soft and her bones too brittle. So, she was a gem for people to touch and gawk at. He’d be able to capitalize on her rarity quite easily, but to catch him testing his new property made my throat rings strain.
She belonged to me and the way in which he’d taken her was practically stealing. I wanted her back and I wanted that collar off her neck. If she was going to wear a collar, it was going to be mine.
“What brings you back to my den, Lok’rath?” Ket said.
“I want that fight.”
“Why is that? I’ve given you the ship. You could leave here without bleeding.”
“Or, I could leave here with my property.”
Ket glanced at Quinn, licking his top lip. “Why would I give her back when the trade has been done?”
I needed to be smart. I looked over Quinn’s trembling body and let out a low growl.
“Fine. Let me fight. If I win, I want to lay with her.”
Ket guffawed at that. He waved his hands at his men, letting Quinn move. She retreated toward the wall, shaking. And for some reason, I didn’t like that. She was the kind of creature who was meant to be broken in an even fight, not with four men taking her control away.
What was I saying? I cuffed her to a wall and slammed my hand across her face and I wasn’t fazed.
Maybe others hurting her was the problem.
Drek. I didn’t know.
I wanted to be the one to make her bend, but not like that. It was cowardly and weak what the shikari were doing.
“I should have known,” Ket said. “You haven’t had her yet.”
“I had planned to. But now that she’s yours, I realize I will not get another chance.”
Sighing sharply, he made a show of not liking the idea so I’d feel privileged when he agreed. I knew his type too well.
“Very well. Survive numerous rounds in my arena and you can have a night with her before I begin to lease her out.”
