Page 36 of Protected By the Convicts
Chapter Eight
KY’LI
Hannah climbed down from the tree, with a basket full of nuts.
“I hate nuts,” Ky’Li said.
“You’ll love when I make a pie with them.”
“You will need to do more to convince me,” he said waggling his brows. Hannah didn’t smile. That put him on guard. He scanned the jungle and sensed nothing nearby.
“Do you know what happened when you left yesterday for first shift?” she asked.
“No. Tell me, sha’vi.”
She hesitated. He gripped her chin. “You are never to fear me. Whatever it is, you are still mine and always will be. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can change that.”
“They took me.” Those were the only words she could get out, and even then her lips trembled.
“Who?” he said, alarmed.
“Sersie, Vaughn, Ren.”
Ky’Li tensed. He’d suspected they’d take her together. Vaughn had forewarned him that it was common in units on Argus. It still seemed unnatural to Ky’Li, but he was no longer on Daraan and Hannah was not from his world, his culture.
“You went willingly?” he asked, keeping his voice calm, or at least he tried. From the way her jaw dropped he suspected he’d failed to school his features.
Hannah nodded but said nothing more.
Ky’Li caressed his hand down her arm, took her hand and pressed it flat against his chest. He covered her hand, holding her, letting her know she had his heart.
“Do they take you or did you take them?”
The question surprised her, so much so that she started to pull away, but he held her to him, tight. “You knew?” she asked.
“Vaughn informed me what might happen.”
Informed. He hated the word, hated that the other male had felt the need to explain such things to Ky’Li, as if Ky’Li was from a back-water planet. And yet he appreciated Vaughn coming to him, letting him prepare mentally. The doctor had taken a huge risk. Ky’Li could have broken his arms to keep him from touching Hannah, but harming these men would change nothing. He was no longer on Daraan and his sha’vi did not belong to him alone.
“He assured me they would not force you. Tell me you went willingly, sha’vi.”
Her mouth fell open. First, he’d pushed her to Vaughn, and now he’d consented to all of them taking her. . . at the same time.
“I don’t want to lose you, Ky. I don’t understand why you would. . . why you suddenly want to share me.”
“I do not want to share you.”
“But you suggested that they take me. . .” She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Vaughn informed me. As a courtesy, I believe. As he explained it, Sersie is younger than the rest of us, without much experience. He needed to be shown how to treat you properly, to bring you the pleasure you deserve. And he said you would enjoy being with several males at once.”
Ky’Li resisted the shudder going through him. He could live with this, if this was what she wanted, what she needed. And he believed she needed them, as much as she needed him.
She’d lost her smile just now. He’d made this entire situation hard for her. It was time he found a way to accept the inevitable. Ky’Li bent forward and kissed her.
Sweet and passionate, Hannah leaned into him, kissing him back with a growing need. Whatever had happened with the others, she’d not lost her interest in him, not in the least.
“Does this mean it went well, sha’vi?”
