Page 5 of Tornn's Mate
The instant our eyes had locked on theJansonna, I’d known she was the woman for me. The female I would claim, the female who would bear my sons and daughters. It was aknowingthat made my blood hum and my heart resonate with longing.
I tell myself it’s pure animalistic need and nothing more. Our union will be one of convenience and necessity. I need a woman for breeding purposes, and her sacrifice will ensure her own people don’t fade into the stars. I’ll protect her and provide for her, and perhaps in time we might cultivate a friendship of sorts, but a deeper connection—a heartbond—well, it simply isn’t possible.
Even so, I ache to get the little dark-haired beauty to my quarters and plant my seed in her womb. I ache to master her body and fully claim her as mine. Soon. Very soon.
Before we retire for the night, she will belong to me. Completely.
I grasp her upper arm and guide her out of the docking bay. When I notice her struggling to keep pace with my rapid strides, an unexpected pang of concern tightens in my chest, and I slow my steps.
As we head down the nearest corridor, a team of engineers passes us on their way to the human worldship. We exchange a brief greeting in Darrvason and I wish them good fortune, though I have no doubt they will succeed in overhauling theJansonna.
Once repairs are complete, Captain Warren will provide us with one hundred more fertile human females, and once we successfully guide the human worldship to a habitable planet, we’ll receive a final payment of two thousand fertile human females.
More than enough to turn the tide in our fight against extinction.
As we walk, I can’t stop stealing glances at my bride. Her eyes are startlingly blue, and though her pale skin doesn’t glimmer in the same way mine does in the overhead lights, I still find her immensely pleasing to behold.
“Will the other women be treated well?” she asks as we turn down the corridor that leads to my quarters.
Her question surprises me. “Of course they will be treated well. Why would we harm a female? We need women for companionship and procreation.”
She shoots me an odd look that I can’t quite read. “You mentioned punishment to my uncle and said we would be forced to conform.”
Again, her words surprise me. “Your uncle? Captain Warren is your uncle?” I’m stunned that the captain would surrender a family member to my people. Wouldn’t he want to see her safely settled on a planet with the rest of the human race? Wouldn’t he miss her?
She swallows hard. “Yes, the captain is my uncle.” She says it grudgingly and her blue eyes flash with malice, though I can’t tell whether her displeasure is directed at me or her uncle. “Well? Exactly how will your males treat a human woman who’s been disobedient? What will you do? Beat her? Toss her in the brig? I want to know what sort of punishment we’ll face.” She lifts her chin in challenge, and I promptly tighten my grip on her arm.
“We will finish this discussion in private,” I say in a commanding tone. Security officers and maintenance workers occasionally pass us by, and I have no desire to get into an argument with my human female in front of others.
She tries to pull her arm from my grasp, but I don’t release her. Her defiance is shocking. Darrvason females are typically timid and obedient, though it’s not unheard of for one to require chastising on occasion.
My shafts thicken at the prospect of taming my little human mate. If she tests me, I won’t hesitate to administer a swift and fitting punishment.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To my quarters. Now, no more talking. Not until we are alone.”
I hurry her through the corridor to my abode. The door zips open and I lead her inside. After placing her luggage on the floor, I release her arm.
A whimper catches in her throat as she looks over her shoulder and watches the door zip shut. We’re alone. Finally. Her chest starts rising and falling more rapidly, drawing my gaze to her bosom. The gown she’s wearing leaves little to the imagination, though I still long to see her unclothed.
What color are her nipples?
What does the area between her thighs look like?
Eight days ago, I’d sent a team of physicians to theJansonnato examine several human females—to verify that they would indeed be compatible with Darrvason males—but I wasn’t able to accompany them, so I haven’t yet glimpsed a naked human female with my own eyes. My male appendages throb as I envision stripping off my mate’s gown, parting her thighs, and thrusting deep.
“Welcome to my quarters,” I say. “This is where you will live while we are aboard theHaxxal.” I don’t bother to tell her it’s where we’ll both live for the foreseeable future. The humans aren’t the only ones in search of a new planet to call home.
“Am I a prisoner here?” She draws in a shaky breath. “Or will I be permitted to freely roam your ship?” Her gaze darts to the massive viewscreen that nearly takes up an entire wall of my quarters. From here, we have a clear view of theHaxxal’sdocking tunnel as it slowly retracts from theJansonnaand folds back into the ship.
“You aren’t a prisoner, however, you aren’t yet free to leave my quarters and roam the ship.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion flits across her face.
“You will not be permitted to leave my quarters until we have mated many, many timesandI am certain I can trust you to behave properly.”
Her face pinkens, her cheeks taking on a beautiful flush. “Why do we have to mate first… and why-why multiple times?”
