Page 4 of Kameer's Mate
Her lips part, and she draws in a shaky breath. “I am Mandy. Mandy Benton. I-I work in this salon.” She swallows hard and glances around the large room as though looking for an escape.
“Mannn-deee Bennn-tuhhnnn.” As I draw the syllables of her name out, my scrotum vibrates faster. I allow my gaze to peruse her body, checking for injuries while also admiring her lovely form. To my relief, I don’t see a scratch anywhere on her, nor do I smell blood. “Do you live here on Deck Twenty?”
She shakes her head. “No, no I don’t. Deck Twenty, and all the higher decks, are reserved for Founders and their descendants. I, um, just work here and serve the Founders. I live on Deck Fifteen.”
I glance at the updates on my wrist comm and frown. “The uprising hasn’t yet been quelled on Deck Fifteen, though no casualties have been reported there.”
“Oh. Then I suppose I should stay here.” She crosses her arms and takes a step away from me. “But I’m glad to hear there are no casualties. My parents and sister were having lunch in the Deck Fifteen mess hall.”
Ravenous urges seize me, as well as a fierce desire for companionship, and I step around the unconscious elderly man and grasp Mandy’s arm. I pull her close and study her fearful expression while reveling in the scent of her excitement.
How curious that she fears me yet responds to my nearness. I can’t help but wonder how she would react to pain. If I tugged her hair or bit her shoulder, would she gush moisture for me?
Touching this golden-haired human female feels like… coming home. That’s the only way I can describe it. An immense feeling ofrightness.
Destiny.
“You’re shaking, pretty human.” I cup her face and allow my thumbs to trace the softness of her cheeks. “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?”
She blinks fast and gulps. “Yes. Please, um, I don’t think you should be here. You shouldn’t be touching me like this. I assume you’re one of the new engineers who arrived to help us with additional repairs, but it’s my understanding that according to the treaty, you aren’t allowed to bother any human females while you’re aboard theJansonna. You have to wait until the final two thousand women are handed over to your people after we reach 58-Z.”
“Ah, yes, technically I’m not supposed tobotherany human females while I’m here. Yes, I know this.” I reach to stroke her hair, delighting in her soft tresses. “I’m not exactly known for following the rules, but my superiors tolerate my antics because I’m one of the most skilled engineers my people have ever known.”
Her eyes widen further. “Are you saying you’ve been… harassing women aboard theJansonnaand getting away with it?” Anger ignites in her gaze, and I bask in the loveliness of her fury while imagining all the creative methods I will use to tame her.
Poor little human female.
She has no idea the savagery that awaits her.
“No, Mandy, that is not what I’m saying.” I continue stroking her hair, and when she tries to retreat from my touch, I pin her to the counter, allowing my raging hard appendages to press against her stomach. “You are my first victim, you poor, poor thing.” I lean in and bury my nose in her hair. Star Gods, she smells divine.
She cries out and pushes at my chest, but no one comes to save her. Not the unconscious man and not any of the security officers who are nearby in the corridor. They must’ve seenme enter the business, but they know better than to interrupt whatever I’m doing.
“Don’t worry, my pretty human. I won’t hurt you. Not until we are mated, that is.” I pull back and meet her eyes. She’s brimming with a mix of fear and fury, and the slickness between her thighs smells more pungent than ever. Does she understand what’s happening to her body? I think about the hormone suppression shots the young women aboard theJansonnareceived until very recently. Does she understand the newly unleashed cravings she’s experiencing?
“Mated?” She scoffs. “You must be mad. I’m not mating with you or any other Darrvason. I’m not on the list.”
My spirits darken, and my grip on her momentarily tightens. I glance over my shoulder at the info screen. A low growl emits from my throat.Fluxx. Not on the list? I’d thought nearly all the women in the nineteen to twenty-five age range would be on the list, though perhaps I am mistaken about Mandy’s age.
“How old are you?”
She lifts her chin. “None of your business.”
My shafts throb harder, and I smile as I release the female and step away. Her boldness is intoxicating. A challenge I’m ravenous to accept.
Fluxx. The voices of my Darrvason comrades reach me from the far end of the corridor, and I know they’ll come looking for me soon. Having no wish for another unmated male to be near Mandy, I resolve that I must leave her side. The thought of any other male venturing near enough to detect the sweet pungency of her excitement makes me murderous.
“I must leave now, but I will see you soon, pretty human. I’ll be watching, and I look forward to our next encounter.”
The shock in her eyes deepens, and she gives a slow shake of her head, as though not quite believing my statement.
But I mean every word.
I will be watching her, and I am eager to see her again. Very soon. Eager to get her alone, smell her, and touch her. To make her moan and whimper. To make her obey.
I find my comrades in the corridor and note that several of them also hold human blasters. Technically, we aren’t supposed to interfere with day-to-day security breaches on theJansonna, but I doubt Captain Warren will dare to complain when we fought on the side he commands.
“Kill any human males during the scuffle?” I ask the group of engineers under my leadership as I finger the blasters attached to my belt. “I fear I lost count after exterminating the first twenty who crossed my path.”
