Page 67 of Decadence

Her outer shell began to crack. For some reason, this man made her feel like she could lower her shields and ditch the toughness that she’d built up over the years.

He made her feel free in a way that nobody else ever could.

“So… what happens now?” Sienna closed her eyes. His intensity was just a little too much for her right now.

“It’s the equivalent of two Earth days,” Ikriss replied. “That’s how long we have to wait… until my new heart and lungs are grown and Zharek transfers them to my body. Then you can have me for as long as you desire.”

“So we aren’t allowed to…?” Fuck? Two days? Now she was surely going to go crazy.

“In my current state, too much… exertion could be fatal, apparently.” The quirk in Ikriss’s mouth grew into a wry smile. “But that is plenty of time to get to know one another a little more, don’t you think?”

Before she even realized what she was doing, Sienna flicked her finger up and down, eliciting a tightly restrained quiver of pleasure.

Ikriss raised a pale eyebrow.

“Two days is just a drop in the ocean,” she breathed. “I completely believe you, but I’m scared. Ever since they… those assholes… took me, everything’s been out of control.”

“And you don’t like not being in control, do you? You can’t stand it.”

“How do you know all that?”

“Because you and I are not so dissimilar, I think.”

“But you have control. Me… my life has just gone up in flames. I don’t even know if my friends are safe.”

“They are safe, believe me. I would not allow anything of yours to be compromised, Sienna.” A hint of ice entered his voice. “We do not respond well to threats. And if our relationship with Earth’s Federation has to change over this, then so be it.”

What does he even mean by that? That somehow her relationship with him was about to influence the fate of the entire fucking planet?

She’d been involved with powerful men before, but this was different.

This was in a completely different stratosphere, because she suspected Ikriss actually had the power to hold entire planets hostage.

Sienna took a deep breath and put her desire on hold.

There were only a few things she could control right now, so she had to try and keep at least some of her wits about her. “There’s one other person I’m worried about. A good friend of mine. Can you find her?”

“Of course,” Ikriss nodded, his expression turning a little indulgent. “Anything you wish.” He radiated mysterious power, like a magical genie—albeit a very dangerous one—who could grant her deepest, darkest desires.

His quiet power fed her arousal. She couldn’t deny it; she found that part of him intoxicating. She was only human, after all.

She shook her head. Pull yourself together, Si.

“Her name’s Eva. Eva Patel. She lives in the Serenity Skygardens, Apartment 11, on the 24th floor. It’s two blocks from my restaurant. She was supposed to show up for the evening shift at the Whisk. Knowing her, she’d probably have tried to make it through the crowds, especially if she hadn’t heard from any of us. She, uh, doesn’t have a very good sense of danger. The last I saw, things were getting really crazy down there. I saw humans with strange guns… they looked like military types. People were everywhere… big crowds… it looked like something big was about to go off.”

“Ah.” Ikriss nodded sagely. Clearly, this wasn’t new to him. “As I said, the situation is under control now. I will send a squad to search for and locate your friend.”

“Th-thank you.” A sigh of relief escaped her. “If she’s a little… abrasive when they find her, please don’t hold it against her. She just doesn’t like…” Sienna shook her head. How was she supposed to explain to Commander Ikriss that Eva didn’t like guys in uniform with guns… and she sure as hell didn’t pay lip-service to authority figures?

To her surprise, Ikriss laughed; a low, rumbling sound that reverberated deep within his chest. That laugh was the best thing she’d heard in a while. It warmed her heart and sent a pleasant tingle right through her. “Don’t fear, Sienna. My men might seem harsh, but we have a little experience in dealing with human females by now, especially those who vehemently disagree with our methods. When you meet the other mates, you will understand.”

Other mates? Of course, she’d met Riana, but how many of them were there, really?

“Now, is there anything else I can do for you to make your stay more comfortable?” He was looking at her like that again; with those laser-intense eyes.

In that instant, all of Sienna’s Earthly concerns evaporated. Somehow, she just felt that everything was going to be okay.

And her desire surged again, like the rush of a tide that ebbed and flowed; it was always there, never really disappearing, a constant pressure that would eventually need release.

---