Page 6 of Stealing the Lorgor's Heart

Leaning over, Stacey grasped the other woman’s hand in hers and gave it a small squeeze. “Is that something that you really want to chance?”

Tears welled in Nancy’s eyes, but she quickly dashed them and shook her head. Withdrawing her hand, she picked up her drink and took a deep gulp of it. Swallowing, she gave them a watery smile. “Okay, Kaidava it is. But god, this terrifies me.”

Quin took another sip of her drink. “I’m with Nan. I would feel so much better if we had some help.” Her gaze shifted, lifting to a spot over Stacey’s shoulder at the sound of the door sliding open with a soft shine. “Don’t look now but a tall glass of water just walked in and is looking our way.” Her gaze dropped to Stacey speculatively, her lips curling in a smirk. “Or perhaps I should say, your way?”

Stacey stiffened but slowly turned so that she could look casually in the direction of the entrance. The captain stood there, his teal scales and dark uniform bold despite the vivid colors covering the deck. His neon blue eyes bore into her, and his ridged brow rose slightly. For a moment she imagined it to be a silent invitation. She was sure that she saw interest in his gaze. Her breath caught and a tingle rushed across her chest as Tahiyina’s advice came rushing back to her, but their tentative connection broke off abruptly as he turned to face the gonsi striding toward him.

She quickly turned away, color flooding in her cheeks as she met the curious gaze of the other women. “I may have an idea,” she whispered.

ChapterFive

Not for the first time, Varik wondered what had compelled him to come to the prince’s private pleasure deck instead of dodging the male’s summons yet again. He had a ship to run and on principle did not subject himself to the activities of his passengers, and yet here he was. He had not been able to help himself. It was all because ofher—his blossom. He had to get another glimpse of her.

The mere chance of glimpsing her almost made it worth the nauseating scent he was promptly immersed in. Gaix certainly had not waited long to indulge. Folding his hands behind his back, he cast a glance casually around the room, his heart speeding as he searched the faces of the gathered females and was relieved to find that she was not among those attending to the prince’s immediate needs.

His relief was ridiculous, of course. He was very much aware of it. Just because she was not currently with the male did not mean that she had not been countless times, or that she would not be the center of his affections soon enough. She was not his mate but his obsession—which could be the only cause for his relief—and it was dangerous.

Even knowing this did not stop him from searching her out, or the shiver that slid along his spine and vibinum as his gaze caressed her. Truly, there was no other word for it because his eyes slid over her as if gliding over every contour worshipfully. Partially reclined as she was upon the plush bench, she was a vision in the flowing, gossamer drape of the bright red fabric gracing her plush form. Everything about her intrigued him more than he recalled. Then she turned toward him, and his world narrowed to her entirely as her brown eyes fell upon him and widened. It was a singular look of recognition, and it immediately sent all his blood pooling to his groin. Given her mated status, he should rightly condemn the look of awareness and flicker of interest in her gaze for a male not her mate. Instead, it sent a sense of triumph through him to see that look upon the face of the female who both had both disdained and haunted him.

It also gave him an irrational hope for their hopeless situation, which did not bode well.

The thick, tapered length of his tail twitched behind him and the long, sharp spine tips of the vibinum-exis on his tail scraped softly against the polished, ornate tiles of the deck, jarring him back into awareness of his surroundings. Just in time, too, as Gonsi Athdar was coming directly for him. Even Gaix was pinning him with a lazy, lust filled gaze. Varik stiffened and inclined his head respectfully to the male even as he wondered how much Athdar and his master witnessed. Did they catch his fascination?

Stillness pervaded him backed with a simmering aggression that would certainly be the death of him if he struck. It was raw instinct of the children of Lorgoon, but Varik reined in his impulse with a will of Tajiian Varudian steel, all the while retaining his carefully blank mask of subservience as the gonsi drew near. His frustration boiled beneath the surface. He did not understand why this male was being sent over to him as if he had some authority beyond tending to the females, but he kept his opinions buried well so not to betray a single thought as he inclined his head respectfully.

“Captain Otorol,” the male greeted coolly. “To what might we owe this pleasure? Surely it is not the prince’s summons since you have been ignoring them for the previous four hours.”

“Yes, I am aware and did invite him to send his requests to the staff on board when I communicated my regret each time,” Varik replied. “But as he has not done so, and continues to send them, I have prioritized his needs over my very important duties, though it appears that I have caught him… occupied. As you see that I am now here, what is it that I may do for The Shining Star of Caysta.”

The royal title of the prince was ridiculous, one that he had invented and given to himself upon reaching his twenty-fifth turning so many revolutions ago. Varik only just barely refrained from curling his lip in derision over it. He felt ridiculous even saying it.

Athdar frowned, his eyes slitting. “Prince Gaix was not inclined to send a message or speak to anyone else regarding such a delicate matter.”

Delicate matter? “And that would be?”

“Regarding his itinerary, naturally. Prince Gaix is very specific in his desires. He does not trust them to some low-ranking officer to properly carry out. No one but the captain will do.”

Varik pinched back a sigh. Listening to the prince’s very exacting plans of what he wished to do was the last thing in all the sectors that Varik wanted to be subjected to. And it most definitely could have been handled by one of his officers.

“Very well. But as he is presently occupied…”

“It will be only but a moment,” Athdar interrupted, his head turning toward the prince as his lips curled in a satisfied smile. “His females have been pleasing him well. He will plant his seed in this fifth female momentarily and be depleted for a time.”

Varik allowed his eyes to briefly drift close as he inwardly winced. Athdar was not wrong. He could smell the rising scent and hear not only the slick slap of their bodies coming together but the sharp pants, moans, and grunts between them. He forced his eyes open again less it be perceived as an insult and was treated to a direct view of the female atop the prince with her blond hair streaming around her face, arching ecstatically as the prince groaned low and long, his pelvis shooting up and grinding rapidly against her as he jerked her down in place and delivered his load of seed into her.

Gaix grunted and gave a couple more sharp, quivering snaps of his hips before giving her a hard nudge. The female perched on him nearly toppled but regained her balance enough to slide inelegantly from him and out of the way as he stood. The prince smirked at Varik and wiped his half-hard dripping phallus with a rag before tossing it aside and striding toward him.

“Finally. Captain Otorol,” Gaix called out cheerfully. “I am so pleased you are here.”

“My prince,” Varik replied with a tip of his head, grateful that the prince did not offer a friendly arm grasp in greeting. “I understand that you wish to speak of your itinerary.”

“Yes.” The prince rubbed his hands together as he spun around, an excited smile on his face. “As you understand, this is a most romantic adventure which requires certain preparations that my mother would not have approved of. She already complains ceaselessly of the ignoble size of my collection of mates and even more about what she calls ‘the unnatural sequestering of the humans’, but she does not understand such pleasure. Or how spectacularly human females are built for the most carnal delights. Only a male of my station could even dream of having such a coveted collection for his own pleasure. It should be envied and admired! And what better time to indulge in showing off my fine females than this superb human celebration of desire and adoration. Yet, it calls for… more.”

“More?” Varik echoed, his brow raising.

“Kaidava,” Gaix breathed in excitement, his face lighting up like that of a youngling promised his most favorite treat. “An entire planet dedicated to every pleasure that one can think of—and even the more forbidden ones that can be found in certain sectors of the cities. I can indulge my senses with my mates wherever I please and be the subject of admiration and envy by all.”

Varik frowned. The prince wished to flaunt his pleasure with his mates publicly? As much it did not appeal to his Lorgor nature that was far too territorial with mating, the logistics for protection was of borderline nightmarish proportions. “Would that not be risky? Bringing so many females to Kaidava...”

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