Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)

He stripped and stepped into the automatic spray of water, closing his eyes and letting it rinse him clean. Wishing it would cleanse his guilt and shame.

The automatic dryer came on, blowing hot air across his skin. He squeezed his eyes closed at the sensation. For some idiotic reason it reminded him of having his cock in Mina’s hot mouth, the way she’d swallowed him down, watching him like an obedient slave.

But she hadn’t been an obedient slave, had she? She’d stolen the crystal ring and Venusian talisman from his pocket and used them to escape. Which made her fifty times more enticing. The beauty was as smart and capable as she was skilled and seductive.

Even if the galaxy had a million other Zandian females, he doubted he’d ever find one more captivating than Mina.

Ignoring his cock, which now ached thanks to his thoughts of Mina, he stepped out of the washtube and dressed in clean white palace finery. He couldn’t avoid seeing Zander and Seke forever.

With any luck, the weekly meal would be about to start, and there wouldn’t be time to report. He walked into the great room, only to find the chatter louder than usual. Beings stood, making the transition between Zander holding court and gathering at the enormously long dining table, set with the weekly feast their chef, Barr, prepared.

So bent on preparing himself for what to say to Zander, Erick didn’t realize the cause of so much animated conversation until Tomis stepped to the side, revealing…

No. It couldn’t be. Had Talia bleached her hair?

But Talia stood next to Tomis, which meant…

As if she felt his stare, Mina lifted her beautiful eyes at the same moment he went stock still, arrested in the entryway to the Great Room.

“Erick,” Seke said, observing the direction of her gaze. His barrel chest appeared wider than ever. “Come and meet my firstborn, Tara. She found her way here yesterday, all on her own. Both daughters returned in the same week, can you believe it?” The baffled wonder in the scarred warrior’s face made Erick’s chest tighten.

Keep walking, idiot. Or at least say something.

But he literally couldn’t make his body move or his tongue speak.

Seke, normally as sharp and attentive as they come, didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he just thought Erick was ogling. “Tara, this is Master Erick, Prince Zander’s business and trade advisor.”

Mina lowered her blue-violet eyes—so much like her father’s—and dropped into a demure curtsy. “Pleased to meet you, Master Erick.”

Veck, he loved hearing his name on her tongue. He’d been sorry he hadn’t given it to her before. But what is her game?

His breath scraped into his chest. He stepped forward on wooden legs and bent his arm at a ninety degree angle in the traditional Zandian greeting. “The pleasure is mine, Lady Tara.”

“Tara escaped from Aurelia where she was a house-slave.”

A house-slave. Not a sex slave, or sex pet. Pain lanced his chest. Not for himself, but for Mina—or Tara—whatever she preferred to be called here. She didn’t want others knowing how degraded she’d been, so she’d lied. He couldn’t blame her. How would a young female tell her father she’d been defiled in every way imaginable? It would destroy a male like Seke, who would want to find every male who’d touched her and make him pay with his life.

Hell, it made him want to do the same. At the very least, he should go back to Prium’s and bash the pimp’s pearly white teeth in. He should have done it when he was there.

“It’s illegal to keep Zandians as slaves. Aurelians should know that.” Somehow, he provided the smooth, educated commentary expected of him with Mina just a few steps away. Her intoxicating scent drifted to where he stood, reminding him of how it felt to bury his nose in her hair. To speak with his lips right up to her ear. Which made him recall all the dirty things he’d done to her. All the things he still wanted to do.

All the things her father would kill him for doing.

“Yes and I’d ask you to file an intergalactic complaint but her sole owner died a few lunar cycles ago, which is how she got away.”

Don’t look at her. Don’t.

He couldn’t because, if he did, he might show every thought splattering his brain. “I will still file it. It’s important we put the Aurelians on notice that Prince Zander will take every action for any abuse of his species.”

Stars, what a vecking hypocrite. What action had he taken on behalf of his species? The veck her hard over a bench one? Or the use her mouth as a veck-hole?

Prince Zander waved a hand to invite the milling group to sit at the banquet table.

His instinct told him to place himself as far away from Mina as he could. But when a swarm of males crowded in, every eye bright and eager to catch hers, he changed his mind. He’d be damned if he’d let any of them move in on his female.

Fortunately, his status as trusted advisor allowed him to sit near Master Seke and, therefore, his delectable daughter. He took a seat across from her. Next to her would be too close. He wouldn’t be able to trust himself if her scent was up in his nostrils, her soft body within grabbing distance.

Thankfully, Seke took the seat next to her, and her sister, Talia, took the one on her other side.