And suddenly, he was hard as stone again, desperate for a do-over with the crafty human.
“Why not?” Lady Tara pressed.
His brain stuttered and stopped, which irritated the hell out of him. “I have nowhere to keep her, for one thing. Nor do I think it’s my place to take guardianship of a female. Not unless the prince decrees it.”
“I understand,” Lady Tara said easily. She turned to her human friend. “Don’t worry, there are plenty of warriors here. They’ll be fighting over who you call Master.” She hooked a hand through her friend’s elbow and tugged her down the corridor of the palatial pod.
Master.
Instantly, the image of Leti on her knees servicing him morphed into one of her lush body being used by other males. Multiple males—at once.
Rage rose up in him, scalding his throat. His fingers closed into fists.
“Wait,” he called, but his voice cut out. “Stop.”
The three stopped and looked back.
He stalked forward, catching Leti’s arm. “I will take her. Just until Prince Zander gives his word.”
He might have celebrated his decision had he not caught a conspiratorial smile pass between Leti and Lady Tara. Then he suddenly felt the fool.
He’d just been played by the lovely female.
Again.
She wanted to trap him, ensnare him into doing her bidding.
He wouldn’t have it. Dark anger bubbling, he marched her to the lift down to the guards’ quarters and into his small but comfortable chamber.
“You’ll stay here,” he snapped, thrusting her inside but remaining in the corridor. “You may not leave without my escort. There’s a washroom in the corner. I will have food sent to you.”
“Where will you be?” She loosened the knot of her tunic, allowing it to fall open.
His cock surged against his pants as if he hadn’t just had her in the ship. He ground his molars.
He would not allow her to make him the fool.
She opened the tunic wider, slipping it from her shoulders. Her taut nipples stood as proud and haughty as she did. They were even more perfect than he’d remembered. A little darker. More insolent.
He closed his eyes, debating whether to step inside and lay down the law. Show her exactly what would happen to females who used their bodies to tease. Except he knew how that would end—with him plowing into her every orifice. And then she would have won, wouldn’t she?
Instead he stepped back, pressing his palm against the sensor outside the door to close it. Leti wouldn’t be able to leave. Only the servants would be able to enter to bring her food.
Dammit.
He couldn’t have servants going in her room!
What if she tried that little strip tease temptation with one of them?
Most were quite old, but they wouldn’t be immune to her charms. Hadn’t Prince Zander’s human mate wrapped the servants around her finger while she was just a slave? Before Zander had fallen to her allure?
Veck.
No, he’d have to bring her food himself. No being would ever be allowed to see his female naked ever again.
And he didn’t vecking care that she wasn’t his female and he had no intention of keeping her or succumbing to her beauty!
He marched back upstairs to report to Master Seke.