Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

“Captain, do you intend to claim this female as your mate?” Dr. Daneth asks, rather sharply. His commanding voice pulls me from my lust.

Mate?

I hadn’t thought of it. She’s beautiful, of course. Exquisite with that dark skin and those huge, brown eyes.

But a human female is a huge responsibility. One must train her to fit into Zandian society. Be responsible for her actions, ensure the safety of our planet as a whole. And humans wreak havoc on a Zandian’s normally emotionless state. I have a career with law enforcement, responsibilities that require me to be cool and level-headed.

Just in the short time this human’s been on my ship I’ve experienced more emotions than I normally do in a solar cycle.

“I’m not sure about that, Doctor.”

“Then you should not have punished her in that manner. It is an intimate discipline used with pleasure to bond them to their master or mates. Without the pleasure, she will show signs of shame and even despair. It’s detrimental to her mental health.”

My heart beats faster than normal.

How could I have made such a mistake?

“I see. I will, uh, rectify the problem, Doctor. As best I can.”

I’m not sure how to do that, I only know that I must try. But is she still lying to me? Humans are deceptive creatures.

I sit beside her.

Taisha

The large Zandian pulls me up, arranging me to stand between his legs as easily as if I were made of air. He cups my ass, rubbing away the burn.

I try not to moan, but it feels so good. Right, even though it’s so very wrong.

He leans in and stares into my eyes. “Swear it,” he orders. “Swear on your life and the life of… Leylah. I can tell you care about her. Tell me without flinching that you are not lying about the poison.”

“I am not lying about the poison.” I try to imbue the words with every bit of authenticity I have, and my desperation and sincerity must finally come through. I stare back at him, into those deep eyes, trying to communicate my thoughts in a way that transcends words. We stay that way, looking into each other’s eyes, for a long minute. Time falls away, and I feel as if I know him. Insane! Again, I know it’s craziness, but there’s something about him that calls to me. As if we were meant to find each other like this. And it’s imperative that I convince him of my innocence.

After a long pause, he nods. “I believe you.”

My shoulders slump in relief. “Thank Mother Earth.”

“But I think you’re still lying about something,” he warns.

I straighten again, trying to hide my surprise and guilt. “I’ve told you my truth.”

He narrows his eyes but says nothing more.

“If you were wise, you’d make me feel something other than pain if you want me to tell you things,” I say. I can’t imagine what makes me say it. Maybe the steady pulse between my legs. The way he pried my knees open and inspected me. The wetness of my pussy. He called it need.

Yes, it feels like need.

I try to rub my nose and bang the cuffs into my lip, forgetting I still have the cursed things on. “Ouch.” I wince and push the back of my hand against the flesh to alleviate the sting.

“Taisha, are you all right?” He grabs my hands, pulls them down to examine my mouth. Touches my lower lip with one hand, holding my head in place with his other. “Stay still, let me see,” he orders. “I know humans are delicate creatures.” He gently runs his thumb along my lower lip causing a thrum in my core. A tightening of my nipples. “No, you’re not even cut. There’s nothing.”

“Veck.” He releases the cuffs and my hands fall from each other with a soft hiss. “Don’t do anything unwise.”

But I already am doing something very, very unwise. I reach for his horns, because I can’t wait a second longer to feel their texture. And even as my hands move—before I make contact with his skin, he pulls me in for a kiss.

I gasp into his mouth and then relax, letting him control the embrace. He grabs my hands and puts them onto the sides of his face—with a sort of warning noise, then uses his tongue to explore my mouth.

I’m greedy for him, already intoxicated with his scent, his touch. I’ve never touched a male like this in my life, my body seems to be figuring it out just fine with his help. He’s warm and strong and I revel in the power in his arms, his legs. His chest. I press myself against him any way I can and shift my thighs as our tongues meet, again and again. I want something else.