Chapter Six – Bianca
Bianca bounced on the bed, making her giggle, and reached for Gylden as he followed her down. The strength of his body over hers nearly made her forget where she was. But she couldn’t forget.
Heat coiled tightly in her core, begging for his touch. They only had a narrow window to do this. Once the drones were back in working condition, she wasn't even using the toilet without wrapping herself in a blanket just to make sure nothing could be seen. Her privacy was seriously violated in her daily life, and she wasn't going to give up this opportunity. She wanted him. Bad. She had wanted him from the moment he brought her to this room, and all the excuses she had thought up to stop herself from doing this were just that – excuses.
"Wait," he said. "I'm always in a low state of musth. I—"
"And I'm sure that it's affecting both of us, but come on. I've been sleeping beside you for three days now. Your musth isn't why I'm doing this."
"Are you sure?"
Bianca nodded. "I'm sure. Honestly, in just about any other situation, I would have already seduced you by now."
Gylden grinned. He dove into her neck with a fervor that made her gasp. How often did he get to release himself into a passion like this? A flare of anger had her hands digging into his back. It wasn't fair. It was beyond not fair – this was evil. It was evil that a man like Gylden, so strong and proud but with that hidden tenderness inside himself was forced to live a farce of a life, never being his own person.
"I want to see you," he growled into her neck. "All of you. I want your body to belong to me."
"Yes," Bianca whispered, rolling her hips upwards as he ground himself against her. It was the only word she could think to say. "Yes."
His hands fumbled with the filmy fabric she was forced to wear, finding the small clasps and buttons. He removed her clothing without tearing anything and stripped off his own garments with the same care. The T'shav sat back on his heels, gazing down at her body with an awe in his eyes. He had never seen a woman like this before. His breath caught in his throat.
"You're beautiful. Skin so soft, so smooth. So unmarked." His massive hands cupped her breasts. "Your shape… You are the most stunning woman I have ever seen, Bianca… I've never felt this way before. I might have been acting for the public when I said I loved you, but maybe I do. I've never known love. I've never…"
His hand drifted down between her thighs, stroking her in a way that made her bend herself to him. His gentleness surprised Bianca, and unexpected tears flooded her eyes. She'd never had a man this gentle with her. Who knew she'd find him out here, long after Earth died, when her own life was in jeopardy?
"You deserve love," she told him. "You deserve to know pleasure and passion and peace. It's not fair it has to be like this."
Gylden smiled softly. He kissed her lips again, his touch feather-light. "We have tonight."
Bianca nodded in agreement. As his fingers became a little rougher, applying more pressure to her sensitive areas, her own hand drifted downwards. She grasped him, giving him what he was giving her. Soon they were both writhing under each other's touch, sweat coating their bodies. Bianca didn't know how much time had passed, and she didn't care – this moment between them was all that mattered.
Unlike his buildup, Gylden's entry was rough. Bianca cried out with the slight sting that accompanied it, but that faded away into oblivion as they started moving, building a quick pace they both worked at, muscles clenched in their bodies, sweat-slick skin sliding smoothly across one another with their steady rhythm.
The coiled heat in her belly became a snake, slithering up and down her spine, racing first down one leg than the other, filling her with a deep contentment she had never known before. Gylden's eyes were on hers the whole time, her fingers dancing over the raised ridges of the scars under the black tattoos that marred his devil-red skin.
He kissed her again, hard, his rhythm faltering. It felt as if every muscle in his body coiled and sprang – she felt him jerk against her, his eyes rolling into the back of his head, his jaw hanging slack. Heat rose up in her face and she followed him, writhing against his body, crying out as wave after wave of pleasure drowned her.
Gylden kissed her shoulder, panting, as their ecstasy slowly faded away. Bianca would have gladly just laid there like that forever, but all too soon the T'shav moved off her and retrieved their clothing. He handed Bianca hers, then dressed quickly. Bianca was a little slower getting into hers. She knew why they had to dress again. Who knew when Taskus Draw would have the drones up and running again?
But she wished this moment would last longer.
"I don't like living like this," Gylden said suddenly.
"What?"
He turned towards her. "I don't like living like all I am good for is people's entertainment. It's been my normal for so long that I've gotten used to it, but I hate it. Even if I win my freedom in these games, I won't be free. My life belongs to the public and it always will. I have killed and killed for their entertainment, and I will either die for their entertainment or I will someday train others to kill and die for their entertainment. I have thought about escape, but I've seen what happens to people who try."
Bianca shivered as she moved closer, wanting to comfort him. "There has to be a way. I can't believe that it's legal to just go around stealing people and making them slaves! There are laws, aren't there?"
"Laws only apply to citizens. Humans are generally citizens, but if you didn't have your papers, then you're not a citizen. As for me, my parents and I lived outside of United Species territory. And I'm T'shav. Nobody cares what happens to my people."
Bianca's hands clenched, but before she could say another word, the door was flung open. Taskus Draw strode in, fury written all over his face. Drones buzzed around him like angry flies. He stopped in the doorway and sniffed the air. "So is this why you sabotaged our systems? To have sex and deny our viewers the sight?"
Bianca jumped to her feet, embarrassment flooding her face with heat. But there was anger, too. How dare he come in here and turn the beautiful thing that happened between her and Gylden into something to be ashamed of? A drone flew right into her face, bathing it with a red light. She swatted at it.
"We didn't turn off any systems," Gylden said, grabbing her arm. "We woke up and it was dark. But Bianca isn't used to being watched, so I thought it was prudent to take a moment to—"
"Isn't used to being watched? Is that what you think is a reasonable excuse?" He turned towards one of the drones buzzing at his ear. "This selfish woman wants to exclude you from not only her life but the life of Gylden, too."
"One moment to ourselves—"
"You both know the rules. You live for the public, and yet you deny them the pleasure of witnessing this major step in your relationship? You must be punished for this."
Bianca shrank against Gylden. She trembled. How could a moment so beautiful turn into such terror now?
"I think I have the perfect punishment as well." Taskus grinned. "Since you are so determined to keep yourself separate from the public, you will be locked together for three weeks in the dungeons. And when are released, you will enter the arena, just the two of you against half a dozen other gladiators. And if you can't fight together as well as you hide together… Well, you'll die."
Bianca cried out in protest, but Gylden's tight grip around her waist reminded her to be quiet. If she didn't, she might make it worse than it already was! She trembled in his arms. Three weeks in the dungeons, and then she would have to fight for her life. And if she failed? Gylden said he would die with her.
How were they going to survive this?