Galen’s sexy growl shivered through Sam.

She looked up, her breath catching. She could look at him all day, especially like this.

He had his back to the headboard of the big bed, his legs bent and cocked, as she knelt between his powerful thighs. His hands were tangled in her hair and his cock was in her mouth.

Sam sucked him deeper. Dios, she loved the feel of him, so hard but silky. And the salty, musky taste of him.

He was spread out for her, all muscled strength and those amazing tattoos. He growled again, his hips thrusting upward. Oh yeah, she loved this. As his fingers clenched in her hair, Sam felt potent and in control.

She could bring this powerful, controlled man to the edge. She sucked harder, bobbing up and down on him. Her own desire was strumming through her and she knew she was wetter than she’d ever been.

“Enough.” His powerful arms jerked her up and before she was ready, she was straddling him, her face inches from his.

His cock slammed inside her.

She moaned, her head dropping back.

“Eyes to me, Sam.”

She’d learned over their hours in his bed that he liked to watch her. He liked to watch what he did to her and watch her come apart.

As she met that icy gaze that was now so familiar to her, she saw the glittering heat in the cool blue.

He moved his head, his mouth brushing over her shoulder. She felt him kiss the mark he’d left on her neck. His mark. A claiming.

“I’ve never had anything that was just mine,” he said.

Her heart clenched. “Galen—”

“I was raised to serve, not to have.” His hands clamped on her hips, driving her up and down on his cock. “I’ve never had something that was just for me.”

“I’m right here, Galen.”

“Even my House…it was always for Raiden, then for the others who joined it.”

Sam felt a pull toward him that was so powerful. “I’m yours. Just for you.”

A loud sound tore from his chest. He reared up and his cock slid out of her. Before she could do more than gasp, he flipped her, and she found her belly pressed to the bed.

Behind her, she felt him grip her thigh and then he thrust back in.

Dios. The hot shock of it made her moan, and she turned to press her cheek to the sheets.

His hands moved to grip hers, his big body covering hers. He pulled her arms above her head, his fingers tangling with hers as he pounded her into the bed.

“You’re mine now.” His voice was deep and rough. “Not just House of Galen, mine.”

She thrust back against him. “Yes.”

He plunged deeper, until she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.

“You aren’t alone anymore, Sam. Never again.”

His breath was hot on her neck, his cock stretching her, and ripples spread through her body.

“I’ll be your shield, your protector, your champion. Wherever you need me, I’ll stand beside you, behind you, or kneel at your feet. Whatever you need.”

His words sent her higher and she cried out. She felt one hand slip down her back, sliding over her skin, worshiping her. She arched into his touch and his hand moved beneath her. A second later, he circled her clit and a cry tore from her.

Her orgasm hit, huge and frightening, stealing her breath away. Pleasure shuddered through her and she pushed back against him mindlessly.

A harsh sound came from Galen. He slammed into her one more time and pressed his face to her neck. As he came, he sank his teeth into that same sensitive spot where he’d already marked her.

The possessive gesture drove her up again and she cried out his name.

* * *

Galen landed on the bed, pulling Sam close to his side. He pressed his face against her neck.

He traced lazy circles on her skin. All that beautiful, golden skin that he couldn’t get enough of. He felt where he’d bitten her, a possessive mark he liked seeing on her.

What they’d done here in his bed…it had pulled him apart and put him back together.

“That was…” Her voice was husky and soft.

He looked down at her. She looked tired, satisfied, and a little smug.

“I don’t have words.” Her cheeks were flushed and there was a smile on her lips.

“I know,” he said.

She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his chest. “You’re just too damn sexy, Imperator Galen.”

His gut clenched. No one had ever called him sexy before. He was nothing compared to her. She was so beautiful, still so feminine, when he was hard and scarred. But she was looking at him like she wanted him inside her again.

“Next time I’m inside you,” he said. “And you’re clenching on me so hard as you come, you can call me imperator.”

She laughed, elbowing him. Then she reached up and touched his eye patch. “You ever take this off?”

He shook his head. “It’s not pretty. Just scars.”

Her hand drifted down to his chest, stroking the nasty scars there as well. Marks he’d never had medically fixed or removed.

“You got them escaping Aurelia,” she said quietly.

“Yes.” A ripple of tension moved through him. Old pain twisted up like a desert serpent ready to strike.

“Will you tell me?” she murmured.

“It’s an ugly story.” And it wasn’t one he’d shared with anybody. He and Raiden had discussed certain aspects of their history and their escape from their homeworld, but they were men, they didn’t linger over it.

Strangely, he found himself wanting to talk to Sam. Drak, why did he feel like she cracked him wide open?

“I did what I had to in order to save Raiden. Thraxian mercenaries had us cornered, and I was injured getting us free. I have no regrets about that.” Only that Raiden had already witnessed the slaying of his family, and Galen hadn’t been able to save them, or stop the destruction of their homeworld.

“Brave, heroic man,” Sam murmured.

“I was doing my job.”

“I don’t think Raiden was ever just a job to you.”

Galen pulled her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair.

“You did right by him, Galen.” She leaned up to kiss his eye patch, then moved to press her lips to the scars on his chest. “You are a hero.”

He sat up. “I’ve done a lot of things to ensure Raiden’s safety and build this House. Not all of them were heroic. A world like Carthago breeds survivors, not heroes.”

“The women have told me all about the work you do here, behind the scenes. Rescuing captives unsuited to the arena from the other houses.” She brushed her thumb across his lips. “You think I’m not going to respect you for doing what needs to be done? You think I don’t understand what it is to do what you have to do to live, even when it destroys little pieces of your soul?”

He slid his hand into her hair. “Sam—”

“I understand. And I think what you achieved here, what you forged from nothing, is amazing.”

He did the only thing he could and kissed her.

When she pulled back, she was breathless. She groaned. “I have to go. I promised to meet Harper, Rory, and the others.”

Galen nodded, but he was reluctant to let her loose. To lose their private time together. “And I have to meet with the imperators.”

Her face turned serious. “You’ll find me when you get back? Tell me how it went?”

He nodded again, tracing her healed neck once more.

She smiled. “I think I just proved beyond a doubt that I’m okay.”

“I’m not sure I’m entirely convinced.”

She climbed off the bed, seemingly unconcerned that she was naked. He greedily drank in all those glorious curves.

“Guess I’ll have to prove it to you again later.” She shot him a saucy wink as she headed for the bathroom.

Galen wanted to grab her and drag her back into his bed. His cock was already hardening just from looking at her. He’d lost track of how many times he’d already had her, but his body didn’t care. He wanted her like he’d never wanted anything before.

Sam Santos would never, ever suffer again. He made the vow to himself. He’d make sure of it.

As for keeping her… He looked at the tangled sheets of his bed. She’d just escaped hell. She needed space to decide what she wanted, and whether that included a man loaded with responsibilities and with a past of failure.

He wouldn’t push, and if she decided that she didn’t want him, he’d find a way to live with that.

After Sam left to meet her friends, Galen dressed and headed to his office. He had a meeting to prepare for.

What he hadn’t expected was to find his office crowded with his gladiators. He pulled up short in the doorway.

Raiden was standing at the window with Blaine and Saff, while Thorin leaned against the wall. Kace and Nero were standing by the door, and Lore was happily sitting in Galen’s chair like it was his office.

Lore spotted him first. “So.” The gladiator drawled the word, a huge grin on his face.

Galen should have expected this. He strode inside.

“How the mighty have fallen.” Raiden made no attempt to hide his smile.

“I’m just happy he finally got laid,” Thorin said. “It has been a long time.”

Galen scowled at all of them.

“How’s it feel?” Saff asked. “To fall under the spell of an Earth woman?”

“Out of my chair,” Galen growled at Lore.

The long-haired gladiator stood, waving to the chair with a flourish. Then his face turned serious. “We’re happy for you, G.”

Galen sat. “She is…” He had no idea how to describe Sam and what she made him feel.

Kace nodded. “We know. They worm their way under your skin, and leave you frustrated and dazzled at the same time.”

“And nothing has ever felt so right,” Nero finished.

Blaine pressed a hand to Galen’s desk. “Sam is one of the best people I know. She’s also my friend… You hurt her—” The man from Earth left the rest of his sentence unspoken, but Galen knew exactly what Blaine meant.

“Noted, gladiator.”

Thorin shook his head. “Never thought I’d see Galen fall for a woman. It looks pretty good on you, G.”

Galen fought back a smile. “If you’re all finished rubbing it in, I have a meeting to attend.”

Instantly, the atmosphere in his office changed.

Raiden walked forward. “Your meeting with the imperators.”

Galen nodded. “I need to bring them together.” Images of Sam’s blood spraying across the arena sand filled his head. “I need them to understand the threat the Thraxians and their implants pose. I need all their fighters to come together.”

“You don’t think they’ll agree, after what you have to tell them?” Blaine asked.

“The imperators have a long history of minding their own business.” Galen frowned. “I’m asking them to fight, to spill blood, and to end another House, once and for all.”

“There’s no telling what they’ll decide,” Raiden said.

Galen stood. “I’ll do what I can, and we have to hope we get enough allies together so we can end the Thraxians.”

“And stop them before it’s too late,” Blaine added.