Chapter Five

 

 

After her meal, she went exploring. Her wardrobe was next to Aarak’s, and the bed was huge and self-explanatory. The bathroom was larger than the average one had been on the station, but then, the occupant of these quarters was not petite.

She was flicking through the entertainment options when Aarak paused, flexed his fingers, and turned off the display. “Apologies. Karus started a weather system on one of my worlds, and I needed to take steps to fade it out before lives were lost.”

“He did what?”

Aarak walked toward her, and he caressed her cheek. “He was trying to distract me so that I would not notice that he had stolen you. My brother urgently needs a companion, but he cannot have mine.”

His kiss was soft, warm, and remarkably chaste considering what it was doing to her body. Her pulse quickened, her vaginal muscles tightened reflexively, and she felt a flush cross her skin.

Fiona put her hand on his wrist, feeling the slow, steady pulse that was no indication of the effect he was having on her. He appeared completely unmoved.

The only points of contact were his fingertips on her cheek, and his lips, but she felt that she was at the mercy of escalating foreplay.

“Hop onto your desk, please, and raise your skirt.”

She blinked in the haze of heat and did as he said. The first time with a lover was always awkward, so it was best to get it over with. She told herself that it was what was motivating her as she settled herself with her skirt raised.

Aarak moved toward her, and to her shock, he knelt in front of her. Her desk placed her at the precise height for him to lean forward and examine her private area in detail.

He didn’t ask but gently raised his fingers to her, sliding two digits through her folds and pressing against her opening. His fingers dipped into her, and she inhaled sharply. He slowly moved his digits, testing her stretch. When he removed his hand from her and resumed his light stroking, his lazy exploration found her clit.

Fiona yelped when the zing of pleasure bolted through her. Aarak didn’t smirk; he continued his investigation with thorough intensity.

Fiona felt her thighs clench, and he moved between them, holding her splayed wide while placing his lips against her opening. She fell back and braced herself on her hands as the silvery-white head licked and sucked at her while his finger taunted her clit until she let out a choked shriek as her opening clenched on his tongue. He switched the position of his fingers and mouth, flicking her clit while two fingers drove into her.

The hot burst of her orgasm continued on and on. She dropped to the back of the desk and twisted helplessly as the pleasure threatened to become pain. Fiona gasped and whimpered softly.

Aarak leaned back and slowly drew his fingers from her. “Your taste is astonishing. This explains Mero’s fascination with his companion.”

It was a fight to sit up from the prone position she was in, but when she was sitting, she watched as Aarak licked the last bit of her honey from his fingers. The sight sent another tremor through her, and she cursed herself for being so easy.

He glanced up at her and smiled. “Don’t worry about your reactions. I have many years of practice behind me, and as pleasure is my primary food source, it has behooved me to make sure that I am an excellent hunter.”

He stood up and gently caressed her cheek once again. “We will get used to each other. I will learn you, and you will learn me. It is a fair trade.”

She licked her lips. “It seems fair, but is it fair?”

He chuckled. “That will be for you to decide.”

“And if I decide no, then I am still stuck.”

He kissed her lightly, and she could taste herself on his lips. “You decided to pursue life versus death and a constrained freedom over slavery. You can’t have everything, but I promise you will have experiences that you never imagined.”

He left her wet and rumpled on her desk, and she blinked slowly. She closed her thighs and went to the wardrobe on wobbly legs, grabbing a change of clothing before she went to the bathing room.

The sonic shower took care of the sweat and left her hair staticky. She found a brush set and got dressed in a simple button-front gown that had a fitted bodice but flowed around her feet. It was a rich green and black sundress.

She had forgotten to get slippers, so she wadded the auction dress up and looked around for the refreshing unit.

Unable to find what she was looking for, she came out of the bathing room to get some slippers that would match the dress.

“Did you get rid of the feel of my touch on you?” Aarak’s voice was wry.

“No, I just got rid of the sweat and stickiness. And the fear sweat residue from the auction, and the panic from watching the guards come to my rescue. It isn’t all about you, my lord.”

She bobbed a curtsy and smiled as she met his gaze.

He laughed. “The dress looks good on you, but you appear to be looking for something.”

“I was looking for the refresher unit, so I could put the bond auction dress in it.”

“Take it back to the lav and drop it on the floor. There are bots that take care of it.”

“Really?”

“Yes, they also change the sheets, make the beds, and repair damaged articles.”

She looked around and didn’t see anything. “Where are they?”

“They have cubicles in the walls and emerge when there is no one in the room or on a schedule.” He gave the shrug of someone who was used to the marvels of technology that he had access to.

She returned to the lav and dropped the gown on the floor. She backed away as far as she could and watched, but no bot emerged.

“They are not going to come out while you watch.”

She wrinkled her nose and backed out of the small space. When the door closed, she counted to three and stepped toward it. The dress was gone.

“What the hell?” Fiona looked back at her patron with shock on her face.

“They are quick. They are designed not to get in the way.” He gave her a sober glance from his silver eyes. “Now, come and start studying. We will be at our home before you know it. You might want to know what fruits and vegetables not to eat.”

She sighed and headed to her desk, blushing as she looked at the surface that she had so recently been pleasured on. Aarak handed her a tablet with data on it, written in Heniahk. It occurred to her that they had been conversing in in that language since she met him, and she had been so struck by his appearance, it had slipped her mind.

The tablet showed her the planets that Aarak was responsible for, as well as their satellites, moons, and the uninhabitable planets in their systems. She gave him a dark look as she got to work. There was surely going to be a test later.

 

She yawned and rubbed her eyes. Her eyes burned, and her brain was numb after being bombarded with facts.

“If you are tired, go and rest. The only true rule is that there is to be no clothing in the bed. I require contact with you when you sleep, so please, honour this.”

She blinked and looked at him. He wasn’t leering; he was serious. She got to her feet and stumbled over to the bed, undoing each little button on the way. When she was down to the skin, she folded her dress and set it on a bedside table before she pulled the sheets back and crawled inside.

She hadn’t slept the night before the bond auction, and her nerves were raw. Sleep came shockingly quickly.

 

Aarak’s silver eyes were facing her when she woke. He was crouched next to the bed, and his hand was stroking her shoulder.

“It is time for dinner. The captain has invited us to join him. Please dress.”

Fiona bolted upright and reached for the dress she had folded on the bedside table. It was gone.

“I will place your clothing at the foot of the bed so that you may be properly dressed for my daily plans.”

She nodded and ran her fingers through her hair. “Right. Of course, patron.”

She looked at the dress at the end of the bed and raised her brows in surprise. It was similar to the one she had been wearing, but there were sleeves on the new one and a slightly thinner fabric. It would still be opaque but only just.

She flipped the sheets back and got up, stark naked and inches from Aarak. He smiled slightly and tilted his head.

“We shall repeat this moment after dinner.”

She blushed but gathered her clothing and pulled it on. Slippers were on the floor next to her, and she stepped into them while she did up the two dozen fasteners. She was near her midsection when dark green hands pushed hers away, and she looked into Aarak’s eyes as he slowly fastened her dress with his knuckles pressing against the inside of her breasts.

He smiled slowly. “You are very soft. I look forward to examining you at my leisure.”

Her blush was going to be a permanent fixture, but at least the mottled green and black dress covered most of her skin.

“I will just fix my hair, and I will be ready.”

“I am waiting.” He flexed his wings, and for the first time, she realized that they were not ornamental.

Thinking about what it meant, she went into the lav and brushed out the marks of her nap, flipping the waves of hair over her shoulders. She stared at herself and lifted her left hand to tuck a few stray strands behind her ear, and she noticed the bracelet with the silver stone dangling from it at that moment.

When she emerged and went to Aarak, she held up her wrist. “What is this?”

“A bracelet to assist with locating you, and the charm will broadcast to your guard and me if you experience rage or panic.”

She stared at him. “Why?”

He smiled and threaded a hand through her hair. “I find you attractive and utterly charming, but do not question me. You will do as I say without question, knowing that nothing I do will harm you, and keeping you sound is my fondest desire. Well, nearly my fondest.” He smiled slightly, tugged her hair and then turned her with an arm around her waist.

She was reminded suddenly that this wasn’t someone she could argue with, and he had a point. She didn’t know anything about him, his people, or their traditions. Stepping out of bounds could be fatal if she didn’t remember that he was her lifeline.

He walked her to the door and dropped his arm from around her waist. His wing extended out behind her, curving around her in a protective manner that managed to herd her in the direction he wanted without a word.

She kept her hands folded in front of her and walked with her head high. If this was her place in the universe, so be it. There was a number on her freedom, and she was going to find out what it was. She was more than a toy, and she would be in charge of her life again.