Vek sat in his cell, staring at the floor. He’d been doing it for hours. He’d spent a sleepless night staring at the ceiling, so today he was planning to stare at the floor. He already knew every crack, mark, and joint.

As he’d lain on his bunk during the night, all he’d seen in his head were images of Mia’s body falling. Over and over.

Every time he’d drifted off, it had morphed into images of her twisted, lifeless body on the arena sand, her blood pumping out of her.

His teeth clicked together and his jaw clenched tight. He deserved to wallow in his guilt. He’d hurt the one person who he wanted to protect.

He heard voices outside his cell. A female’s voice. He cocked his head. It was Rory. He heard the rumble of the guards’ voices, and seconds later, footsteps.

There was silence, and then movement at the bars. The cell door clicked open.

He smelled her before he saw her, his body flaring to life. Mia.

Vek’s heart thumped in his chest. She looked as she always did—pretty face, slim body. She was wearing a simple slip of a dress in a shade of blue that matched her eyes, and left a lot of her slim legs bare. But she had her hands balled on her hips and a determined look etched on her face.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he growled.

“Come on,” she said. “You’re coming with me.”

He shook his head. “It’s safer if I’m locked up. Safer for everybody. Safer for you.”

She stomped over to him and Vek rose to his feet.

She poked him in the chest. “They drugged you. With some unknown poison. Regan’s trying to work out what, but you’re not superhuman, Vek.” She frowned. “Or superalien. Or whatever. If I’d been pumped full of that toxin, I would have reacted the same way. Would you have held it against me if I’d hurt you?”

He just stared at her. “Why aren’t you looking at me like I’m a monster?”

“Because you’re not.” She reached up, her hand stroking his beard-covered jaw. “From the first moment you saw me, all you’ve done is stand in front of me and been my shield. You’re a protector, Vek, not a monster.” She stroked his beard. “It’s time to stop hiding and pretending that you are one.”

Warmth flooded Vek’s chest. He recognized the sensation as hope. Something he hadn’t felt in such a long time. Something he’d thought had been stomped out of him in the fight rings. But this small woman gave it back to him.

“My mother works as a human-rights attorney. She helps people who’ve had their rights abused, or denied to them. The basic things all of us deserve. She told me that some of them punish themselves, believing they don’t deserve the simplest kindness. Sometimes, they do things to sabotage themselves.”

He watched her steadily, emotions churning inside him.

“Don’t sabotage yourself, Vek.” She held her hand out to him, palm up. “Come with me.”

He didn’t hesitate. He put his hand in hers, and she tugged him out of the cell.

He studied the empty corridor. “Where are the guards?”

“Rory helped me. She may have insinuated the baby was coming.”

Vek shook his head. These women of Earth could be devious when it suited them.

He followed Mia, as she led him up the steps and through the twists and turns of the House of Galen. They didn’t exit the House, but she led him into an area he’d never been to before, up more and more stairs that curved around and around.

Then they stepped out onto a rooftop.

It was sunny, and for a second he absorbed and savored the feel of the warmth on his skin. The wind caught his hair and he smelled the desert—hot and sandy. He looked around and saw this small space was a rooftop garden. There were lush plants everywhere. Some in rows, others in pots, and several larger trees and vines, all overgrown. His senses expanded and he instantly wanted to plunge into the dappled shadows.

Mia closed the door behind them.

“What is this place?” he asked.

“Madeline organized the kitchen staff to start this garden. They grow lots of fruit, vegetables, and herbs here. Madeline said something about saving money on fresh food. Isn’t it great? No one comes up here much. I thought you’d like it.”

Because she knew he’d spent most of his life locked deep underground, with no sunshine, no fresh air, no plants.

She led him through some vines, and he spotted a small, clear area set up with some large cushions and a small table.

On the table, he saw an electronic device, a bowl of water, a round mirror, and several metal implements, including a sharp blade.

“Sit.” She nudged him down on the pillows. Then she touched the device and music filled the air. It was the throaty sound of a woman singing. “This is an Earth singer called Adele.” Mia moved back to him, her hips shimmying a little to the beat.

Vek leaned back and listened, but his gaze was on Mia’s hips.

“Do you like it?”

He blinked. “What?”

“The music.” She started singing, adding her voice to the song.

He could see how much she loved the music. Her face lit up when she sang, her eyes glowed. “I like it when you sing.”

She smiled at him, then reached out and touched the long strands of his black hair. “This really needs a trim.”

She’d mentioned before that she wanted to cut his hair.

“I want to see the man underneath this, Vek. Let others see him, too. Let yourself see him.”

Was he really hiding behind his hair? Maybe. “I would do anything for you, Mia.”

She knelt on the cushion beside him. “I want you to do it for yourself.” A small smile. “Although I did have some whisker burn on my jaw this morning.”

Their kiss. In all the upheaval after the attack, he hadn’t let himself think of that perfect moment of pleasure.

“I marked your skin?” He reached out and stroked her smooth jaw, finding a small, faint patch of redness on it. Unacceptable. “Cut my hair, Mia.”

She rubbed her hands together. “You won’t regret it.” She twisted some fabric around his shoulders and then started wetting his hair. “I was a barber for a few months, once,” she said. “So, don’t worry. It was one of my many careers.”

She set to work cutting his hair. Snip. Snip. Snip.

“Why did you have so many careers? Couldn’t you find one you liked?” he asked.

“Partly. My family…they are all very smart and very driven. All overachievers. I always felt…inadequate.”

He moved his head slightly to try and look at her. “Mia, you’re very smart.”

She straightened his head again. “Thanks, babe.”

He frowned at her. “I’m full-grown, not a babe.”

She smiled. “It’s an endearment, Vek.”

He frowned. No one had ever called him by an endearment before. A swirl of warmth flickered through his chest. She kept cutting and snipping.

“My family loves me,” she continued, “and I love them all like crazy, but I guess I felt left out. I always sensed this quiet frustration from them, because I wasn’t achieving my potential.”

“You changed your work so much so you would never succeed and never fail.”

She paused. “Damn, I think you’re right. That’s pretty perceptive.”

“I think you are smart, Mia, but you have many other admirable qualities. Kindness, compassion, determination. And the way you sing…the emotion in it. It is extraordinary.”

A beautiful smile broke over her face. “You make me sound kinda special.”

“I did not see those qualities much before I met you. Nor did I ever hear music like yours.”

Her hands stroked through his shortened hair. “Thanks.” Her voice came out husky, then she cleared her throat. “Okay, time for the beard now.”

She stepped right in front of him, trimmed his beard a little, then grabbed a pot filled with a white substance. As she rubbed it between her hands, it started to foam.

“Regan assures me this is what passes for shaving cream on Carthago.” She rubbed it over his face, then started scraping at his beard with the blade.

But his attention was soon diverted, since her breasts were right at his eye level. He swallowed. They were small, but perfectly formed. Just like Mia.

Desire rose in him and he tried to clamp down on it. But she was so close, her sweet scent working into his senses, and something wild in him twisted. It wanted more.

It wasn’t like the rage, it was something else.

Finally, she put the blade down, and gently wiped his jaw with a small towel. “Finished.” Her voice was husky as she stepped back. She stared at his face for a long moment, and then she reached out and ran a hand over his freshly-shaven skin. He liked her touch and turned his face into her hand.

“Wow. I cannot believe what you were hiding under there.” She held the mirror up.

Vek stared at the unfamiliar face.

“You’re handsome, Vek. So damn handsome. Strong jaw, gorgeous lips, a little cleft in your chin.” She shot him a faint smile. “I’m going to have to fight to keep the women off you.”

As she moved to set the mirror down, he grabbed her wrist. “There is only one woman who stirs me.”

She looked up, their gazes locking. Then her eyes drifted down to his mouth. “Vek.” A husky murmur.

He pulled her closer. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing, but he decided to follow his instincts. And right now, they were screaming at him to touch her, claim her. That Mia was his.

He tugged her onto his lap and kissed her.

She moaned, cupping his now-bare cheeks. She rubbed her body against him and the warm center of her pressed against one of his thighs.

Her dress had ridden up. Giving into the urge, he ran a hand up one of her slim legs. “Mia.”

“Do you like touching me?”

He nodded. Her hand covered his, her nails raking up his arm. He shivered.

“Do you like when I touch you?”

He nodded again. “Yes.”

“You’re so hard, and your skin is so hot.” She drew circles on his bicep. “Enjoy the pleasure, Vek.” She sounded breathless. “Whatever you want, take it.”

Following the urge driving him, he spun and pressed her down on the pillows. He covered her, a primitive part of him loving having his big body caging hers. He moved down to press a kiss to one slim ankle. Then he started peppering kisses up her leg. So soft, so beautiful. He took his time, relishing every part of her. He stopped to toy with the smooth skin behind her knee, and she made a husky cry.

He looked up at her and she pushed up on her elbows, her face flushed. Then she reached for the slim straps on her shoulders and slipped them off. Her top slid down, pooling at her waist. Vek’s cock surged against his trousers, and his hungry gaze went to her bare breasts. Her nipples were pink.

“Touch them,” she murmured.

He reached out, his big hands closing over the small mounds. So soft and small in his huge hands. Her nipples pebbled, and he rubbed them with his thumbs. His cock was so hard and throbbing against his trousers.

“You can put your mouth on them,” she said. “Kiss them, suck on my nipples.”

Really? Excitement surged inside him, and he lowered his head, looking at one pink nipple. He lapped at it before sucking it into his mouth. She cried out, pushing up against his mouth. He gently squeezed her small breasts together, licking and sucking. He moved to the other one, loving the sounds she made, and the way she writhed against the cushions.

Her hands moved into his newly cut hair. There was still enough for her to hold onto tightly.

The smell of her arousal teased him. She was in need, and he wanted to satisfy her and bring her pleasure. It was his job to give Mia what she needed.

He reached down, pushing the skirt of her dress up.

“Yes,” she murmured.

He uncovered her slim thighs, and then stared at the small scrap of fabric between her legs. His cock was so hard it hurt. He brushed his fingers against her underclothes and she shifted restlessly.

Vek slid a finger beneath the fabric and then jerked, tearing it off her.

She cried out, watching him with a hungry gaze. She let her legs fall apart.

Vek made an inarticulate sound. He lifted one hand and stroked the pale curls between her legs. “Pretty.”

“More.” Her hips lifted toward him.

He took his time exploring the soft, pink folds. He found one spot, where she was wet. The scent was tormenting him.

“Right there.” Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. “Slide your finger inside me, Vek.”

Drak. Vek felt his legs go weak at the thought. Gently, he sank a finger inside her.

“Yes, Vek.”

She was so warm, so tight.

“Harder.”

He slid his finger out and back in, giving her what she wanted. He couldn’t take his gaze off her. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He stroked her with his other hand, his fingers brushing over a small nub nestled at the top of her folds.

“Oh!” She arched up. “Right there.”

“Here?” He rubbed it again.

“Yes!” She was panting. “That’s my clit. It gives me pleasure.”

He rubbed it again, in slippery little circles. She was writhing against his hand now.

“Mia, can I…?” He wasn’t exactly sure what he was asking.

“Taste me, Vek.” Her eyes glittered. “Put your mouth on me.”

Yes. That was exactly what he wanted. He lowered his head and growled. Then he licked her, from the top, all the way to the bottom, and back again. The wild, mewling sounds she made drove him on. He slid his hands under her curvy buttocks and lifted her up to his mouth.

Mia threw her head back, her body twitching as he lapped at her. He was so hungry.

“My…clit.” Her voice was breathless. “Suck it.”

He obeyed, sucking the small nub into his mouth.

Her entire body stiffened and she screamed his name. Vek watched the pleasure suffuse her face, her mouth falling open as she rode out her release.

He smiled. This was even better than winning a fight.

She flopped back on the pillows, her skin flushed. Vek held her, stroking a hand over the smooth skin of her belly. “Mia.”

* * *

“You sound happy with yourself.” Mia smiled, enjoying the languid feeling filling her. “That was so good, Vek. Thank you.”

He stroked his hand lower, moving gently between her thighs. He fingered her again, his gaze laser focused. “You’re swollen.”

“From my arousal and my orgasm.”

He slid his finger inside her again, and she bit her lip.

“That’s…” she cleared her throat. “That’s where you’d slide your cock inside me, if we make love.”

His head jerked up. “My…it would not fit here.”

She smiled. “I promise you it will. When we’re both ready.”

Vek frowned. “I saw guards…brutalize women and some men.”

She sat up, slipping the straps up on her dress. “What they did wasn’t sex, Vek. That was about power and pain. This, what’s between us, this is something else.” She reached out and touched his mouth. “God, you have the sexiest lips. They were hidden before, but now I can see them perfectly.” She rubbed her thumb over his bottom lip.

He licked the pad of her thumb. “I can still taste you.”

She blushed, and reached down to push her dress down. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

“Thank you, for letting me touch you.”

“I should be thanking you.”

“Now that I’ve tasted you, I’ll crave more. Crave you.”

Mia shivered. “I’m okay with that.” Her gaze dropped to the bulge straining the front of his trousers. “And now I’m going to touch you.”

His body shuddered. “I wanted to pleasure you. I don’t expect—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “Shh. I want to. Do you know how many times I’ve imagined touching you like this?”

Air was sawing in and out of his lungs as she opened the fastening on his trousers. She lowered the cloth down and his large cock sprang free from a patch of black hair.

Oh, he was so big and thick. She licked her lips. It was as powerful as the rest of him.

Mia took his cock in her hand and Vek groaned. It pulsed in her palm, and she curled her fingers around it, sliding up and down.

Another desperate groan ripped from him and desire fired inside Mia again. Pre-come leaked from the head of his cock, sticky on her fingers. Oh boy, she wanted to take him in her mouth and taste him.

“I want to taste you, Vek.” She slid between his thighs, leaning over him. She pressed a kiss to one rock-hard thigh, and his body quivered.

“You do?”

“Yes.” She licked the bulbous head of his cock, and his hips jerked up. His body was strung tight beneath her.

“Why?” The word shuddered out of him.

“Because I want you. And you want me. And it’s time we both get something we want.”

She lowered her head, the musky smell of him making her mouth water. She gave him a long, slow lick before pulling him in between her lips.

Mia licked and sucked as much of him into her mouth as she could. He made a strangled sound in his throat. She worked him with her mouth and tongue, loving the salty taste of him. Soon, he was groaning, loudly and desperately, his hips bucking up. He kept his hands planted in the cushions.

She reached for one large hand, and brought it to her head. His fingers tangled in the strands of her hair.

“Mia…I’m not going to last much longer.”

The deep growl of his voice shivered through her. She sucked harder, taking him deeper.

A last, large groan ripped out of him. “I’m going to…” He tried to pull back.

Mia held fast, and then she felt his body shaking. He growled her name as he came, pumping his release down her throat. She swallowed it, and when he collapsed back on the cushions, she shifted, lapping at his softening cock.

When she looked up his gorgeous body, his marks were the darkest black she’d ever seen. His dazed, satisfied gaze was on her. Looking at her like she was the most amazing, most desirable woman in the galaxy.

She moved upward, pressing kisses to his skin. She touched his full lips, dragging her thumb across them, then stroked his smooth jaw. “You are incredible.”

“Mia—”

A banging on the garden door broke the moment, and made Mia start.

Dammit. She wasn’t ready for their time to be over. Vek tensed and leaped to his feet. Mia rose and pressed a hand to his arm. “We’re in the House of Galen, remember. It’s okay.” She straightened her dress and motioned for him to get dressed.

She hurried over to the door, smoothing her hair. When she opened the door, Galen and Raiden stood on the other side. God, she hoped it wasn’t obvious what she and Vek had been doing.

“Found you,” Galen said.

“I’m sorry, Galen. I needed to get Vek out of his cell. I had to make him see that what happened wasn’t his fault. He doesn’t need to be caged—”

“I’m not concerned with that, Mia.”

“You aren’t?”

Galen lifted his gaze, and when he spotted Vek, his single eye widened slightly. “You look—”

“Like a man,” Mia said.

Vek self-consciously stroked his jaw. “Mia asked to cut my hair and shave my beard.”

“Suits you,” Raiden said. The gladiator raised a brow. “I’d guess a few things suit you.”

Mia felt heat in her cheeks. Right. Clearly, it was completely obvious.

“Vek,” Galen said abruptly, obviously moving on. “I want to take you back to the arena to see if you can track the attackers. Nero did what he could, but he lost them in the busy hub in the lower levels. There were too many scents.” Galen’s face darkened. “I lost two good men and I want the sand-suckers responsible found.”

“And Vek’s senses are unparalleled.” Mia looked up at him.

“I’ll help.” Vek straightened. “Whoever attacked me, hurt Mia. I want them to pay.”

“Good,” Galen said. “Let’s go hunting.”