Chapter 32

Sylvie woke with a start, sitting up from the cushion and looking over to see the regent sleeping soundly beside her. Thank God he's still alive. For now.

He stirred, a smile touching his mouth as he opened his eyes and let out a soft sigh. She couldn’t help but reach over and brush her hand down his strong chest.

"I can't believe we fell asleep. We don't have time to waste. We don’t even know the clock we’re racing against." Fear percolated deep in her belly as she moved toward him. Lust would arrive soon, but the fact that they had passed out left her forcing panic down.

"Hush and come back here." X slid his hand up her back and pulled gently on her shoulder.

"But you could have... I can't believe I fell asleep. What were we thinking?”

"You were tired, dear. If you want to mate now, I’d love to hear you scream.” His sweetness turned into something wickedly nefarious, which was almost out of character.

Odd.

"Here? Where anyone can walk in?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I've set a lock on the lab. There’s nothing to worry about."

"You won't even take off your cloak, you're so afraid someone will see that you've gone into the frenzy. You know that these labs are observed. Don't you think we need privacy?" She pushed at him as he tugged her closer with more force. “X. I’m not comfortable with this.”

"Come here and stop bitching." He pulled again and she fell against him with a gasp. The regent wrapped his arms around her and squeezed until she had trouble getting a full breath.

"Easy! Jeez. What’s the matter with you?"

He ignored her and pressed his lips to her, moving his head back like a two-year-old giving a sloppy kiss. She jerked back and growled as he pushed against her head, his mouth clamping over her as his tongue forced its way into her mouth. He wiggled it back and forth, his action sickening her.

Sylvie pulled back again, using her nails to dig into his chest. He clamped down harder and she bit his tongue before moving back.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" She moved quickly, backing up and putting some distance between them.

"I want you," he said, climbing to his feet. “I want you and I’ll have you. Get over here.”

"Obviously. I’m not sure if this is the frenzy jacking with your system, but we’re not doing this here. Period. Your underlings could be watching us."

She moved to the console and swiped her hand across it, pulling up his bedroom to show him how much better it would be in there. Quiet and private – perfect. He took up position behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders and squeezing them until she let out a yelp and turned.

"Knock it off." Annoyance stung her and she swatted at him. Mating because she was attracted to him and cared about him was good and well, but he was acting like a complete idiot.

The regent grabbed her hips and forced her to press against him, a growl leaving his lips as his eyes glossed over. "No more delaying. It's time to mate."

"What's gotten into you?"

"The mating frenzy," he replied, matter-of-factly.

"I don't understand. Before we fell asleep, you said it wasn't worth the effort. Then you were so tender, and we talked about... about possibly creating a child... and now you're trying the full court press."

"Full court press?"

"Yeah, the hard sell." Something wasn't right here.

"Enough of your Earthling colloquialisms. Attend me, female."

Sylvie's jaw dropped. "Attend you? You've got to be kidding me."

"It's well known that Earthling females prefer aggressive males as sexual partners. Submit to me, female. Go over there and bend over and I’ll give you what you need, dirty bitch."

Sylvie rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation. He was out of his head and she wasn’t putting up with his shit anymore. He could reset his attitude and then she would consider getting back in bed with him. Maybe.

X undid her top and pulled it off, baring her breasts as he licked at his lips.

She crossed her hands over her chest and yelled at him, but he ignored her and concentrated on getting her pants down. She slapped at his hands, but he made quick work of her pants, not seeming to care that she was upset and highly pissed. Standing there half naked left her vulnerable to anyone that passed by, but also to him and he wasn’t acting right.

"Stop it, you son of a bitch," she said, her fear on the rise. "What's gotten into you?"

Her regent would never be so forceful. He may be aggressive. He may be possessive. But he's not a rapist.

He was tugging at her panties when she slugged him in the face.

The regent smiled and wagged his eyebrows. "Is this what your kind considers foreplay?"

Sylvie aimed carefully and with all her might she kicked him in the crotch, half expecting him to drop in pain. He didn’t. Her efforts had zero effect.

This isn't X. The thought rose up suddenly, but she realized right away that it was true. There was no way the regent she’d started to fall in love with would treat her with such distaste. She jerked away and moved back to the console as fear rose up from her stomach.

“Help?” she whispered and started to press buttons.