6. Taurex
TAUREX
A connection had most definitely formed between them–Taurex could tell by the way he was able to catch flashes of her life when he touched her bare skin.
She didn’t do this by choice, he suddenly understood. This line of work was not what she wanted. She did it only because her younglings and elderly parent would starve if she wasn’t able to pay her bills and buy them food.
Also, her orgasm had been real. He saw in her mind that she had faked a thousand orgasms in this very room with other clients, but none had affected her the way he had. She felt the connection too–felt it on a visceral level even if she didn’t yet realize it cognitively.
The realization made him want her even more.
He hadn’t thought it was possible to form this kind of connection with a woman outside his own species.
And since there were no more female Monstrum, except for the ancient priestesses who inhabited the Sacred Grove on the Monstrum Mother Ship, he had never expected to feel this level of oneness with a woman.
But the curvy little human had proved him wrong in the best possible way.
Without thinking, he spoke what he was getting from her aloud, as his people always did when they felt that special mental connection.
“You do not wish to do this job,” he said to her. “But you have to in order to survive.”
“Huh?” Terra looked at him, confused, her eyes still clouded with pleasure.
“You only do this to take care of your parent and your younglings,” he went on.
Terra frowned, a look of confusion crossing her lovely face.
“How do you know that? I never told you any of that!”
“I just…know.” Taurex reached for an explanation. “Don’t your people know things about each other when they form a connection?” he asked. He wasn’t sure what happened with humans when they connected, but it seemed reasonable to assume since Terra had been able to connect with him.
She frowned and shook her head.
“What kind of connection are you talking about? And how did you know about my kids? Have you been spying on me?”
“What? No!” He shook his head emphatically. “I just…saw them when I touched you.”
“You what? Are you saying you can read my mind?”
Too late, Taurex realized he’d made a mistake–a big one.
“No, not exactly,” he said quickly. “I just…got flashes of information when I touched your skin. It’s the way of my people, when we form a connection.”
He almost said, “when they form a connection with the one who is their fated mate” but he held back because Terra didn’t look like she would welcome such information. She was already upset–she didn’t need to know that he was pretty certain she was supposed to be his.
“So you can see into my mind when you touch me?” She shoved herself off his lap and stood there, looking at him with fear in her lovely eyes.
“Only because you’re special,” Taurex said quickly. “You’re…” But again, he stopped short, unsure how to explain that she was meant for him without making the situation worse. “Special,” he said again, lamely.
“Look, I don’t want you or anyone else in my head,” she said tightly. Bending, she picked up her clothing and began putting it back on, covering both her luscious breasts and her soft little pussy.
Taurex saw that he had offended and frightened her and anything he said from now on out would only make the situation worse. He waited until she was dressed and then rose slowly from the chair, so as not to frighten her further.
“Forgive me,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to startle or offend you. But please know, you don’t have to do this for a living if you don’t wish to.”
Terra frowned and put a hand on her curvy hip.
“And how else do you suggest I make a living? In case you haven’t noticed, the economy sucks right now. Stripping might not be the best line of work, but it puts food on my table and clothes on my kids’ backs. Oh, but you already know about that, don’t you? Since you looked into my freaking mind!”
“Please, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Taurex put out both hands, palm up, in a gesture of peace.
But it was too late. Terra narrowed her eyes at him.
“I bet you made me get turned on too, didn’t you? Did you do some kind of alien mind trick on me? I’ve heard all kinds of weird stuff about you Monstrum, but I didn’t know you could control a woman sexually!”
Taurex thought of telling her that the reason she’d gotten sexually aroused was probably because he was her fated mate and his pheromones had excited her body in ways no other male could. But he was certain that wouldn’t go over well with the already-angry human.
“I wasn’t controlling you in any way,” he said quietly. “But I can tell our time together is now at an end.”
“You’re Goddamn right it’s at an end!” Terra exclaimed. She pointed one shaking finger to the pink, spangly curtain that divided their private area from the rest of the VIP lounge. “Go on–get out.”
Putting his hand in his pocket, Taurex pulled out a thick wad of the paper bills humans used as money.
His client had told him to bring plenty of the human cash for tips, and he had done as instructed.
He placed the wad on the seat of the chair he’d been sitting on and, after a bit of thought, added one of his business cards.
“You don’t have to do this for a living,” he repeated. “I would be happy to give you a job that would pay twice as much.”
“Oh, so you want me to be your private dancer? Is that it?” she demanded.
Taurex shook his head.
“No. You would keep your clothing on, and you would not be required to stimulate me sexually.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what kind of job he could offer her, but he would make up a position if he had to.
Anything to bring her closer to him. She was his fated mate–he was almost certain of it.
But as things stood, she was angry and frightened of him.
Part of him wanted to pick her up and carry her away so he could keep her safe and protect her from having to do these kinds of sexual shows for other males. But he knew that would turn out badly.
Terra still had her arms crossed over her ample breasts and she looked like she didn’t know what to think of him at this point.
Taurex simply nodded his head at her.
“Think about it,” he murmured. “I’m leaving now.”
Then, though it was the hardest thing he’d ever done, he left the curvy little woman who he was certain was his fated mate standing alone.