Chapter 14
Cassia
One week later
“Our wayward little human,” David chuckled as he approached, looming over me as if I’d been a bad girl.
Perhaps I had.
He was covered in fur pelts, looking very much like the Viking brother to Erik.
I hated to admit it, but I found my three masters sexiest in fur.
Another snowstorm had blanketed the region, covering the city with over a foot of snow and ice.
I wasn’t complaining. Since David and Erik’s release from the medical facility four days before, we’d spent nights by a roaring fire, drinking what Galerians called wintoc.
There had also been several rounds of discipline, leaving my bottom aching the majority of the time.
We were happy.
We were content.
And I was head over heels in love with them.
I twisted my head, pouting for effect. David was usually less dominating than the others, although he had a certain penchant for using the cane when I misbehaved. “I was simply making the rounds.”
“I didn’t know Steen had hired a new doctor.” He lifted his eyebrow, swatting me once on the bottom.
“Very funny. Just a few more tests. I have to make certain everything is as it should be.”
“You’re still worried.”
“Still. I have a very bad feeling.” I hated saying the words, but I hadn’t been able to stop thinking them.
I scanned the computer, the various graphs and blips that I’d studied at least one thousand times.
They weren’t telling me anything different.
The hybrids were stable, their white and red blood counts within the normal range.
But there was an interesting DNA strain that neither Rowena nor I had been able to identify and one we were terrified to explore.
“You’re shaking,” he half snarled.
“Now, you’re worrying.”
He moved until I was forced to look into his eyes.
“I came to this place of my own free will, eager and willing to work hard for the chance at a better life. I didn’t bully anyone with questions or fight the pay I was to receive.
I didn’t even ask about accommodations. I wanted to get off Earth.
I have my reasons, including some difficulties with law enforcement and the government, but that’s like everyone else.
I think I believed, and I still do, that humans can survive, even thrive as we once used to.
Call it childish thoughts or idealistic, but what I’ve been forced to endure should have soured my hope.
It hasn’t. This might not be exactly what we would call the perfect home, but home is where your heart is, and you have mine. ”
I was thrown by his beautiful soliloquy, words that seemed to flow from his heart so easily. Tears formed in my eyes and I snapped off the comp center, wanting nothing more than to be with the men I adored. “I’ll stop worrying.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “No, you won’t.
You’re one stubborn woman and I know you’ve had nightmares, but everyone is fine, including yours truly.
” He yanked me into his arms, capturing my mouth.
The kiss was no longer the gentle taste of passion I’d once experienced from him.
He was as ravenous as the others, his intense desire peaking at any time of day or night.
The transformation seemed complete in all the hybrids and the end effect was…
Magnificent.
My pussy clenched just thinking about him.
And Brexin.
And Erik.
They were three of the most gorgeous creatures I’d ever seen and the best looking in the city.
And they were mine. I wiggled in his hold, sliding my tummy across his fur- and cloth-covered cock.
The man was so hard, I was surprised he wasn’t yelping from pain.
Our tongues entwined, dancing back and forth as he growled into the kiss, the sound sending electricity down both legs.
He had a way about him that was entirely different than the others, more sensual and adventurous.
He yanked me off my feet, cradling me against his massive chest as he took long strides out of the clinic, covering me with a portion of his pelt. Snow was lightly falling, caressing our faces. Twilight was settling in and from what I’d been told, another storm was approaching.
And the savage kiss continued.
I was lightheaded, my nipples aching and while I had no idea where he was taking me, I quite frankly didn’t care. He was healthy, disease free, and more energetic than ever. He sucked on my tongue, making crazy animalistic noises, pretending to be the beast I’d feared he would turn into.
Maybe we were lucky.
Or maybe the disease was simply dormant.
Rowena had remained steadfast, working night and day alongside myself and a staff of Galerian doctors until we’d inoculated and stabilized every hybrid. What we found difficult to swallow was that without the experiments and DNA splicing, the cure would never have been found.
Maybe karma had reared her beautiful head after all.
Teams of soldiers had combed the forests and mountains for any sign of human arrival, especially either Dr. Forrester or his minions. Fourteen survivors from the Facility 22 had been rounded up and for now, they were considered prisoners of Galerius. Time would tell as to their fate.
The lies and deceit had taken a toll on all of us, but I, for one, was one happy girl.
David broke the kiss, rubbing his nose against mine. “Time to make a set of rules.”
“Does that mean you’re keeping me?” I teased as he struggled to open the door to our new home.
We’d been given a gift of a house by Steen, a payment or reward for saving their species.
I still felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, as if another black cloud would soon surface, destroying our happiness.
“I could ask you the same question,” he growled, blowing a very hot breath across my face.
“If you’d learn how to cook and clean, maybe.”
He threw his head back, laughing as he headed into the main room, easing me onto my feet. “I think someone needs a round of discipline.”
“Uh, no, thank you.” I backed away, darting back and forth from furniture to furniture. I adored his playful ways, his ability to laugh at everything.
“Yes, I know so.”
His long legs outmaneuvered me and within seconds, he had me in his clutches, bending me over and immediately swatting my ass with his bare hand.
Even though my bottom was covered in thick material, I could still feel the burn sliding up down my legs.
But as always, the sensations left me wet and hot, hungry for more than just his firm hand.
“You’re mouthy. Far too opinionated. You need to learn manners.” David dropped into a sitting position, rattling off several offenses as he pulled me over his lap. He continued the spanking, finally stopping long enough to yank down my pants and panties.
“Ouch!” I kicked out, struggling hard enough he threw his leg over mine, holding me in place.
“You ask for this. You do know that, don’t you?” His voice was gravelly, full of the kind of sensual husk that made me weak in my knees.
“But I’m a good girl.”
Snorting, he continued, concentrating his efforts, one smack coming after the other. He had the most intense stamina, able to go for twenty minutes. I whimpered, the heat increasing along with the pain level, but he refused to stop.
I eventually stopped fighting him, dropping my hands to the floor. My heart never stopped racing or my nipples aching. Erik had mentioned tonight was special and while I had no idea what was in store for me, I was ripe with excitement.
“Now, if I let you up, you’re going to promise to be obedient and follow our orders tonight. Correct?”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
As he eased me onto my feet, this was the first time I noticed a sad look in his eyes. “You are so very special to us. I hope you know that.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, my lovely one. I’ve never had a real family. What we share means everything to me and if anyone were to try and take it away, well, I would kill them.”
The words were just as haunting as when Erik had said them, but completely unexpected coming from David. He was the gentle soul, the quiet worker who’d been forced into enduring unspeakable acts.
The extra DNA strand. I knew…
* * *
Erik
“I wonder what’s taking our little human so long?” Brexin asked, tipping his glass as he nodded toward the closed bedroom door.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think she needs a lesson in who her masters are.”
“She already had one harsh lesson,” David said quietly. As we looked in his direction, he shrugged his shoulders. “Well, she needed discipline.”
Bursting into laughter, I raised my glass to the others.
We’d bonded in a short period of time. Not because of the horrors we’d shared and certainly not because one day we would face a battle together.
We bonded because of one incredible, disobedient, and insanely gorgeous human.
I caught myself and the thoughts. I no longer considered myself human, but I wasn’t Galerian either.
I flexed the fingers on my other hand, turning it back and forth.
I had no idea what I was, but I hoped that at some point that would no longer matter.
I certainly knew who I was.
Alpha.
Master.
Owner.
The thought was astounding.
I positioned the two boxes on the table, spinning the smaller one several times while Brexin and David looked on, more amused than anything.
“I will never understand this custom,” Brexin finally said, leaning forward and swirling the drink in his hand.
“Because you’re not human,” David chided, winking at me from the other side of the table.
“This is our way of acknowledging our commitment.” I offered the words, a slight stab in my heart a reminder of what I’d lost, certain to never experience again. The visions had finally become clear, reliving the agony paralyzing. I prayed time would heal the significant wound.
“That’s what the mating was for,” Brexin insisted.
David groaned his response. “And the second box?”