Tamed (Exchanged Power #6)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

V erbet Foenar stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows in his apartment, hands clenched into fists at his sides. His living quarters took up the entire top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Hanoto, so the view was spectacular. Office towers and stacked domiciles were connected by walkways and tram tubes, creating an elegant clutter that hummed with life and energy. Hanoto was the most populous city on Torret. It was also the Imperial Capitol, a fact that had once filled Verbet with pride.

His forefathers had settled this planet, proving to all the naysayers that Torret could be tamed. They created an underwater empire the likes of which no one had ever seen before. People from all over the galaxy traveled to Torret just to experience the accomplishments of Verbet’s family.

Verbet was the eldest son of Emperor Novar, and for the first three years of his life, he had been heir to the throne. Then his younger half-brother Jevara was born, and Verbet had been pushed aside. The reason was simple; Jevara had been born of the empress, while Verbet had been born of Novar’s favorite mistress. Despite the fact that Novar had acknowledged Verbet at birth and never denied being his father, most still considered Verbet a bastard.

Both of Verbet’s parents were dead now, and his feckless brother was emperor. Jevara had been taught from the cradle that he was ordained by the creator spirits to rule this world. He was special and every person living on this planet existed to serve him. Jevara soaked up the lessons like a sponge, becoming an egomaniacal tyrant that had driven this world to the brink of civil war.

It was hard to reconcile the adult Jevara was now with the boy he had once been. The brothers grew up together. They were supervised by the same staff members and taught by the same tutors. Verbet had always felt protective of his little brother, and it had created a closeness that lasted until Jevara took power. Then Crown Prince Jevara became Emperor Jevara and everything changed.

Warm hands slid along Verbet’s sides. Then slender arms wrapped around his waist.

“Come back to bed,” Domar coaxed as she pressed her soft body against his back. “I can think of much better things to do than brooding about your brother.”

One of her hands slid downward as she spoke, but Verbet caught her wrist and moved it back to his middle. “You’re right in one regard. I need to stop brooding. I need to decide on a plan and act.”

Domar released a heavy sigh then walked to a nearby chair and grabbed her dressing gown. Her dark hair was tousled, lips still swollen from his aggressive kisses. After slipping into the simple garment, she returned to Verbet. “What are your options?”

Unlike the other females Verbet fucked, and there were many, Domar was his intellectual equal. She had been well educated and their conversations were nearly as stimulating as the pleasure they shared. She had been his favorite for several years now, and he saw no reason to replace her. “I have no wish to leave Torret, so I can attempt to reconcile with Jevara or make a move against him.”

“Jevara sent you on a mission that nearly cost you your life, then disregarded how close you had come to death and treated you like a servant. Can that sort of disrespect be forgiven?”

When a group of hunters found forty-some conduits on Earth, this star system had lost its collective mind. Jevara was no exception. He was determined to possess a power triad and Verbet had foolishly volunteered to ambush the hunters and deliver one or more conduits to his power-hungry brother. But there had been a small complication with his plan. Unbeknownst to Verbet, a fully armed warship had accompanied the hunters and the ensuing fight had resulted in the explosion of Verbet’s ship. His entire crew had been obliterated by the blast and Verbet would have followed them into the hereafter if it hadn’t been for Mistress Air and her temple of healers. Even with their intervention, it had taken repeated sessions in a regeneration pod to restore Verbet to health.

Domar was right. Jevara’s reaction to the tragedy had been inexcusable, and it proved beyond a doubt that he was irredeemable. “Insurrection it is.”

She nodded, then crossed her arms under her breasts, drawing his attention to the plump mounds. Even as she continued the conversation, it was obvious that she would rather fuck. “Do you want to replace him or do you just want him gone?”

Verbet would be happy to oblige her, but not until this issue was resolved. “I know damn well I’d be a better ruler than he is, but I’m not sure that’s how I want to spend the rest of my life. Ruling a planet is a lot of work, and I’m rather lazy.”

“At least you admit your faults.” She chuckled then leaned her shoulder against the window frame. “If not you, then who?”

That question was harder to answer. If Jevara were dead, Verbet was the only person remaining with royal blood in their veins. Was it time for Torret to have a representative government? He disregarded the idea before the question had fully formed. “Torret has always been an absolute monarchy. Jevara must be replaced. The rabble is not capable of self-governing. Torretians wouldn’t know what to do with that sort of freedom or responsibility.”

“I agree with you, but the rebels would not.”

He shot her a sidelong glare. “The rebellion proves my point. They are disobedient children incapable of bringing about constructive change. The factions within the rebellion can’t even decide on how to proceed. How the fuck would they rule the entire planet?”

Her lips parted in a blinding smile. “Which only proves that there is only one solution to this problem.” She waited until he faced her to add, “You need to replace Jevara. No one knows Torret the way you do.”

He didn’t argue with her, but neither did he agree. He turned back to the window and stared out into the night. “I need to look into Jevara’s eyes one final time,” he concluded after a long thoughtful pause. “He is my brother. I need to make absolutely sure that he cannot be rehabilitated before I agree to move against him.”

“Would he offer you the same courtesy?” Challenge gleamed in her dark eyes.

His gaze locked with hers, but he said nothing.

She eased in front of him then gently pushed him back. “You’ve brooded enough for tonight.” She unknotted the belt on her robe and pulled the garment open. With her lush young body on display, she sank to her knees. Her agile fingers opened his pants and drew out his cock. “Enjoy the view, my love, but think only of me.”

“No one is going to volunteer to go to Houkdi,” Jessie protested from the back of the room. “That planet is a primitive wasteland. Your plan is ridiculous.”

Kendra watched Eden fight for composure. Jessie had interrupted her repeatedly and argued with everything Eden said. Kendra had hoped that training would teach Jessie some self-control, maybe help her develop a social filter. No such luck. Jessie was still the abrasive bitch she’d been back on Earth. What she needed was a strict controller to adjust her attitude, but who wanted to bond with someone so unlikable?

Eden stood at the front of one of the larger classrooms. She wanted to make sure everyone ended up with the same information, so she conducted a single meeting. “Every month two conduits will be sent to each of the four planets,” Eden explained. “This will continue until everyone has chosen a planet.”

“I volunteer for Altor,” Jessie called out. Her brows arched in silent challenge but she didn’t say any more.

“Me too,” Heather, Jessie’s roommate joined in.

“That’s not fair!”

“You can’t reward them for being obnoxious.”

“Jessie’s right. First come, first served is not going to work.”

The responses came so fast that Kendra couldn’t keep track of who said what. Eden had the right idea, but the system needed more structure.

“We should be allowed to choose our destination,” Kendra interjected once the flurry of objections calmed down. “However, there needs to be a list, an order in which we make our selections.”

“But who gets to make the list?” Heather wanted to know.

“The mentors could rank us according to skill level,” Maria suggested.

“No way,” Jessie protested. “Most of our skills have to do with how close we are to activation and my power is still locked down tight.”

“The closer we are to activation, the more important it is that we bond,” Maria countered. “A combination of merit and need is the only fair way.”

“Says you.” Jessie thought for a moment, then decided, “The list needs to be random. Let the computer generate a list.”

A chorus of verbal agreement followed.

Kendra could see benefits to both suggestions, so she didn’t offer her support to either side.

“But that means the good planets will all go to the first few names on the list,” Maria objected. “Everyone farther down will end up on Houkdi.”

“Not all of Houkdi is a desert,” Eden defended. She was the only female in the room who had actually been there, but no one seemed to care.

“Break it up by month,” Kendra suggested. “Two of us must go to each planet each month. The random list will determine the order in which those eight openings are filled. That will give more people a chance at the ‘good’ planets.” She accented the descriptor with finger quotes. The topography and climates of Altor were most like Earth. Also most of the people at the Citadel were Altorian. Jessie and many of the others were clinging to the familiar. Kendra thought that was sad. Why come to a new star system and settle on a planet just like Earth?

“I like Kendra’s idea,” Maria insisted and several others nodded their heads.

“One through eight will choose now. Nine through sixteen will choose next month and so on?” Jessie mused, as if to make sure she understood the concept.

“That’s what she’s proposing,” Eden agreed.

Jessie shot Kendra a semi-hostile glance then nodded. “I can live with that.”

“Does this work for everyone?” Eden called out. There were a few grumbles, but no one objected. Just to make sure no one could complain about the decision later, Eden said, “Raise your hand if you want to keep the selections grouped by month.” There were only three women who didn’t like the idea. “That’s a solid majority,” Eden concluded. “We’re going with a random list grouped by month.”

Eden used a random number generator on her data pad to create the list. Each woman tapped the screen and her number appeared. When it was Kendra’s turn to go, number five appeared on the screen. Her heart sank. That meant she was in the first group. She’d be leaving the Citadel in the next week or so.

“There are eight openings for this month,” Eden reminded once everyone had a number. “Who has number one?”

Predictably, the two openings for Altor filled up first, then Pyron. That left either Houkdi or Torret for Kendra. Eden’s mate had an estate on Houkdi and Torret was ruled by a tyrant. Despite the inhospitable climate, the choice was easy.

“Why would you want to live in the middle of a desert?” Jessie shook her head when she saw where Kendra entered her name, disapproval twisting her features. “Torret was a much better choice.”

Rather than defending her decision to such a hateful person, Kendra asked, “Which number did you draw?”

“Nine,” Jessie said proudly. “I get to choose first next month. Looks like me and Heather will end up on Altor together after all.”

Heather had drawn number two, so she’d had her pick of the planets. “I hope you’ll both be very happy.” She didn’t bother softening the sarcasm in her tone. Everyone was tired of Jessie’s bad attitude.

After number eight made her selection, Eden recorded the numbers of the remaining females, and then the meeting adjourned.

“That was more complicated than I expected it to be,” Eden admitted as she gathered her belongings.

Kendra smiled. “You grew up with these women. Nothing is ever simple with them.”

She nodded, some of the tension easing from her face. “I’m glad you chose Houkdi. I’m not sure how often we’ll be at Kyrex’s estate, but it will be wonderful to have you nearby.”

Emotion welled inside Kendra and all she could do was nod. Eden and Ansley had both found their mates without even trying. Then Arcon arrived at the Citadel and Kendra thought the same thing was about to happen to her. According to popular folklore, soul mates were destined to be together through all eternity, so they were drawn together over and over through multiple life cycles. Well, Arcon had finally noticed her and she was being sent off to a different planet.

“What’s going on with you?” Eden asked, compassion shining in her eyes. “You’ve been tense all morning and you weren’t yourself at lunch yesterday either. Wasn’t Dr. Damaris able to help you?”

Kendra shrugged but felt anything but indifferent. “I just want it to be over. I’m sick of all the changes. All the uncertainty. I want my life to begin.”

“That’s understandable.” Eden blew out a long breath but concern lingered in her expression. “Arcon wants to meet with the first eight volunteers in about an hour. Are you up for a training session or should I tell him you’re not feeling well?”

“I’m fine, but I’ve already attended his class.”

Eden shook her head. “This is different. Zevon wants all of the volunteers to learn basic self-defense techniques.”

“But you said a security team will be assigned to each of us.”

“Bodyguards can’t always be there. Raina was kidnapped right out of her bedroom while she had a bodyguard.”

The example made Kendra smile. “She’s now mated with her bodyguard and the male who kidnapped her, so that doesn’t fill me with dread.”

“Zevon is just trying to cover all the bases. Once you leave the Citadel, you’re no longer under his control.”

Oh, how Kendra wanted to be under his control. It was another useless fantasy. Maybe leaving the Citadel would be good for her. She would stop pining away for males she couldn’t have. “Where is the self-defense class?”

“Training Room D.”

An hour later, Kendra stood in Training Room D along with the other seven volunteers listening to Arcon’s explanations and watching as he demonstrated the techniques with another warrior.

“What’s the first thing you should do if you’re faced with a potential attacker?” he asked at the end of the first hour.

“Run away,” the women chorused. They stood in a straight line facing Arcon.

“And if running away isn’t an option?”

“Make as much noise as possible,” the women repeated.

He paced in front of them as he quizzed, “What are your first four targets if you have no choice but to fight?”

“Eyes, throat, gut, and groin,” the women obediently provided, motioning toward each area as they named it.

“And if those four don’t do the trick?”

“Elbow them in the ribs,” Lynn suggested.

“Stomp on their instep,” Kendra said.

“Very good.” Arcon smiled at her then quickly added, “You guys are quick learners.”

They broke up into teams of two and practiced breaking out of various holds. Arcon and the other warrior strolled around the room offering pointers and making corrections on form and leverage. Kendra was paired with Heather, a founding member of the mean girl clique. Unable to resist the temptation, Kendra used the practice session to release some of her frustration.

Working with the sparbots and the video instruction she’d accessed in her free time helped her develop skills the other conduits didn’t possess. She was looking forward to testing her skills with actual enemies and progressing the cause of freedom. Kendra had always longed for a purpose, something around which to arrange her life. The war with Torret seemed the most obvious choice.

Kendra easily deflected Heather’s first lunge. Heather came at Kendra more forcefully the second time, so Kendra matched her aggression. They kicked and hit, locking each other into holds then violently twisting away. Kendra tested Heather’s skill level, determining how far she could push her without causing harm. Frustrated and starting to tire, Heather tried to grab Kendra. Sweeping her arm upward as Heather tried to grab her, Kendra avoided the frantic grasp. Heather snarled and charged with artless determination. Kendra grabbed Heather’s arm, shoved her shoulder into the other woman’s middle and flipped her. Heather flew up and over Kendra’s body then landed hard on her back. Despite the padded floor, the breath whooshed from Heather’s lungs.

“That was an attack move,” one of the onlookers objected. “This is supposed to be self-defense.”

“She came at me. I defended myself,” Kendra argued, hands on her hips. “Isn’t that the point of all this?”

“If your fellow conduits aren’t enough of a challenge, Kendra, you can take out your aggression on me,” Arcon said from somewhere behind her.

Awareness unfurled, speeding her pulse and making her core ache as Kendra turned to face him. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just?—”

“Come at me,” he urged, a cocky smile lifting one corner of his mouth.

“Good idea.” Heather groaned as a couple of the others helped her to her feet. “Show us how tough you are. Take on Arcon.”

Kendra’s gaze locked with his and the rest of the room blurred. Despite the injection the doctor had given Kendra, she’d thought about Arcon constantly. She’d imagined touching him and being touched by him. But they weren’t fighting in her fantasies and a room full of hostile females wasn’t watching every move they made.

She inched toward him. He held his ground, so she circled to the right. He matched her position until they completed half a turn. Then he sprang forward. She ducked to the side, but he easily caught her wrist. Whipping her around, he pulled her back against his chest. His strong arms surrounded her, his scent filling her nose. Desire cascaded through her body and the last thing Kendra wanted to do was escape. Tingling energy pulsed within her, testing the strength of its containment.

Stubbornness, and the laughter of the surrounding females, snapped Kendra out of the sensual haze. She shook away her stupor and slammed her head back into his chest. The top of her head caught his chin and his arms momentarily loosened. She twisted sharply and brought her elbow back into his ribs. His shocked grunt rewarded her as she eluded his grasp.

Shouts and cheering erupted all around her, but Kendra couldn’t tell if the encouragement was meant for her or Arcon. She’d only taken one determined step away when his foot caught her ankle and sent her pitching forward. His arm wrapped around her waist and slowed her descent, but they both tumbled to the floor.

She landed on her belly, but immediately rolled over as Arcon settled astride her hips. He wrapped his calves around her legs, preventing her from kicking as he drew her arms over her head. She tugged against his hold and arched her back, but that only drew his attention to her straining breasts. Her core throbbed needfully and her nipples gathered into greedy peaks. God above, how she wished she were naked and they were alone.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “This would be a lot more fun without the audience.”

His words so closely mirrored her thoughts that she fought back a moan.

He released her hands but remained astride her as he addressed the class. “Sparring is meant to help you develop muscle memory. It’s not necessary to hurt your practice partner to develop these skills. If you were attacked, however, you would do everything in your power to cause as much damage as possible.” He heaved himself off her and helped her to her feet. “I think that’s enough for today.”

Arcon spoke briefly with the other warrior then both males left the room.

“Oh, my God,” Heather cried. “I thought you two were going to go at it right there on the training room floor. We all wondered what goes on behind Arcon’s blank expression. Apparently, he likes an audience.”

“You’re disgusting,” Kendra muttered and headed for the door.

“You were just as turned on as he was,” Heather continued. “We all saw the way you arched and twisted. Did he make you come or are you heading to your room to finish what he started?”

Kendra reached the doorway without a backward glance and hurried down the hallway. Heather was a catty bitch, but she was also right. Having Arcon on top of her, holding her down had sensitized Kendra’s entire body. Her nipples still tingled and her core ached so badly she was tempted to do exactly what Heather suggested. She’d been miserable after he spanked her, but this was even worse.

Deciding that a cold shower was her only hope for sanity, she went to the nearest elevator but she had just stepped inside when a computerized voice said, “Kendra, please report to President Zevon’s office immediately.”

Shit. Had Arcon reported her needless aggression? No. That wasn’t his style. He’d seen her taking out her frustration on Heather and dealt with it right then and there. This had to be something else.

She finger-combed her hair and refastened the ponytail, lamenting the fact that she was in shapeless workout gear. At her best, Kendra considered herself passably attractive, but she was far from her best right now. What difference did it make? She’d be heading to Houkdi in a couple of weeks and she would likely never see Zevon again.

Zevon’s assistant told Kendra that she was expected and she could go right in. She thanked him and eased the door open. Zevon’s office was large and well organized. The decor was simple and masculine, combining black with various shades of gray. She moved just inside the doorway then stopped. Unlike the other times she’d been here, Zevon was alone.

“Come in.” He motioned toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.” His black and gray uniform enhanced his authoritative bearing. His long, dark hair had been pulled back, drawing attention to his angular features. Sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline balanced out his penetrating stare. Only his lips offered any hint of softness, and they were usually pressed into a compact line. Everything about Zevon was unyielding and hard. So why did she find him so compelling?

Tension and a strange restlessness churned within Kendra. The heat ignited by her wrestling match with Arcon still simmered. She licked her lips as she moved to the chairs he’d indicated and sat down. “Am I in trouble?”

Zevon chuckled as he pressed back into his seat, fingers entwined against his flat abdomen. “Why was that your first suspicion? Have you done something naughty?”

Naughty? She could think of all sorts of naughty things she’d like to do with Zevon, or better yet with Zevon and Arcon. “Not yet.” She tried to match his casual tone, but her voice came out low and throaty.

His golden gaze locked with hers, assessing and analyzing her. Then he cleared his throat and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desktop. “Eden updated me on the process agreed upon by all of the conduits, but I thought it wise to check in with the first group. I wanted to make sure you had adequate input regarding your destination. You chose to relocate to Houkdi. That planet is considered less hospitable than the others. Do you feel that the selection process was fair?”

The question brought feistiness surging to the surface. No one asked her opinion before the alliance was finalized. Why bother asking now? “Fair?” she scoffed softly and shook her head. “I don’t consider any of this fair.”

His expression hardened, his gaze burning even brighter. “Explain.”

“Do I have permission to speak freely?”

“Within reason,” he cautioned.

“You bartered us away as part of a treaty. How is that fair? I have no desire to travel to Houkdi, and I’m pretty sure the other conduits are equally resentful. We’re independent females with the potential for incredible power, yet you traded us like a commodity.”

He glanced away, released a sigh, then squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I understand your frustration and involving you was not my choice.” His gaze returned to her face, the golden intensity mesmerizing. “The alliance is essential to restoring peace in this star system and access to conduits was the price the other leaders demanded.”

Arguing with him was pointless. Negotiations were complete. Nothing she said or did was going to change any of it. Still, he’d asked for her honest opinion and this might be her last opportunity to voice it. Houkdi customs were unusually restrictive, and in this star system that was saying a lot.

“You should have fought for us, protected us. Instead, you took the easy way out. That makes you a coward.” The second the words passed her lips, Kendra knew she’d made a mistake. President Zevon Raydo tolerated defiance from no one. Even females were held accountable for their behavior and she’d just crossed the line.

He rose slowly and came around to the front of the desk. “Your anger is understandable, so I will ignore the insult this one time. I did not ask your opinion on the terms of the alliance. I asked whether or not you felt the selection process was fair.”

His autocratic tone and stern expression only fueled her rebellion. She didn’t work for him and had not come to this star system voluntarily. Why the fuck should she offer him respect? Besides, what could he do to her now? Exile her to a desolate planet far away from most of her friends?

Pushing to her feet, she glared up at him. “The selection process is irrelevant because I didn’t want to be part of a fucked-up alliance.” Her heartbeat raced and her breasts felt heavy, the tips overly sensitive. Why was he affecting her like this? Even while she wrestled with Arcon she hadn’t been this aroused. “I want to make my own decisions and choose my own mates. Is that too much to ask?”

“I don’t think you know what you want.” He stepped closer, features hard, gaze burning. “Your words indicate anger, but your scent begs for something else.”

She said nothing, just challenged him with her heated stare.

He advanced, backing her up until her hips hit the edge of his desk. “If you’re in need of a good hard fuck, I’ll be happy to oblige you. But I’m not looking for a mate.”

“Oh, my God, you’re such an arrogant jerk,” she cried, masking her excitement with indignation. “You summoned me to your office and asked me about a situation that was sure to piss me off. If anyone is hoping for a quick fuck, it’s you!”

Suddenly his fingers tangled in her hair and he tilted her head back. “Adjust your attitude or you’ll find out how this ‘arrogant jerk’ deals with defiant females.”

“Do your worst, sir . I’m not afraid of you.” She sneered the title sarcastically as she shoved against his chest.

Suddenly Arcon’s warning echoed through her mind. If you look at a controller with those fuck me eyes, he won’t hesitate to accept your offer.

Zevon spun her around and bent her over the desk so fast that Kendra gasped. Arousal combined with trepidation, speeding her pulse and tightening her core. She’d spent endless hours picturing all the things Zevon would do to her while she was bent over his desk. Sometimes she was bound and helpless, but more often she eagerly offered him the use of her wet and willing body.

Holding her firmly with one hand, he tugged her pants and panties down with the other. “Clearly, someone needs to teach you some manners.” He smacked her ass hard, a flurry of stinging slaps.

She yelped and twisted, trying to avoid his cruel palm. Each spank jarred her senses and intensified her need. Her partially lowered pants constrained the movement of her thighs, and his strength became more obvious each time she tugged against his hold.

“Do you ache for discipline, little hothead?” He emphasized the question with an especially hard slap.

“I ache for respect , just like you,” she countered as his broad hand continued to fall. “I want to be more than my power. I’m not just a conduit. I’m a woman. I have opinions and goals, hopes and dreams. We should have been part of the negotiation.”

She braced for his reaction, expecting the spanking to intensify. Instead he caressed her heated bottom, lightly squeezing the cheeks. “Political unions are often reinforced with social relationships. Such has been the case for centuries, especially with empowered people.”

Even on Earth what he said was true. The nobility had been securing alliances by intermarrying their children for centuries. There were very few aristocrats left, but ‘marrying well’ was still a common expectation for those born into wealth and power.

“That’s not the point.” She squirmed, finding his stroking just as upsetting as the spanking. “No one asked us. No one cared about our feelings.”

“Conduits seldom have any say in who claims them.” He released her hands and tugged her pants and panties all the way to her ankles. “What’s really bothering you?” He quickly unzipped and removed her boots then stripped off her pants and panties.

“I’m not going to fuck you,” she insisted, but her core clenched in protest. She desperately needed to be fucked and Zevon was her number one choice. Why should she pretend otherwise?

Rather than argue, he turned her around and lifted her to his desktop. “I want to taste you.” He bent her legs nearly to her chest then opened her thighs. “Would you like that, hothead? Do you want my mouth on your pussy?”

Desire, hot and demanding, cascaded through her body. She shook her head as she grasped the backs of her knees and opened her legs even wider. “You’re an arrogant jerk.”

He bent between her thighs and traced her slit with his tongue. “Yes, I am.”

“You’re thoughtless and cruel.”

“I can be.” He licked her again.

“I don’t like you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and her legs began to shake.

“Maybe not, but you want me. Don’t you?” He held her folds open with his thumbs and sucked on her clit.

Kendra moaned low in her throat as pleasure rushed up through her body.

“Say it, pet. Admit that you want this just as much as I do.”

He blew on her damp flesh, stimulating her senses without touching her. He was waiting, insisting that she surrender.

“Yes,” she whispered, then louder, “God, yes.”

Zevon’s lips pulled on her sensitive bud over and over until the tension that had been building inside her for weeks burst free. She cried out sharply and closed her eyes, allowing the pleasure to claim her.

Zevon lifted his head as he pushed two of his fingers into her rippling core. Kendra gasped at the fullness and instinctively opened her eyes.

His golden gaze bored into hers, penetrating her as tangibly as the digits sliding in and out of her pussy.

“Your taste is sweet.” He withdrew his fingers and pushed into her with his tongue.

Kendra moaned and lifted her hips, taking him deeper.

He licked and sucked, drawing more of her juices into his mouth. “Maybe I want a mate after all,” he muttered and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He moved up and sucked on her clit while he fucked her with his fingers.

Sensations gathered beneath his lips, rapidly building toward another orgasm. She shook and whimpered, lost in the building storm.

Suddenly, he released her clit and lifted his head. “You were already wet when you walked into this office. Who or what awakened your desire?”

His fingers continued to fuck her as he waited for her answer, making it damn hard to think. “What are you—talking about?” she asked in between pants.

He pushed his fingers deep and covered her clit with his thumb. He wasn’t rubbing, just creating enough pressure to make her squirm. “This was not the first time I’ve scented your arousal. It has just never been this strong before. Are you starting to activate or were you exploring your sexuality with someone else?”

Seeing no reason to admit that she had the hots for Arcon while Zevon was standing between her open thighs, she went in the other direction. “Doctor Damaris gave me something to back off the urgency, but I can still feel it.”

Slipping his fingers free of her pussy, he tugged her shirt off over her head and unfastened her bra. She lay there naked and slightly dazed, unsure of his intentions.

His gaze moved boldly over her nudity before returning to her flushed face. “We’re genetically compatible. That much is obvious from your taste. I had not intended to claim a mate until the war was over, but I find you intriguing. Is mating with me a better option than moving to Houkdi?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Much better.” The Citadel was centrally located, and she’d been attracted to him from the start. Her friends might come and go as their missions demanded, but at least they would see each other. He offered no words of affection, no indication of an emotional connection, so she said nothing more.

“My seed will deescalate the intensity and give us time to choose a source. I will only ask permission once, so be sure of your answer. Once you’ve accepted my claim, your body will belong to me, and I am not a gentle lover.” He cupped her pussy possessively and looked deep into her eyes. “Will you be my mate, Kendra? Do you want me to claim you?”

What about a courtship? Would she still have thirty days to change her mind? And what about her power? Would fucking him give her access to her Fire?

“You seem uncertain now, and you weren’t before. Was I mistaken about your attraction to me?”

She shook her head but couldn’t find courage enough to speak the words. She wasn’t sure why he’d changed his mind, but it didn’t seem to have anything to do with her personally.

“Will it make you feel better if I admit that our conversation was just an excuse to see you?” A sexy smile parted his lips and he rotated his hand so he could stroke her folds with his thumb. “I have interacted with every female on this station, but your image is the one that lingers in my mind.”

She wasn’t sure she believed him. The confession would have meant more if he’d offered it earlier. “If you claim me right now, is it forever?”

The question obviously annoyed him. He removed his hand and lowered his arm. His features were suddenly void of emotion. “I can’t claim you until we choose a source. That will give us time to make sure this is right for both of us.”

She nodded, relieved that he wasn’t expecting her to make a permanent decision right now. “What about my abilities? I can feel the energy trying to break free and spontaneous activation is dangerous.”

“I’ll reinforce the containment while I’m inside you,” he assured her. “But you need to make your choice soon. Even I can only hold off activation for so long.”

She tried to draw her legs together, but he still stood between her knees. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she asked, “Can we go to your quarters?”

“You’re too close to activation. I want my scent on you and in you before we leave this room.”

None of this felt real. She was sprawled on Zevon’s desk, stark naked, and he’d just stated his intention to claim her. It was everything she’d wanted since coming to the Citadel, so why wasn’t she ecstatic? “All right.” She licked her lips and dragged her gaze back to his. Genetic compatibility wasn’t much to build a future on, but she didn’t have a better option. “I want you to f-fuck me.” She stumbled over the word, not yet comfortable with anything that graphic.

Golden light ignited in his eyes and his nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. “Are you still a virgin?” He slipped his fingers back into her core and stroked her clit with his thumb. “You’re really tight.”

She didn’t want him to think she was completely ignorant, so she said, “I’ve experimented with toys and simulators since coming here, but I’ve never been with a person.”

He nodded, apparently expecting the answer. “Then we’ll take this nice and slow.” He slid his fingers in and out a few more times, then withdrew them from between her thighs. Pulling her up until she rested on her forearms, he lowered his head and his mouth covered hers.

Kendra parted her lips, more than ready for her first taste of Zevon. One of his hands pushed into her hair while the other caressed her breasts. For such a brutal male, he was being surprisingly patient.

His tongue teased her lips but didn’t thrust inside. She was more than happy to let him set the pace, more comfortable following. His scent grew stronger with each breath she took, and the sliding of their lips mingled his taste with hers. The combination aroused and thrilled her. She grew bolder and eased her tongue into his mouth. He allowed her to explore for just a moment, then growled and flipped her over onto her stomach.

A startled gasp escaped Kendra as her belly made contact with the desktop. She knew males entered females from the back, but she’d always pictured her first time happening face to face. She wanted to see her lover, watch the pleasure he found in the depths of her body. It was more intimate that way, more personal. She reared up off the desk, using her elbows for leverage.

Grasping her waist firmly, he pulled her toward him until her toes just touched the floor. His hands roamed over her torso, squeezing her breasts and pinching her nipples. “I want to feel the heat of your ass cheeks against my body as I stretch your tight little hole.” He moved back slightly and slapped her bottom, first one side and then the other. “This is not punishment.” He spanked her again, harder this time. “You will bear the sting because it pleases me. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she gasped out as his hand fell again.

“Yes, Sir ,” he corrected as he pushed her down until her upper body was flat across the desktop. “You will address me as Sir whenever you are naked. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.” A hint of defiance sharpened her words.

“Somehow I think you’re going to be naked a lot.” He smacked one side and then the other before he said, “Open your thighs wider and lift your ass so I can see your pussy.”

Excitement curled through her body, settling between her thighs. She knew he’d be like this, demanding and focused. Her clit throbbed as she moved her feet farther apart and rolled her hips upward. She was exposed now, blatantly offered for the pleasure of her mate. Her folds felt swollen and she knew she was sopping wet. Did he like what he saw?

As if to answer her question, he bent and licked her pussy again. “By all the cosmos, woman. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious.” He devoured her with obvious relish for a long moment before he added, “Your body is utter perfection.” His mouth returned to her slit, tongue pushing deep into her core.

He raised her hips until her feet no longer touched the floor as he continued to fuck her with his tongue. Kendra moaned, shocked by the utter carnality of the act. She grasped the edge of the desk and let the tension build, unable to do anything else.

Come, pet , the gruff order pushed into her mind, demanding her surrender. Come around your master’s tongue.

Master? The word ignited some dark, forbidden need deep inside her. Did she want to be mastered, controlled? Her body answered the question with a sudden burst of pleasure. Her core rippled around his tongue and sensations pulsed out from her clit making her cry out.

“Good girl,” he praised as he lifted his head and positioned his cock at her entrance.

He didn’t give her time to think. He lowered her feet to the floor as he pushed the head of his cock just past her opening.

Kendra groaned. She tried hard not to tense up but his cock felt huge. The intense stretch quickly turned to pain and she cried out. “You’re too big.”

“You can do this.” He slipped his arm around her hip and found her clit with his fingertips. “You will do it.” He remained just barely inside her until his stroking fingers helped her relax. “Your body was made for mine. You just need to open for me.”

She focused on her breathing as he drove deeper, and even deeper. His fingers kept up their circular motion until his entire length was buried inside her. The sting faded quickly but her pussy ached in a way that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned against her hair. “I’m not sure I’ll last long enough to make you come.”

“You made me come already,” she pointed out. He pulled back slowly, dragging a hiss from her throat.

“Does it still hurt?”

“A little,” she admitted.

He thrust his entire length back in and focused on her clit. “Then come for me.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“I say you can, so you will.” He pulled her up so he could pinch her nipples while he massaged her clit ruthlessly.

Contradicting sensation ricocheted through Kendra’s body. She gasped and squirmed, rearing up off the desktop as her hips twisted and bucked. He moved his hand from her breasts to the nape of her neck and he forced her back down as his cock began to slide inside her. He continued to rub her clit, quickly building her senses toward another orgasm.

“Come, pet. Come on your master’s cock.”

Her body immediately obeyed, shocking and terrifying Kendra. Each forceful contraction of her core spiked the pleasure into pain, but even more than the intensity was the realization that he had controlled her responses so easily. If he had this much power over her now, how much more mindless would she be if she were foolish enough to fall in love with him?

Energy buzzed and twisted, swelling within her as the pleasure ebbed. Close, she was so close to activation that she could sense the Fire waiting to be released. Someday soon that energy would flow through her. She would shape it and use it to defend the powerless. The idea excited her, reigniting her simmering desire. She lifted her hips and tightened her inner muscles, silently begging for more.

Zevon pulled all the way out, then shoved his cock deep into her body. Over and over he made her take his entire length. She came again and again, or maybe the first orgasm had never ended—she honestly wasn’t sure. Waves of pleasure/pain inundated her senses as he aggressively used her body. She sprawled there helpless and dazed until he shuddered violently against her back. She felt the hot burst of his seed as he came deep inside her and an echo of her own pleasure skittered across her nerve endings.

For a long, silent moment they stood there, bodies joined. Then he pulled out and moved off. She didn’t crane her neck to see where he’d gone. Tears blurred her vision so she quickly blinked them away. She pushed up against the desk, but her arms shook too badly to lift her weight completely. Zevon was a controller. She knew he’d be like this, all rough and demanding. That didn’t keep her emotions from welling up inside her. Supporting herself with one arm, she covered her mouth with the other and muffled her sobs.

A warm cloth pressed against her pussy and she gasped.

“Easy,” Zevon soothed, lightly stroking her back. “I didn’t mean to be so aggressive, but you felt too damn good.”

Unable to suppress her tears, she hid behind her hair and let him clean up the mess they’d made.

Zevon tossed the cloth aside and wrapped her in a blanket. Then he pulled her into his arms and stroked the back of her hair. “Are you overwhelmed or did I actually hurt you?”

“Overwhelmed,” she assured him, her face pressed against his uniform top. She realized he hadn’t even undressed and that made her cry even harder.

He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa across the room from his desk. “Not what you expected?” he asked as her sobbing began to abate.

“No, it was. I just wasn’t as ready for this as I thought.”

He brushed the hair back from her face and gazed into her eyes. “At the risk of sounding like an arrogant jerk,” he flashed a playful smile at the familiar phrase, “how long have you been imagining this?”

Heat burst across her cheeks, but she refused to look away. “Since we first met.”

“Really? You wanted to fuck me the first time you saw me?”

She wasn’t sure why the admission surprised him, but it clearly did. “Is that unusual?”

“Extremely. Females are usually afraid of me.”

“Clearly, I’m not.”

His lips quirked as if he were fighting off a smile. “Clearly. If I am the controller of your choice, have you also picked out your source?”

“I thought so, but,” she released a sigh, “he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want a mate.”

Zevon laughed. “Sounds like something I said about half an hour ago. Who is he?”

If it hadn’t been for Arcon’s behavior in the training room and then again when they were wresting, she would have kept his name out of it. But his response to her physical proximity had been unmistakable. Arcon might not be ready to claim a mate, but he was attracted to her. “Arcon.”

With a soft scoff, Zevon shifted her to the seat beside him. “Why am I not surprised? Every female on this station wants to fuck Arcon. Does he know how you feel about him?”

“A couple of days ago I would have said no, but he has been reacting to me in unusual ways.”

“The pheromones you’re producing heighten attraction. That’s why I was unable to resist you today when I’ve been able to ignore my desire before.”

This was the second time Zevon indicated that he had feelings for her. “You were attracted to me before today?”

He looked at her disbelievingly. “You are one of the most attractive females on this station. Of course I wanted you. Every heterosexual male on this station wants you.”

The admission thrilled her so much that she blushed again. “I see.”

He chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. “I’ve wanted to fuck you so badly a couple of times that I had to lock the door and make friends with my hand.”

She had no idea how to respond to that, so she just buried her face against his throat and allowed herself to grin.

“I’ll have your things moved to my quarters and I’ll inform Eden that I’ve decided to claim you. The next conduit on the list will have to go to Houkdi in your place.”

Kendra gasped and sat up so she could see his face. “Jessie drew number nine. If she’s forced to go to Houkdi, she will throw a fit.”

He thought for a moment then shrugged. “If she can convince any of the other females in the first group to switch destinations with her, I’ll allow it. If not, she is going to Houkdi. Personally, I think a strict Houkdi controller is exactly what she needs to finally get her attitude under control.”

He was probably right, but she felt bad that her good fortune had impacted Jessie so adversely. “So what happens now?”

“We go to my apartment and have dinner. Our physical compatibility is undeniable, but we don’t really know each other. That needs to change.”

She hadn’t expected such a tame suggestion, but she was pleased by it. “That sounds great.”

“And I’ll talk to Arcon. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to keep him here for weeks. You’re tempting enough to make almost anyone want to stay.”

“I hope so, but he was pretty adamant that he doesn’t want a mate.”

Zevon laughed as he laid her back across the couch and opened the blanket. “So was I, mate. So was I.”