Chapter 14
Lena picked at her food, yawning heavily as her mind raced from the events of the previous night.
Sleep had not come easily after her shower, and she desperately wished there was more than one carafe of traxaccino with her morning meal. Any blissful haziness from being used in such a manner had turned to crystal clarity as she had curled up in the messy bed, feeling more alone than ever before.
Eventually, the tears had lulled her to sleep, but in a blink, she’d been awoken by a Thren entering with breakfast. An unknown female, but Lena’s fear was long gone, knowing that none of the crew would dare touch her, or else they’d face Screl’s wrath.
The wrath he’d taken out on her body last night in a way that made every muscle go limp.
Why was she so fucking eager for it to happen again? Especially with the way he’d dismissed her so ruthlessly afterward.
The experience had been as titillating as she’d imagined, and somehow she knew he was still holding back, taking it easy on her despite the way she craved him.
Was every orgasm that powerful for this species, or was there something about the physiology between humans and Threns that intensified it? It certainly had been the strongest climaxes she had ever felt, and it was impossible to deny that she was desperate to experience it again.
Even with danger looming over her head. Even with the shitty way he had treated her.
And Screl, well, she’d never been with a male with two cocks. Or one who could bring himself to climax in rapid succession like that. Even after two, he’d not been done, and she wondered if he’d be able to fuck her all night if he gave into the primal needs that clearly lived within him.
God, she despised the way she went brainless around him, the way his presence made her so out of control that she couldn’t think straight, couldn’t do anything but heed her own body’s desperate call.
Her life may have been boring on Earth, but at least she had known what to expect, the same monotonous day ad infinitum.
With Screl, it was like she couldn’t trust herself to think clearly. Her body was his to command, his to use as he pleased, and though the thought made her core clench with need, her chest ached knowing what was to come.
You knew he was going to do this, and you let it happen anyway. It’s only a matter of time before he sends you back. He got what he wanted from you, and he saw you for what you are. Worthless. Pathetic. Too needy. Too desperate. Too old. Too weak.
It was all true. Though she should have been happy knowing she’d be returning to Henios soon, all she felt was despair, that agonizing emptiness that always seemed to plague her. She was alone, and she would always be alone. She would never be good enough.
When a different Thren came to retrieve her empty tray, she tried to speak to him, eager to know what would happen to her, but he just brushed her off, leaving without answering any questions.
Where was Dronzal? Where was Screl?
Lena was left alone, and she resigned herself to lying on the bed despite the anxiety and caffeine coursing through her veins.
An absolutely miserable day, that’s what it was. Screl had not made an appearance, and neither had any other Thren, and no matter how much she knocked where she knew the door to be, no one would answer her.
Lena had tried to sleep, but she was at that strange point of sleeplessness where no matter how much her body ached to rest, she was wide awake. She felt physically ill, like she was going to be sick, her stomach roiling no matter what she did.
And she felt Screl’s presence too, purple bruises at her waist and a dull ache between her legs, one which made her muscles clench even more. She didn’t want to remember him, not when he’d left her alone, not when he used her up and spit her out like she was nothing.
After her evening meal, Lena had grappled with the Thren removing the tray, bored out of her mind and desperate.
His eyes went wide, and she knew his thoughts were warring behind that glimmering stare.
Would it be better to let Screl’s human touch him, or potentially hurt her by fighting her off?
“Please! I want to see him. I need to see him. I can’t be alone here all day!”
If he was going to send her back, she wanted to get it over with, not sit here agonizing for another night.
“I cannot. Commander Screl said—” the Thren started, but she interrupted, gripping his arm tighter.
“I don’t care what he said. I want to see him. Now! I will take whatever punishment he deems fit, but I need to get out of this room.”
She waited with bated breath, not even blinking, scrutinizing the Thren for any reaction.
Finally, he relaxed his stiffened shoulders, shrugging her gently out of his grasp.
“I will take you to him, but do not say I did not warn you.”
Lena nodded, wondering if this had been the right decision. She followed the Thren’s brisk pace as he led her through the near-empty halls before stopping in front of a blank wall, one she presumed was actually a door with another room behind it.
The guard pressed a tentacle to the wall, glancing sidelong at her while they waited for someone to answer.
When the door whirred open, he gestured her inside, clearly not interested in facing Screl’s wrath. Undeterred, she went in alone, feeling the whoosh of air as the door shut behind her.
The room was dim, just two indigo orbs glowing in the corner and providing ambient light.
It was as compact as hers, but had an enormous window that offered a breathtaking view of deep space, stars and planets sparkling in the distance.
A minimalist bed floated nearby, simply made without the lavish pillows and sheets that adorned the one in her room.
A padded mat sat in one corner with an orb in the center.
Somehow, the thought of Screl meditating was too absurd to picture.
Finally, Lena’s gaze turned toward him, seated at a sleek workstation, eyes glimmering with mirth as he stared her down. He wore only a simple pair of pants, the ridges of muscles on his chest and stomach lined in shadow.
“Does my pet need something?” he mused, a smirk curling his mouth.
Lena crossed her arms over her chest, steeling herself.
“What am I doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice from wavering.
Screl stood and made his way over to her with a look of amusement on his face. It made her swell with rage, the way he toyed with her, acted like he wanted her when he was just as eager to get rid of her as all the others.
“Was last night not obvious enough?”
The deep timbre of his voice sent a shudder through her, and she tried to rein it in, not wanting him to see how badly he affected her.
“No, it wasn’t. You don’t need me for your sick little fantasies. You could have hired an escort for that.”
Screl’s smile was gone in an instant, replaced with a glare.
“You are not an escort.”
“Then what am I?” Lena paused, recalling last night. “What does amoreth mean?”
His eyes widened, and a tentacle shot out, wrapping around her throat like a vice. He didn’t squeeze, just forced her to meet his icy glower.
“Do not say that word again.”
“Why? You said it last night. I want to know what—”
Screl leaned down, silencing her with a kiss.
In an instant, it was as if all her bones were liquified, every worry flitting from her mind like a butterfly floating on a breeze. Twin tongues tickled her lips, and tentacles absorbed her, wrapping around her body and mussing up her hair.
Lena stood on her tiptoes, circling her arms around his shoulders, and a second later his hands were on her ass and lifting her into the air. She linked her ankles behind his back, deepening the kiss and taking in the sensations of his scent, his warmth, the peace infiltrating her as they embraced.
Without thinking, she started grinding against his firm abs, the ridges rubbing deliciously against her clit, the slippery fabric of her dress easing her way. A tentacle snaked between her legs, prodding at her back entrance, which jolted her back to awareness.
“I know what you need, little one,” Screl growled against her lips, a feral sound that tingled every one of her nerves.
“Do you?” Lena asked, her words coming out in a rasp. “You left me.”
He cocked his head, four eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Yesterday. After we…” she trailed off, desperate to look away, though those glimmering eyes made it impossible.
Was he hypnotizing her?
It had to be the pheromones that were making her so irrational, forcing her to admit her vulnerability in a way she’d never done with anyone else.
“Ah. Do you wish to share a bed with me? You need me to whisper sweet nothings while you fall asleep in my arms?”
There was a smirk on his face, but a crack in his voice, something underneath the layer of levity he was trying to trick her with. She attempted to squirm out of his arms, but all he did was walk them toward his bed, sitting so she straddled his waist.
“Let go of me,” she growled, yanking her arms away from his neck, though her wrists were immediately restrained behind her back with two tentacles.
There was a blaze in his blue eyes as he stared her down, and it felt like he was peering into her soul.
“Shall I call the guard? Have him return you to your room?”
Like a dagger to her heart, a sharp pain infiltrated her chest and electrified her limbs. She should leave, yes, that would certainly be the wiser decision, but something in her scorned the thought.
Despised it.
Even restrained and helpless, she felt warm, heat tingling her core and lightness filling her body.
“Well?” Screl asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and delivering a grin which made her blood boil.
“I hate you,” she finally whispered, unable to bear the thought of returning to her room alone.
Somehow, despite his gruff exterior, the words seemed to wound him, a moment of hurt flashing across his face before he composed himself. Screl gripped her waist, leaning down and planting a hard kiss on her lips, one she had no power to stop with her arms restrained.