Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
But what can you do? Thank the Goddess of Mercy everything had turned out anyway—though it had been a lot fucking closer than I liked.
“It’s all right,” I told Natalie. “Anyway, I did use tracking technology to find you, even though I didn’t know about the chip in your neck.”
I explained about the tracking tags in the new clothes and how I had used them to trace her location. Also, how the little chambermaid had come forward admitting what had really happened when Azz’lx had dragged her away, down the lift.
“Oh, I’m so glad she told you!” Natalie exclaimed. “I owe that girl my life!”
“She’s getting a fat raise and a promotion, I can promise you that,” I told her. “Daw’snx too—it was his idea to use the clothing tags to find you in the first place. As for Azz’lx…”
My voice dropped to a growl as I considered what I might do to my second-in-command—the lying bastard!
“You’re starting to sound growly and look damn scary again,” Natalie said cautiously. “Please don’t kill anyone else because of me. Or if you do, please don’t make me watch it!”
The haunted look in her eyes was enough to cool my rage for a moment.
“Okay, baby—I won’t,” I told her. “Sorry, it’s just my protective instinct coming out again.” I took a deep breath and blew it out again. “Hey, you want something to eat? This ship has a full kitchen in it with a food synthesizer. I can make you anything you want.”
“That would be nice, actually.” She put a hand to her stomach. “It’s been a long time since we had breakfast together and I lost my little packet of snacks along with my old clothes when Ass-boy’s car dumped me out in the middle of that tunnel.”
“Ass-boy?” I couldn’t help grinning.
“Well, actually, his name sounds like ‘Ass-licks’ so that’s what I’ve been calling him in my head,” she explained. “It kind of fits his personality, you know?”
“You’re not wrong,” I said grimly, thinking of all the times Azz’lx had sucked up to me, acting like he had such great respect even though I was a half-blood. When all the time he was a treacherous, lying, son-of-a—
“Your eyes are getting glowy and your fangs are getting long again,” Natalie pointed out.
“Uh, sorry.” I took another deep, calming breath. “I’ll deal with him on my own—you don’t have to have anything to do with it,” I told her.
But to my surprise, she shook her head.
“No, you know what? I want to be there when you confront him. Only promise me you won’t kill him,” she added quickly. “I don’t want to have to see that again—okay?”
“That’s not an easy promise to make, little girl,” I growled. “That bastard tried to have you murdered!”
“I know and he deserves everything that’s coming to him,” Natalie said evenly. “But I’ve seen enough people getting killed to last me a lifetime. I’m still kind of shaken up—you know?”
“All right.” I squeezed my hands into fists. “I won’t kill him.”
“Thank you.” Natalie leaned forward and cupped my cheek in one small, soft hand. “Thank you, Vik’tor,” she repeated. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome, baby,” I murmured, looking into her big, brown eyes.
And then I couldn’t help myself—I kissed her.
TWENTY-SIX
NATALIE
I know I shouldn’t have kissed him back, but I just couldn’t seem to help myself. You know how it is when you put two magnets together and they stick to each other so it’s hard to pry them apart again? That’s how I felt with Vik’tor—like I was so drawn to him I couldn’t listen to my own common sense.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him for all I was worth. He was kneeling in front of me, having just finished washing my face and cleaning and bandaging my wounds as I sat on the wide, plush couch in the living room of his spaceship. Because of our height difference, this put us face to face and it was way too easy for me to just slide off the couch into his arms.
Before I knew it, I was straddling him and kissing him hungrily, my hands running all through his hair and over his short, curving horns.
Vik’tor kissed me like he knew me—like he knew exactly what I liked. He wasn’t rough but he was urgent, wanting to taste me and then sucking gently on my tongue, encouraging me to taste him as well. I was quick to take him up on the invitation.
His mouth was spicy and warm as I slipped my tongue between his lips. He tasted like my favorite chai back home and I absolutely couldn’t get enough of him.
“Gods, baby,” he groaned and rolled me over so I was lying on my back on the thick, fur rug that carpeted the living room area. Did I mention he had a really nice ship? Because he did—it was luxurious and expensively decorated—which was pretty much what you’d expect from the richest man on the planet.