That thought floated to the back of my mind as he took me as he wished, his tongue exploring my mouth. I moaned softly into his lips.
“Coltan,” I sighed.
He pulled away then, his eyes studying mine.
He looked sad.
“At the end of the day tomorrow, don’t hate me. The sentence is going to be rough on you. It’s going to hurt, both physically and emotionally. I want you to remember something though,” he began.
My arms behind my back, cuffed and bound, I hid in his shoulder. Tired and weak-minded, I nodded, grateful for his kind advice.
“Be strong, my little hellion,” he said.
We sat there together, for much longer than the few minutes he’d originally promised me. I didn’t say anything, and he didn’t either, like neither of us wanted to admit that we were leaning on the other to make it through the night.
His hard body lifted and rose beneath me, his skin warm through the fabric of his shirt. I reminded myself that he was the enemy, but even then, it felt flat in my head.
When I began to fall asleep on his chest, he pulled back and pressed his lips to my forehead.
“Come now, Kira. Time to go back in your cage,” he whispered. I nodded into his chest, my heart having returned to a normal pace.
“Coltan?”
“Yes, Kira?”
“Thank you,” I whispered. Thankfully he didn’t push for me to say anything more but wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. Comforted, I sighed with relief.
Reluctantly, I climbed off his lap with his aid. He helped to guide me back into my cage, removed my cuffs and locked the door behind me. I was sure I would regret my choice not to fight, not to knee him in the balls and try to escape, but at that moment, I pushed those thoughts away.
“Sleep now, Kira. We’ll get through tomorrow together. I promise,” he whispered.
I laid down on the padded mat and closed my eyes, his warmth still permeating my skin even though we were apart. Sleep finally claimed me once more, and my dreams consisted of a confusing mixture of my four Vakarran captors.
* * *
When the sun rose the next day, I blinked at the brightness that bled through the white tent walls. Left with little choice but to rise and open my eyes, I groaned and stretched, before remembering the events that were due to happen in the next few hours.
My trial, sentence and punishment were all to happen very soon and nothing I could do would stop it. My eyes floated from one man to the next and in that moment, I pushed away everything. I would not allow myself to be weak again, no matter how inviting Coltan’s arms might be. I had to be strong, for my sisters and for the rest of the humans living out in the forest who depended on me.
I took a deep breath and released it from my lungs slowly as all four turned to look at me.
“It’s time then,” Zaavyr said, his tone level. I couldn’t get a read on him.
Coltan moved forward then and unlocked the cage, offering me a hand, which I reluctantly took.
“Remember what I said,” he whispered. “It’ll be easier for you if you submit.”
I nodded but couldn’t find the words to respond. I clenched my jaw and looked away.
I could feel him watching me, assessing me as I climbed out of the cage. The brisk morning air reminded me of my nakedness as the blanket fell away, leaving me bare and vulnerable before the four of them.
With four pairs of eyes on me, I felt my body heat. My nipples peaked under their scrutiny and my pussy clenched unexpectedly. What the hell? There was no possible way I could be aroused by being nude in the presence of these four men. They were Vakarrans, for God’s sake.
I pressed my teeth together firmly and lifted my chin, pulling my shoulders back in defiance. I’d ignore the throbbing in my core and the wetness I could feel between my thighs. Zaavyr walked forward and took my wrists in his hands and I couldn’t help but notice the tingle that raced across my skin at his touch.
He put me in cuffs again and attached a leash to the steel clasps in between.
With not another word, they led me forward, out of their tent and into the sun. Not a single person was moving around outdoors. The camp was strangely silent.