About a hundred paces in, Megan disappeared around a rock wall and I followed to find her sitting next to a small spring fed by a steady fall of fresh water. She had set aside the helmet and Hive parts, nestled her treasure in a stone nook against the wall. She leaned down and drank freely. I joined her, drinking my fill. The water was neither warm nor cold, more like a glass that had been set out for hours and forgotten.
With a sigh she settled on the edge of the water and pulled off her boots. Blood dripped from her calf onto the rock floor. She winced, then hissed as she rolled off her sock.
“You’re injured.”
“It’s a flea bite.”
I frowned, upset that some unknown creature had attacked her. “I have never heard of this creature. What is a flea? And why did it bite you?”
She smiled again, but this time the light of that smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s this tiny creature that bites dogs and cats on Earth. It’s really small. You know? It’s just a saying.”
“A flea is a saying? What does it say?”
“Never mind. I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.” She reached for the locks that would free her armor at her shoulders, but when she twisted to unclasp them, she gasped. “Damn it.”
I saw the V between her delicately arched brows and knew her pain-filled expression wasn’t solely caused by me. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. This fearless little female was hurting and trying to hide it from me. She was in pain, from some injury. I just couldn’t see it.
Mine. The beast chose that moment to push me, to test my control. He wanted out. He wanted this female.
He simply wanted.
“I will remove your armor now.”
She spun about and slapped at my hands. “I’m fine.”
I stood, towering over her once again. I was no longer weak and sprawled on the ground. She may have used the wand when I was in pain, but I was healed. Strong. She needed to know who was in charge, and it was definitely me.
“My beast knows you are hurt. If you fight me, he will come out to play. Is that what you want?” Gods, why did I want her to challenge me again, to say yes?
“You are a pain in the ass.”
I’d give her pain on her perfect ass when I spanked her for fighting me all the time. If she were mine…
But she wasn’t mine. Not mine. I made those two words a chant in my mind, a chant to drown out the beast. “I will not stand here and watch you bleed to death, human.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to die,” she countered.
I crossed my arms over my chest, eyed her intently, waited. It had the desired effect, making her squirm beneath the scrutiny. When she was well, I wanted to make her squirm from something else.
“You have a choice, Megan Simmons. Either allow me to heal you with the ReGen wand like a reasonable, intelligent female, or I will strip you bare, heal you with the wand, and then spank your ass until it burns for taking such poor care of yourself.”
Her mouth fell open and I saw a row of straight white teeth. Her eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Oh, I’d dare. I’d spank that round backside of hers and like it. “Try me. See what happens,” I replied.
Knowing she was safe and knowing she’d be learning to accept the fact that a warrior would watch out for her, would care for her, were two definite reasons I’d be just fine with the action.
The idea of her over my lap, naked and pinned in place while I showed her who was in charge made my beast growl with lust. He wanted to dominate her, seduce her, earn her trust and complete surrender.
By the gods, this female was going to be a lot of work for her future mate. So why was my beast so enraged with the thought? Megan Simmons wasn’t meant for me. I would have a bride coming soon, as soon as I completed the testing. Any day now, I’d walk into the medical station and submit to the process. Soon after, a soft, sweet, docile female would arrive to soothe my fire with acceptance and gentleness.
I tried to hold on to that thought, the fantasy I’d been carrying for weeks now. But Megan intruded, taking over my mind as she often had these last months. Yes, the idea of watching that lovely caramel-colored skin brighten with my handprint made me go rock hard. Harder.
A sound, something like a growl, rumbled from her chest. ?
??Fine,” she snapped, holding out her hand with her ReGen wand in it.
I took it from her, intentionally brushing my fingers over her palm. My beast practically howled in happiness. Her skin was soft, but dirty. Scratches and cuts marred her small hand from climbing up the jagged rock face.