“No, no,” he rushes to say. “It would. I’m just saying that if I were an Earthling female…”
"Don't," I warn him sternly, but a laugh slips out, ruining it. "Don't even. You aren't female, and you aren't from Earth. Don't even try to know what they're thinking."
“Ovian, you’re right. Novan females weren’t always the easiest to figure out at times. Earthling females have to be worse.”
“The very worst,” I assure him.
Or maybe I'm trying to assure myself, so I'll give up on this crazy nonsense. I should continue to talk to Rek until my urge leaves.
But that’s just it. I know the urge won’t leave. I’m going to be stuck wanting to fuck Shawnta or another female until I get the chance, and then, it’ll be only a matter of time until that urge creeps over me again.
Am I so certain the other guards aren’t slipping into rooms and having their way with the females when the breeders aren’t bothering one? Or maybe the guards really are better than I am, and I’m just a weak Novan who is incapable of being the Novan Overlord Nestrol wants me to be.
Ovian!
Rek eyes me. “Are you okay, Adir?”
“I’m fine,” I mutter.
“Are you? You look ready to kill someone.”
I glower at him.
“You really do,” Rek says, backing up. “I don’t want to be the one killed.”
“That’s not funny,” I grumble.
Rek laughs. “Lighten up, man! You’re too tense. Go for a walk or something. I can handle the floor.”
“You go for a walk,” I snap. “Take a hike.”
Rek eyes me and then shrugs. “I actually wouldn’t mind a bit of fresh air.”
I nod. “Go ahead. I’m serious.”
“You can handle—”
"You think you can handle the floor by yourself, but I can't? Whatever you can do, Rek, I can do better. Trust me."
He stops and just shakes his head. “Glad to know your ego isn’t hurting at all.”
“My ego? Why are you bringing that up?”
“Because.”
I narrow my eyes and furrow my brow. “Because why?”
“You’re a bit… intense at times.”
“Me?”
“Yes,” Rek stays bluntly. “You’re a bit rough around the edges.”
“Go for that walk before I change my mind and bite your tongue out of your mouth.”
“See? You’re violent.”
“Violet delights,” I mutter.
“What was that?”
I glare at him. “Go before I change my mind.”
Rek holds up his hands. “I’m going. I’m going!”
I turn and watch him as he heads toward the stairs. Once I can’t hear his footsteps anymore, I glance around. There’s no one else in the hallway, and I backtrack to Shawnta’s room.
Only the sounds of moans come through the door.
Ovian! All that and now she’s busy!
I stalk past her door and hesitate outside of another door down the hall. I have no idea who is on the other side, but I knock on the door anyhow. Maybe I should’ve tried to listen to hear if there’s anyone in there already. If a breeder is and he questions why I’m interrupting, that won’t be good. If word gets back to Overlord Nestol, I might be reassigned. My palms begin to sweat, but as seconds tick by, I realize no one is opening the door. Either she’s busy or sleeping.
I start to walk away when the door opens. I turn back to see a woman whose long, brown hair is covering her face.
“Come in,” she mumbles.
There’s something about her soft, hesitant voice that makes me pause.
“I’m a guard, not a breeder,” I say almost gruffly. “I just wanted to see if you need anything.”
She lifts her head, her hair falling back to reveal delicate features. Her eyes are a lighter brown than her hair. Her nose is small, but her lips are full, and she gives me a small smile that lights up her face.
“T-Thank you, but I don’t need anything.”
“Are you sure?” I cross back over to stand by her door. “Anything at all?”
Confusion flashes in her eyes. “Should I need something?”
“You tell me. Whatever you want, I will provide it.”
She drops her gaze to the… Not to my groin. To the floor. Shawnta would've already grabbed me and yanked me inside by now, but this female isn't like Shawnta at all. There's something vulnerable about her.
I should leave.
I don’t want to.
When she doesn’t say anything, I glance over her shoulder. “Do you want a blanket for your bed?”
“Ah… Yes. Yes, actually. That would be nice.” She nods, her head down, her hair falling forward again.
“I’ll be right back.”
I rush away to the bottom floor, where we keep a lot of supplies and root around until I find the fluffiest blanket we have. The white is so bright that it’s blinding, and I rush back to her room. Her door is shut, but this time, when I knock, she opens it immediately.
“That was fast,” she says.
I love the sound of her voice when it’s filled with surprise.
“I didn’t want to keep you waiting,” I say. “May I?”
She hesitates, but then she moves to the side and allows me entrance into her room.
I march over to her bed and make it, hating that I can smell that other Novans have been in here. Why should that bother me? I don’t even know her name, but there’s something so tender about her that I want to protect her.
“You didn’t have to make my bed,” she murmurs. “I could’ve.”
“I know, but I said I would do whatever you needed, didn’t I?” I smooth out imaginary wrinkles, trying to bide my time, wanting to linger, but also not wanting to force myself on her.
She seems very much like a delicate flower, and I hate that others have touched her. Did she want them to? Is she a volunteer or lottery?
“Can I ask you a question?” I ask.
The female backs up and hits the open door.
“I didn’t mean to alarm you.” I take a step toward her to see if she’s all right but then stop, not wanting to make things worse.
“You… You didn’t. What’s your question?”
“What’s your name?” pops out of my mouth, which hadn’t been the question I wanted to
