I already saw the hunger in Varian’s eyes. The heat in Gallus’s touch. The sexy gleam of Cyrus’s flirtatious smirk.
I’m fucked. I’m just trying to figure out in which way.
Sarah misinterprets my expression. She grins.
"You’ll look beautiful – and relax. You don't need to do anything with them. Those three will never force themselves on you…”
Part of me wishes they would – because then I could enjoy the pleasure of their big cocks and heavy bodies without the guilt of having wanted it…
“…but you have to admit,” Sarah continues, “it could be a little fun to tease them..."
Part of me knows that’s a horrible idea.
I should fade into obscurity – blending in here, like a little mouse hiding from hawks that circle overhead, even as I take the prize I seek and leave.
But…
…there’s part of me that delights in this. There’s part of me that wants to look less plain, especially compared to all these gorgeous beauties in the Aurelian’s harem.
I know it's stupid…
I know it's foolish…
…but I like the idea of looking good.
“Are you sure this isn’t too much work for you?”
Maybe if I ask it that way, Sarah will abandon all this time-consuming effort.
No such luck.
Sarah laughs. Her laugh comes easily; and this time it’s genuine.
“Not at all, Mia! This is my passion. I do make-up for all the girls in the harem – well, the ones who’ll let me. Sometimes I get a little wild. I do some painting and drawing as well, and sometimes the two blend together…”
I giggle, imagining what that could result in.
“…but this is my true art.”
Sarah demonstrates that as she goes back to working on my face, contouring and hiding blemishes so seamlessly that it’s akin to magic. I'm amazed. The women of the harem were all gorgeous, but now I can see Sarah's touch in each of their faces. She truly is an artist.
It takes twenty minutes, but I barely recognize myself in the mirror once Sarah is done.
I've never worn make-up before, and the difference is astonishing. Suddenly, I no longer feel like the plain, bland little mouse that I’d been when I’d entered the harem. Somehow, Sarah has made me look almost as pretty as any of the other women in that troupe of beauties.
"Wow,” even Sarah seems impressed by her own work. “You look great.”
I blink, reaching behind me to take her hand.
“Sarah, you’re good. Like, you're really good."
It’s funny how we all have our talents. You need someone to lift a wallet out of someone’s pockets without them noticing? I’m your girl.
You need someone to scale a stone wall, sneak into a house, and take a family heirloom?
Child’s play to a thief like me.
But when it comes to looking good, or flirting with guys, or anything traditionally considered “girly” then I’m completely out of my element.
That’s Sarah’s realm – and she’s a queen at it.
“Thank you,” Sarah takes the compliment in her stride. “But what’s that Old-Earth expression? A workman is only as good as his tools?”
“I thought it was: You can’t put lipstick on a pig.”
Sarah playfully punches my shoulder.
“You are the opposite of a pig!” Then she leans down, until her breath is hot against my neck. “The truth is – when I first saw you, Mia, I saw exactly why Gallus, Varian, and Cyrus invited you here. I see why they wanted you.”
She sighs, patting my shoulder – as if lamenting looking at a treasure she can’t possess herself.
“You have a natural beauty, Mia. You have this… wholesome innocence to you – one I knew they’d never be able to resist.”
“Shut up!”
I’ve never been good at taking compliments. I don’t have much practice.
Sarah’s words ground me, though. I suddenly stop feeling like I’m in a dream. Those three gorgeous aliens are attracted to me – but they’re drawn only to my innocence. It’s just like Darr told me. The combination of being a damsel in distress, and the scent of my virginity, is like catnip to those three looming warriors.
If I let them claim my virginity, they wouldn’t be drawn to me anymore – not after they discover I’m not their Fated Mate. I’d just be another woman in their harem – a warm cunt or eager mouth to sink their dicks inside when they’re too tired to jerk off.
I will have the attention of those three gorgeous men only until they mate with me and discover that I’m not their Fated Mate, their Bonded partner, or destined to be the mother to their legion of strong, strapping sons.
Just like every woman in this harem – I’ll just end up a disappointment to them.
My mind wanders.
What would it be like? To actually be Bonded to them? Are all the horrible rumors about the Bond true, as well?
"One last thought.”
Sarah’s voice snaps me from my thoughts.
“They crave innocence – but we don't want you too innocent."
Sarah then pulls out a red lipstick and applies it to my lips. To my shock, my lips look nearly as pouty and full as hers when she’s done.
"All done! Now, don't you look gorgeous?"
I feel a hit of regret as I stare at myself in the mirror. I don't quite know why I let her transform me like this. It made me start thinking things I shouldn’t...
Wait, that's a lie. I know exactly why I allowed this.
Even if I didn’t admit it to myself, I wanted to be as desirable to these Aurelians as all the other women in their harem.
The sad part is – now I know that their attraction is as superficial as this makeup. They’ll only want me until they know I’m nothing special – not their Fated Mate. Then, I’d just become another one of their conquests. They’d treat me well – perhaps given me more than I could earn from this heist if I stayed with them long enough – but at what cost to me?
A coldness grips me.
I feel like such a fool. I need to remember that I’m
