Three of them. One of me. It’s a fair question, even if I don’t want to find out for real.
Or, at least, I keep telling myself I don’t.
Sarah's mouth opens, and she shivers deliciously. I realize she's remembering a coupling with them... All of them.
"Not always,” she eventually murmurs, eyes wistful, “but one time...” Her eyes catch mine in the mirror and with a teasing smile, she purrs: “Are you sure you want to hear this?"
I'm very sure I shouldn't hear this!
"Forget I asked."
Sarah opens her mouth to respond…
…and then freezes. She looks up sharply, as if she hears something – a grazing gazelle startled by the near inaudible pawprints of a lion.
"They're coming back!"
"How do you know?"
A second later, though, I hear it myself. It’s the low rumble of a shuttle landing. Sarah must have better hearing than I do.
My heart races. My palms sweat. I don't know why I’m suddenly feeling so nervous. For some reason, I feel more vulnerable now I’ve been made up to blend in…
Remember, Mia. You’re here to steal from the Aurelians, not care what they think of you.
Well, I tell myself that – but if that was truly my only goal, I could have probably already stolen those watches. They were right there in the open – unprotected. All I’d have had to have done was distract Sarah. Then, I could have taken them, and hidden them somewhere...
…so, I’m not being honest – least of all with myself.
I could have potentially done this job already, and the fact that I haven’t was a choice I’d made. I guess some part of me wants to experience what it’s like to be around these towering aliens. Part of me wants to taste this life. I've heard so many stories about Aurelians, but already I’ve discovered that not all of them are true.
For example, no one would repeat the rumor that Aurelians are incapable of humor having met Cyrus. Nobody would claim that Aurelians are cold and robotic having felt the protective weight of Gallus’s hand on your own. Nobody would argue that Aurelians are emotionless after seeing the passion in Varian’s eyes, even while his face and body are as expressionless as a marble statue.
That protectiveness in Gallus, the light, charming mix of cockiness and mischief in Cyrus, and the sullen intensity of Varian. As I said before – Aurelians are more than men, in every way – including emotionally. They just hide it to all but the few they’ll allow close to them.
The few that now include me – a stranger they’ve welcomed into their home, unaware she plans to steal from them. A knot of guilt tightens in my belly.
Sarah sees my anxiety and misinterprets it.
"The irony is, you not making an effort to impress them will impress them.”
I look up, confused. Sarah laughs. It’s like music.
“With men, it's better than they come to you. Some of those girls you’ve met will already be out there on the landing pad, greeting them like I did when you and Cyrus arrived.”
I remembered Sarah’s dramatic entrance, and the way she tried to plant her kisses on Cyrus like a stamp of ownership. His rejection wasn’t cruel – but it was unequivocal. I can see the regret in Sarah’s eyes – as if she’s embarrassed that she tried so hard, only to be spurned, and her only comfort is knowing that the other women of the harem will act equally as desperately.
She shakes her head, laughing bitterly.
“Come – I want to see how frustrated those three, big lugs get when they get a look at you – and you let them know they can't have you.” She pauses, meeting my eyes in the reflection of the mirror. “You're not going to let them have you, right?"
I shake my head furiously. "No! Not a chance!”
But I won’t make that too clear. Maybe this makeover was exactly what I needed. If I keep those three thinking with their cocks, they won’t be thinking with their brains…
Sarah smiles mischievously.
“Good! They’ll get so frustrated with your teasing they’ll practically be drooling… and when you won’t give them what they crave, they’ll have to let their frustrations out on me.”
Sarah gives me a saucy wink.
A sudden, insane surge of jealousy hits me. I can’t stand the thought of those three towering aliens wanting me, yet settling for her. It makes us both seem cheap.
Yet there’s something I can’t stand more – just the fact that I feel this frustration in the first place. Why should I? Why can’t I get a grip?
I don’t own these men. I don’t own their desires. I didn’t come here to join their harem for real!
Gods, I don’t even know them – not really!
It’s so frustrating to feel them looking at me, thinking about me – wanting me…
…and yet knowing that it doesn’t mean anything. They’re just men – even if they stand two feet taller and are built like the statues of Greek Gods. Even if their cocks are – according to Sarah – longer than most men’s forearms.
Aurelians are men, and they are just like all other men – only more so.
I force myself to give Sarah a reassuring smile back.
She leads me to the door, unaware that anything is amiss.
“Let’s see if their little trip was a success,” she gestures me to step through the doorway. “Those three been obsessed with some painting for the last week or so.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ll find that Gallus, especially, can’t let go. He’s like a predator.” Her eyes flash. “When he sets his eyes on something – anything – he can’t think of anything else until he gets it.”
We stride down the corridor. My belly flips.
He can’t think of anything else until he gets it…
…and now he’s set his eyes on me.
4
Varian
Gallus looks stern and expressionless on the outside, but I know that inwardly, he’s well satisfied. He pilots the shuttle towards our landing pad with
