But that’s not going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to be impossible to stop him if he wants me – and I already know he does. They all do.
I can feel their hunger emanating from them.
In fact, as Augustus closes his huge hand around mine, and helps me out of the shuttlecraft, it’s like electricity flows between us. I shudder as the towering Aurelian leads me through the exterior doors into a massive penthouse suite.
I gasp as the lights come on automatically. As Peter Paradooli’s property, I’d become used to opulence – but this huge hotel room is something else entirely. It could house fifty people comfortably, and the entire suite is decorated in black marble with undeniably masculine tones all around; as though it was made specifically for these alien warriors. The dark colors and muted tones contrast perfectly against their pure, ivory skin.
I need to get them to save Danielle – and quickly!
I shudder.
Who knows what the Bullfrogs are doing to her… Right now!
I follow Augustus into the main room – and then, suddenly, he turns. I stumble to a halt – gazing up at him. Gods! He’s so much taller than me!
With a slight smile, Augustus reaches down and runs a thick finger across my cheek. I shudder, feeling a sudden and unexpected rush of desire for this towering, alien warrior.
Gods! I pray that he will be gentle with me. He’s so fucking huge that if he decided to take me right now – as I both feared and hoped he would – he’d ruin me. If Augustus’ cock matched the rest of his physique, he’d split me in two – especially if the famed mating frenzies of the Aurelians are as true as the rumors suggest.
I look up at him, my eyes pleading. “Please! Please, save Danielle! Then you can do anything you want to me.”
There’s a voice from behind me. “AI. Contact The Star.”
The Star.
I turn around and see that’s Evander who’s spoken.
He’s asking about The Star – the most prestigious casino in all of Lipa. I’m familiar with it because I hate the place with a passion.
Peter Paradooli has many vices, but his worst is gambling. When he comes back from The Star, some nights he’s ecstatic… and the others, he’s in a horrible temper.
When he’s in one of those moods, he’ll deliberately find things to punish slaves for. I’ve taken three whippings because of The Star; and I deserved none of them.
In fact, I can still feel the sting across my ass from the whip tendrils he had Gerard use on me.
A hologram appears from the wall. The flickering image of a man in a suit beams out at Evander. “Most esteemed Aurelians! Will you be joining us tonight?”
Evander cocks his head. “Are the Bullfrogs there? I’ve got an itch to win some money off them.”
The man in the suit smiles. “I would never insult a guest, but you know that their species have a particular proclivity for gambling. They are in… quite a mood at the moment.” He coughed politely. “They’ve mentioned twice that some… and again, I would never insult a guest…”
“Go on,” Evander snarls.
The man’s smile turns sickly. “…the Bullfrogs mentioned that three bastard Aurelians – their words not mine, I would never insult a guest – took the “prize bitch.’”
The hologram’s eyes narrow, turning to me.
“Is that her?”
Evander moves to the side, blocking the casino host’s view of me.
“She’s ours now. Speak that word of her again – even as a quote – and I’ll rip your head off, understood?”
Evander says it calmly – his even tone the exact opposite of his violent words.
“My… My mistake. I’m deeply sorry if I insulted you – or her.”
Evander pauses for three seconds – seconds that stretch out like eternity.
“We’ll arrive later,” he eventually growls. “Tell them that – and tell them that we’ll be coming with all the credits we didn’t spend at the auction.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And while you’re at it, mention to the Bullfrogs that we would like… ahem… a private game. The Old-Earth game, Hold’em…” Evander’s lips curl almost imperceptibly. “If they’re interested, of course…”
From the expression on the casino host’s face, it’s very clear he thinks they will be.
“You might also mention we’ll be bringing our slave. That is all.”
“Very good,” replies the host, and the feed cuts out.
Fuck!
Fuck! I might end up with the Bullfrogs after all!
“You’d gamble me?” I gasp.
Evander’s face doesn’t change.
“If a Bullfrog touches you,” he says calmly, “he’ll lose the hand he was so foolish to lay upon you.” The towering Aurelian turns to me. “Have no fear, Ashley. You’ll leave that casino tonight with us… and your friend.”
My heart surges.
Conan nods. “Yes – this is a good plan. The longer we wait, the more the Bullfrog’s will gamble. That will leave them on edge – and then the gambling frenzy will overcome them. Their species is weak-willed, and unable to resist their urges.”
Unable to resist their urges… You should talk.
Oh, Gods! I’m in a room with three Aurelian Warriors, who think I might be their fated mate.
Forget about the Bullfrog’s gambling frenzy – what about the Aurelian’s mating frenzy?
A huge hand touches my shoulder gently. It’s Augustus.
As he looms over me, he breathes: “The Bullfrogs won’t leave the casino – not with the knowledge that we’ll be joining them there soon. We must let them steam, though… The longer the wait, the more they’ll gamble to pass the time – and the more they’ll lose.”
“The more enraged they’ll become,” Evander nods.
“Then they’ll become greedy. Sloppy. So, until then, we have plenty of time to kill.”
Time to kill.
I look up into Augustus’ slate-grey eyes.
I know exactly how he’d like to murder it.
“Do not resist your desires, pet.” Augustus’ hard growl has softened into something warmer and deeper. Despite myself, his words fill me with desire.
I can’t believe I feel like this.
