When she had woken during the night from a panicked dream of being back on the Derian ship, his big body and comforting scent had reassured her. She had woken him as well, but he hadn’t complained, simply pulling her into his arms and gently stroking her back until she’d calmed. She’d spent the rest of the night there, and no more nightmares had troubled her.
But now she was alone, and someone was at the door. Still, she was supposed to be under his protection. Lifting her chin, she opened the door.
Tugtai, the female who had been part of her “preparation” in the harem, was standing there, and Izzie’s pulse sped up.
“What are you doing here? I’m with Baralt.”
“I know that. He sent for clothing for you.” The female sneered at Izzie’s outfit—she was still wearing Baralt’s kiltar. “I am here to dress you.”
“I don’t need to be dressed.”
“What you think you need is unimportant. Your temporary master has spoken.” Tugtai swept in before Izzie could respond, and two more females followed her, each of them carrying large containers. “Now remove that pitiful excuse for clothing, and I will determine the most flattering outfits.”
“I said I don’t need your help,” Izzie repeated through clenched teeth.
“Would you prefer that I sent for Master Napunsa?”
Izzie shuddered at the memory of the caterpillar-like alien. It had been easier to forget her status as a slave with Baralt treating her as simply another person, but this was a painful reminder she was not free. Even though she was under Baralt’s protection, it would be foolish to antagonize the harem master.
“You don’t need to do that,” she said quietly.
“I thought not.” Tugtai smiled triumphantly, and Izzie’s fists clenched. She longed to slap that smug smile off the other female’s face, but she reminded herself to be patient.
“Now remove that garment, and I will see what I can do,” Tugtai ordered.
By the time Tugtai and her assistants left an hour later, Izzie was tired, angry, and reluctantly impressed. As much as she hated being treated as little more than a piece of sexual meat, she had to admit that the female knew her stuff. The selection of outfits that remained were far more revealing than anything she would choose to wear, but they were undoubtedly flattering.
She surveyed herself in the mirror in the bathing cave and barely recognized herself. Between her job and her classes, she had neither the time nor the money for anything other than basic clothing. Certainly nothing like this. Dark-red silk, subtly sprinkled with gold thread, caught the light and set off the golden tones of her skin. The fabric crisscrossed over her breasts, accenting the lush mounds, before drifting down to the tops of her thighs in a short, flirty skirt. Too short, she realized, as she twirled in front of the mirror and the fabric lifted to reveal her ass and her naked pussy. Tugtai had merely stared at her when she’d asked for underwear.
A sound from behind her made her twirl again, hastily pushing her dress back down. Baralt was standing at the entrance to the bathing room, his eyes glowing. His scent filled the room, and when her gaze dropped instinctively down his body, she gasped. The head of his cock was emerging from his sheath, dark purple and glistening. The bedroom had been in darkness, and other than a brief glimpse the first day, she had never really seen him before. As she stared, more of his shaft emerged. He was huge.
She would never be able to take him—wait, what was she thinking? They were not going to have sex, no matter how kind he was or how attractive she was beginning to find him.
He prowled toward her, coming to a halt close enough that she could feel the soft fur covering the hard muscles of his chest against her taut nipples. With a shock, she realized that despite her denial, she was aroused.
“I guess you approve of the outfit,” she said breathlessly, trying not to give into the urge to rub against him.
“It only enhances your natural beauty.”
Well, that was sweet—even if the look in his eyes was anything but. He ran a big hand down her back, not so much to pull her closer as to encourage her to lean into him. She bit back a moan when he reached the short hemline, and his hand slipped beneath it to cup her bare ass, slowly kneading the soft flesh.
The heated bar of his cock pressed against her stomach, and both curious and reassured by the fact that he was only holding her lightly, she reached out to touch him.
Oh my. He felt even larger than he looked, hot and slippery and too big for her to grasp in one hand. Her fingers squeezed instinctively, and he groaned.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” She started to pull away, but he closed his hand over hers.
“You could never hurt me. But it has been a long time since I have felt a female’s touch.”
“Really?” To Izzie’s annoyance, Tugtai had been filled with stories about Baralt’s prowess. “You seem to have a reputation.”
Did he look embarrassed?
“There was a time when I was young and foolish. Were you never like that?”
Now it was her turn to be embarrassed. There had been a brief time in high school when her resentment over her father’s disinterest had caused her to act out in the hope that he would notice her. He never had, and she’d quickly realized that a succession of loser boyfriends had done nothing to alleviate the pain.
Her hand had stilled at the memory, and now Baralt sighed,
