No, he decided. Best not to bring up the subject.
Joan stretched lazily, appreciating the comfort of the big bed. It would have been even better if Varga had been there, but a night’s sleep seemed to have restored him completely and he had left earlier to exercise. She shuddered at the thought and started to burrow back under the covers when an intrusive memory made her frown.
Kevin used to do that. He would leave every morning to exercise. Of course, unlike Kevin, Varga had kissed her thoroughly before he left and hadn’t suggested that she would be better off exercising as well. But Kevin didn’t start off as dismissive either.
Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself, but the pleasure of sleeping in had disappeared and she sat up. She looked around the room, taking in all the details she hadn’t paid attention to before. The enormous bed, the ornate fabrics, the elaborate and undoubtedly expensive furniture—it reminded her uncomfortably of the home she had shared with Kevin. One he had insisted be designed to showcase his wealth rather than to create a comfortable home.
“Now you’re just being crazy,” she muttered to herself and headed for the shower in the equally elaborate bathroom. Varga had never voiced a word of complaint about the minimal guest quarters he had been allotted on Drahana, or the stifling heat of the tunnels, or the lengthy trek across the surface while she had been unconscious. He had nothing in common with her ex-husband.
Except the tendency to assume that he knew best, a small voice argued. He hadn’t consulted her before he added Ahona to their group. Because he’d already added everybody else they encountered—at her request, she reminded herself. And maybe he was a little bossy in the bedroom, she thought as she remembered his hand landing on her ass. At the time, she had thought they were playing and found it immensely exciting, but what if he wasn’t playing? What if he thought he had the right to punish her?
She told herself again that she was being ridiculous but the tiny niggling doubt did not completely disappear. It flared up again when Varga returned and joined her in the shower. He was a magnificent sight naked, and her body immediately responded to his presence. Taking the soap from her hand, he washed her with slow, exquisite thoroughness until she was writhing against him.
“Such a demanding female.” He laughed when she reached impatiently for his cock. “Do I need to remind you who’s in charge?”
He squeezed her bottom as he spoke, and she froze. She knew he was teasing, but all her doubts came rushing back. He seemed to notice her sudden tension, because he gave her a concerned frown. “Is something wrong, little bird?”
Her eyes filled with tears. He sounded so concerned, so loving, but what if she was wrong?
“It’s nothing,” she said, but the mood had changed. He finished washing her, then dried her carefully. His cock was still as hard as ever but he made no attempt to initiate anything further. An uneasy silence hung between them as they returned to the main cabin and started to get dressed. As she pulled on one of his tunics, it reminded her that she had absolutely nothing of her own, not even clothes. She was completely dependent on him, and that terrifying thought caused an unexpected wave of anger.
“Where are you taking me?” she demanded, her hands on her hips.
“We’re going to Hothrest, remember? My friend Baralt’s human mate is there.”
“So you’re taking me there at her instruction?”
He frowned. “No. I’m not sure that Baralt has even told her that we are coming.”
“What if I don’t want to go there? What am I going to do after we arrive?”
His face relaxed. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll take care of you.”
“What if I don’t want you to take care of me?” Her voice sounded odd in her own ears, stiff and unnatural.
His face hardened. “You are mine to take care of, Joan, do you understand? You’re my mate, and I’m never going to let you go.”
The blood drained from her face so fast that she felt herself sway. Varga swore and caught her, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bed despite her futile attempts to struggle free.
“You don’t own me,” she said fiercely. “And I can take care of myself.”
He looked utterly shocked and her heart ached. How could she ever make him understand? But then it was his turn to shock her, releasing her to kneel in front of her.
“Issar warned me, and I was foolish enough not to listen to him. I’m doing this all wrong.” He very carefully took her hand in his and he looked so worried that she let him. “Of course I don’t own you any more than you own me. But I am yours, little bird. I belong to you completely and I hoped that you felt the same way about me.”
Her mouth opened but no words came out and he kept speaking.
“We are heading for Hothrest because I thought you would enjoy meeting another human female. I would still like to go there but we do not have to stay. I will take you anywhere you want to go.”
Her heart ached. She believed him, and she wanted to just fling herself into his arms, but…
“I know you mean well, but I don’t want to be completely dependent on anyone ever again,” she whispered, her voice a mere thread.
“What would