Chapter 5

Pearl

I sink into the pleasure of his purr, needing the distraction as the needle pierces my flesh. Too exhausted from surviving the worst day of my life and heart sore from my emotional outburst, I lie with silent tears dripping from my eyes to join the red-tinged water dancing toward the drain.

Needing a reprieve, I lean into the fuzzy halo from the alcohol and the warmth emanating from his leg. With more food in my belly than I've had in weeks and his purr melting my bones, my fear skitters away, and I find I have no desire to reach for it .

He said his crew would tend to my sister, and after seeing how well-kept his ship and people are, I'm inclined to believe him.

Once the alcohol wears off, my skepticism will probably return, but for now, I relax into the moment and sigh as he tapes several layers of gauze over my wound.

Heat rushes from the tips of my toes to my ears, but the wave dissipates as quickly as it came. I sigh again and nuzzle closer to the delicious smell wafting from his hip.

When he rolls me over and gathers me into his lap, I don't even think to balk. His bare chest proves too captivating. I need to trace his scars, but with my hands covered in bandages, I can't, so I brush my cheek over his pectoral.

He leans forward, dislodging me, but it's okay because the new position mashes us closer together.

I whimper when he cuts the laces of my boots up the center, the sudden appearance of his knife unexpected, but intrigue replaces my fear as he slips the knife back into its holster and wraps his arm tighter around my back to grab my leg. He bends my knee and holds my lower leg steady as he works my oversized boot off my foot.

Dull pain throbs up from my toes, and I grimace as he slowly peels both sets of holey socks off my feet. His grunt of dismay curls around my heart and steals my breath.

He repeats the process with my other foot and makes the same sound, except this time disapproval laces his tone.

Tears prickle my eyes.

He straightens my legs and leans back, but when he reaches for my belt, I place my bandaged hands over his and search his eyes. The tension around his mouth eases and he strengthens his purr.

"You're alright, tiny treasure. I'm taking care of you."

They aren't the words I expect, but they soothe my omega heart in ways I never thought possible. I slip my hands off his and tilt my face toward his chest, helpless against the draw of his delicious scent.

In a ridiculously sexy move, he unfastens my belt and works the buttons of my trousers free with one hand. His arm flexes under my nape as he shifts me around for better access to the second pair of pants hidden under the top layer. The hard planes of his chest fill my vision until I glance down.

My insides clench and I can't look away as his knuckles slide under the fabric between my legs as he checks for a third pair of pants. Electricity spears through me as his digits brush against my thin underwear. Even with the fabric between us, my body reacts to his touch.

I close my eyes.

He pulls his hand free and tucks his thumb into my waistbands before tugging all three over my hip. With a few twists and turns, he pulls the last of my clothes off my body and tosses them across the room.

I lie naked in his arms. My heart thrums against my sternum. Cool air wafts over my legs.

His thick fingers wrap around my hip and give a light squeeze before ghosting down my thigh. Goosebumps pepper my entire body. With only the damp fabric of his pants between us, the thick, hard length of his cock nestles against my ass.

A flash of heat clears away the haze of alcohol, but his purr protects me from my pain.

I mourn the loss of his hand when he lifts it from my thigh, but suck in a startled breath when he gathers my wrists out of my lap, passes them to his other hand, and lifts them above my shoulder. I cringe, expecting my wound to complain, but he stops before the bandage pulls tight over my torn flesh.

He leans to the side and retrieves the shower head. I watch his face through my eyelashes as he aims the spray at my body. The warmth of the water is nothing compared to the heat in his eyes. My stomach clenches and need pulses through me.

I like his possessive, hungry gaze on me.

He releases the hose and produces a bar of soap. I shiver in anticipation as he lathers a washcloth, never taking his eyes off me.

Slippery warmth glides over my skin. He covers me in soap from my belly to my toes, keeping the washcloth between us. It's torture. I need more.

My breasts tighten and nipples harden further as he parts my knees and runs his covered hand up my inner thigh. I gasp as he settles his palm over the whole of my sex.

I drown in wonderful sensations as he sinks his fingers between my folds and explores my most intimate area. When his thumb circles my clit through the washcloth, I arch my back and whine for more, but he skims his hand up my abdomen and palms each of my breasts.

An inferno rages within my core. I writhe only for him to drop the washcloth and pick up the showerhead.

He rinses me with meticulous attention, teasing us both by deepening his purr and spending extra time between my legs.

His pants chafe my skin. I hate the barrier. I need to explore every inch of him. He needs to touch me everywhere and ease the ache he created between my legs. Anger snaps through me without warning and I snarl.

My alpha stills.

He chuckles. The vibration spears through my organs.

He turns off the water and releases my wrists. My omega instincts wail at the loss of his domineering grip, but he fulfills fantasies buried deep within my DNA and manhandles me onto my knees between his legs. He braces my elbows on his thighs and settles his massive hands over my bandaged wrists, silently demanding I keep them where he put them, before he moves both hands to his belt. I watch in fascination as he unbuckles, unbuttons, and unzips. The leashed power in his movement is sexy and enticing.

Ice runs down my spine as I imagine my sister's reaction when her attacker did the same, but my mind skids to a halt when he lifts his hips and frees his cock.

No creature in all of existence should ever have such a massive weapon between their legs.

With a broad, mushroom-shaped head, a slight upward curve, and veins near the bulge of his knot, his shaft both intrigues and terrifies me. My mouth waters as pungent alpha pheromones invade my nostrils.

I want to taste him .

Memories of finding my sister bloody and broken send ice down my spine.

I lean back, but thick fingers weave into my hair and pull my face toward his tip. Panic squeezes my chest.

Masculine rumbles shatter my defenses. I reflexively try to sink my nails into his hip and hiss in pain.

"Be a good girl and open your mouth, tiny treasure."

I shake my head as much as his grip on my hair will allow. He grabs his partially inflated knot and rubs his leaking tip over my cheeks and chin.

"I told you I'd take care of you, didn't I? How can I do that if you won't open this pretty little mouth and taste my seed?"

He runs the silky flesh of his cockhead over the seam of my lips, leaving a trail of wetness behind. I inhale and lose myself in his rich pheromones.

He moans as I part my lips and flick my tongue over his tip.

"There's my good little omega. Again. Mmmm ," his rumble deepens impossibly further as I steal another lick. "Good girl. Now take me into your mouth."

I don't think I can. He's too big.

He pushes past my teeth and floods my taste buds with euphoria. Not as sweet as the juice he gave me earlier—but much more satisfying—he fills my mouth with his release and pushes deeper until I swallow, instinctually trying to close my throat.

He groans and pulls my hair, forcing me off his cock. I blink up into his blown pupils.

The ground falls out from under me when he brushes his thumb over my cheek in the gentlest caress.

"This might hurt, but you need this. Breathe when you can. Swallow the rest."

He pushes me down and surges into my throat. I panic and push against his thighs, but he groans and wraps his hand around my nape, caging me in and holding me exactly where he wants me. Tingly warmth settles in my belly and for a split second, I forget my need for oxygen, but when he pulls me up, I cough and sputter around his shaft. He releases my nape, brushes his thumb over my cheek, and sinks both hands into my hair, encompassing my entire head in his grip.

I whimper and try to push him out, but he thrusts his hips and compresses my tongue to the bottom of my mouth.

For long, endless minutes, he fucks in and out of my throat, never leaving my mouth, but always giving me time to recuperate between invasions. Each fresh surge of seed settles into my stomach and fuels the inferno raging in my veins. Tendrils of liquid fire spread from organ to organ until wetness seeps down my legs.

My throat hurts. My tongue tingles. My jaw aches. His hands muffle my hearing, but his lustful purr reaches deep into my bones.

Pressure builds in my core.

He snarls and shoves my head so far down his knot pinches my lips on my teeth. My head spins. I can't breathe. Can't think. Can't swallow with his thick shaft lodged deep in my throat.

Darkness teases the edge of my vision. I thump my injured hand against his leg, but the pleasure of his offering filling my belly washes away my panic.

Ready to sink into unconsciousness, I suck down a halfhearted breath when he lifts me off his cock. He wraps a hand around my throat and pulls me up to his lips.

Nothing matters beyond the joining of our mouths as he tastes himself on my tongue.

I should hate him. His ruthless use of my throat should fill me with fear.

But it doesn't and I don't.

I want more.

The pressure in my core and the pulsing of my clit highlight the need raging within me.

Indignation jangles down my spine as I meet his heavy-lidded gaze.

He found his release. I want mine .

His smirk increases my frustration. A flash of heat steals my breath.

"Don't worry, Pearl. I'm nowhere near done with you yet," he promises as he tilts my head down.

His cock juts proudly from between his legs, still leaking seed with his partially engorged knot pulsing near his base.

My insides clench. I want him inside me.

But there's no way I'll survive a rutting by that monstrosity. My sister barely survived when an alpha half his size attacked her.

Ice encases my heart at the thought of my sister. Tears fill my lashes.

A callused hand cups my chin and lifts my attention to his face.

His expression sweeps the floor right out from under my knees.

The Barge won't hurt me. Not like that .

He gathers me into his arms and stands.

I sob as he tucks my head against his chest.

He just throat fucked me, but tears of relief pour down my face. I'm still alive. I have food and seed in my belly, bandages over my wounds, and an alpha who'll never go back on his word.

He promised to take care of me.

I trust him.

I trust him so much I'm willing to place my sister under the care of his people .

As another flash of heat steals my breath, I let go of my worries and give in to the truth.

No other alpha would hold back this much.

I need him. I want him. He's mine.

I bite his chest and moan in bliss as his coppery essence fills my mouth.