Tessi

TESSI

"Put me down, asshole!"

I rammed my elbow into the Vinduthi's chest, but he didn't so much as flinch. My elbow stung and then went numb, as if I had slammed it into a tree trunk. I might as well have for all the good any of my efforts had done.

So far, no one had chosen to take me to the back.

Some of the other girls preferred it, a faster way to rack up the credits that would earn out their contracts.

But this would be my first time, and possibly the last if the rumors about Vinduthi devouring their lovers proved to be true.

Fear threatened to paralyze me, but if I stopped struggling even for an instant, that would be it for me. So I threw everything I had into resisting the towering Vinduthi, all to no avail.

As he carried me through the doorway into the VIP room, I grabbed the frame. My fingers peeled right off the metal as he didn't even break his stride.

Inside the VIP room was a large bed with attached restraints, a miniature lighted stage, and sound system, as well as a mini bar. He tossed me onto the bed and was on top of me before I could even blink.

I continued to squirm beneath his bulk, desperately trying to escape. He opened his mouth and lowered his face to my neck. This was it. He was going to eat me?—

His tongue darted out and slid along my sensitive skin in a slow, sensual caress. Instantly, I froze, brain sparkling with pleasure at the touch of his saliva on my skin. A shiver went through my body, turning to a deep throbbing between my legs.

What in the hell did he just do to me? I feel…I feel so good.

Alkard ran his hand up my side, pushing open the shirt he'd wrapped me in, then cupped my breast.

It broke my mind free of the hypnotic pleasure.

"Stop," I pleaded in a whisper. "Please, stop."

Alkard stopped, a look of confusion on his face mirroring my own, then glanced about the room as if truly noticing it for the first time. In spite of being the ‘VIP' room, the environs were decidedly dingy and worn.

"You should not be here," he says. "This place is…disgusting. You will dance at my club instead."

I blinked, unbelieving that he'd stopped his amorous advances on my say so. And now he offered me another indenture, instead of turning me into his personal pleasure slave?

The vein of disappointment running through my relief made me a little bit disgusted with myself.

Then it hit me.

"No," I said in a shaky voice. "I can't leave here. Please, don't make me leave."

A frown wrinkled his handsome face.

"I don't understand why you would want to stay here. My club is much larger, much nicer, and much, much cleaner. And I allow my indentures to collect actual credits for tips."

"No, I can't leave."

He shook his head.

"Why not? You obviously hate this place. And you have no idea what you are in for if you stay. Not all patrons are so put off by a struggling female. In fact, it turns some of them on."

Like you , I thought, but kept it to myself.

"You must understand, my dear, Tessi," he said in a rich tone that had me shivering all over again. "The women who work for us seldom want to leave. No one's saying that humans aren't on the bottom rung of Thodos society. But I am saying that working for me represents a path out of poverty. You can pay off your contract and be a free woman."

I grimaced, wishing he would stop sweetening the pot. His honeyed words made it harder and harder to resist him. In fact, just staring into his incendiary gaze proved enough to make my resolve weaken.

"It's true that most people wind up working many years longer than their original contract," I said carefully.

This terrifying man tried to be reasonable with me, or his version of reasonable. I didn't want to set him off. Part of me still feared his reputation very much. His reputation, and the burning desire in his eyes.

"Yes, that's the trap. But the Vinduthi do not traffic in dirty deals. We might be ruthless, and we might demand full payment on time, but we don't try to fuck over the people who work for or with us."

I nodded, having heard as much. The Fangs were dangerous as hell, but they usually kept their word.

"So," he said. "Now what do you think of my offer?"

I pulled the thin blanket over my nakedness. It didn't feel right to talk about my future, or my missing friend while I was completely exposed.

"I think that I still have to decline," I said. "Respectfully."

His brow furrowed in thought. I tried to guess what was going on behind his stalwart gaze, but it proved hopeless.

I didn't know if he had grown angry or not.

At length, his features relaxed, and so did I, letting out a breath I hadn't known I still held.

"Why do you resist me?"

I pursed my lips thoughtfully.

Does he mean why am I resisting his offer…or why am I resisting him in particular?

The answer was the same in both cases.

"It's…" I sighed, realizing I had little choice but to come clean. "I arranged things so I would be indentured at Pulsar for a specific reason. My friend, Mera, has been missing for a while now. The last place she was seen was Club Pulsar."

The light of understanding dawned in his gaze.

"I see. And how have your investigations into her disappearance progressed, my dear, Tessi?"

I felt as if I had been slapped. My investigations were going exactly nowhere. It was enough to make me fall into despair.

I turned my gaze away from him, focusing on an erotic mural on the wall instead. A bunch of centaur-like beings cavorted with scaled, winged females. They looked happy. I couldn't remember the last time I had been truly happy.

"I take your silence as confirmation of what I suspected."

I turned back to him, and found his expression didn't seem quite as cold as it had before.

I didn't have the gumption to speak, so I gave Alkard a slight nod.

"I see. Then allow me to offer my assistance…for a price."

His eyes blazed as he loomed a bit closer. I felt my heart skip a beat. I tried to swallow the lump forcing its way into my throat.

God, he's so good looking…no, Tessi. Keep this strictly professional. Mera would do the same for you.

I reached up and drew the blanket down, revealing my body to him once again.

I could do this.

Alkard arched an eyebrow, and a bemused smile twisted his sensual lips.

"I have no objections, but that's not what I meant. I want you to work for my club. In exchange, I will help you find out what happened to your friend."

Hope surged in my breast, but past experience and suspicion beat it back down into submission.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

He shrugged.

"You do not. No one knows if they can trust anyone, not really. You must take…how do you humans put it? Oh, yes. A leap of faith."

Put my faith in a space vampire? Fuck, what choice do I have?

Alkard drew back a bit further, making me less flustered and more able to think.

"Does your friend have a surname?"

"Lashley."

"And what does she look like?"

"About my height and general build, with reddish blonde hair and green eyes. She's about the same age as me, too."

He nodded, his eyes growing distant as if he were filing the information away for later use.

Maybe, just maybe, he really was going to help me find Mera.

"Ah. So she is young and beautiful as well? Though, nowhere near as beautiful as you."

I felt heat rush through my body and burn my cheeks. I turned away from him.

"You sound sure of that."

"Oh, my dear, Tessi," he purred, putting a hand on my bare knee. I shivered in spite of myself. "I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life."

It took me several moments to recover the ability to speak. My mind reeled with conflicting emotions.

I don't know if I can trust him or not…but I do know I can trust how it feels when he touches me.

He took my hand and tugged gently but insistently until I was on my feet, standing so close, I felt his body heat.

"So, do we have a deal?"

I opened my mouth but no sound came out. His hand caressed my cheek, and a soft sigh issued from my lips unbidden. It felt so good to have him touch me.

His hand slid around to the back of my head, and then he leaned in. I stilled, thinking he was going to kiss me, but instead, his mouth went to my neck. His tongue slithered over my sensitive skin with a sensual lick.

My mouth flew open and my knees buckled. I would have fallen if he didn't catch me by the arms. A sound that was something between the word yes and a sensual moan escaped my mouth.

Quivering like a captive mouse, I tried to regain my composure.

What was that? The second he licked me, I felt, I felt…I felt good. Almost too good.

"You've made me very, very happy by accepting my offer, my sweet, Tessi."

I struggled to meet his gaze. I feared what I might do if I looked into those smoldering hot eyes again. I forced my chin up, just in time to see him darting towards my neck again.

His tongue licked briefly over my flesh, stirring a sharp gasp and the thumping of my heart.

Then his teeth sank into my flesh.

I squeaked, too surprised to pull away or otherwise react. After the lick, my body reeled with pleasure. The sudden addition of pain conflated the two sensations, making them mingle in my nerves like autumn lighting.

"Just to get your taste," he mumbled into my skin before pulling away. "And to make sure that you don't forget our deal."