Alkard

ALKARD

I prided myself on the fact I seldom hesitated. I took action while others still struggled to comprehend.

Thus, Tessi's ability to continue to fluster me proved almost painful. Her chest heaved, her eyes shone.

Sweat glistened on her skin as she continued to taunt me with her shining, dark eyes. Tessi's full, painted lips seemed on the verge of curling into a smirk or a sneer at any moment.

She had thrown down the gauntlet.

Either kiss me or kill me.

It was true, she had earned a death sentence by trespassing into my private office. The locking door to the lower levels of the club were for the employee's protection, not my own. No one had ever dared to go into my office, so I had never felt the need to keep the doors locked.

"You are impetuousness made flesh," I whispered under my breath. Her keen ears picked it up.

"Thank you. But flattery will get you nowhere."

Those perfect lips of hers curled into a half-smile, and my ire bubbled over like a cauldron of hot stew left on the heat too long. How had this human managed to worm her way under my skin so thoroughly?

Her smile faded, and her gaze darkened for a moment.

"I'm only doing all of this to find Mera, you know. I wasn't going to rip you off or steal anything. I just wanted to see if you had any information."

"You still don't trust me?"

Her lips twisted bitterly.

"Would you trust you, if you were in my position?"

I considered it a moment, marveling at how this woman kept surprising me. It wasn't like humans were some kind of novelty to me.

I had seen them scurrying about the station, a lesser, servant species if I had ever seen one. Other than that, they were utterly unremarkable.

Or so, I had thought. Either this creature before me was some kind of paragon of her species, or I had badly misjudged humanity's potential.

Who am I trying to fool? No other human could ever be as interesting as my sweet, saucy Tessi…

Her heady aroma hung heavy in my nostrils, tingling desire across my brain with every breath. My nostrils flared at the scent of her blood on the healing wound on her neck.

My mind flared back to when she'd squirmed about on my lap earlier. Only, she had seemed to enjoy it, making it not a punishment at all.

She spoke, but my mind had drifted into the realm of passion. I swam in an aerial tea of her scent, her blood, the closeness of her sweet, glistening flesh?—

The door to my office slid upward, startling both of us. My gaze snapped over as the door retreated into the ceiling with a soft hiss. I recognized Razov's boots immediately.

My hands darted out, seizing her by the arms. With a smooth motion, I dropped into my office chair and pulled her into my lap, ignoring her cries of surprise as I arranged her legs to splay around me.

Now Tessi sat on my lap, our gazes locked as the door opened fully. Her hands rested on my chest until I grabbed her wrists and twisted her arms behind her back. Razov stood in the hallway, his eyes on his percomm pad, but I was only dimly aware of him.

Her sweet ass perched upon my rigid member. My cock strained at the confines of my trousers, desperate to reach her.

I worked my pelvis, grinding myself onto her. Her eyes widened, mouth flying open to let out a breathy gasp.

"Hey, Alkard," Razov said, striding into the office with his eyes fixed to the data displayed on his screen. "I might have a lead on the weapons?—"

Razov lifted his gaze to see the spectacle before him. He swallowed, hard, his words dying mid-breath. I continued to grind on Tessi all the while, her eyes half-closed, and while she didn't move against me, she certainly didn't resist either.

"I'm busy," I snapped when the fool continued to stand there and stare.

"Sorry," Razov said, making a quick exit.

I stopped moving the moment the door closed, but my hands remained closed on her wrists.

Tessi's breaths came in heavy pants, her nipples brushing my chest with each exhalation. Her lips moved slowly until actual words came out.

"W—what…what, I mean, why did you…"

"Why did I do that?" I finished for her. "I wanted him to think you were in my office because I had dragged you in here for my own pleasure."

She shivered, akin to the surface of a pond under a strong wind edging up into furrows and ripples. Tessi didn't struggle, but she formed her hands into fists.

"Why would you want him to think that?"

Now it was my turn to smirk.

"Did you want me to tell him that I'd caught you digging around in my office? What do you think would happen to you then? Spies do not last long here."

Her eyes shone with understanding, and I nodded.

"This is a dangerous world you have slipped into, my dear. You have truly, how do you humans say?"

I considered for a moment, until the memory sparked.

"Ah, yes. Been dropped off in the deep end. You must be prepared for anything if you are to continue looking for your friend."

I felt my resolve waning every second she sat there on my lap. I did not want to admit how much I loved the smell of her. I did not want to admit how much I craved the feel of her supple skin pressed against mine.

But most of all, I did not want to admit how much the memory of the taste I stole burned my tongue and made my throat ache like a man parched for water.

I wanted more. And suddenly, I saw a way to keep what happened on the dance floor from occurring again.

"I'll make you a bargain, Tessi," I said softly. "I won't tell my brothers I found you here, and I'll bend all of our resources to finding your friend."

"You can do that? What will the others think?"

My eyes narrowed as a flash of anger at her impertinence rushed into me.

"They will think that I am in charge, and they will be correct. They will carry out my orders. They will assume I have good reasons for keeping it from them and leave it at that."

Her mouth quivered, the plump curve of her lower lip tempting me to suck on it.

Instead, I continued. "My circle are not just business partners, or my soldiers. They are men I have fought and bled with. We have faced death together, and if I tell them to find Mera, then by all the gods on all the planets in this galaxy, they will fucking find her or die trying."

The light in her eyes warmed something in my chest, a strange flicker of something I didn't recognize.

"I'd appreciate the help, a lot."

"I didn't say I would help you for free. I want something in exchange."

Tessi's gaze flared with suspicion.

"And what do you want?" her voice broke slightly, and she trembled on my lap. "In exchange?"

"You."

Her mouth flew open in a gasp.

"I want you. I'll keep you for a month."

"In your office?" she asked, her eyes darting over as if she expected to find a length of chain or a heavy metal hasp set into the floor.

"Oh, no," I said, shaking my head. "You might stumble into something you're not supposed to see here, and get yourself killed while I'm not around. No, I'll keep you in my home."

"In your…home?" She swallowed audibly, her eyes unblinking and holding something between fascination and fear.

"Yes." I leaned forward, moving my bulge against her in the process. "Anything goes."

Tessi had sat in my grip without much struggle the entire time. Now she burst into desperate, frenetic struggles. She could never hope to break my grip, but I feared she might hurt herself trying.

I released her, against every instinct I had.

I was the predator, she was my prey.

And yet somehow, she must come to me willingly.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide and swimming with a symphony of emotions.

"Not. Anything," she said, putting great emphasis on each word. Her hand clapped to her neck, where I had bitten her, the marks already fading. "I've heard the rumors of what you do to your mates. You're not claiming me."

I laughed softly, exulting in how exquisitely delightful I found her.

"No, I won't claim you, Tessi," I purred. "Though you make it very tempting."

Her eyes said what her lips did not. Tessi knew that I could take her then and there if I wanted.

"But," I said, making her start. "Once you agree, I won't put so much as a hand on your shoulder unless you wish it. You can simply live with me."

Her mouth flew open, and a small light of hope dawned in her gaze.

"Are you fucking with me, or are you playing it straight?"

"I'm playing it straight," I said with utter conviction. I wasn't quite sure why I played it straight, but I knew somehow, in my heart, that this was the way it had to be. "I promise you, Tessi. We will only go as far as you want."

A sudden intake of breath, a widening of her gaze—heralds of the fact Tessi had realized the double edged sword paradox of my bargain.

Yes, she was in control of how far we went...but that put the onus, the burden on her. Now she could no longer pretend she was being swept along by circumstances beyond her control.

Now she would have to admit to her desires.

And now, my dear Tessi, I entangle you in the first gossamer thread which will make you mine, and mine alone.

"But I promise you this also, Tessi," I said, drawing her out of her deciding trance. "You will agree to… everything. "

A stunned expression washed over her beautiful face, I didn't need to read her mind to sense her conflict, the raw edge of her nerves crackling back and forth, fighting the desire I knew we both felt ever since we kissed.

"I need a yes or a no, Tessi," I said, allowing a stern edge to creep into my voice.

I saw her resolve harden in her brown eyed gaze and my gut clenched.

Tessi had made her decision, though I did not know which way she had chosen.

And for a moment, fear touched my spine with icy fingers.

She licked her lips, then faced me square on. When she spoke, her voice contained a note of resignation…but not regret.

"Yes, Alkard. I'll be yours."

A deep, crackling thrill throbbed through my being when she spoke.

I like hearing you say yes to me, little delicacy. I will have to convince you to say it again. Often.