2. Kren

The water was hot and soothing. It eased my muscles and the aches and pains from my earlier fight.

I ran a hand over my jaw to work out the kinks.

The zinknos I'd faced was a real slogger. He caught me a few times on the jaw and it made me stumble, a little dazed until I found my rhythm again.

I danced to avoid his swinging arms, ducking, and weaving.

He swung at me with everything he had. The zinknos never believed in half measures. Pacing himself was an alien concept.

Everyone knew that when a zinknos began to perspire, that's when you had him on the ropes.

It was easy to demolish him after that.

I knocked his unconscious form to the floor. His chin struck the ground and a handful of teeth skittered from his drooling mouth.

I rolled my shoulders and neck. The bones crunched as they snapped back into place.

I must have sustained an injury I wasn't even aware of, but it was back to normal now.

Almostback to normal.

I made a fist and slammed it against the tiled wall.

Why did I bring her here? Why did I think it was a good idea?

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

It would only create whispers and rumors. I heard them already as we weaved through the hallways to my cell.

The Beast has made a claim! The Beast has taken a mate!

And they would all want a piece of her.

After they thought I was done with her, at least.

No one would take the risk otherwise.

I leaned my forehead against the tiles and let the water run down my back.

My shoulders felt a little stiff so I wrenched them, popping them back into their sockets.

I didn't feel it. Pain became background noise after a while.

I shut my eyes and saw her there.

The Prize.

I didn't even know her name.

She stood there, naked as the day she was born. Ready for me to use however I saw fit.

She had a body that deserved to be used and enjoyed.

I'd lost track of myself and that light that burned brightly deep inside me took over.

I was across the room and touching her before I even knew it.

Her skin was so smooth, her body so ripe and ready for plucking…

I touched each part of her in turn, savoring the meal to come…

And when I looked into her eyes, I didn't see that unrepentant, uncowed force I saw in her eyes at the Prize Pool.

I didn't see her strength.

I saw her weakness.

I couldn't do what my instincts were begging me to.

Not with that look in her eye.

I was revolted. Not with her, but at the way I made her feel. She thought she had to be here, had to act the way I wished her to act.

That was when I pulled back from her and got in the shower.

That was why I never chose from the Pool.

They were every bit a slave as I was.

Still, my senses were full of her.

Her delicious smell and the feel of her body in my hands.

She was a stunning creature, one I needed to make mine…

I reached for the tap to turn the shower off, to march back in the room and take her. And there wasn't a damn thing she could do to stop me.

But I hesitated.

Once again, I was revolted with myself.

I kept the water lashing down. Maybe if I stayed underneath it long enough, it would wipe away the evil thoughts too.

I had to get her out of my system or I would bury myself inside her before the night was over.

I could send her away, but no, I didn't want to do that.

The madam would think she displeased me somehow and punish the girl.

It wasn't her fault.

I took myself in hand and shut my eyes.

I rubbed myself as I pictured her nubile body beneath my hands.

I flicked her hard nipples and lowered my lips to them, licking and sucking.

In my imagination, they tasted like honey.

Then, she was in the shower with me, both our bodies wet and urgent.

I would press her body against the wall, lift her, and slide inside her.

Deep.

She would cling to me, her arms draped around my shoulders, her legs tucked over my hips and under my ass, encouraging me to fuck her harder, deeper, and grind inside her until she tightened around my cock and pulsed powerfully as I thrust mercilessly into her.

I never would have even glanced in the girl's direction if it wasn't for her friend stamping her foot and making that noise.

I turned and noticed her right away.

She was smiling, and in this place, that was rare enough.

Soft light played across her face and the soft body beneath the sheer dress that hid nothing.

In that tiny sliver of an instant, I felt something deep inside myself that I hadn't felt in years.

Hunger.

Not the physical kind—I was always hungry in this place as they never gave us enough food—but the deep yearning to be inside her, a deep understanding that I needed to take her for my own.

The other girls were attractive as far as it went, but there was something special about this one.

Something I longed for.

It was partly to discover what it was that I chose her.

The madam followed me, surprised I was taking a closer look at her wares.

I'd never shown much interest before.

Not until now.

The girl was small and maintained that distant, faraway look on her face as I drew up to her.

As if she wasn't here but somewhere else.

Where?I wondered.

Then she noticed the other girls had snapped to attention.

She hastily turned to see what the commotion was.

Her eyes latched onto mine.

And that was it.

She had slain me with just a look.

It lasted for the briefest of moments, but it was there.

The effect was instant.

A flare of light burst inside me like a newborn star, its loving glow filling me with a warmth I had never felt before.

There were many questions in my life.

Who was I? Where did I come from? How would my future play out?

And right then, I felt like a part of that might be answered.

The feeling was ancient.

I wanted her.

No, it was more than that.

I needed her.

I reached orgasm fast.

I was relieved I hadn't had sex with her. I wouldn't have lasted long if this was any indication!

I removed the showerhead to wash my come from the wall.

I picked up the soap and began to scrub myself, relieved I could relax in her presence and enjoy the rest of the evening.

I cameout of the shower and paused in drying my hair when I found her lying in the bed.

My bed.

She lay with her back facing me, still wearing her sheer dress.

She was virtually naked in there.

I could slip under the covers and just as easily slip inside her…

I shook my head of the thoughts and images running rampant.

I finished drying off my hair and dropped the towel in the laundry basket on the other side of the room.

The girl still hadn't moved a muscle.

Did she expect me to believe she was asleep while she was in a strange room with an alien?

I was naked from the shower and rounded the bed, keeping an eye on her the entire time.

Her eyes were shut but with each of my heavy footsteps, she shuddered a little more.

I would have slept on the floor but I had no cushions or extra blankets.

I could control myself, I told myself.

I usually liked to sleep naked but for her sake, I slipped on some underwear and a regular T-shirt.

I slid under the blankets and lay my head on the pillow.

I stared at the ceiling of my cell, unsure what to do next.

She had to still be awake. Nothing else made sense.

There was a long pause before I finally spoke.

"Have you ever done something and you're not sure why you did it?"

The girl just lay there, eyes clamped shut, continuing with her pretense she was asleep.

"I chose you because something inside me told me to," I said. "I think you're beautiful, sexy, and really cute. I'm not going to force myself on you."

No matter how much I might want to.

"In the morning, you can return to the Prize Pool and tell them whatever story you want to. But there's no need for you to feel uncomfortable with me now. And you don't need to pretend to be asleep either."

It took a full minute before the girl opened her eyes.

Those big, beautiful eyes.

She looked me over uncertainly.

We were both half-naked and sharing a single bed, after all.

"How did you know I was awake?" she said.

"Strange room, strange alien… I can't imagine many people would feel comfortable. What's your name?"

"Ivy."

"I'm—"

"The Beast. Everyone knows who you are."

"The Beast is the nickname they gave me. My real name is Kren."

"Kren."

I liked the way she rolled the name over her tongue.

I wonder what else she can roll over it?

I cleared my throat.

"Where are you from?"

"Earth. Have you heard of it?"

I shook my head. I hadn't heard of a lot of places.

"How did you end up here?"

"I was abducted. They took me while I was asleep."

"That doesn't sound very fair."

"Fair?"

"If they want to abduct you, the least they could do is do it while you're awake. Then you'd have a chance to escape."

Ivy snorted. Not quite a smile but I was making progress.

"I don't think fairness was part of their plan," she said.

"I guess you're right."

"How did you end up here?"

"I was brought here by my parents."

"They're criminals?"

"No."

Ivy frowned.

"But this is a prison, isn't it?"

"Just because this is a prison doesn't mean we're all criminals."

"So, what were they here for?"

"For existing."

"They didn't do anything wrong?"

"Existing is something wrong to the shrale."

Ivy frowned and delicate lines formed across her brow and around her eyes.

"The shrale. I think I've heard of them."

"They're hard to miss. They're the dominant species in this part of the galaxy."

"Your parents didn't do anything wrong?"

"We've all done something wrong to shrale eyes."

Ivy sat up and got more comfortable, ensuring to keep her blanket tucked underneath her chin.

"What species are you?"

"I'm a neb."

"Neb."

Ivy worked her mouth around the word.

"You've never heard of the neb before either?" I said.

"No."

The shrale were such a part of life in the galaxy that I found it difficult to believe there were still pockets of space that hadn't heard of them.

What a wonderful way to live…

Until you learned the truth.

"Where are your parents now?" Ivy said.

"They died many years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

I couldn't help but smile. It was a strange but welcome expression.

"And they've held you here ever since?" Ivy said.

I nodded.

"So, if you're not a prisoner," she asked, "why are you still here? Can't you leave any time you want?"

Ah, the question I had posed myself many times over the years.

Why not just leave?

"I could," I said.

"Then why don't you?"

Because leaving was one thing. Heading to something else was another.

I had no family, no life, outside this prison. This place was all I knew. It was a part of who I was.

I didn't think Ivy would understand something like that.

When I didn't answer, Ivy picked at her fingers.

"You're nothing like I thought you would be."

"Oh?"

"They call you the Beast. That comes with certain… expectations. You're the champion."

"And you're a Prize. Does that make you like all the other girls?"

One corner of her big gorgeous mouth curled into a half-smile.

"No. They're much more beautiful than I am."

How could she say such a thing?

"No, they're not," I said.

"They're super sexy. I'm just… me."

I couldn't help but reach over and pat down her hair and tuck it behind her ear.

She didn't flinch, but she watched me carefully.

Cautiously.

"I didn't even notice the other girls," I said honestly. "You're all I could see."

"Why did you choose me?"

How should I respond? That I felt a bright light in my soul and it told me to? Or should I explain some other way? I decided to be honest.

"I get this feeling sometimes. It's like I know something important is about to happen. It's my instincts telling me what to do, I think."

"I get that sometimes."

"You do?"

"Sure. When I eat chocolate. I know it's not good for me but I eat it anyway."

I threw my head back and barked a laugh.

"It's not that funny," Ivy said with an amused but confused expression.

"I know. I just haven't laughed in a long, long time."

I couldn't even remember the last time.

"How long have you been here?" Ivy said.

"Since I was a little boy."

The expression that swept over her face was one of sadness. She reached out a hand and placed it on my arm.

It sent tingles up my arm and… down there.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said.

She genuinely did look affected.

"No one should have to spend their lives in a place like this," she said. "I've been here a few days and I don't want to be here a second longer than I have to be."

A thought occurred to her.

"Is there a way out of here? A secret door or a guard I can bribe?"

I shook my head.

"The guards are unbribable. And there's no door, secret or otherwise."

"But there must be a way out. No prison is impregnable."

"This one is. It's where they put all the worst criminals in the galaxy. They put them here so they can forget about them. They don't care what happens to us. That's why they let us fight. This prison takes up the entire Gharr moon. They have different sections for different purposes. I've been here most of my life and I still don't know what all the sections are."

"Bummer," Ivy said, letting her head flop back on the pillow.

She clutched the blanket close but it did nothing to ease my imagination.

I filled in the outline of her body that pressed against the blanket.

It wasn't easy to forget we were both half-naked.

"I was hoping there was some way out of here," she said. "Every movie I've ever seen set in a prison involves a breakout."

"What's a movie?"

She looked at me as if I wasn't being serious.

"It's a form of entertainment. You watch it."

"Oh. Like the fights?"

"In a way. But not really. Do you read books?"

"Yes. I read some about my species when I was young."

"How about novels? Stories?"

I shook my head.

Ivy sat up and focused on how she could explain these "movies" better. She tugged on the blanket, exposing my chest and arms.

Ivy stared at me a moment before licking her lips and tearing her eyes from me.

"Its, uh, something I love a lot. Stories about people going on adventures."

"History?"

"Not history. History happened. Stories are like history but they didn't happen."

History that didn't happen?

"They're lies?" I said.

"Yes!" Ivy said, clicking her fingers. "And no. It's sort of like… Dreams. You have dreams, right?"

"All the time."

"So, it's like a dream… except it makes sense."

Ivy frowned and pressed a hand to her head.

"I'm not making any sense, am I?"

"You're making lots of sense. Please, continue."

And she did. Once she started on the subject of stories, she couldn't stop.

I loved hearing about her culture. She even shared some of her favorite stories and histories.

She didn't stop talking. And I didn't stop listening.

Each time she tore her eyes from mine, I secretly ran my eyes over her, memorizing every line and curve.

She grew more relaxed the more she spoke and I got the sense she missed talking with someone since she got here.

I was glad it turned out to be me.

I began to see why my instinct told me to choose her. I owed it a debt of gratitude. For the first time in many years, I had a conversation partner I looked forward to spending time with.

I only felt sad that our time would run out at seven o'clock the following morning.