“Baby girl? What are you doing? Get away from there.” A concerned, very feminine voice called out.
Baby? A female infant was here as well? Was that why the sound of the feet was so faint? They allowed an infant to wander freely? What. The. Fuck?
I would report these idiots to the Atlan council before my execution. This could not be permitted. The males in these containment cells were deadly. Out of control.
I rubbed my eyes with thick fingers and bit back a sigh. Had Atlan honor changed so much in the time I had been away that they no longer protected not just their females, but their young as well?
“I can’t.” The quiet confessions snapped my head around and I stared out into the dimly lit corridor, expected to find it empty.
A small female stood before me, watching me through the transparent energy barrier. Her eyes were green and gold, framed by long, dark lashes. Hypnotic. Her arm was raised into position as if her hand hovered over the control panel that held me locked inside. She wore a traditional Atlan gown the color of pale cream, but she was far too small to be one of us. Her hair fell in waves around her shoulders in a vibrant shade that reminded me of both rubies and copper, depending on the light and shadow that fell upon her. Her round breasts and curved hips entranced me. Her lips glistened in invitation, as if she’d painted them with liquid sugar, just to temp me.
Our gazes locked. My cock rose to attention. My beast rumbled deep within, where I’d buried him weeks ago. My beast, the rage I’d battled so vehemently to control, swelled and filled my mind with lust for this female. Need.Want.
Mine.
No!I denied him. I had no choice. This could not be happening. Not now.
“Adrian? What’s up? Talk to me.” A third female voice called out, this one younger. Brittle sounding. Anxious. Perhaps frightened.
Adrian turned her body to face those speaking to her, leaving her delicate face in profile. Gods be damned, she was beautiful. The masochist in me wanted her attention focused on me. Only me.
Mine!The beast wasn’t just aware , he was insistent. Clawing at my thoughts, fighting to take control. To takeher.
Yes. Claim. Fuck. Mine.Bastard was persistent.
No!My mind yelled back.
“I can’t leave him here.” My mate—no, not mine,not mine—the female spoke with a calm, clear voice that seemed to soothe my beast, at least for a moment. She wasn’t leaving us.
“Who?” The other female asked. “Can’t leave who?”
Adrian shrugged. She turned her head to look at me over her shoulder. I looked into her eyes and nearly fell forward from the bed. Sheer force of will kept me locked in place, safely away from her. From touching her. Kissing her.
My cock jumped in response to the images playing in my mind. If she were truly mine, I would lift that gown to her hips, press her to the wall and my beast would slide his cock deep. I would devour her, eat her sweet core until she shuddered and sobbed her release. Then do it again. And again.
Pre-cum leaked from the tip as my entire body shuddered. I didn’t dare blink. Could not tear my gaze from her, not for the smallest fraction of time, afraid I would miss something. I didn’t have time to savor her as a beast should. I must be greedy now. Take the smallest gesture or expression and stow it away.
She licked her lips and I nearly groaned.
“I don’t know. I don’t know who he is.”
Kovo, my lady. I am Warlord Kovo and I am yours.
“Then what are you doing?” The elder female, whom I now assumed must be my mate’s mother—since she’d referred to this fully developed, seductive female asbaby girl—sounded closer. Much closer.
Adrian stepped forward, still holding my hungry stare, and rested her forehead against the energy field. She was not Atlan. She was too small to be anything but human. From Earth. How was this possible? How did a human female end up inside an Atlan research and containment facility?
She lifted her hand and pressed her palm flat, as if she wanted to touch me.
I nearly ripped my clothing from my body in invitation. Jaw clenched, I did not move.
“They can’t kill him, Mom.”
“Daughter, he is here because he has mating fever.” This voice was deep. Factual.
Finally, a male who spoke sense. The Warlord spoke in a soothing voice I’d heard my father use many times with my mother when I was young. A voice meant to calm. “He is dangerous. Out of control. He’s probably not even aware of where he is or what he is doing. Do not release him from that cell. He could kill you, try to kill all of us.”
I thought, perhaps, I should roar for good measure, prove his point. Scare this small female. At the very least, trigger the protective instincts of the male who accompanied her.
