Then he lowered himself into a crouch and lifted my head so that I was forced to meet his gaze. “You’re trembling, Jasmine. Is it fear or desire?” When I didn’t answer, he shrugged. “No matter. I’m going to enjoy finding out.”
He lifted me gently from the floor, his golden eyes flashing molten. “You think you can resist me, little rebel? I’ve conquered entire alien fleets. In time, I’ll conquer you too.”
My jaw fell open as I contemplated snapping back at him, but something in his fierce gaze made me hold my tongue. Even so, I pulled my arm from his grip and took a step back.
His lips curled into a predatory smile. “Considering the fact that I could easily take you to my bed and do whatever I want to you, maybe you should be afraid.”
That left me nearly apoplectic. I wasn’t sure if I was terrified by his words or thrilled by them. I stole a quick look toward the door.
He closed the distance between us in an instant, bending his head so that his lips brushed my ear. “Run if you want. I love the chase almost as much as I’ll love catching you.” Then he straightened and tilted his head, eyeing me as if I were prey. “But I suggest you save us both the effort and come back to bed.”
It wasn't a command. It was an invitation, as smooth and tempting as the finest chocolate. And that, somehow, was infinitely more terrifying.
Chapter 20
Wrexxon
The sheet was tugged from my body, waking me from the sleep I'd finally fallen into after hours of lying rigidly on my side of the bed, painfully aware of the naked female within arm’s reach.
Then came the thud and the curse.
I opened my eyes to darkness broken only by the faint glow of the fire, but I could hear her perfectly. Lying still for a moment, I tracked her movement by the rustling and scuttling alone. She was crawling, although where did the human think she could go?
Careful not to make a sound, I pushed myself up and out of bed, my eyes adjusting quickly to the low light. Like I’d suspected, she was crawling on all fours with the sheet half-wrapped around her body, half-trailing behind her like a shimmering, silky tail.
I took a few silent steps so I could block her path, then she reached my feet and froze. She didn't move, and she didn't look up.
Since Vandar slept unclothed, I was completely naked. We weren't a species that felt self-conscious about our bodies orothers’, although I’d heard that humans felt differently about such things. Still, I was aware that if she looked up, she would be staring directly at my cock, which was thickening the longer I observed the female on all fours.
"Come back to bed." I said, keeping my voice as calm as I could manage considering I’d just woken.
But she didn't look up or respond. She stayed motionless, aside from the slight tremble I detected. I was used to others fearing me, and I’d spent years building that fear deliberately, using it as a weapon as effective as any blade. I was the Qeth’rex, the Scourge, the monster in the darkness that made Imperial commanders run.
I'd always thrived on that fear and used it to my advantage. Now I wasn’t sure if I desired it or if she did.
I squatted, lifting her chin so she was forced to meet my gaze. “You’re trembling, Jasmine. Is it fear or desire?” She didn’t answer, so I shrugged. “No matter. I’m going to enjoy finding out.”
Then I took her by the arms and lifted her from the floor , trying to be as gentle as I could. “You think you can resist me? I’ve conquered entire alien fleets. I’ll conquer you too.”
Her mouth gaped and she jerked her arms from my grip, stepping back. My heartbeat quickened as I grinned at her and her absurd courage. “Considering the fact that I could easily take you to my bed and do whatever I want to you, maybe you should be afraid.”
Her gaze darted to the door, and the part of me that was the most feared warlord in the galaxy stepped to her so quickly she couldn’t back away. I dropped my lips so that they grazed herear. “Run if you want. I would love the chase almost as much as I’ll love catching you.” Then I straightened and cocked my head, part of me wishing she’d give me an excuse to chase her. “But I suggest you save us both the effort and come back to bed.”
Despite my words, I tried valiantly to make my voice gentle. How did you temper a voice you’d spent a decade sharpening?
Turning, I sauntered to the bed, dropping down and stretching out on my back. Jasmine’s gaze flitted timidly across my naked form, lingering on my cock so long I wondered if she’d ever seen one before. Then I propped myself up on my elbows and lifted my chin, summoning her.
After a long pause in which I thought I might have to get her and drag her back to bed, she hurried over and climbed in on the other side. The sheet was still wrapped around her, and she lay on her back as close to the other edge as possible.
“Closer,” I ordered. I had no intention of forcing myself on her, but I did want my share of the sheet. And if my commands instilled enough fear in her that she wouldn’t continue to defy me, all the better.
She shuffled over the smallest amount possible while staring straight at the ceiling.Tvek, the woman was impossible.
Rolling over, I hooked an arm around her and pulled her across the bed so that she was flush against me. Then I slowly unwrapped the sheet from her legs, stopping at the top of her creamy thighs. I hesitated, aware how little effort it would take to spread her legs but also aware that she was holding her breath.
I lay back, using the freed sheet to cover myself from the waist down. “Did you enjoy my bathing pool?”
“I…um…how did you know…?
