I sure as shit could have taken my fingers out of my pussy.
Was it a power move? I don’t know.
I didn’t hate it.
What if I let things go further? If his heated gaze was any indication, he would have been more than willing to help.
I shake my hands, trying to rid myself of any confusing feelings stirring in my belly.
With a deep breath, I open the door. It must have been a power move. I was establishing dominance, just like when Bruno wouldn’t stop humping my bodyguard. That’s it, nothing more. And despite the fact that I was masturbating…it was nothing sexual.
As the doors open, a large bed is carried quickly across the room and toward the closet door. A set of burly alien men hold either end. They’re big but not as tall as the duke. The aliens moving the furniture don’t see me as I gawk at them, but Raf’ere does.
The duke hurries up to me, I expect to tell me yet again how weak and useless humans are, but instead he closes the door right in my face.
“Yes, the bed will go into the dressing chambers. Excellent, thank you.”
I hear his muffled speech through the door. Wiggling the handle, I attempt to reopen it. But it doesn’t budge. That asshole must be holding the doorknob on the other side.
I know he’s stronger than me, so I don’t waste the energy trying to force it open. I sit cross-legged on the floor and wait for him to decide when I’m allowed out—tired of fighting with him for now.
When he swings the black stone door open, he stares in the space he expects me to be and opens his mouth as if he’s got something to say.
“I’m down here. AmI allowed out yet?” I ask sarcastically.
“Yes.” He chuffs, the corner of his lip ticking up. “There’s a bed in the dressing room if you’d like to get some sleep.” He gestures indifferently to the door across the room.
“Every girl's dream, to be kidnapped and get her very own bed in some alien's closet.” I roll my eyes.
“I assumed you didn’t want to stay out here.” He narrows his gaze and points to the spot where I know the ocean looms through the jelly window.
I scoff without looking in that direction but move toward the closet.
“You know, a lot of fi’len females would die to be this close to me,” he says bitterly. He turns his back to me, as if I’m no better than the scum on his shoe. “You should be grateful I feelobligatedto help you.”
I clench my jaw. “I’m just so grateful,” I mock. “Do me a favor, at least leave the door unlocked so I don’t have to pee in a corner tonight?”
“You are truly the spirit of graciousness.” He sits, pulling some kind of tablet from his jacket pocket. He doesn’t acknowledge me again, so I take it as my cue to leave.
When I step into the closet, I have to put my hand over my mouth. I can’t have the duke hear the awe I feel right now. The dark and utilitarian space has been transformed during my short shower.
A cool glow is coming from a glass sphere filled with glittering and swirling teal liquid—is it like an alien lava lamp?
It casts a comfortable light around the space. A bed is tucked against a wall that once held racks of gray suit jackets. The bedding looks incredibly cozy, with it’s arrangement of inviting soft textiles.
In fact, many things are missing from the closet. My cryopod is gone, as is the evidence of my manic destruction of sex toys.
At the bar that once contained only liquor, there are trays of food covered by glass domes. A carafe of water sits on a purple glowing disc, and there’s frost accumulating from where the bottom of the container rests on the soft light. I touch the side, my fingers tips chill instantly.
Is it weird that the idea of constantly cold bedside water has me giddy?
A side chair has been moved into the closet as well, a small dressing gown thrown over its arm, something smaller than the duke would wear.
No pajamas to speak of, but I’ve always been a naked sleeper, anyway. I guess I don’t have to worry about the duke catching a glimpse of the goods, not since our little encounter earlier.
Maybe I can just stop giving a shit in general here. No one knows me and there’s no family reputation to uphold.
I guess others’ perception of me only applies if the duke lets me leave the bedroom again.
