“Zilara,” he growls as he points to his feet. “Come, let me take this from you. Let me give you a moment of peace.”
“Peace,” I finally snort. “You don’t even know the meaning of the word.”
For a moment, an odd expression passes over his face as he glances out onto the fields of my ranch. If I didn’t know any better, it looks as if it’s a bit of longing and happiness rolled into one ephemeral sensation. But that’s impossible. What does a human know of such things?
“Your ranch is very lovely,” he murmurs. “I can understand why you fight so desperately for it.”
Emotions clog my throat as I search his face for any sign of lying, but I find none. “You do?” I finally croak out.
“I do. It’s very similar to the one I left behind. But more than that, I can see the toll it takes on you. Come, let me share in the burden. Let me give your mind something else to think about. Then, together, we can find a way forward. All I know is I can barely breathe with how badly I want to taste you as you’ve tasted me. But first, you must let go. You must kneel.”
How easy it would be. How simple to just give in and do what my body demands. Part of me, the scared, small part that was never allowed to flourish, still fights back as the absolute terror of losing everything for a bit of carnal pleasure pummels me from the inside out. He would end up on the prison planets or back home. I would lose everything.
“If anyone knew,” I finally manage to whisper, allowing my fears to come to light.
“Zilara,” he rumbles as he holds out his hand. So impertinent, so forceful, so commanding, so utterly delicious. “Trust me. No one will ever know. Not unless you tell them.”
“But how can they not? How can you assure me you’ll know your place outside of this room?”
“I’m a model, sweetheart,” he grins, as if that tells me everything.
But it tells me nothing. Just like everything else about these humans, his words are a conundrum. “Is that like an operative? We’ve already had one cow cause us trouble. If you’re like her-”
“I’m not an operative,” he cuts me off with a lopsided grin. “Unless you want me to. I can be anyone you desire. Anyone at all.”
My eyes narrow as I stare him down. “Explain. What is a model? The only models I know of reside in the capitol where they show off plans for expansion. You are neither brick nor stone, though your abs certainly could rival the materials.”
For a moment, he preens as he contracts his perfect abs. “That is one definition for a model. The other is what I am. Or rather, what my job entails. I stand around and look pretty for the people. I become what they want to sell their product.”
Heartbeats pound in my ears as I slide off the bed and back away from him. “Aurelian,” I sob out.
In an instant, his lips turn down into a frown. “I don’t know that term. And even with what they put in my head, it doesn’t make sense.”
“Oh, but it does.” Raw bitterness rises in my throat like acid. “And to think they were worried about you. I’m the one who’s the fool, yet again.”
“Now I’m confused. What are you talking about?”
“As if you don’t know. Aurelian.” I practically spit the word out as I shuffle away from him. “You were created to spy on me, to take back everything to the capitol. Look at you, lulling me in with your pretty words and chiseled body. I should have known from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be my destruction.”
As I take another step back, the opposite wall hits my shoulders. I should have gone the other way. I should have headed for the door. Now I’m trapped. Now there’s no way out.
My heart aches as I glance about. I knew it was too good to be true. I knew the capitol wouldn’t let me keep a male they couldn’t control. Deep down, I knew all of this. I just didn’t want to believe it. The instant his hands circle my arms, everything shatters.
Years of sweat, tears, and frustration flow out of me as a loud roar pours from my lips. It’s a sob of anguish and exhaustion as it rips from my throat to fill the air. Why can’t I just have one win? Why must I always fail or find opposition? Why do the celestials hate me so damned much?
Before I can control myself, I bring up my knee, ramming it up into his cock. A pained wheeze fizzles from him as he tumbles over, causing his hands to leave my body. The instant I’m free, I run. It’s all I can do. It’s all I know to do.
Frantic fingers tug at the zipper of my uniform as I cover back up. At this point, I can’t think. I can barely even breathe. All I know is that everything is far too much, far too overwhelming.
I have to get free.
I have to leave.
I have to fucking run.
Wind whips through the few tendrils of hair that dare to come free as I tear through the ranch house and out into the fields. Off in the distance, Draagor and Morthran are out there, breaking their backs to make this farm work. And for what?
Tears drip down my face, blurring my vision, but I don’t need to see. I know this farm like my very being, like the breath that comes in and out of my lungs. Closing my eyes, I allow my legs to take over as I tear through the Ovibrosia.
