Chapter 4
Zelup reversed direction, pulling his prey back across the mirrored floor. He was patting himself on the back mentally, having effectively maneuvered the doll into his clutches. That was what she reminded him of, a tiny porcelain doll with exquisitely delicate features and a natural beauty that rivaled any he’d ever seen.
When he’d finished his uncomfortable conversation at the bar, he’d scanned the club. His eyes had locked on her and he’d seen Andwad’s slimy tentacles twitching to touch her.
Not if he had any say in the matter.
The slimy asshole had even tried to give her a Void. An obvious first-timer like her and human too. They were the most susceptible to the Void’s effects. He’d been so angry, he’d had to set down his empty glass before he crushed it between his fingers.
Not like you’re any better, an inner voice crowed.You’re one of the sharks circling, remember?
Yeah,he told himself in reply.But I’m the fastest and strongest shark.
“Now where are you dragging me?” she asked, her voice equal parts curiosity and frustration.
“To the upper levels. An old hand like you should be able to guess what goes on up there.”
He felt resistance. She was surprisingly agile but no match for him. “And what if I don’t want to go with you?” she spat.
Zelup chuckled. “You’re aroused by me.”
“What?” Her eyes were wide, but they quickly narrowed. “What makes you think that?”
“I can smell it.”
He could, and it was driving him crazy. Her arousal was like the most fragrant garden he’d ever walked through. He was nearly salivating just standing next to her.
A flush covered her cheeks. She was innocent, no matter what she said to deny it. Likely, she wasn’t a virgin, but she wasn’t in the lifestyle either. He normally went out of his way to avoid women like this, the uninitiated. They had a habit of wanting more than the one night of pleasure he could offer.
But this one, she was something special. Special enough to break the rules a little.
Her surprise dispelled the last of her resistance and he was able to move them onto the spiral, starting the climb. There were several rooms, some opaque with closed doors, others without doors and covered in wall-to-wall windows. The Double V catered to all tastes.
They would end up in his private cell, the one he rented among the row of penthouses at the top of the spiral. But along the way, he would expose her to a few delights to see what titillated this little doll.
The first visible room was considered tame by his standards.Let’s see how she reacts. He pulled her forward, almost pressed her to the glass, his big body caging her in from behind. “Nothing much to see here,” he said, bending to whisper in his ear. “Fairly prosaic, am I right?”
It was hard to tell where the bodies ended and began in the room. It was filled with creatures of every make and model, writhing in what could only be called a pile. Clothing was completely absent, as was discrimination.
He looked down at her. Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, she took in the scene. Her breathing was rapid, and through the shiny material, he could see her nipples were hard little points. Being this close to her and not devouring her was physically painful.
After a moment, she coughed nervously. “Just your standard-issue orgy.”
“Not impressed?” he asked, his smile vicious. “Let’s see what else we can find then.” Zelup resumed his escort, although this time he pulled her close to his body, wrapping an arm around her waist. When she didn’t protest, he knew his senses were correct.
She wanted him.
Although his race had the ability to induce extreme attraction in other beings, Zelup never used those powers unless absolutely necessary. Among the Vartiks’ abilities, seduction didn’t rank that high, considering the healing power of their blood and their powers of persuasion. Still, seduction could come in handy upon occasion.
But there was no challenge in forcing a female to want him with his abilities. He preferred knowing a woman desired him, not because her body couldn’t resist his powers but because she genuinely found his charms irresistible. There was an undeniable thrill that came with conquering a woman with his wit, his conversation, his prowess. And Zelup had sworn to himself to indulge in such pleasures until he was no longer able.
The next transparent room provided a more shocking view. He felt a shiver go through his small companion. The room was an aquarium of sorts, the occupants comfortable breathing water. “Care to get your feet wet?” he invited.
Now she could see the trouble Andwad’s tentacles could have caused. Beings from Proxima cavorted with creatures that were half humanoid, half amphibian. There were women with fish tails, their long hair covering their generous breasts. Two males with scales and bulbous eyes were being serviced by females whose long, sinuous bodies reminded Zelup of eels. A rare Zantharian was attending to the needs of two amphibious women, a male whose purple skin reflected his arousal. There was a guy who could almost give a Vartik a run for his money.
In the center was a tangle of tentacles, reminding Zelup of a knot of mating snakes. He had no idea how many creatures might be entangled in the mass and didn’t care to stick around to count.
“No thanks,” the doll said after a moment, her nose pressed against the glass to get a better view of the action. “I’m not a strong swimmer.”
