I could be dead.
I’m not either of those things, which is a good start.
On to the negatives—of which there are several, unfortunately. I’m god only knows how far away from Earth, stuck on a spaceship which is currently heading towards Khan’s planet. Where he is, apparently, some kind of king. He wants to make me his queen and have lots of babies with me. If this happens, I will never see my friends or family again. I will never enjoy the career I worked my ass off to get ahead in. I will be nothing more than a glorified broodmare; there to produce heirs and spares. And what if Khan tires of me? What if the males of his species have multiple wives? What if it’s freezing cold or boiling hot on their planet? What if all their food and drink consists of that tasteless, gritty gruel and plain water?
Can I live without coffee? Chocolate? Donuts?
The fuck I can!
But he was right when he said there was no escape for me right now. Not while I’m on this ship. If this were the same ship I arrived in, I could go hunting for whatever wormhole spewed me out here—but I’m now one hundred percent certain that when I fell through that mud patch at home, I landed on the spacecraft the auction was being held on, which seemed much bigger, and was filled with all manner of aliens.
Khan must have taken me to this—his—ship after I passed out in his arms for the first time.
Joy.
Stepping out of the shower cubicle, I wrap the robe around myself. I didn’t bother washing my hair again; there was no need.
The place where he bit me is throbbing again. I keep reaching up to touch it, even though it’s sore when I do. It’s almost like a compulsion.
In fact, a lot of things have felt that way since I met Khan. I find myself constantly doing things I don’t actually want to do. Walk towards him rather than away from him. Feel strangely calm when I have every reason to panic. Let him fuck my brains out even when I want to throttle him…
Once back in the room with the table and chairs—and windows—I begin to pace, clasping my hands behind my back and marching up and down like a belligerent headmaster. Walking sometimes helps me organize my thoughts.
Right, Emma. Plan of action. You’re in this situation. What are you gonna do to get out of it?
As of right now, I don’t really have many options. I have to play along and let Khan take me to his planet. Ulfarri technology seems to be way more advanced than ours, so maybe there’ll be someone there with some way of helping me get back to Earth.
Or, I still might be able to persuade him to change course and take me home before we even reach his planet. Though I have to admit that isn’t likely at all.
I sigh, flicking my hair over my shoulder before resuming my pacing. I shouldn’t have thought about coffee before. Now I’m absolutely desperate for one. I want a grande latte macchiato, topped with whipped cream and caramel swirls…
I also want something else. Blankets. I want warm, soft blankets, and scented candles, and stuffies. Big, cute, plush animals, like the giant fluffy dolphin I was given as a kid.
Now why would I want any of that stuff?
To make a nest.
I hear that sentence very clearly, as if I said it aloud—in fact, I heard it in my own voice. But I’m certain my lips didn’t move. I didn’t actually speak.
Am I hearing myself think?
Oh fuck, is this it now? Am I finally losing it?
“Little Emma.” Khan has returned, and there’s a twist of desire deep in my lower belly as soon as he’s just a few feet away.
Will he always have this effect on me? I’m starting to feel like a nympho.
“Khan,” I reply, taking a couple steps back, trying to mitigate the way his dark, decadent scent is making my clit tingle.
“Did you enjoy your shower?”
“Well, I got it to work, which is a win as far as I’m concerned,” I say.
“Good. Is there anything else you need? We will be landing on Ulfaria soon,” Khan tells me.
Great. “How soon?”
He shrugs one massive, bulky shoulder. “Later today.”
