“Why then?”
She shook her head.
He stared back, his gaze slicing and dicing, probing.
Betrys didn’t flinch, managed not to show her internal panic, her fears and doubts.Her guilt.While she kept her expression impassive, the emotions swirled with the violence of a storm and fought hard for release.
At last, he nodded and stretched out his hand.“Come back to bed.You paid for a capture experience, and that’s what you’ll get.”
Despite her uncertainty, her treacherous legs took on a mind of their own and propelled her toward Leo.
“Take off your robe.”
“This isn’t a dream,” she whispered.
“You’ve had dreams?”His voice was sharp and demanded a response.“Sex dreams?”
“Yes.”She felt defiance march across her face, settle on her lips and lift her jaw.
“Wait, you said you’re a dream walker.We discussed it tonight.You’re from the planet Petros, and your race can communicate with others via dreams.”
She hesitated, then nodded.“We use it as an instrument to foretell the future.Not that it did us much good.Our planet imploded during a war with a neighboring planet.Most of our people died since the leaders of Matros were determined to take over Petros because of our mineral resources.”
“How did you escape?”
“Corrin, my husband, smuggled me on a freighter.”She sank onto the sleep-bed, her legs no longer strong enough to hold her upright.“He promised to join me as soon as he could, but I heard later he died that day in an explosion at the main square.That was three solar years ago.”
“I’m sorry.I know how it feels to lose people you love.”Leo reached for her arm and tugged her nearer.“Why do you keep wearing your white robe?It makes you stand out in the market.”
“I have no currency to buy clothes.”Besides, people—men—seemed to trust her more if she wore a robe.It made her appear unthreatening, the lack of threat emphasized if she wore her long hair in a braid and waived face enhancements.
“But Iseult must pay you well?”
“Yes.”
He frowned at her, then seemed to come to a decision.“Get under the covers where it’s warm.”
A new type of anxiety struck her then because she wanted to touch him, have him caress her in return.It had been so long since a male had touched her with love.So long.
“You don’t like me.”
“You don’t have to like someone to fuck them.”
His words struck with the force of a weapon, stealing her breath, stealing her will, and making her want to cry.Instead, she lifted her chin and forced herself to meet his gaze.
“Is that what you’re going to do?Fuck me?”
“Yes.Would you like to run?Scream a little before I get started?”
“No.”In their shared dreams, he’d felt something.He hadn’t acted callously, and no matter what he said, she didn’t believe he’d injure her.She’d seen him with his brothers, and while he acted reserved, she’d never believe him capable of inflicting pain on someone weaker.“Running would be pointless.”
“So you agree to let me shove my cock inside you?”
His words crystallized an emotion—the truth—and she inhaled sharply.
“I’m lonely,” she said bluntly.“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have feelings for me.It will be nice to have someone hold me.”
“Very well, Betrys Torin.”Leo spread his arms and waited, his expression expectant.
