Page 49 of My Wild Pet

But his closeness, the heat radiating from his sweaty body and his masculine scent, is sending my body into lusty overdrive. Despite being warm myself, a tingling spreads through my body and my nipples become taut yearning for touch. Which is embarrassing because my breasts are exposed. He and Aefre can see the signs of my arousal.

Gabriel brushes a strand of hair away from my face, letting his hand linger. A shock of heat ripples under my skin—and between my legs, and it’s not my tail.

His amber eyes lock on mine, and for a heartbeat, the entire course, the commands, the weight of our surroundings… it all vanishes. His gaze drops to my lips. My heart pounds so loud it’s all I hear.

“Enough!” Aefre commands.

I draw back, but Gabriel refuses to move.

Aefre repeats himself, louder this time, raising the hand with his ring. Before I can even shout a warning, Gabriel goes down his face in agony. There’s a buzzing sound coming from his collar, from what I’ve come to recognize as a high-voltage shock.

“Stop!” I say.

“Do not interfere, Ash.”

When Aefre finally lets up, Gabriel staggers, breathing hard. He straightens, and his eyes find mine again—no anger, just something steady and shockingly authentic. So real in fact a chill runs down my spine.

“Back to the course,” Aefre orders.

But his words are background noise to us. Something just happened between Gabriel and me. Something that can’t be controlled by Aefre. I think it’s love. I search my feelings. I’ve never been in love nor loved by anyone. So I’m unsure…

Gabriel doesn’t move at first, still watching me, like whatever connected us in that moment hasn’t quite broken.

Aefre barks another command in Imperial, something I don’t catch.

Gabriel exhales, his voice low. “Je ne veux pas que tu souffres.He’s furious and I don’t want you to be punished. Let’s finish this, okay?”

I stare at Gabriel. He’s gorgeous. His amber eyes meet mine with determination. It makes my pulse roar in my ears. I don’t know if I can finish the course. My body feels wrecked and the memory of his lips nearly meeting mine lingers like an unspoken promise.He almost kissed me.Even now, as we force our way through the remainder of the obstacle course, I can’t stop my gaze from drifting to his mouth, his strong lips, wondering if the next time he leans closer, Aefre won’t interrupt us.

Gabriel glances my way again,I think I’m in love.

The water hits my skin in a blistering rush. The attendants work in brisk, practiced motions, scrubbing every inch of my body without a shred of tenderness, as though I’m nothing more than a piece of equipment that needs cleaning.

Gabriel stands across the room, watching me. When our eyes meet, his gaze is steady, neither leering nor indifferent—just tender in a way that makes my body burn with desire.

The old me would have shriveled up and died inside at the thought of anyone—let alone a man like Gabriel—seeing me stripped bare and bathed publicly by male hands. But I’m not that woman anymore. Not since Earth. Not since I became an alien’s pet with a tail that swishes behind me and more body hair than I ever asked for. I learned quickly there’s no room for shame in the human pet world, but what surprised me most, was how quickly I shed it.

As Gabiel watches me, I wonder if he sees a mutilated human woman or a prized Imperial pet? And if it’s the latter is that why he’s attracted to me? I reckon I would rather have it be the latter, I wouldn’t want him to want me out of pity or desperation.

He shifts, stepping a little closer as the attendants step back. I see the faint glimmer of satisfaction in his gaze—not lust, exactly, more like… delight?

Shockingly, the attendants just walk out of the room, leaving us alone and uncaged for the first time.

My heart thumps hard.Is this a trap?I can’t tear my eyes away from Gabriel’s. I hope he’s going to finish what he started on the obstacle course.

CHAPTER 25

Gabriel

The room feels smaller now that les garçons are gone. Briar stands across from me, her emerald eyes darting to the door as if she expects someone to burst in at any moment.

“Détends-toi,” I say softly, stepping toward her. “Relax.”

Her eyes narrow, suspicion flashing in their depths.

“Did you get them to leave?” she asks, her voice low and cautious.

“Oui, I bribed them,” I admit with a small shrug.

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