Page 43 of Sawoots Story

She cringes like she’s Theme, hating that I’m going to make her say it. “You know!Beingwith an Aurelian.”

It didn’t hit me until now that she’s really considering it. My eyes flash as I remember how Nami used to talk about it, at the start, before she realized they would never truly love her. Back in the honeymoon phase when everything was peachy. “Oh,yes! Youbetmy friend told me about it—in great detail. That’s why I’m eager for tomorrow night and my little, ahem,distraction. She said Aurelians are… Well, I think she must have exaggerated somewhat…”

I’ve never been a prude. I’ve always been able to keep my emotions separate from sex. Could I keep them separate with Garrick, and not be ripped apart like Nami was when we aren’t Bonded?

Or am I doomed to repeat her mistakes?

“Why? What did she say?” Tasha’s suddenly nervous.

I bite my lip, leaning forward. “She said they were, like, over afootlong.”

“Whoa, okay—fuckthat. Or, rather,don’tfuck it. That settles it. No way I’m doing anything with Aelon. My last boyfriend had six inches, andthathurt if he stuck it in too quick.”

I laugh at that. Poor girl. I wrack my mind, remembering all the details Nami shared. “Oh, it gets better, she says. Aurelians are like,madefor fucking. My friend said their cocks just constantly drip this precum that’s, like, the universe’s best lube. She said it hurts at first—but that it hurtsgood. She said after she left the harem, she just never bothered to sleep with another human guy again. Those Aurelians ruined human men for her, she says.”

That hurt turns me on. The way it’s going to feel when Garrick’s huge cockforcesits way inside me, his body pressing me down, making me so helpless yet protected.

That hurt? I crave. I only fear for the pain in my soul.

I shrug, committing myself. I’m going to go through with it, damn the consequences. “That’s only the half of it, too. It’s not just their size and skill, my friend said. They’re passionate in a way humans aren’t.”

I sigh, imagining Garrick fully losing himself in his need. I have the feeling he would keep something of himself, even as he succumbs to the Mating Rage. Somehow, the alien warrior will retain his honor, even as he fucks me like an animal. “My friend—she said she loved them. They broke her heart when they didn’t want anything more than sex from her, and they had no interest in committing to a single woman unless she was their Fated Mate.”

I have to accept it.

I’m not their Mate. Tasha could still be Bonded to Aelon, and if she has a chance to steal the Bond and get out of here alive? She has to take it. It’ll be her best heist yet. “Listen, Tasha, if all goes well, we’ll be off this ship tomorrow. So, if you want to do something, you have to do ittonight.”

“I’mnotdoing anything,” she tells me. “I was just curious.”

Bullshit.

I grin, seeing right through her. “You’re the captain, Captain. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Sawoot.”

“Nighty-night.”

She presses the button next to the blast doors, and they slide open. There’s at least two feet of solid steel between the corridor and the diplomat’s chambers. It’s the same for every door in this entire ship. Eventually, an Orb-Blade will get through it, but there will be enough time for us to escape.

Hopefully.

“Thank you, Garrick,” says Tasha to the leader of the triad, and he just nods back at her. The three of them are silent statues. My endless guardians.

Endless…

Until tomorrow night.

The doors close behind her. I lock them from the inside.

Suddenly, I’m alone with my thoughts.

The three huge, powerful alien warriors are on the other side of that door. I should be thinking about the escape, but my fingers trail towards the button to unlock the doors and open them.

How is it going to feel tomorrow night?

What will I do? How will I set it in motion? And how will I keep myself? I know how they affect me. I know how they make feel like an animal. If I lose my mind, I’ll lose the brief window to escape.

I picture it. It’s so vivid in my mind it’s almost real. I’ll open the door. Tell them I don’t feel safe when they’re away from me.

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