Page 20 of Retribution
“Are you here to… hurt me?” she asked in a cautious tone.
“No, Layla.” He swallowed hard.Whywas he here? He struggled to come up with a reason that didn’t sound preposterous.I’ve been spying on you and can’t stop thinking about youwould not suffice.
“Oh. Well, that is a great relief.” She gave him a timid smile that made his heart clench. She should hate him for what he’d done to her, but her smile was gentle, even genuine.
He brought her hands higher and clasped them a bit harder, enjoying the softness of her tiny fingers. He brushed his thumbs over the even smoother undersides of her wrists, reveling in the feel of her. The worry gradually left her eyes and he longed to see her smile again. And what did her laughter sound like? Would he ever find out?
“How have you been?” The instant he spoke these words, he felt like a fool. She was his prisoner, she was stuck in this brig, yet he’d asked her how she’d been? The human expressionfor fuck’s sakecame to mind.
A hint of amusement crossed her sweet feminine features. Another small smile graced her lips, and it was as if he heard music playing.
“I’ve been…here,” she said with a slight shrug. “I appreciate that you let me keep the blanket and the pillow. Oh, and your shirt.” She glanced down for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “It’s a bit large for me, but it’s better than walking around half-naked.”
He hadn’t known what to expect when he visited her cell, but her pleasant demeanor surprised him. Shouldn’t she be more frightened of him? Or perhaps spitting mad?
He drew in a deep breath and reached for her hair, unable to resist caressing her silken locks. Her hair was as dark as a Kall female’s, but the texture was different, the strands thinner and softer. Her wavy hair rested just below her shoulders. He wondered how it might look after a rigorous session of mating, mussed and splayed out upon the pillows, and his cock shifted in his pants.
Logically, none of this made sense. He shouldn’t want her. He should hate her just for her association with the human male Michael Dennis. But as he stared into her eyes, he couldn’t summon a smidgeon of dislike. His curiosity about her increased, as did his desire to remain in her presence and keep touching her.
He offered her a tentative smile, and the movement felt strange. Perhaps because he didn’t smile often. “I think my shirt looks better on you than it does on me,” he quipped.
She laughed and the room suddenly looked brighter. How very strange. His cock also shifted again, swelling larger, and his scrotum drew up tight. A growl of pleasure built in his throat and he struggled to contain it, not wishing to scare her.
“I should have come sooner,” he found himself saying, “and checked on you. Did you have any further pain after I ran the dermal regenerator over your back?”
Her eyes darkened and her smile faded. “Um, no, I didn’t experience any pain after you left.”
Her tongue darted out and she licked her lips in a nervous manner, and this time he couldn’t restrain his growl.
A look of immense surprise came over her, but she didn’t appear overly frightened.
“Is there anything that I might bring you to make your stay more tolerable, human?” he asked. “Is the food adequate? Would you like reading material or perhaps some games?”
“The food has been good, thank you.” She appeared to hesitate for a moment. “But, um, perhaps some reading material. I’m fluent in several Earth languages, and I can read books written in Kall as well.”
“I will download an Earth library, as well as a Kall library, onto a tablet for you,” he said, strangely excited by the prospect of bringing her a gift. Not just a gift, but one that required some effort.
Her eyes lit up. “Wow, that would be wonderful. Thank you, General.”
“What is your favorite genre? I’ve always enjoyed historical accounts of early societies on planet Kall, and Shessema usually preferred poetry,” he said wistfully, and for a change he wasn’t stricken by overbearing sadness when he spoke of her. She’d been a part of his life and he needed to talk about her sometimes. He couldn’t speak to any of his men, but Layla appeared willing to listen. Her eyes softened and she gave him a compassionate look.
“I’ve read lots of Kall poetry,” she said, “and enjoyed it very much. Particularly works by Erommti of Faia District. When it comes to books written by humans, I must confess I enjoy romance novels. Before the war, Betsy Carson and I used to constantly trade books with one another.”
“I will ensure the tablet contains plenty of Kall poetry, particularly works by Erommti, as well as human romance novels.”
“That’s very kind of you, General.”
General. She usually called him ‘General,’ though sometimes she addressed him as ‘General Zamek.’ But what he wouldn’t give to hear her simply call him ‘Zamek,’ as if they were friends, or possibly more.
“It would be the least I could do after…” His voice trailed off.After I forced you to remove your clothes and then beat you savagely. Shame filled him. He prided himself on being an honorable Kall warrior, but if he’d fulfilled the ancient Custom of Retribution, he would have forsaken his own vows as a warrior. Perhaps Ambassador Merokk was correct, and this old custom needed to be abolished.
An awkward silence filled the room. Layla’s breaths became unsteady, and he was very aware of her tiny body so close to his, as well as the floral aroma that clung to her hair. He wanted to press his face into her locks and take a long inhale.
“I will go prepare the library for you, human, and I will return soon.” Without thinking, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her forehead. Her breath hitched. He didn’t quite kiss her though.
A shudder moved through her and an instant later, he swore he detected the scent of her arousal in the air. Stunned, he pulled back and stared down at her. Her breathing had increased, her pupils were slightly dilated, and her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of pink.
He was rock hard at this point, and he stepped closer, allowing her to feel the evidence of his desire. Her eyes widened and she tried to step back, but he grasped her hands firmly in his, not allowing her to pull away. They stood close for a long, tense moment, both of them undoubtedly conscious of the other’s desire.
