Page 18 of Tornn's Mate
“What is it you wish to speak with me about?” I ask, still drawing my fingers through her hair.
“It’s about Paddax and his mate.” She lowers her head, appearing penitent. “I know you don’t wish to speak of him anymore, but I-I would ask for your help with something.”
“My help?”
Her eyes move back to mine. “Please don’t breathe a word of what the human woman did to Paddax to Captain Warren or anyone onJansonna’scommand team.” She places a hand on my chest. “Please. I beg you.”
“Why?” I study her features and take note of the worry that abruptly clouds her eyes, as well as the trembling of her lips.
“Forgive me, but I prefer not to say why.” She draws in a shaky breath and casts a frightful glance around the room, as though anxious someone might overhear her. “But I promise I’ll do whatever you want if only you promise to keep the woman’s actions a secret from my uncle.Please.”
I clutch her upper arms. “What will Captain Warren do if he finds out?” I ask in a commanding tone. “Tell me, little female. Right now. Explain yourself.”
Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head, keeping her lips pressed together. Her refusal to answer me is shocking, and I consider flipping her over my knee. I consider thrashing her until she answers all my questions. But I hesitate at the continued fear in her eyes. So, I grip her arms harder and give her a slight shake instead.
“Tell. Me.” The order escapes me as a thunderous growl.
Her face goes white, and she opens her mouth, though no words issue forth. Inexperienced with females, I am unsure whether to be more forceful or if it’s gentleness that will inspire her to open up.
“Ellie,” I say in a firm but also encouraging tone. “You must tell me.”
Her eyes brim with moisture, and she nods. “Okay,” she whispers. “Okay.” She blinks rapidly and several tears cascade down her cheeks.
I release her arms and brush away the tears with my thumbs, uncertain why they bother me so much, and I have the sudden urge to rip Captain Warren apart with my bare hands. It’s his fault she’s upset—for a reason I can’t yet discern, she’s nervous about him finding out what happened to Paddax.
“My uncle warned me to be obedient and set a good example for the other human women,” she says. “Logically, I know there was nothing I could’ve done to prevent the woman from attacking Paddax. Whoever she might be, I knew nothing of her plan and I don’t know why she did it, but I can’t help but worry that Captain Warren will somehow blame me. He said if I’m not a willing enough bride, or if I cause any trouble, he will reduce the rations my mother and sister receive and perhaps even withhold medical care or force them out of their quarters. I’m also willing to bet he threatened some of the other brides. If the woman who attacked Paddax has anyone left on theJansonnathat she cares about, my uncle will probably go out of his way to make them suffer.”
It would be a miracle if I didn’t snap Captain Warren’s neck at the next meeting between our people. Rage simmers inside me that he would dare to threaten my bride or those she cares about, and I quickly formulate a plan to prevent her mother and sister from suffering.
I cup Ellie’s face in my hands, allowing my thumbs to trail over the faint tear streaks on her cheeks. “You have nothing to fear, sweet human. I will make sure the captain can’t seek revenge against your family or the families of the other brides. I give you my word.”
A look of relief starts to cross her face, only for a spark of worry to enter her eyes anew. “I appreciate your help, Tornn, but how can you make such a promise? How can you remain apprised of my uncle’s actions aboard theJansonna?”
“Because I can easily make a surprise trip to the human worldship and pay your uncle a visit. If the filthyrustollavalues his life, he will comply with my demands.”
Chapter9
ELLIE
I question Tornn further,trying to extract details about what he plans to tell my uncle. About how he plans to threaten him. But my alien mate remains firmly tight lipped and keeps brushing my questions aside. Eventually, I give up questioning him altogether, though I’m filled with cautious hope that he’ll follow through with his promise to protect the families of the brides. Including my mother and sister.
A smug sense of satisfaction fills me as I imagine Tornn threatening Captain Warren. For a moment, fear jolts through me as I realize my uncle will likely realize I’ve basically snitched on him to my new husband, but the anxiety just as quickly subsides. Because raw power radiates from Admiral Tornn, and there’s no doubt in my mind that if he issues a threat, he’ll follow through with it.
Gratitude swells in my chest as he drags his nose along my neckline, taking huge inhales of my scent. I’m touched that he’s helping my family as well as the other brides’ families. Perhaps the Darrvasons aren’t as barbaric and unfeeling as I’d feared.
At some point as he continues smelling me, the towel becomes loose and slides down my body. I hastily attempt to cover myself, only for Tornn to grasp my hands and utter, “No,” in that deep, growly voice of his.
Now that I no longer have to worry about my uncle (well, as long as Tornn’s telling the truth), I realize I have more freedom when it comes to the admiral. I could resist him if I wanted to. I could refuse to mate with him tonight. While I might face Tornn’s wrath if I’m disobedient, at least my family wouldn’t suffer for my actions.
But as the huge alien presses his lips to my shoulder, placing a lingering kiss there, heated tingles sweep through me as a sense of surrender settles deep in my bones. A yearning unlike anything I’ve ever known grips me, causing my breaths to come shallow and quick.
I can’t explain why, but I want to please Tornn. I want to submit to him and allow him to claim me. It doesn’t make sense—I’m still in love with Nathan, aren’t I? I try to summon his face in my mind, but the image is blurred and rapidly fades as Tornn starts nibbling on my ear.
A whimpering moan drifts from my throat. His teeth are so sharp, yet he’s only gently biting me. He’s not chomping down hard enough to draw blood. But the thrill of danger is there, the knowledge that he could hurt me if he wanted to. I take a deep inhale and lose myself in the sensations of arousal and longing, trusting that he won’t cause me any harm.
The bulge in his pants feels huge, and his balls are vibrating hard, causing my clit to throb, and making it impossible for me to sit still. I keep squirming over his lap and rubbing myself against his hardness. Every so often, he growls into my ear, a deep animalistic noise that sends fresh pulses of heat racing to my pussy.
Without warning, he snarls and lifts me slightly so he can yank the towel out from under my bottom. He throws it to the floor, then settles his hands on my hips and holds me down upon his shafts, his pants the only barrier between us. My lips part on a moan as the vibrations to my clit intensify, but before I can take my next breath, his lips are pressed to mine and he’s kissing me.
