Page 51 of Bred

“That’s not very nice.”

“Nice isn’t what captains are known for,” Talon says, ending the brief battle of words by sweeping me through a door, carrying me across quarters, and into what looks like his bedroom. Big and dark, fitted with black furnishings, it is a solemn place.

“Wow, who died?”

“You, I thought.”

I look at him, some part of me yearning for him, most of me having no clue what to make of the situation. “You should probably redecorate, you know, in my honor.”

He snorts as he begins to remove his armor, snapping the plates from his body to somehow reveal an even bigger body beneath. He was massive to begin with, but he swells even larger when freed from his attire, the fibers of his muscles thickening and strengthening with every breath he takes until he is more than twice my size, a hard beast of a creature.

“Oh, that feels good,” he sighs.

“What the fuck kind of magic trick is that?”

Talon smiles at me, everything about him big, sharp, and dangerous. “The kind you never got tired of, and next you’re going to ask where my...”

“Like taking off a bra, huh...” My eyes are running down his body, heading to the relevant location... “Where the fuck is your dick?”

He just laughs. “It’s so good to have you back, Lyra. I have missed you more than I can say.”

“You missed me? You’re missing your penis. Literally. Did you lose it in the battle with the entity thing? Did it take my memory and your dick? Because if so, I feel like I got the better end of the deal.”

“My genitals are retractable,” he says, pulling on over-clothes that are softer, but do nothing to hide the hard lines of his body. He looks like he’s wearing black yoga pants, and goddamn do they sit well over the hard lines of his ass and thighs.

“I was your mate. Does that mean... we were intimate?”

“Very,” he says.

“Wow.” I’m sure I look silly, my mouth wide open, my eyes in much the same state, just staring at this massive, hugely sexy, wildly dangerous alien I have allegedly made love to. “So you’re my space boyfriend.”

“Space boyfriend?” His sharp brows rise. “Little human, I am your captain and your master.”

His deep voice sends thrills of excitement and anticipation through me, but I can’t resist teasing him. Ever since I woke up, I have been seized by reckless rebellion. It’s very possible there’s still something wrong with my brain that might not ever remember what happened to me. I might be damaged, but I’ll be damned if I won’t have fun with it.

“Ships have captains, and I’m not a ship. Dogs have masters, and I’m no pet.”

“What do you think you are, then?”

“Your space girlfriend. Unless we got space married and you just didn’t tell me yet.”

“We did not get space married, whatever that might mean,” he snorts, going to the bed, which is still in a very human configuration, just larger. “You need some rest. You have had a long journey and you are exhausted. We will talk again when you wake.”

“I’m not tired though. I feel fine.”

Actually, I feel wired. Today I woke up, abducted a general, stole a shuttle, crashed into a ship, and discovered I’ve been fucking a Ken doll alien for the last few months. That’s more than enough excitement to keep me awake for a good long time.

“You might feel fine, but this is an order. You’re going to bed. You’re going to get some rest, and you’re going to do as you’re told, or I’ll have you dealt with.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, have me dealt with?”

The captain smiles slowly. “You’ve forgotten Shank.”

“I’ve forgotten everything, so, yeah.”

“He is going to enjoy meeting you all over again for a second time. Maybe you could try being obedient this go-around and impress him.”

“Maybe.”

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