“Good, because that’s never going to happen,” she says, barging into the entrance of Mount Racha.
I chuckle. She’s quite certain of herself. The female doesn’t even know where my quarters are, and yet she’s charging through the tunnels. I’ve worked with many stubborn warriors, found their weaknesses, and bent their will to mine. Conquering her will take time, but I am a patient warrior, one who knows how to get what he wants.
And I want Tansey…
TANSEY
I don’t like being forcedinto anything. Though Verig didn’t precisely force me to stay in his quarters. He laid out the reality of the situation. Take my chances in the women’s quarters or with him.
I trust him over Baloq, which is the only reason I’m agreeing to sleep in his quarters. But I’m not giving in to him. The smug bastard thinks I’ll cave to his charm and good looks.No punintended, I think, as I take in the low ceiling in this section of tunnels.
He’s taken the lead, so I focus my attention on his torso. All muscles. Power and beauty wrapped into one very fine package.
Speaking of packages, my eyes lower to his waist. It’s a good thing I can only see his ass right now.
What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m not here to get laid.
But there’s no law against admiring a gorgeous male.
We reach a dead end, with one lone door. “Yours are the only quarters in this tunnel?” I ask, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
“As Neld, I had first pick. My quarters are not large, but it’s quiet here. Isolated.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
He pushes the massive wood door open, and I cannot make my feet move.
“Ves,” he says as he enters. The lights snap on.
“They have a voice command?” I ask, intrigued.
“Ves turns them on. Pash, off.”
“Good to know.” It is. No one told us that over in the women’s quarters. Phoebe and Poetry go disc to disc, tapping them each morning when we hear movement in the tunnels. It’s rather confusing down here, gaining a sense of day and night without a natural source of light.
Verig begins stripping off his weapons. He doesn’t look or speak to me, as if I’m not here. Him going through what I guess is his routine without coaxing me in or threatening me…it bolsters my sense of security.
“I don’t like being trapped,” I explain, though he didn’t ask. “Baloq locked me in.”
“Baloq failed to follow orders. Which is why he will be punished.”
“Not for attacking me?”
“He should be punished for that as well, but I do not knowwhat our grak plans. Disobeying orders and lying are the more serious crimes. You were to have been housed with the other women the day our graka ordered it.” Green eyes finally turn to me. “I questioned him that day to make sure he heard and understood the order, and he said you’d consented to remain in his quarters. I’d never known him to lie. That was my mistake, not realizing how truly desperate some of our warriors are to have females.”
“Only some?”
“Yes. Not all warriors here want a human female. Or any female.”
I glance at the bed. It’s only big enough for one. “Are you one of those warriors, Verig?”
“I do not need a female in my life.”
“And yet you said you want me.”
His chest puffs out. “Iwillhave you, Tansey, but only when you are ready. All males have needs.”
I stare at the door and the long tunnel.
