“That was exactly what I argued when you—yes you—promoted Daneth’s plan to purchase Lamira for breeding.”
“Just because you acquired her as a slave does not mean she must remain one.”
A deadly anger settled over him. He wanted to throat-punch Seke for talking about his mate, for mentioning the very issue that had been gnawing at him ever since Lamira left. He couldn’t keep her prisoner, and yet he didn’t want to let her go. He picked up one of Lamira’s potted plants—a raspberry bush, he believed she called it—and hurled it across the room.
The moment it shattered, he felt ill. He’d just destroyed a living, beautiful thing. Much like he’d destroyed his relationship with Lamira.
Chapter Five
Seke walked back to Zander’s chamber to retrieve his human, starved to see her beautiful face, smell the light citrus scent of her hair, touch her soft skin. He wouldn’t make her strip for him—not anymore. For one, he couldn’t take it. His rock hard balls were probably going to explode if he had to suffer any more unfulfilled lust.
For another, she didn’t require it. She’d proven her submission, had paid penance for her crime. He wanted to return her dignity to her.
But even as he had the thought, pictures flitted through his depraved mind. The image of her naked on her knees at his feet. The way she’d looked strung up by her wrists with her legs spread for her pussy whipping, the sight of her upended over his lap, her golden skin turning pink under the slap of his hand.
He’d known he would find training and punishing her arousing. Veck, just being in the same room as the female had his cock thickening. But the incredible satisfaction he’d taken in mastering her, in winning her submission and seeing her subjugated had surprised him. If it hadn’t been arousing for her, too, he would think himself disturbed. But she couldn’t hide her physical reactions to him. Those had been honest and as charged as his own.
He tapped on the door then pressed his palm to the screen to open it.
Leora stood from the little table where the two sat—more radiant than any of the spectacular flowers they grew in their pots. She curtsied prettily, a slight tinge of pink rising on her cheeks.
Veck, seeing that blush on her produced the same sense of masculine power dominating her had. As if his greatest achievement as a warrior had been conquering Leora. No, not conquering. Winning.
But he couldn’t keep her. Veck—it would kill him to release her from his care. In just two short planet rotations, she’d become his entire universe. He’d become obsessed with thoughts of burying his cock balls deep inside her tight channel. She’d squeeze those internal muscles, milking his malehood until he erupted, pounding her harder than he should, reminding her of his mastery.
Leora.
“Seke, thank you,” Lamira said, gliding over to him and standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Take good care of my mother,” she murmured, squeezing his arm.
“I will,” he promised, although half his heart crumbled and fell away at the words. The half that had already returned her to her chamber, dismissed her from his training. The other half stood up tall and gripped his sword, ready to kill or die for her.
He wrapped an arm around Leora’s waist and guided her back to his chamber, without daring to look down at her face. Afraid he might stop and throw her up against the corridor wall again, and push his cock into that notch between her thighs.
Veck him, the moment they entered his chamber, she pulled off her robes.
“No,” he barked, bringing her head snapping up, eyes locked on his.
Veck, she was waiting for instruction, proof their bond was solid. He worked to swallow but couldn’t. “Keep them on. Please. I don’t have the willpower to look at that sweet little body and not lose all control.”
She held his eyes and resumed stripping, slowly this time, the robes falling at her feet in a merengue of soft white material.
“I said, no.” He tried to make hi
s voice sharp, but instead it came out thick, choked. Because he’d already received an eyeful of naked Leora.
Small, leggy, beautiful. Her breasts jiggled, dancing as she walked to him, the sway of her hips pure, purposeful temptation.
“I told you, I can’t,” he rasped, sounding as pained as he felt. He clenched his fists to keep from touching her, nails digging into his palms.
“Seke,” she murmured, grazing his chest with her fingertips. “My master.” Her eyelids drooped to half-mast, making his cock surge powerfully, horns stiff and tilted toward her.
“No.”
“Seke, I understand you are honor bound. I admire and respect your dedication.” Her fingertips touched his arm, not sexually this time, but it had the same result, sending a zing of electricity through his body. “I just wonder...if you could honor yourself as much as you honor others?”
His brows slammed together, the breath knocked out of him. Where was his infamous self-control? The discipline he taught his pupils? All of it fled when faced with a naked Leora, entreaty in her posture, love in her expression.
Love?