Chained_Brides of the Kindred Read online

  “I…I guess so.” She still sounded weak and upset and part of him felt guilty for speaking so roughly to her—for forcing her to do this now. The other part, though—the larger part—knew there was no other way. She needed to get away from here—away from him—as quickly as she could.

  Kor knew something else too—he wasn’t coming with her.

  She doesn’t want me—not deep down where her deepest memories and wishes live. When she dreamed of her joining day, it wasn’t me she saw. And when she called out for a male to save her, it wasn’t my name on her lips. Hell, she didn’t even know me at first—I scared her. As well I fucking well should. I’m a danger to her.

  He kept remembering how he’d cut through the water with the red hot beams from his eyes. He might have cut her in two without even trying—might have vaporized her along with however many gallons of liquid he’d boiled away at the same time. Gods be thanked she had been out of his line of fire.

  At the very least he could have blown their cover with his little ocular display. It was lucky that the water was dark red and had already been churned up by their struggles or one of the other patrons of the spa might have noticed him doing his damndest to burn a hole in the side of the pool.

  I’m not safe without my inhibitor collar but the damn thing’s broken beyond repair. Not safe for Maggie or anyone. What if I got angry or had a bad dream one night on Gaia? What if I hurt her or killed her without even meaning to? I have no control over this power—I don’t even know how it happens or where it comes from.

  And even if he could control the power and wasn’t a danger to her, Maggie didn’t want him with her. Not really. She wanted that idiot Donald who she was determined to stay true to. Even the limited sexual acts they’d performed together during the Pleasuring had given her intense guilt. Kor didn’t need to add to that burden and he didn’t want to waste his time on a female whose heart was already given.

  What about your own heart?

  Kor pushed the thought away. He was fond of Maggie and he was grateful to her—hell, she’d saved him from certain death at the hands of the sadistic Lady Pope’nose. But it wasn’t like he’d fallen in love with her. That was just stupid. Wasn’t it?

  “Kor?” Her soft, hesitant voice pulled him out of his inner turmoil and he looked down to see that she was shivering in his arms. “Kor, please, if you’re angry…I’m just so sorry about your cheek.”

  “It’s not my cheek. It’s—”

  “What? Please tell me?” She was looking up at him so earnestly he felt his heart twist. Gods, she was beautiful—even soaking wet and shivering in his arms. Her sweet, lovely little heart-shaped face and those lush lips…not to mention her curvy little body which fit so well into his arms. But what Kor liked the most about her was the innocence shining out of her deep blue eyes. It was an innocence he would no doubt extinguish if she stayed with him too long.

  Kor hardened his heart. Have to let her go. Before it’s too late.

  “Kor?” she said again and he realized she was still waiting for an answer.

  “It’s nothing,” he said shortly. “Here—this is the night porter’s station.”

  “But I don’t have anything to bribe him with,” Maggie protested as he set her down gently in front of the round green door of the little room beneath the grand staircase. “All of Lady Pope’nose’s jewelry is back in our room.”

  Kor felt a growl of frustration rising in his throat and swallowed it back down with difficulty.

  “Maggie,” he said softly. “The night porter is a Sensorian, like all the rest of the beings who run this place. What use do you think they have for jewelry or riches?”

  “But…then how…?”

  “Think,” he said softly. “What is it that they value? What is it they feed on?”

  “Pleasure—sexual pleasure.” Her face went pale with understanding. “Kor,” she said in a low voice. “I can’t. I just…we already went too far tonight. I feel so guilty about—”

  “About Donald, I know.” Kor took a deep breath. “But you need to make this call. After the scene with Lady Ponce’beast tonight, you’re officially a person of interest here. People are going to be looking at you, talking about you. And the more they look…”

  “The more likely they are to see what’s going on. That I’m not…who I say I am.” Maggie nodded and lifted her chin. “You’re right. I just…I guess we’ll have to do…whatever it takes.”

  “Wonderful,” Kor said shortly. “I’m so glad to hear you think you can tolerate my hands and mouth on your body at least until you can get out of here.”

  Maggie’s face went red. “I never said it like that!” she protested. “I just—”

  “Never mind.” Leaning forward, he knocked on the round green door. After a moment it opened revealing a large, corpulent Sensorian who was overflowing his small chair. To Kor’s dismay, the male’s skin was already dark pink proving that someone had been there before them.

  “Yes, Mistress?” the night porter asked, addressing Maggie. “How can I be of help to you?”

  Maggie bit her lip. “I need to make a call. I know it’s not allowed but I was told if I talked to you…maybe offered you something you, uh, wanted?”

  The corpulent Sensorian frowned. “I fear there is nothing I want just now. I am, as you see Mistress, quite replete.” He patted his round belly as though to illustrate his point.

  “Oh, but I…surely there’s something you want,” Maggie faltered. “Look…just try this.” Turning to Kor, she stood on her tiptoes and put her arms around his neck.

  He knew what she wanted but for a moment he just stood there. Gods, it was killing him, touching her for this reason! He wanted her to come to him because she wanted him—not because she had to. It wasn’t fair to Maggie for him to feel this way—she barely knew him. But Kor couldn’t help it—he wanted to be the male she cried out for when she was in trouble or pain. He wanted to be the one she came to when she was in need.

  “Kor,” she whispered, tugging at him. “Kor, please…”

  The pleading in her eyes was more than he could bear. At last, reluctantly, he allowed himself to lean down. Maggie wove her soft little fingers through his hair and pulled him close, pressing her lips to his.

  Kor let her kiss him, determined not to do more than simply stand there. But the press of her trembling mouth to his, the feel of her soft, sweet body so achingly close was too much to resist. He might never get to kiss her again, this sweet, beautiful girl who had risked her life to save his. He might go his whole life without holding her in his arms even once more. Maggie, he thought. Gods, don’t want to leave you. Don’t want to ever let you go… Something inside him snapped and he crushed her to him, covering her mouth with his own.

  Maggie gave a little moan and melted against him, giving in with a sweet submission that made the blood rush to his cock. Gods, how he wanted her! And this was his last chance to have her—Kor intended to make the most of it.

  Reaching down, he slid his hand between her legs and cupped her soft little pussy, still covered in the thin white lace panties. Maggie moaned again and parted her legs, rubbing against his hand like a feline begging to be caressed. He could feel her heat through the fragile fabric. Could almost taste her sweet honey as she rubbed against him.

  Suddenly touching her through the panties wasn’t good enough anymore. He needed to feel her bare pussy in his hand, needed to slip his fingers deep into her hot, slippery little cunt and hear her cry his name as he pumped inside her, fingerfucking her cleft.

  With a low growl, Kor tangled his fingers in the wispy fabric of the panties and ripped, tearing them away, baring her completely.

  Maggie gasped and jumped against him but she didn’t break their kiss. Kor cupped her again, feeling the warm, wet heat of her secret spot, loving the soft patch of curls at the top of her mound and the way her little cunt was already so swollen with need.

  He pressed two fingers against her, parting her plump