Cathian Read online

  Nara scanned the large vessel as they led her through, taking note it was a first-class ship. She couldn’t read the strange language on any of the marked walls, nor did she see anyone as they traveled to another deck on a lift. She half-expected the Pods to roll down the wide corridor, but they walked.

  All three of them glared at her when she thought that.

  “Sorry. Don’t read my mind then.” She frowned. “You have to admit, with your shape, it’s weird that you’re walking.” She shot a dirty look at the wolfman. “You can let me go. I won’t run.”

  He growled but didn’t release her arm.

  She swallowed. Maybe he can’t talk. Maybe he can only—

  “He speaks,” one of the Pods stated. “He is mad. He thinks we made the wrong decision, purchasing you for our captain, and we should haul ass to reach the ship carrying Tryleskian women. That’s our captain’s race. We have already explained to Dovis that our captain needs a woman now. He’s suffering too greatly to survive much longer without being fed.”

  “It is insulting to offer this weakling to our captain,” the wolf snarled. “She is too little and ugly.”

  Nara’s mouth dropped opened. “You think I’m ugly? Me? You—”

  “Don’t!” one of the Pods squealed. “He wouldn’t find humor in being compared to the Earth version of what you think he resembles. He has a temper. And he’ll bite.”

  Nara sealed her lips together as the lift opened and they led her down a narrower corridor. They stopped in front of a door. The wolfman growled and gave her a rough shove forward. Nara turned to frown at the Pods. One of them moved closer to peer at her.

  “Are you familiar with the Tryleskian race? No. You are not. Yes, we are aware it is rude to ask and then answer before we allow you to speak, but our captain is in bad shape. The Tryleskian males go into heat every three years. Our captain miscalculated his cycle. He will go insane without female hormones. We will help you lure him into feeding.”

  “Thank you,” she grit out. “I like to speak for myself,” she added, after mentally demanded the guy allow her to carry on a regular conversation. “Lure him? What does that mean?”

  Another Pod answered Nara. “Tryleskians are a large warrior race. Our captain is quite aggressive right now, and he’ll either want to feed from you or kill you. You need to lure him into feeding to avoid being torn apart.” The Pod hesitated. “Yes. I mean that literally. He has been reduced to animal instincts, and being denied a woman for days while in heat only makes him more hostile and dangerous to any woman trying to entice him. You need to strip off your clothes when you go inside. It will allow him to smell your arousal.”

  Another Pod sighed. “Yes, we are aware you don’t want to touch him, and that you aren’t a pleasure worker. That is why we selected you. Tryleskian men prefer their women not scenting of other males. You haven’t been with a man since your ex-husband stole your money and slept with your friends. You believe all men are assholes. And we are aware that you aren’t aroused, but we have a solution.” He looked at the wolfman. “Do it.”

  Distracted by everything the Pods had read in her thoughts, Nara gasped when something sharp jabbed her arm, only spotting the needle when Wolfman removed it. “What was that?”

  “It will help prepare your body for feeding Captain Vellar. You would call it an aphrodisiac. Right now, he is in the bath trying to cool his overheated body. He feels as though he is on fire and is starving for female hormones. His mind is confused, and he’s filled with rage. You must go in there and remove your clothes quickly, before he leaves his bath to attack whoever stepped into his lair. Your naked body will seduce his senses.”

  “Put her inside,” one of the Pods ordered the wolfman.

  “No!” Nara desperately tried to fight.

  The wolfman hit the panel by the door to open it. She screamed when he shoved her forward roughly. Nara landed on her butt on thick carpet in a dimly lit room. They firmly sealed the entrance behind her, the Pods and the wolfman still on the other side of the door.

  She turned her head frantically, her gaze darting around, and realized she’d entered a large bedroom.

  Something growled viciously—a deep, terrifying sound.

  Nara sat frozen as she heard water splash. Movement to her right made her heart pound as she slowly turned her head. She knew she was supposed to strip naked to avoid the captain hurting her, but terror hit hard as something large filled the doorway—and she got her first glimpse of him.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered.

  She could only gawk at the extremely intimidating male who filled the bathroom entryway. Water dripped from a thick, shoulder-length mane of hair. It looked golden even while wet, softly flowing with hints of reddish waves. His beautiful cat-shaped, exotic eyes captivated her. They were a soft honey color in the dim interior of the room.

  His lips parted, which drew her gaze downward.

  He had strong, masculine features. His cheekbones were a bit harsh, his nose a little too wide, and his lips were unusually generous. His teeth were mostly smooth but he had sharp-looking fangs on the top. Another growl rumbled from deep in his throat.

  She had to admit, he appeared handsome in a wild sort of way. His face definitely held appeal.

  Nara’s focus lowered more, noticing how tense his body appeared. He was broad-shouldered, his bulging biceps displayed as his fingers gripped the doorway to the bathroom. There was a lot of golden skin on display too. He had a massive chest, which tapered down to some finely honed abs. She could see every ripple of muscle that led from his lower ribs down to his lean hips.

  He was totally naked. And her gaze widened as she took in the sight of one very turned-on alien guy. He looked human in that region, although bigger than her ex-husband had been. She couldn’t look away from the thick flesh protruding between his impressively muscular thighs.

  Until he moved, taking a step in her direction.

  While the wolfman had reminded her of an upright werewolf, the captain had her wondering if some overgrown, steroid-taking Viking human had bred with a lioness. The alien in front of her could have been their mature son.

  Her attention flew upward, staring at his face as he growled again, a chilling sound.

  Unable to move, too terrified to do anything but stare at him, she heard her breathing increase as her heart pounded, nearly panting with fear.

  He released the doorjamb of the bathroom and took another step closer. He snarled again, baring his sharp fangs.

  “Easy, big scary lion man. Please don’t hurt me.” Her voice shook. “Nice Captain.”

  Chapter Two

  The captain’s entire body appeared to tighten a second before he crouched a little at the knees…

  Then he leapt at her, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

  Nara’s back hit the floor when his body plowed into her smaller one. He gripped her arms with his hands to pin her flat. She would have screamed if the air hadn’t been knocked from her lungs from the impact. The thick carpet saved her from being injured.

  The alien sniffed at her, his face hovering over her throat. Nara gasped in air but didn’t move, realizing he could tear into her flesh with his fangs. His breath blew hot over her skin with each harsh pant.

  He released her arm to grab hold of the front of her shirt.

  The captain easily shredded the material, exposing her chest. He lowered his head and brushed his nose between her bared breasts. His wet hair dripped and dragged over her skin when his nose slid lower, toward her ribs. He yanked harder on the shirt, ripping it all the way to her waist.

  “Please,” Nara begged. “Don’t hurt me. Captain? I’m Nara Barns from Earth.”

  Her shirt ended up completely torn open, allowing him to rub his face on her stomach. He softly growled and released the destroyed shirt. He fisted the waist of her pants next. The cheap prisoner-issue material tore at his slight tug.

  “Stop it!” Panic and fear battled for domin