The Taming of Taylon
Leila Brown

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Copyright ©2010 Leila Brown

ISBN: 978-1-60521-493-1
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Editor: Margaret Riley
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

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The Taming of Taylon

Leila Brown

When an unstoppable woman smacks into an immovable force of a man, someone’s going to give!

For the price of their blood -- and their sex -- the Changelings protect the inhabitants of Chimera from things far worse than the denizens of this backwoods planet could ever imagine.

When Taylon is captured and sent to participate in the Gathering, her first thought is to fight. And she has the means -- unlike the natives of Chimera, she’s capable of resisting the compulsions used by these giant Vampiric Werecats. But how can she resist the seduction of the most handsome man -- Changeling -- she’s ever seen? Can she survive four weeks at his mercy -- and not want to stay forever?

Chapter One

Taylon stared as a brazen woman pulled her shift down, baring her nipples. Did she have no pride? Apparently not.

These women were just a means to an end, a snack for the savages hosting the Gathering. The Changelings would gorge themselves on the essence of the innocents before indulging their sexual appetites and sending the women home. Until the next gathering.

Taylon stood at the inner circle, surrounded by an outer ring of the most shameless women. She swallowed the lump of disgust lodged in her throat as she watched them flaunt their bodies at the creatures.

A yelp pierced the air in the large round hall, bouncing off the marble floor and walls. Taylon turned her head to watch the woman screeching and giggling as one of the creatures swooped her up and carried her from the room. One slut down. Too bad there were so many left to go. She cared little for them. If they thought to seek their pleasure in an animal’s embrace so be it.

But the others were an entirely different matter.

Her hands shook as she smoothed out the wrinkles in the dress. The fine spider silk felt foreign beneath her fingers. Catching herself, she balled her fist. The dress was useless. The semitransparent material showed more than it hid. Looking down, she swore she saw the dark pink of her nipples. The creatures only dressed them this way to see what they were choosing.

Taylon braced her legs apart and assumed a fighting stance. She would protect the girls behind her. The girls were scared. Like her, this was their first Gathering, and just like her they did not want to be here. They were innocents. Unmarried women of breeding age had no choice. All women who attained the age of maturity on this backwoods planet were subject to Gatherings. Until they married. Or unless they hid really well.

Each whimper behind her shored up her courage. The girls were scared. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her own fear away. She would protect them, for as long as she could. Why had she let her sister pick a planet they hadn’t researched first?

She watched the circling males close in around the women like jaws closing on a desired meal. One of the smaller creatures broke away from the pack and sauntered her way.

His blond hair hung just below his shoulders. He stood almost a head shorter than the other males, but it was his only physical defect. His muscular legs filled the tight black pants, and his chest showed creamy perfection through the opening of his blue vest. “Hello, little one. Do you think to protect all of these beauties?” He chuckled. “You are such a small thing.”

His words rolled off Taylon without generating so much as a ripple of a response. She could hear the compulsion in his voice. Feel his desire for her to submit to him. What she didn’t feel was a need to obey him. Especially not with the insult he’d just dealt her. She was only a bit shorter than him. He was about to learn that she didn’t take insults lightly. “Fuck off.” Her lips curled into a sneer. It would be his only warning.

The creature backed away, his golden eyes never leaving hers. A smile of pure pleasure graced her lips. Whoever chose her was in for a nasty little shock. A human who could stand unaffected by the creatures’ call. Such a thing was unheard of, or at least it was to them.

Most of them would probably like to see her dead, but that was impossible. Humans were protected, and killing one was a deadly offense. It had been so for over five hundred years, since the last Great War, when monster fought monster with humans caught in the middle. Humans were now so rare each life was a treasured commodity. Besides, if they killed the humans, where would they get the blood they craved? Most of them would give her a wide berth.

Or at least she hoped so.

If that damn interplanetary gate -- to her it looked more like an archway -- hadn’t broken down after she and Kylie arrived, they would have turned around immediately and gone back to the Andromeda Waiting Station. This trip had cost them all of their saved credits, but they could work to earn more.

Taylon shook her head to let go of the what ifs. She needed to deal with the reality in front of her. She stood defiant as she stared out into a sea of glowing eyes. Beasts. Beautiful beasts, each and every one. Faces that rivaled those carved from exquisite porcelain lined the walls of the hall.

She wasn’t stupid, though. The handsome faces didn’t fool her. Strip away the well muscled human exteriors and she would find the true beast lurking close to the surface.

* * *

Bracken, Ruler of the Balthazar Mountains, inspected the offerings from a vantage point above his circling brethren. There were several new additions to the Gathering this evening. The scent of the innocents called out to him. Growls of warning emanated from the elders toward the impatient young Changelings. If he didn’t intervene there would be more than virgin blood spilled this night.

Jumping down from his hiding place, Bracken strode toward the untouched women. He barely passed the outer ring of the youngest of his kind when a scent tickled the back of his throat. He inhaled, filling his lungs, trying to pull in more of the intoxicating smell. The closer he drew to the human females, the stronger the scent. His blood quickened his pulse and surged to his cock. Looking down in amazement, he watched as his dick lifted his leather pants and stretch them tight.

How is this possible? None of his kind felt passion without feeding from a woman while indulging in her lust. He gave a mental push, warning others of his kind to keep out of his path. He strode to the inner ring of the females, marveling as his desire heightened with each step.

Tonight’s crowd of available females mirrored every other Gathering he’d attended. The experienced women beckoned to the particular man of their choice. The inexperienced ones clung to each other in the center, their fear a palpable thing. It warred with the sweet scent permeating the air. Each intake of breath stirred the beast within.

Several of the more excited males entered the female mob and chose their evening’s entertainment. Bracken skimmed the inner circle of women. Not one of the women whose eyes he stared into was aware of her sexual power. And he did not feel like teaching them. He was excited for the first time since his change, and he refused to waste such a gift. He would select one or two of those ready and willing for the pleasure he could deliver. Bracken turned and looked out over the more experienced women.

He raised his hand to beckon a couple of the women he’d been with before when he caught sight of a head of bronze curls turning away from him. She stood at the edge of the mass of innocents, but unlike those around her a defiant tilt graced her head.

He willed her to turn around so he could see her face, look into her eyes. When she didn’t comply, he increased the pressure of the compulsion. At her seeming indifference, his beast rose with displeasure. She dared defy him? Bracken sucked in an irritated breath and narrowed his eyes in concentration. The predator inside pushed and strained against his control.

He stalked toward his target, mentally pushing the women closest to him out of his way. He grasped at his control, trying to calm the beast. The women backed away, giving him a wide berth.

As he got closer he saw her talking to Rriodan.

“You will come with me.” Rriodan’s voice was laden with compulsion.

“I don’t think so,” a strong, steady voice said. Not the voice of a woman fighting off a mental push.

Rriodan leaned in close and whispered something Bracken could not hear.

“You can’t touch me. The law states that I must agree to be chosen. And I do not choose you.” Venom laced her voice.

Rriodan’s face showed no anger, but Bracken caught the telling tick at the base of his neck. If he didn’t intervene, Rriodan might do something stupid. Absolute power over women for almost three hundred years had bred a low tolerance for disobedience in Rriodan. Then again, from reports he had over the years, even the most submissive of women found themselves in an abusive situation with Rriodan.

Before Bracken could open his mouth, Rriodan grasped the woman’s upper arm and jerked her to him. Bracken tasted the fear and outrage the woman failed to suppress. He lost his hold on the beast within. His vision shifted from the world of colors and turned to one of red monochrome. Rriodan became a white shadow -- prey.

Bracken’s growl of pure fury reverberated through the room. It reached every ear, though only his kind could hear the clear threat it contained. Bracken caught Rriodan’s questioning gaze as he released the woman’s arm. Too little, too late. A row of sharp teeth burst though Bracken’s gums. “She is mine.” His voice was hardly above a whisper, but was more effective than a shout.

“Not in this fucking lifetime,” Taylon said, spinning around. She caught sight of the cocky beast who dared to issue such a statement and lost her breath. Her heart seized up and a cool breeze chilled her as blood drained from her face.

She knew Changelings were handsome. But handsome did not begin to describe the man before her. His face rivaled the chiseled perfection of the statues throughout the hall. Ebony hair curled close to his head. His full lips drew her gaze down. Once she started lowering her eyes she could not stop. His tight pants showcased his muscled thighs. Heat raced up, burning her face at the sight of the bulge pulling at his pants.

“You heard it, Brac. She turned you down also,” the loathsome bastard said from over her shoulder.

“Rriodan, are you issuing a challenge?” Although the words were spoken through smiling lips, no warmth accompanied them.

“Bracken, you know the law. Hell, you wrote it. She turned you down. She cannot be forced.”

The creature at her back put his hand squarely on her ass squeezing it hard in warning. She could hear the compulsion in her head. It invaded every crack, resounded from every crevice in her brain. The punishing sound of his voice drummed a steady beat inside her head.

“Get your hands off me, you bastard.” Taylon turned away, bending to escape his hands.

A roar erupted behind her. Bracken flew at Rriodan, knocking her to the floor in the tussle. The wind whooshed out of her lungs, leaving her momentarily immobile. From her vantage point on the floor she watched Bracken’s fingernails elongate, sharpening into the largest talons she’d ever seen. They pierced the skin at Rriodan’s neck. A tiny trail of red ran down the bird-like talons.

“I am ruler here. All obey me.” At his booming voice the hall quieted. The women stopped flirting and the men quit responding. It seemed as if even the air stopped moving.

“She is naught but a piece of meat. An enjoyable meal and a quick fuck, at most.”

“Did I issue you leave to speak?” Bracken dug his claws deeper into Rriodan’s neck. “If I tell you to slit your own throat, you will do so without question.”

The claws pressed so deep into the man’s neck, Taylon feared she would see them poke clear through to the other side. Panic laced through her at the thought that he would kill right in front of everyone.

“She is one you cannot control. How it is possible, I do not know.”

Bracken retracted his claws. They shrunk, flesh turning in on itself until they once again took on human form. He stood, leaving Rriodan to crawl from beneath him. “She is mine.” Bracken’s voice reverberated through the hall. There was no mistaking the possessive statement.

Dread ate at Taylon’s courage. Bracken strode to her and outstretched his hand to help her. Taylon ignored him, pushing herself up into a standing position. What was she going to do now? He’d almost killed one of his own for not doing his bidding. What would he care about killing a single female?

Would they punish their own king? Not that it mattered to her since she would already be dead.

“Come.” The command, along with the domineering grip on her arm, shot an unwanted thrill through her. Bracken led her out of the room and thrust her toward a female servant waiting outside the door. Small lines around the woman’s eyes and mouth marked her well past her Gathering years.

“What is your name?”

Taylon ignored him.

Bracken moved so quickly she had no clue he was beside her he grasped her again. Her heart quivered, shocking her. Heat pooled beneath his hands. “What is your name?”

“Taylon.” She yanked her arm away from him, glad he did not try to restrain her.

“You will do as Ashta says, or you will be punished.”

Punishment. Her heart jumped at the word. What type of punishment would he issue, since violence against humans was outlawed? She’d heard rumors of how sacrifices were punished.

“You both will be punished,” he amended.

Taylon looked into the woman’s scared eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for Taylon. The look of terror and determination reminded her of her sister, Kylie, when she’d first found the little girl. It had been Taylon’s first journey off of a Waiting Station almost ten years ago. Her heart seized remembering Kylie’s defeated state. No child of ten should ever wear that mask of fear. Taylon had never truly cared about punishment, not if she believed what she was doing was the right thing. But she could never condemn another to suffer because of her actions.

“Lead the way,” Taylon agreed reluctantly. She walked past Bracken, her eyes glued to Ashta’s back. She refused to look at the savage. She would follow his servant. Let him think that he had broken her. She would find a way to make him regret choosing her.

Chapter Two

Bracken walked to his room, satisfied that the last of his people had finally chosen from the remaining females. The task gave him time to contemplate exactly how he would deal with the young one waiting for him. How did he deal with one he could not control?

When he opened the door to his chamber the rank sweat and dirt assaulted him. Scanning the room, he found the woman sitting on a bench in the corner, staring at the night’s sky through the lone window. She looked completely out of place with the opulence of the room. Silk coverings and luscious furs spanned the bed. Colorful animal skins lined the floor leading to his bed. Intricate tapestries covered the stone walls. And then there was Taylon, a dirty huddled mass sitting as far away from his bed as possible. As he stood watching her, small tendrils of her enticing scent slipped through the other odors.

“Why have you not been cleaned?” His voice echoed through the silence.

“Because I did not feel like taking a bath.”

“I do not lie with filth.”

“Neither do I,” came her quick reply.

He sucked in a breath at the insult. So, this one had claws? Well, if she thought to dissuade him by refusing to bathe, she was in for a shock. Her stunt only strengthened his determination to bring her to heel. If that meant bathing her himself, so be it. “You will follow me.” He ground out through gritted teeth.

“No, I won’t. I don’t --”

Her unfinished words turned into a grunt as he tossed her over his shoulder.

“What do you think you’re --”

He brought his hand down hard on her ass cheek, igniting a stinging sensation in his palm. “I have allowed you much. I would not tolerate such disobedience from my most trusted allies. You will obey me or you will be punished.”

Truth be told she’d done enough to earn a lifetime of punishment. So why was he so slow in doling it out?

* * *

Punished. The word zipped through Taylon’s head. From anyone else she would have laughed at the speech. But he was king here. A law unto himself. She’d just seen him almost kill another of his kind. Seen him come close to breaking the most sacred of their laws. So what would he care about killing her?

That was one of the dangers when you hopped from planet to planet. Not all planets kept their gates up. Many forgot about them altogether. That was why she always did her research. She and Kylie both knew the risk. They’d already been on this planet for six months. Six months of running and hiding, and trying their damnedest to find another gate.

When Bracken stopped, her heart paused before taking off again at breakneck speed. He grasped the back of her thighs as he lowered her to the smooth stone floor. A tingling sense of want flowed through her. Desire burst into a flame in the pit of her stomach and burned a course to her fingertips.

Get a hold of yourself. She shook her head. He might be handsome, and he might have a body straight out of a dream, but he was a jerk.

This bath was going to happen. The realization hit about the same time as the rush of apprehension that hit her squarely in the gut. She might be a virgin, but she knew what could happen between a man and a woman. “Fine. I’ll bathe if you take off.”

A seductive smile lit his face showcasing perfect white teeth. “It’s too late for that. I mean to see the job done to my satisfaction.”

Taylon warred with herself, determined not to show the yearning racing through her. Only the tiniest of shivers made it past her defenses. Him give her a bath? His hands roving all over her body? No way. Not if she could help it.

Looking up from the floor she found herself staring at the tawny perfection of his chest. Her breath caught in her throat. She choked on a cough as she pulled in air. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she’d never seen a shirtless man before.

Not like this. Gritting her teeth she tried to think of something to say. Anything to get him to stop before he removed his pants.

She opened her mouth, not sure what might come out. But her tongue lay lifeless. Hell and double hell. She watched as he undid the ties at the top of his pants exposing more flat tanned skin.

Look away. Look away. Taylon turned her head, but not before she saw the beginnings of onyx hair. Would it be silky like the hair on his head? Or would it be --

What was she doing? Behaving like one of those simple-minded women from the gathering, that’s what. She didn’t want him. She couldn’t want him.

“Hope you enjoyed the show.”

Glancing down, she found him immersed waist high in the pool of swirling green water. The water reached his nipples. Taylon watched as they changed from flat discs to slightly protruding pebbles. She felt her own nipples harden in response.

“Now it’s your turn.”

Flames raced up her face. Damn him. Was he kidding? Surely he didn’t expect her to strip down.

“Must I leave this pool? I will undress you myself. And that is only the beginning.”

He meant it. She had no doubt about that. Taylon stared at the floor in front of her. She had two choices. Strip or run for it. Making her choice quickly, she turned her back to him and bent to remove her slippers. His audible intake of breath was her signal. She inhaled deeply and bolted for the door.

Thousands of glints of light reflected off the walls. Water rushed the edge of the pool beside her as she heard his feet hit the concrete floor. He was right behind her. But he was too late. Closing her hands around the handle, she pulled hard, opening the door just wide enough for her to slip through.

Honey amber eyes stopped her in her tracks. She’d known those eyes for over ten years. Her sister in everything but blood stared at her.

What was Kylie doing here? She had almost two years before she reached the age of maturity. The creatures’ side of the mountain was off limits to all except those women attending the Gathering.

“You are lucky you stopped. Had you had left this room your punishment would have been severe.” His voice shook her out of her stupor.

If he opened the door any wider he would surely see Kylie. What would he do? Did she really want to find out? Taylon stared at her sister, silently imploring her to leave this place. She felt the door slip from her grasp as Bracken shut it, cutting her off from Kylie’s worried gaze.

“You will get in the water, if I have to throw you in.”

Shaking her head, Taylon followed Bracken back to the edge of the bathing pool. He had her. She needed to keep him in this room long enough for Kylie to escape. Please let her get away without running into any of the other males. Taylon shuddered at the thought of what would happen if Kylie ran into one like Rriodan.

How could she stay and let him use her?

Use? Hell, his barest touch sent her blood rushing. Thoughts of him touching her in places that had only known the feel of her own hands rekindled the fire burning from betwixt her legs.

No. She would not give in to the feelings he inspired.

When he bid her to stop, she folded her arms beneath her breast. She bunched the fabric up underneath her hands, grasping it as if it were the coarse material she was used to.

Taylon stared at a crack on the floor, refusing to let him see her humiliated face. She’d never undressed for a man before. If he wanted her to remove the stupid scrap of a dress, then fine.

His hands stopped her. “You had your chance. Now I will undress you.”

Her gaze flew up to meet the storm raging in his eyes. His threat rushed to the forefront of her mind. Damn. Time to stop thinking about Kylie. Real danger was here, standing right in front of her. He waited in front of her, his hands still clasping hers. His thumbs drew lazy circles on her skin.

“I don’t need your help.” She struggled to pull her hands from beneath his warm grasp.

“Then you should have done as I told you to.”

She did not want his hands on her, drowning out all rational thought. But she refused to beg to undress herself. She had more pride than that. Instead she lifted her arms and waited.

Bracken left her in her stone stance while he examined her. Looking at the pert nose and the firm set of her mouth, he admitted she was passably pretty. Several of the women at the Gathering were more beautiful. But her lithe form made up for any perceived shortcomings.

Her shift did little to hide her assets. The white silk outlined high breasts that would more than fill his hands, and her rounded hips. Hell, if he’d spent less time concentrating on that ass he would not have almost been disgraced. Several of his enemies would view it as a weakness that a lone female could escape him. No matter, he had her now.

Bracken walked behind her, grabbed her dress from the sides and pulled it up over her head. Tossing the garment aside, he peered over her shoulder at her dark rose nipples. The urge to touch her raced through him, scorching him to his fingertips. The beast roamed just beneath the surface. She needed to be cleaned before he lost what little control he maintained.

Bracken let his hands skim the outside of her thighs and trace a path up to her waist. Take her. Take her. The beast cared not about her thin coating of dirt and sweat. Using the last of his control he pulled her into the circle of his arms. The satin feel of her burned like fire licking at his skin. Lifting her up, he took a few steps and dropped her into the water.

Chapter Three

Taylon broke the surface, sputtering, water bobbing at her neck. Good thing she could swim. Damned beast. How dare he drop her in the pool like a sack of trash?

Turning all the way around she searched the green reflections in the liquid surface for him. The water beat a constant pulse against the edges of the pool. He had to be beneath the surface. Staring at the dissipating ripples, her heart stilled. Had he drowned? Could a Changeling drown? Maybe he changed into a fish or some other water dwelling animal. He still had to come up for air eventually, didn’t he?

Something seized her ankle, attempting to pull her under the water. What the hell? She kicked hard, connecting with flesh. It was hard and substantial. She kicked harder until her feet slipped out from beneath her. Standing, she wiped her hair out of her face and turned to find him several feet away.

“Calm down, I just wanted to make sure you’re clean.”

His laughing voice grated on her. “I can wash myself.” She crossed her arms in front of her breasts. “Just give me the soap.”

“You are being cleansed as we speak. The water has restorative powers.”

“Well, in that case, you don’t need to supervise it, do you? You can leave.”

He stalked toward her. “I don’t think so.”

Taylon didn’t wait for him to get any closer. She dove into the water, pushing off hard. She willed herself to reach the wall before he caught her. His hands skimmed her ankles. She kicked out at him. Just a little further. The feel of his hands touching her thighs made her stomach plummet.

A small part of her wanted to just give up. Find out exactly what he wanted from her. No. She was not a quick fuck. The thought of him viewing her as such gave her the needed strength to reach the edge. Throwing her arms over the concrete she tried to pull herself out of the pool. Water sloshed against her back as he broke the surface of the water. He grabbed her legs and twisted hard. Taylon held tight, determined to get out of the pool. He twisted a second time, effectively flipping her over.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she felt the edge of the concrete digging into her back. The tension of holding herself up made her straining muscles shake. Stretching her arms out she relaxed and let herself float in the water. She looked down. Her breasts were totally exposed to him. They bobbed slightly as the water lapped at her nipples.

She squeezed her legs closed. Tried to lock him out. He moved forward, barely even responding to her resistance. When he passed her knees she stopped trying to shut her legs. To do so now would just pull him closer.

This could not be happening. There had to be a way out. Think. Think. She had to ignore the flames spreading along her skin as he brushed against her legs. The wetness between her thighs burned hotter than the water.

She had lost. Hell, it hadn’t even been a fight. Since he’d gotten her into this room he’d had the upper hand. Her body no longer obeyed her commands. Her only hope of clinging to a tiny bit of dignity would be to hold herself aloof. He might be in control of her body but her mind would remain untouched.

She refused to look at him. She would stare at the ceiling and pretend she was at home tending the animals or maybe hunting for dinner. She lolled her head back on the hard stone edge. Closing her eyes she pictured her small home. Whatever he did she would be unaffected.

Taylon fought hard not to jump as his finger skimmed across the hair covering her pussy. When his fingers moved to open the lips to expose her clit, she closed her legs, pulling him closer.

“That’s good. Wrap your legs around me.”

She’d done it without thinking. She could feel him moving in the water. Feel its cooling balm against her burning sex. He didn’t touch her anywhere else. She knew he was staring at her pussy, splayed open for his eyes.

Don’t look at him. Just stare at the ceiling. He was waiting for her to look at him. She knew it, but could not stop from bending her head, letting her eyes feast on him. He stared at her from just above her triangle. His face hovered so close she could feel the warm air from every breath he exhaled.

“Hold onto the edge.”

She opened her mouth to ask him why when she felt the first stroke of his tongue. He lapped along one side of her pussy lips and down the other. Her breathing hitched at the new sensation. There was no way she could ignore that.

Jerking up hard, she tried to pull her body away from him. He just moved forward and pulled her closer to his mouth. His tongue roamed over the sensitive skin again and again until the only air she managed to inhale was small puffs. His tongue began a gentle motion going in an ever-tightening circle around her clit. When he actually reached it, he flicked across it several times before starting the whole spiraling torture again.

The maddening strokes of his tongue burned her skin. She wanted to touch him, close her fingers around his jutting shaft. She curled her hands into fists and dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands. Moan after moan escaped her, bouncing off the walls, creating a chorus of sounds. Taylon moved her head from side to side as the need to ride down hard on his tongue built inside her.

The gyration of her hips told Bracken she was close. A little bit more and he would be treated with the sweet taste of her release. He swirled his tongue around her opening before thrusting deep inside her nether lips.

Her body jerked upward. He held on tight and was rewarded with her juices upon his lips. The liquid flowed from her, coating his tongue and drugging his senses. He moved his tongue quickly, trying to catch every single drop. As the rush of liquid turned to a trickle, the taste of her went from bursting with energy to a dim memory of its initial potency.

Damn. In his rush to taste her he forgot to actually feed. A slow smile spread across his lips. He stood to his full height. His eyes bore into her, waiting for her to open her lids. “Do you think you can do that again?”

Taylon’s eyes flew open. Again? Was he kidding? She’d almost died the first time. “I… I don’t think so.” She cringed at the uncertainty in her voice. She should have just said no.

“I think you can.”

“No. I can’t.” Better. There was more force behind her voice. Not much more, but it was all she could muster.

“Let us see, little one.”

Taylon sucked in a breath as he ducked his head down between her legs. She closed her eyes against the coming onslaught. The first flutter of his tongue set off a burst of tiny lights behind her eyelids. Her super sensitized folds spasmed as his tongue lightly teased each piece of exposed flesh. Fire between her legs caused more juices to coat her aching pussy.

Taylon caught her breath. Her body must finally be used to his velvety rough stokes. His lips settled over her clit and he began to suckle the engorged bud. Lightning bolts of pleasure shot through her. He increased his suctioning at her every sound. Her heart hammered out of control. She couldn’t drag in enough air. Her head swam with the need for oxygen. She was going to pass out. She gave up trying to pull in enough breath to calm her thundering heartbeat, and instead concentrated on staying conscious.

All thoughts of resisting or pretending to be unaffected deserted her. She tightened her thighs around his head, pulling him in closer. She was pushing him deeper, giving him more access, making him suck harder. The sound of the water hitting the edge of the bath echoed the sound of her blood rushing through her ears. She was going to explode.

A bit more pressure and he would send her over the edge. He pushed one of his fingers inside her slick center as he sucked on her clit.

The cool air hit her clit as she felt her body explode again. The pulsing spasms of the walls of her pussy pumped pleasure throughout her blood. She felt a slight ache in her thigh.

Looking down she saw him sink his fangs deep into the muscles of her leg. Another wave of euphoria hit her. She should have been in pain, but could only feel blinding pleasure, radiating from where he latched onto her thigh. The spasms of her pussy intensified. She was drowning in pleasure. She would never be able to walk again.

He lifted her out of the pool. She opened her eyes, her sexual haze slowly lifting.

“Can you come for me one more time?” he purred into her ear.

Taylon opened her mouth, closed it and opened it again. Nothing came out. She shook her head.

“Do it again.” His words sounded less like a question and more like a warning. No way could she take more of his particular brand of torture.

Hell, she was too tired to resist. Taylon closed her eyes and waited for him to begin. The first indication that this would be different than before was his weight pressing down on her. Her eyes snapped open and she found herself staring into golden ones. Eyes so filled with desire her pussy wept for him. He’d given her pleasure twice while taking none for himself. Did that mean this time was for him?

“This will only hurt for a bit.”

“Hurt?” Taylon barely whispered the word when a searing pain gripped her. The discomfort pulled her back to reality. She was lying on the cold floor with him on top of her. Gulping several times she tamped down her scream. She’d willingly submitted herself to this abuse. Her muscles stiffened with protest at each move.

“It won’t hurt anymore,” his strained voice whispered to her.

“You’re right, because you’re going to get the hell off me.”

He sucked in an audible breath and closed his eyes.

What was he waiting on? “Did you hear me?” She hit him repeatedly. “Get the fuck off.” She bucked beneath him.

“Don’t do that.” He grunted, holding down her arms.

He pressed his body weight down on her until she couldn’t move. She clenched her inner muscles and tried to push him out.

He growled low in her ear and sank fully into her.

A low burning started from her pussy and spread up to her fingers and down to her toes. “You fed, now get off me, you damned beast.”

The lids of his eyes lowered into tiny slits. She felt his knife-like gaze slicing through her. He slowly pulled out until naught but the very tip of him remained inside. “Be careful, little girl. You have no idea what you are fucking… with,” he said before pushing deep inside her again.

His predatory grin stilled her more than anything else. Something had changed. She watched his eyes transform right in front of her. The iris shifted from one circle encasing another to elongated discs. The molten gold deepened to a burning red. Those were the eyes of the beast who had almost killed that very evening. A sliver of desire tinged with fear raced through her. She wasn’t making love to the man anymore.

He bent down and ran a rough tongue across one of her nipples before he latched onto it. Her breath caught in a rush of pleasure. He rubbed it, pushed it until it perked up into a tight bead.

“I knew all you needed was a good fucking.” He moved from one nipple to the other.

Jerk. Bastard. Beast.

“What I need is for you to get the fuck up.” Small intakes of breath between each word betrayed her excitement. She licked her parched lips. She could feel the walls of her pussy clamp down on him with every thrust.

He let go of her nipple and reared over her. He pushed his cock in and out at a maddeningly slow pace. Feelings of pain were forgotten, replaced by a distinct sensation of being filled to brimming one second and bereft the next. The hard strokes made her crave each new pounding of his skin against hers. If only he would speed up. Taylon grasped his ass and squeezed hard. She pulled at him when he withdrew from her, but he refused to alter his pace.

“No. This beast is in control. You will beg for me. You will beg this filthy beast to fuck you.”

Never. His words should have frightened her. They should have doused her desire. He pounded into her again, pushing her thoughts to the side. A low moan escaped her pursed lips, and he started pumping in and out faster. The suctioning sound of his sweaty body pumping, sticking, and releasing hers echoed through the room.

The tension in her legs and pussy grew stronger. Her legs quivered and she could feel the walls of her pussy pulse in tune with the uncontrolled beat of her heart. Each thrust pushed her closer. Each pull on a nipple, each swirl of his tongue on her pushed her to the brink.

He pulled out of her until she felt the tip of his dick touching her slick lips. He pushed the head back inside and stopped. “Are you ready to beg?”

Taylon clamped down hard on her tongue, determined not to give him that satisfaction.

“You will beg.” In one stroke he pushed himself so deep she felt the hairs at the base of his shaft tickle the lips of her pussy. He pulled out only to slam back inside her with the same force.

Taylon lost her hold on her tongue and bit down hard on her bottom lip, afraid she could no longer deny the urge to give him what he wanted.

He pumped her until she was sure permanent teeth marks etched the skin just below her bottom lip. He pushed inside her so far and so fast she lost track of what he wanted her to say. She just wanted him to let her end this delicious ride. She wanted to explode all over him. She deserved it. She’d earned it.

“So are you ready to beg now?” He no longer seemed unaffected. The raspy voice sounded as strained as she felt.

“Please… please fuck me.” She knew what she was saying but no longer cared.

No longer holding back, he rode her faster, harder, pushing into her at a frenzied pace. She dove right over the cliff. Tiny shocks went off all over her body as her juices poured over him. On a deep growl she felt him pump his release high inside her. The spray seemed to go on forever.

Shocks of pleasure continued shooting from every place his body touched hers. As he slid off her, the cool air from the pool set off another storm of sensations. It felt as if her body was on pleasure overload. If he touched her again she knew she wouldn’t be able to take it.

She turned her head to find him looking at her. Lying with him staring at her as if he could see inside her? Not an option. She’d just given him everything. She’d begged for him. Her face burned as she remembered the neediness of her voice, the exact words she’d used.

Leave now. Think about that later. Taylon rolled onto her stomach. She waited a few seconds before trying to stand. She pushed herself up and took a couple of unsteady steps before regaining control. Grabbing her dress she pulled it on, noticing belatedly she’d put it on backwards. Oh well, she refused to take it off and give him another look at her naked. The sound of him diving in the water gave her a quick moment of relief. Why couldn’t he have fallen straight to sleep? Why wasn’t there something nearby she could knock him out with?

“Going somewhere?”

Taylon put one foot in front of the other, moving toward the door. “We’re done here. I’m going home.” Or anywhere. Anywhere but here. She had not even begun to process what just happened. Much less why her body was protesting at each step she took. It would be so easy to lay with him, luxuriate in his body. Too easy.

“No.”

“No? I did what was required. I have thirty days before I must join the next Gathering.” Taylon moved faster toward the door. It loomed mere feet before her.

“Actually, I distinctly remember telling you if I had to leave this pool to undress you, you would be punished.”

He had to be kidding. Punished? Wasn’t that what the begging thing had been about? Humiliating her? Punishing her?

“I think your punishment will be to serve me.” He moved to her side of the pool and placed his folded arms across the edge.

A relieved breath escaped her. She could deliver him his food. She could play the slave.

“In bed.”

No way. No way. No way. She was not going to do this. She could not control herself with him. She could not let him touch her again.

“Yes, you will be my slave for the next two weeks.”

“No way.” Taylon clasped her hands over her mouth.

His eyebrows shot up at her outburst. “Make that four weeks. Care to try for six, or do you want to skip straight to eight?”

Taylon shook her head, too fearful of saying something to garner more punishment.

Four weeks of being his plaything. Four weeks of begging to be fucked by him each night. Four weeks of him pounding inside her. Her body pulsed with anticipation as her mind screamed in fear. She would never survive four weeks of being at his mercy.

Chapter Four

Bracken carried Taylon back to his room. In truth he should have taken her to a guest room, let her sleep through the night and allow one of the slaves to show her the way out in the morning. That’s what he should have done, but he wasn’t ready to allow her to leave. Four weeks. He’d given himself four weeks to get her out of his system.

“Put me down,” she mumbled.

“With pleasure.” He dumped her on his bed.

“Let me go.” She rubbed her hands back and forth over her eyes.

“Not quite. I have you for the entire night. And I’m not done yet.” He sat down beside her.

“I don’t think so. You fed. I felt the damn bite.”

“Well, I guess I will just have to make sure you can’t run away.” He grabbed the gown she’d discarded and ripped it quickly into four long strips.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked, scooting over to the other edge of the bed.

He reached out and grabbed her arm. She wasn’t quick enough to get away. He threw his leg over hers and tied her arms together. Then he tied her wrists to the headboard. He grabbed another piece of fabric and wrapped it around her head, gagging her.

He tied her ankles together loosely, but didn’t tie them to down to the bed. “This position will make everything more intense.” When he lifted her feet in the air he had a perfect angle to see her beautiful legs and her tight little pussy. His beast grunted. She was creaming and the smell was going to his head.

“I wanted to go slow, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be possible.” He used his free hand to scratch a tiny line from one ankle, down the back of her leg, around her cheeks and back up. Her breathing caught then came out in an audible whoosh. “Like that? How about this?”

He used his mouth to follow the path his finger had taken. By the time he reached her ankles again he could see the glistening wetness covering her sex. She was ready, and so the hell was he.

He lifted her legs and set her knees over his shoulder, then leaned forward and rubbed the tip of his cock into her wetness, making circles around the rim of her opening.

Taylon moaned low and soft, and he couldn’t wait. He wanted to feel that wet heat again. With his hand he guided himself into her. He pulled back until only the tip lay inside. Then he surged into her, one long, hot deep stroke from the tip of his cock to the base of it. He pulled out a little then surged back in.

One stroke. Two strokes. In. Out. In. Out. He got into a rhythm when he felt her muscles clench down on him. There went his control. That leisurely pace was out of the question now.

Bracken pulled out and surged into her. Again and again. Faster. Deeper. He could feel the pressure building in his balls. He didn’t want to leave her unsatisfied so he reached around pinched her clit between his thumb and forefinger. She arched beneath him, taking more into her as her pussy milked him.

Just when he knew the pressure was going to crush him, he felt the familiar feeling of rushing liquid. He rode out their mutual orgasm, letting the pleasure fill him and come out in a rush. He’d just come and as he stared down at her all he could think about was doing it again.

* * *

Taylon woke from a fitful sleep to find Bracken’s handsome face inches from hers. The sun’s new rays cast his hair in a red haze.

“Get away from me,” she mumbled in a groggy voice, then rolled over to face the other way.

“Get up.” He pulled the covers from her naked body.

The cool morning air slid over naked flesh. Her nipples perked into jutting peaks while goose bumps marched across her skin. “Where is my gown?”

“As my personal slave you are not allowed to wear clothing.”

That was total horseshit. He wasn’t running around naked. How could one night turn her world so upside down? She threw her legs over the side of the bed. A slight cramp started in her thigh and ended at the juncture in between her legs. Memories of the reasons for those aches sent heat racing to her face. “I’m not walking around here naked. Even the slave last night wore clothes.”

He sent her an aggravated look. “Personal slaves do not wear clothes. Community slaves do. Their very clothes invite anyone to undress them.”

Taylon refused to look away. Did he think he was scaring her? He was, but she refused to let him know it.

“So unless you want to find yourself on your back or your knees at every turn, you will not wear clothing.”

Well, if he wanted her naked all the time she would just spend her time in this room. There was no way she was going to parade around naked in front of his people.

“You will visit the baths twice a day, each day.”

“Sure.” She would visit the bath. He never said anything about her getting in the water.

“You will take morning and evening meals with me.”

“But you don’t eat food.”

“Who told you that? You don’t think the small amount of blood I took last night will keep me for a month? Those with personal servants attend each meal to ensure that the new slaves get proper nutrition.”

“So you guys just sit and watch us eat.”

“No, we like to replenish what was taken. Then we discuss any business we must conduct.”

“Business?”

“What did you think we do? There are dangerous creatures outside our borders. We keep them out in exchange for a Gathering once a month.”

“I didn’t know that.” Not that it would have changed her feelings about the Gatherings. This wasn’t her planet. Not her problem. So why did a tiny part of her sigh at the balance of the deal?

“Of course not, because then your leaders would have to tell you what lay outside the borders. Why frighten you when there is no need. Now let us end this conversation. You need to attend the baths and then meet me at this morning’s meal.”

Taylon didn’t move toward the door. She sat with her hands knotted in her lap. He was going to make her leave the room. He intended to parade her around. Show his people how he’d used her.

“Get up, or you will find more time added to your punishment.”

Taylon’s eyes widened in fear. Punished again. She could not afford to spend that much time away from her sister. There was no one else to take care of Kylie.

That’s just an excuse. Would spending more time with him be so bad?

Yes. After being in his life for four weeks, how would she to return to Kylie? How could she search for a way off this world when she knew the pleasures available here?

“One of the slaves will direct you to the bath.”

“I don’t need to visit the baths.”

He turned toward the door. “Do not take too long, else I will be forced to fetch you.”

Else he would punish her more. The unspoken words hung in the air as he closed the door.

Bracken knew he was making excuses. Looking for ways to extend the length of her punishment. The rush of his own desire was new to him, the sensations strong. Naming an actual date that he would willingly give up these new feelings was out of the question. Hell, she should be clamoring to serve him instead of looking to get away.

“I hope the hellion last night was worth it,” a harsh masculine voice lashed out.

What the fuck? Bracken spun around, defenses up. How had he missed him? His senses were usually so heightened he could feel a threat from many rooms away.

“So was it as good as the look on your face says?” Rriodan inquired.

“No, she was horrible.” The lie slid off his tongue without a moment’s hesitation.

“Well, maybe I’ll just see for myself. She will be at the next Gathering?”

Not if he could help it. He was not done with her. Was that the only reason? It didn’t matter, it was reason enough.

“Is she still here? Maybe I can make her an offer she can’t refuse.” Rriodan looked at Bracken with a smug, teasing smile dripping from his lips.

The beast rose to the surface faster than Bracken could control. Muscles popped out along his arms and his body began to shift into the big cat. His hands morphed into long claws. He grabbed Rriodan’s arms and rammed him into the hard stone wall. The crack echoed through the empty hall. A normal human’s spine would have snapped from the impact.

“She is mine.” The need to rip out the flesh of Rriodan’s neck pulsed through him. The beast within warred with the man. Rriodan could not have her. She belonged to him. For now. Forever.

Forever. Where the hell had that come from? He couldn’t keep her, not unless she agreed. And even then she would eventually leave him when she aged and death took her from him.

If he truly wanted to be with her there were ways. Was it worth it?

It mattered little, she would never agree.

“Bracken… Bracken?” Rriodan almost yelled as he pulled away. All semblance of humor fled. “What manner of woman is this that enslaves you so?”

A quick burst of laughter escaped him. He had been enslaved. The lust his little captive inspired within him drowned out coherent thought. One taste of her and all he could imagine was sinking into her pulsing heat again. He could not even think about her without being aroused. Surely, four weeks of pounding into her would ease this aching madness.

Sounds of pleasure greeted him when he entered the dining chamber. Several of the women chosen last night lay sprawled on the feeding dishes. The dishes consisted of small metal trays shaped to cup a woman’s round ass, making her sex more accessible. Meals for their masters.

Those who had pleased their masters were seated at the table being fed small pieces of meat, fruit, and sugared bread. Would Taylon please him today? Would she grind her pussy on his face as she’d done last night? He took his place at the head table and waited.

Chapter Five

Taylon followed the small slave into the dining room, fighting the urge to cover herself with her hands. The muffled moans she heard did not pique her interest until the doors opened. There were twenty rectangular tables seating four to five men each, and on the tables in front of most of the men were women on their backs, legs spread. Several men had their faces planted between the women’s legs.

Her eyes darted around the room. Taylon tried to close her mouth. How? Why? It felt like her eyes would pop out. Her stomach turned to cast iron and fell. That rat. That snake. He should have told her the women not only ate their morning meals, they were the morning’s meal.

A slight touch at her arm urged Taylon forward to the head table. She stared at the side of Bracken’s head until he turned to look at her. The man next to him also leaned forward.

It was that bastard from last night. Why was Bracken eating with Rriodan? He’d nearly killed him last night.

“Are you ready to take your place?” Bracken asked, indicating a metal dish on the table. Two slight indentions were grooved into the dish. That damn thing would push her pussy right up to his face. She would be spread open for everyone to see.

“I don’t think so.” She spun and bolted straight for the door. No longer concerned about her nakedness, she moved at top speed. Her hands touched the cool marble of the door. Freedom.

“Take another step and you will double your punishment time.”

Taylon stopped short. Eight weeks of being his sex slave, of him kissing, rubbing, fucking her day and night, at his every whim. Eight weeks. Her foot itched to move forward, her body urging her to incur the extra punishment. But Kylie counted on her.

“Come here.”

Turning around to follow his command, she noticed he hadn’t moved from his table. Jerk. As she walked across the stone floor the slurping, moaning, and other sounds stopped. Everyone was looking at her. Some of the women sniggered while other’s had faraway looks in their eyes. Those women likely had no clue as to what truly was happening to them. Those would be the virgins from last night. Women who were still under the bastard’s control. Fucking jerks. All of them. She would not be used this way. She would control her body. She would keep herself apart from what he was doing. She vowed not to repeat her mistakes of last night.

Her eyes shot daggers at him while she climbed on the table and slid into the cool metal plate. She vowed not to respond to his touch. She looked around the table and found several pairs of golden eyes staring back. Her heart beat so hard, it seemed like it would shoot from her chest. He was going to do this with all of them watching. She lifted her arms and slid them up to cover her breast.

“Look at me.”

Taylon pretended she hadn’t heard him. He pushed past her hands and pinched her. Pain seared her right nipple.

“Look at me.” It wasn’t a request.

Taylon opened her eyes into tiny slits and peered down at him. He held her gaze as one of his fingers stroked up and down the sensitive skin lining the outside of her pussy. Slow, lazy strokes pushed her into a frenzied state. Small shocks zipped through her arms and into her hands. Struggling hard and concentrating on those small tingly sensations, she won the momentary battle not to give in and rotate her hips. A low moan reverberated in her throat.

Each stroke intensified her need to have his mouth on her, sucking at her, lapping while she ground down on his tongue.

He bent close to her sex and blew a warm breath across it. A shiver raced down her body, making her crave his touch more. His hands glided up and down the while the flesh between his fingers bumped up against her clit. Each time he touched the engorged bud a jolt speed down her legs. Heat infused the soles of her feet. Sweat broke out along her forehead and top lip. She no longer cared that the others at the table were watching. She lifted her hips, eager for him to push his fingers inside of her.

He slowly inserted one finger and then another. A loud moan escaped her, drowning out every other sound. He pulled his fingers out until only the very tip of one lay inside. He moved it in a circular motion, tracing the tight ring of her opening. Wanting more pressure, she pushed her hips at him. He sank his finger inside of her and pulled out again. A whimper slipped out. She wanted more. She wanted him. More of him.

His tongue traced the same line his fingers had traveled. He pulled at her clit, raking his teeth across it. When his lips closed around the nub, her hips arched off the table. She was so close. His tongue pushed in and out of her pushing her closer. There was no holding her back. Her completion hit fast and hard. She felt the juices run down and coat his tongue and face. When he lifted his head she could see it glistening on his chin.

His hand came up and patted her pelt like a beloved pet.

He’d done it again. He’d stolen her control right from her fingertips. Taylon moved to scramble down off the table without meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Good job. Now you may eat.” His hands indicated the vacant spot between him and the brute Rriodan. Was he kidding?

Bracken lifted an eyebrow at her. Would not sitting where he indicated constitute disobedience? More punishment?

“Sit.”

Sit, sit, sit he says. Sit with the same slime that threatened me last night. She darted a look at the stranger and bit her bottom lip. Was she really that hungry?

“He will not touch you.” Bracken’s exasperated sigh punctuated the statement.

Was he serious? Could she trust him? Sounds from her empty stomach spurred her into making a decision. Inching to the open space, she climbed down to the waiting bench. It took her a tiny bit of time and effort but she made sure not to touch the other man.

One of the serving girls set a circular plate in front of her. A grumbling sounded from the region of her stomach. She should have eaten dinner with the other women last night.

Taylon watched a woman being fed. Looking around the room, she noticed no woman feeding herself.

One of the serving girls set a pitcher of liquid in front of her.

“Taylon,” a voice whispered beside her, so quietly she almost missed it. Her heart jumped into her throat. No. Please, Kylie don’t do this to me. Taylon stared at the wavy black hair of the servant next to her. No. A thousand times no.

“Taylon,” she whispered again. “I found a working gate.”

Taylon’s appetite deserted her. The gate should have been their way out. But now they were both trapped here. What the hell was she going to do? Kylie, here. In a slave’s outfit. A community slave outfit. Hell and double hell. She had to get Kylie out of here. But how?

She reached for the pitcher. Water. She needed water. Her disoriented fingers failed to open and grasp the pitcher’s handle. The sound of metal hitting wood and the coolness of water spilling across her thighs broke her stupor. Kylie bent close, wiping up the water.

“Get out of here, Kylie. Please,” Taylon whispered. She prayed Kylie heard.

“We can get to the gate in less than an hour.” Kylie righted the pitcher in front of Taylon and turned to leave. A feeling of relief washed over Taylon.

“Wait a second. Where are you rushing off to?” Rriodan thrust his hands out and stopped Kylie mere steps from escape.

Taylon’s eyes widened and she flew into a rage.

“Now let’s have a good look at you. I don’t think I have had the pleasure yet.” Rriodan’s hands smoothed back the black veil of Kylie’s hair.

Taylon turned to Bracken, who smiled at the exchange. This was nothing to smile about. She could not sit idly by and let this monster use her sister.

Rriodan lifted Kylie’s head and rubbed his fingers over her lips. “Suck on them.”

She watched Kylie’s eyes widen in alarm. When she didn’t comply a growl erupted from Rriodan. She must protect Kylie, no matter what the cost. Blood pounded in her ears. She resisted the urge to look at Bracken one last time. What she was about to do would garner true punishment, possibly death. Reaching out as if to gather a cup of water again, she closed her fingers over the handle of the pitcher. In a quick swoop she swung it at Rriodan’s head, connecting with a resounding crack. As his head fell forward Taylon grabbed her sister and raced for the door. The sounds of growling erupted behind her. She spun and pushed Kylie behind her back.

“You will not touch her!” Taylon yelled the words loud enough to be heard over the mountain of growls. Every man was watching them, teeth bared.

Why had she dropped that damn pitcher? Now she had no way to defend Kylie or herself. The position reminded her of the previous evening. But this time Rriodan didn’t want Taylon. She was expendable.

“Taylon!” Her sister’s fear was blatant in her voice.

“She will be mine.” The raw statement, uttered in a growling tone, was the only warning she had. Rriodan launched at her, his eyes going to predator red from golden human.

Turning without thought, Taylon pushed her sister out of the way and braced for the coming impact. He hit her hard and fast, knocking her back into Kylie.

Flipping on her stomach, she watched Bracken wrestling with Rriodan. He’d protected her. He’d been watching her the whole time. He’d chosen her over his kind for a second time.

Kylie’s screaming pulled her back to the present. Rriodan’s body rippled as the bones shifted beneath the skin. Golden fur spotted with black erupted, covering him. His face elongated, taking on the features of a large wild cat. Rriodan snapped at Bracken several times before ferocious teeth connected with one of Bracken’s arms. Rriodan knocked Bracken to the floor. Taylon watched Bracken’s body begin to shift and change.

Her breath stopped in her throat as Rriodan’s vicious jaws wrapped around Bracken’s half human, half feline neck. As she watched the jaws clamp down further. Bracken was going to die. Rriodan would kill him before he finished his transformation.

“Taylon, we need to get out of here. We can be through the gate before they catch up. Let’s go.”

Taylon looked at Kylie’s anxious face, but she knew she couldn’t leave. “He saved me, Kylie. Twice now. When I found you I knew you were worth the trouble. So is he. You need to get to the gate. Go home.” Hugging her sister, Taylon turned back to see Rriodan thrown from Bracken. His neck was okay. There was blood, but no gaping wound. That tiny drop of relief helped her suck in much needed air.

This would be a fight to the death unless she could find some way to stop it. The feel of a hand grasping her fingers startled her. She locked eyes with Kylie.

“I can’t leave you.” The firm set of Kylie’s mouth screamed her determination.

“Kylie!” Why wouldn’t she listen? Didn’t she see that Taylon was trying to protect her?

“We’re family. We don’t leave each other. Now let’s do this together.”

“Do what?” Taylon asked in desperation. How did two women fight a beast more than three times their size?

“I don’t know.”

There had to be a way to stop them. None of the other Changelings in the room seemed to be eager to stop the fight. They were forming a circle around the struggling pair. The women were left at the tables. The experienced ones finished the food and the new ones sat like stones in their chairs.

Blood flew as teeth and claw met with flesh and bone. One of them was going to die before this was over. As the huge animals circled each other she saw blood dripping from gaping wounds on both golden coats. Bracken had been hurt. He could be the one to die. Her heart seized. She shouldn’t care. She shouldn’t. But she did.

Taylon bounced on the balls of her toes, priming herself to jump, when Kylie grabbed her arm, her brow bunched in concern. “They could kill you! Is he worth it?”

Taylon didn’t want to answer that question. Hell, she didn’t even want to think about it. Less than a week ago she’d been searching for a way off this backwoods planet, and now she was risking her life for a man she’d just met. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she let him die this way. For her. Because of her.

“Yes,” Taylon said before she jumped between the two beasts and latched onto Rriodan’s back. She grabbed hands of fur and wrapped her legs around him. Bracken slashed at Rriodan, catching him on the cheek. As the paw continued its downward angle he slashed her arm. She screamed but didn’t let go. She knew she was bleeding but if she let go she would be screwed.

Rriodan reared up and bucked, kicking out at Bracken. A weaker woman would have been thrown to the ground. The big cat smashed his head down onto her arm. It hurt so much she lost her grip. She tightened her legs, but couldn’t stop herself from falling. The animal swooped left and threw her directly into the path of a pouncing Bracken.

She rolled, but a large paw came down on her leg and she knew she’d been too slow. The pressure of his weight made it feel like her leg was going to explode. Bones cracked. She felt it as the sharp edge pushed through her skin.

By the time she could focus on something besides the pain it seemed that everything stopped. One moment she was on the floor and the next she was in Bracken’s strong arms. Screaming resounded high and loud off the walls of the hall. She looked around to find Rriodan holding a murderous looking Kylie.

The screams were getting louder. Someone needed to shut that fucking woman up.

That’s when she realized she was the one screaming.

Bracken looked down at Taylon’s broken body. No human could survive such injuries. She was going to die. Even if she survived the fever and infection, she might lose her arm, and she would never walk again. His heart lurched at the idea. Less than twenty-four hours ago she’d brought color back to his world. He wasn’t strong enough to give her up so soon. He needed her in his life.

“Leave us,” he told the servant who was bandaging up her leg.

The woman looked from her to him and shook her head. He read the sorrow in Ashta’s eyes.

He was doing the right thing. He was. He took a step toward her and suddenly her sister was there. Kylie. How had he forgotten that she was here? Which meant he’d forgotten Rriodan too.

“Don’t touch her,” Kylie screamed at him.

“She will die if I don’t.”

“She wouldn’t be here now if you’d just let her go this morning.” She didn’t like him. No, Kylie did not like him at all. From the look of her, she wanted to kill him right now. Rriodan stepped forward, clamping a hand on Kylie’s arm, and pulled her from the room. Bracken could hear her screaming insults at him. He would owe Rriodan.

He sat on the edge of the bed near Taylon’s head. “I just can’t let you go.” He elongated his fangs and ripped his wrist open. His blood flowed down his hand, and he pressed the wound against her mouth. She sucked it down at first then tried to spit it out. He held her head in place and rubbed her throat to make her swallow. He had to make her take enough. He wasn’t sure what long term effects his blood might have on her, but he was sure she would heal. Anything else they would deal with later.

* * *

Taylon woke up with a start. Bracken? Where was he? Then she remembered Kylie, the gate, Rriodan and the fight. She moved her leg. Last she remembered, it had been broken, and sliced to the bone. She wasn’t feeling a lick of pain now. What the hell was going on here? “Bracken? Kylie?”

“Kylie is with Rriodan.”

“What?” How could he let that animal take her sister?

“Taylon, how is it that you and your sister can resist us?” Bracken asked.

“I don’t know.” Was Kylie immune? Not that she ever wanted to test it to find out. “Can you get Kylie? I want to see her.”

“She can’t stay long.” Bracken stood from his chair. He went over to the door and opened it. Kylie rushed in and Rriodan followed close behind. “Now are you ready to tell me how you can resist me?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. Kylie is all I have in this world. And I won’t let Rriodan touch her.” Taylon stared at him defiantly.

“She isn’t all you have.” He motioned Kylie inside. Rriodan followed close behind her. Even as his muttered words reached her she wondered if she’d misunderstood.

“Why do you resist me?” Rriodan moved closer to Kylie.

“Conceit, no manners, all around obnoxious attitude -- really not that hard to resist.” Kylie’s flippant words wiped the smile from Rriodan’s lips.

“Look, Kylie and I don’t belong here. Let us go and I swear we’ll leave. You don’t have to worry about seeing us again.” Taylon watched as Bracken’s eyes morphed from gold to red. She suddenly realized just how close to the surface his beast lurked. Kylie slipped her hand inside Taylon’s.

“You still have four weeks of punishment.”

He still wanted to punish her? She could have left him to his fate, but no. She’d stayed and nearly got herself killed trying to save him. How could he not forgive her debt? “Can my sister stay with me?” Taylon tried to keep pain out of the words. Tried making it sound more like a request and less like begging.

“No.” The sound came from Rriodan as he moved closer to Kylie.

“No one asked you.” Taylon shot a chilling glance his way before turning back to Bracken. “Can Kylie stay with us?”

“If she goes with me, I will forfeit your punishment,” Rriodan said.

“Fuck that… you will never touch my sister.”

“I won’t lay one finger on her.”

“Like I believe you.” He was so close to Kylie. “Get away from her.” Taylon pulled Kylie down onto the bed.

“Can he really punish her?” At Bracken’s nod, Kylie pulled in an audible breath.

“It doesn’t matter, Kylie. You are more important than --”

“I accept.” Kylie’s softly spoken words silenced everyone.

“Kylie, no. He is a lying bastard. He will pounce on you the second you leave.” Taylon watched her sister’s mouth tighten into a firm line.

“Nothing will happen that she…”

Sucking in a breath, Taylon shook her head. “I won’t let you do this.”

“She already accepted.” The need to wipe that damn superior smile off Rriodan’s face burned through her hands.

“Stop. I can take care of myself. I know --” Kylie grasped Taylon’s shoulders.

“No, baby. You are worth so much more. Don’t do this.”

“Stop!” Kylie shouted loud enough to silence her sister. “He said I have a choice, and I won’t be choosing him.”

“Enough!” Bracken’s command echoed in the small room. “I cannot force Kylie to go with you, Rriodan. And yes, he does have the right to punish you, Taylon, if he chooses.”

“He can punish me? You would let him?” Every nerve in Taylon’s body stood on end. The thought alone made her throat burn with bile.

“No, not the way I punished you.” Bracken stared at Rriodan before turning his gaze to Taylon.

“I will not let you be punished for protecting me, Taylon,” Kylie argued. “You didn’t raise me that way. We take responsibility for our actions.”

If she stood her ground she would push Kylie away. Sharp pain stabbed through her chest as she nodded her head in defeat. Tears welled in her eyes. “You promise not to hurt her?”

Rriodan nodded his head.

“No matter what she does?”

“I am no monster.”

She’d be stupid to believe that.

“Let’s go.” Wasting no time, Rriodan ushered Kylie from the room.

“Four weeks, Kylie. Four weeks, and I will come to get you.” The door closed on her words. In four weeks they would leave this place behind.

There was no way she would be able to stay once Bracken discarded her. He’d said there were worse things than Changelings in the world. After four weeks of binding her life to him only to be discarded in the end, she doubted much could be worse.

* * *

Taylon spent the next three days putting up as big a barrier between her and Bracken as possible. She refused his every overture, every nicety. She might not be able to deny him sex, but she fought him each time he touched her. She could not bear the thought of him guessing her feelings, or worse, of her accepting him only to be cast aside for another woman when her time was up.

“Do you know how old I am?” Bracken asked as he turned in bed to face her.

What? How old he was? She shook her head.

“I am over three hundred years old. And do you know how many women have desired me?”

Taylon grunted. No way did she want to find that out.

“Now I want you to guess how many women I have truly desired.”

She shook her head.

Bracken held up one finger. “I have lived over three hundred years and in all that time no woman has inspired desire within me. I have done what I had to, to survive. I have shared their blood, but not their desire… Until you.”

Until you. Until you. The words resonated in her head. She was special to him?

“Each time I look at you, I want to touch you, taste you, fuck you…” He pulled her into his arms. “Seeing you for the first time, just the smell of you drove me crazy. I had to have you no matter what the cost.” He rubbed his hands against her hips and down the contours of her thighs.

“Why are you telling me this?” She took in a calming breath, determined to quiet her pounding heart.

“So you will understand why.” He let out a heavy sigh.

“Why what?”

“Why I will never let you leave me.”

“I’ll never be as you are. I’ll always be human. Eventually I’ll age, and die…”

“I gave you some of my blood to help heal your wounds. I’m not sure you will die anytime soon. But when you, do I will join you.”

“You’d give up eternal life to die with me?”

“No, I would give up this half life to live a full one with you.”

“What about Kylie?”

“I think if you have room in your heart for me, then I might have room in my home for her.”

“You know she doesn’t like you?” Taylon snuggled into his warmth and let the happiness she was holding tight to her chest flow through her.

“I’ve got a secret weapon,” he whispered against her skin.

“What?”

“Rriodan.”

“She’ll kill him.” She laughed at his innocent face.

“Or he’ll kill her. Either way I come out ahead.”

Leila Brown

I’ve been an avid reader since the fifth grade. As I aged I read everything I could get my hands on from horror, to mystery and finally stopping in romance.

While in college studying computer programming and electrical engineering, I realized what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wanted to write those stories that entertained me through more nights than I could count. Of course my first attempts were less than remarkable and have been destroyed to protect the innocent. :)

As the years have progressed life kind of took over. I got married, had a son, changed jobs several times. But one thing remained constant -- my desire to write.

Currently, I work a normal 9 to 5 in the IT world. I write during my lunch hour and at home after 9 pm when everyone in my house is asleep.

Is it easy?… Yes -- and No! Coming up with the stories is easy. Getting the words out of my head and onto paper is HARD! But I couldn’t live without it!

Website: http://www.leilabrown.com

Blog: http://leilabrown.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MsLeilaBrown

Twitter: http://twitter.com/leilabrown

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