“Why didn’t you go?” She cast him a glance from below full lashes.
“Because, like Jaspar, I thought they’d listen.” Cade’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Your general is even more stubborn than you were.”
“I’m not stubborn.” Colette tossed her head.
“It took bringing you aboard my ship for you to believe me,” Cade reminded.
“Speaking of ship, I assume you’re cut off from Beta?”
Both Jaspar and Cade nodded, with Jaspar adding, “This installation is blocking all signals.”
“Meaning we’re screwed until the general decides to let us go.” Colette sighed and slumped to sit on the mattress.
Seeing her despondent led to Cade joining her and grabbing her hand, in a gesture he’d seen humans use for comfort. “Don’t lose hope.”
Advice that proved hard to follow because Cade wanted to act. Wanted to fight. But stuck in this cell, there was nothing any of them could do.
Jaspar dropped to the mattress on the other side of Colette, his shoulder brushing hers, and Cade quickly quashed the jealousy. He didn’t have a claim to Colette. Neither of them did until a formal bond was put in place, which most likely would never happen given their current situation.
“Enough talk about evil Christmas-ruining alien monsters. Tell me about life on your planet. What was it like growing up?”
At Colette’s request, they talked, Cade and Jaspar taking turns telling stories about their planet and upbringing, explaining their culture and how their society worked. Colette reiterated by sharing Earth customs—which varied depending on the country. She told them of growing up as an only child with older parents. Of how she began her company.
They spoke until their repast arrived, then talked some more until a yawning Colette said, “I need to go to bed.”
She lay down on the mattress, barely big enough for one. Jaspar and Cade, without a word, took up positions on either side. When they woke, they continued to relate personal experiences. Cade got to know Colette as more than just an attractive sexual partner, but in a surprise, he discovered Jaspar was more interesting than expected. Even odder, despite their current incarcerated dilemma, Cade enjoyed himself. The one thing he didn’t enjoy—other than the horrible meals—was the sexual tension.
It hovered in the air, teasing and tantalizing. It didn’t just affect Cade, not that they spoke of it. Didn’t have to. It appeared in every accidental touch—that led a few times to Colette making a noise that hardened his cock. Or how Cade would notice Jaspar staring at Colette, only to look away, his cheeks a bright purple. It became even more obvious their second night of slumber when she said, “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but this cell is kind of cold. Would one of you want to cuddle?”
He and Jaspar almost fought over who got to do so first. They played a game of Antimatter, Supernova, or Blackhole to decide who. Cade won, his wiggling fingers defeating Jaspar’s rounded ones—antimatter reversed the blackhole’s polarity.
Cade got to be the first to wrap himself around Colette, his cock hard, his need almost painful. Who knew being close to a woman he couldn’t have would be the most cruel form of torture he ever experienced? When he could take it no longer, he left the narrow bed and signaled to Jaspar to have a turn.
However, despite the fact they all ached, none of them acted. How could they, knowing they were watched? However, Cade did wonder what would happen if they found themselves somewhere with no camera. Who would Colette choose? Cade honestly didn’t know because she treated them the same, which led to him debating a scenario he’d never have dared imagine before he’d met Colette: a three-way bonding. Not unheard of, since the shortage of females. The biggest issue being jealousy. To Cade’s surprise, though, watching Jaspar pressed against Colette as they slept didn’t send him into a rage. On the contrary, when he imagined Colette touching his partner, and him watching, he thought it rather arousing.
On their third day of captivity, on the eve of something humans called Christmas, soldiers opened the door and flanked it as the doctor entered, looking exhausted.
“Ms. Wilson, could you come with me?”
“Why?” Suspicion clouded her tone, as they’d had no contact with anyone since being locked in the cell.
“To run more tests. With you having spent time with the visitors in close quarters, plus given you’ve been intimate with them both, I think it might be prudent to see if you remain healthy.”
“I’m fine,” Colette grumbled. “Although I would be better if you let us go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Then why should I help you?”
“What if I said you could take a shower?” the doctor offered.
“Bribing me with a basic right? Seriously?” Colette scoffed.
“Go,” Jaspar commanded. “Show them they have nothing to fear from us.”
“Only if they agree to let you both get a chance to bathe too,” she insisted.
The doctor sighed and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
