She blinks and nods slowly. When she licks her lips, Ziam curses. “Stars. She needs water,” he mutters, even as he spins and leaves the room.
“Where... where is he going?” Her voice is high and lilting, and I fall in love with it, withher,immediately. She clears her throat, face nervous.
“To get you a glass of water,” Lux says, voice nearly a purr already.
I bite down a smile.Lux is drawn to her as well.
The lush little omega pulls the covers tighter over her ample chest. Since she is not in her nest, but in my bed, I perch on the edge, laying my tail up and curling it in her general direction. Her eyes land on it and stay there.
“So, Octavia,” I say her lyrical name slowly, “would you like to outfit your nest?”
But instead of answering, her chest starts to heave. Her eyes get glassy.
“Fuck,” Lux says, crossing to her and sitting on the bed.
“No!” the terrified omega squeals, pulling away, “Don’t touch me!”
“Easy, little one,” Lux purrs, trying to calm the high-strung creature. I stand and cross to the opposite side of the bed just as Ziam returns.
“Water for you, wedari,” he offers, his low voice gentle.
Again, she recoils, terror drawing her features tight.
Ziam freezes, obviously hurt, but then he takes in our postures. He stops moving, dropping to his knees next to the bed. “What is wrong, sweetheart? We will not hurt you. Please calm yourself. You must know that our only desire is to take care of you.”
Her face almost seems to relax for a moment, but Ziam continues, “To protect you, and breed you, and train your body for our—and your—pleasure.”
Octavia again becomes frantic, panting, and quickly brings her inhaler to her mouth.
“Not helping, Zee,” Lux mumbles as she edges closer to our omega.
I shake my head as I see Octavia’s frantic eyes. “Everyone out. Now,” I growl firmly.
As Ziam and Lux reluctantly leave, I address Octavia. “You aresafe. Your mind will catch up with the events of the last few rotations. For now, rest,” I murmur in what I hope is a reassuring tone. I turn and leave, shutting the door gently.
I lean against it and close my eyes to the view of the river through the panel wall opposite the open second story.Lux said we’d do this our way. Maybe she’s right. Maybe we need to break from convention and do this in the manner that our scared little omega seems to need.
Chapter Twelve
Octavia
The door closes, and my shoulders droop. I still clench my inhaler in my fist, though.
Aliens. I’m on an alien planet, with three huge aliens that want to fuck my brains out.
I stare at the door, trying to slow my breathing.Anxiety. It’s anxiety, not asthma.
When I’m fairly certain they aren’t coming back, I lay back and close my eyes, trying to sort things out. As I do, I feel my body relax.Aliens. Aliens are better than prison, right?
But this is forever.
So?A part of my brain asks.What’s back on Earth that you want? Family? No, they are ashamed of me. A partner? Also no. I’m not into pets as a general rule, and I even got rid of my plants before I got sent to jail.
The only thing I had was my career, which is surely in shambles: I will never be trusted near a computer again.
A rich, sweet scent seems to surround me as I toss and turn among the numerous pillows. It’s creamy and mouthwatering and yet manly as fuck, for lack of a better explanation. I realize suddenly I’m horny.
Very horny.
