Page 17 of Beast

I can’t help but laugh at the suggestion. I also can’t helpbut notice that I’m alone with a naked woman whom I’m practically obligated tofuck. I signed papers promising to fuck her and fuck her often.

“Beck, Ci, and Meggie are family, sweetheart. I scarcelythink I’ll be beating on them anytime soon.” I turn and push the pants off myhips. I toss them to the side, but the clever nanites readjust themselves,folding the pants neatly in a square.

Kaja steps back. “The coverings are magic.”

It’s going to be fun to show Kaja my plane. “I’m sure theyseem that way to you. Would you believe me if I told you they’re tiny machinesthat a rival corporation makes? We tried to make a competing line at Dellacorp.They developed their own intelligence and attacked the people wearing them.That was a lawsuit, let me tell you.”

Kaja stares at the pants. “What is a machine?”

I decide to leave that part of her education for anothertime. I sink down into the tub, hoping the heat will wilt my raging erection abit. I have to talk around my fangs. The damn things won’t go away. “Don’tworry about it. Come here, Kaja.”

She doesn’t hesitate this time. She gingerly steps into thetub and places herself between my legs with her back to my front. She leansagainst me and sighs. “I like the warmth. It is very cold where I come from.I’ve never known I could feel so warm.”

Her shoulders rub against my chest, and her little assnestles close to my cock. Nope, the heat isn’t helping at all. My cock is longand thick against her skin.

“This home you were taken from, do you want to go back?” Ineed to ease my conscience. If she has a home and a husband, maybe I shouldthink about asking Beck to help her find her way back. My cock protestsmightily.

“No,” she says quietly. “I do not wish to go home. I do nottruly have a home.”

“Why do you call me First?” I’m curious. “Is that what youcall the leader of your people?”

I don’t mention that I’m not the leader of anything. Or hasthat changed? When I think about it, I’m kind of the leader of her.

“The First is the most important,” Kaja explains. She speaksslowly, as though measuring each word. “He is First among the pack, though hismate is usually First among the women. He selects a strong mate. Because theyare First, they get the best of the meat and the warmest place to sleep. TheSecond gets the next best, you understand?”

“Yes.” I cup her shoulders, reveling in the smooth skin. Ibreathe in her scent, her head resting close to my face. She smells of citrusand soap. It’s the same cleanser Meg uses, but it smells different on Kaja. “Sodoes everyone have a number? What number were you, sweetheart?”

I feel her deflate. “I had no number. I was not allowed toever move up, so I did not need a number.”

“What do you mean?”

“My father, he attempted to become First. He lost. The packexecuted my brothers and my father. My mother died while birthing me. I wasalone. I was female. They allowed me to live, but I had no place in the pack.”

Her words are even, as though she’s working hard to coverher emotions, but I can sense the hurt behind them. I can’t help but thinkabout the strange connection I felt to Kaja from the moment I saw her. Arestlessness steals over me. I prefer to think about screwing her. Meaninglesssex won’t bring forth any odd, protective instincts in me. I understand sex,but we need to set the ground rules first.

Kaja is smart. She’ll understand the bargain I wish to makewith her. We can be partners.

“I’m sorry about that. I don’t pretend to understand yourpeople, though I suppose my people are just as brutal in a way.” When a rivalcorporation goes under, no one comes out to help the family. I recall a man Iwent to school with. He had a bad run and ended up moving down from thepenthouse level almost to the street. I’m sure no one he knew spoke to the managain. We aren’t so different.

She sighs and wriggles against me. “Now I am here. Stellanwas right. It is good that I left my home. I will be your mate. I will makesure you have the finest meat and the nicest bed to nest in. I think the fatone will make a good feast. I will catch him for you tomorrow.”

I still, caught between laughing and being really fuckingshocked. “Are you talking about Reeve?”

“I do not know his name. He is small and vicious but hasmuch meat on him. Now that I am out of that odd cage, I’ll surely be able tocatch him for our meal.”

“Whoa, sweetheart. You can’t eat the gnomes,” I explainquickly. She turns her head to face me and seems confused. “The gnomes are ourfriends. We can’t eat them.” She still looks unsure. I decide to follow some ofBeck’s advice. It’s time to take control. “You will not eat anything that talksback, Kaja.”

Her lower lip pouts sweetly, but she nods. “Yes, Iunderstand. I do not see why, though. They do not even have fangs or claws. Itwould be easy to…”

“I said no,” I reply firmly. I pull her back into my arms. Irather like being forceful with her. It’s nice to have someone take meseriously for a change. I let my arms drift around her torso. She’s a lovelyarmful. She relaxes as my palms find her round breasts. She gasps as my thumbsdrift over her nipples. “Kaja, did you have a lover?”

She seems distracted by my fingers plucking at her nipplesbut manages to answer. “Only one. Only the Second ever managed to catch me andhold me down for the mating, though he required help. I eluded the rest.”

I’m rapidly discovering a distaste for whatever plane shecame from. “Do you intend to run from me, sweetheart?”

I won’t allow it.

Her sigh seems happy. “Oh, no. You have claimed me. You usemy name. I eluded the others because they did not intend to claim me. Theywanted to use me and then move on.”