Alien General's Beloved (Brion Brides 6)(43)

This can't be happening. This is all wrong. There can't be overlapping bonds, this doesn't happen!

"Did you have the recognizing moment?" Lana asked, feeling the warmth of his armor pressing against her, blessedly not on fire at the moment.#p#分页标题#e#

Worgen's mouth drew into a thin line of annoyance.

"No," he said. "I don't need it when I know it will be you. All of the other women here are empty, pitiful creatures. You are the only one who is worthy of me."

That would be a lot more flattering if you weren't a psychopath, Lana thought.

Only even that thought was buried under her entire being rebelling against Worgen's closeness. She'd felt the wrongness before, like Worgen was tainting the room that belonged to her and Corden. But he was taking it a step further. Lana had always found him repulsive, but now she could no longer bear his touch.

Corden, her mind called, but her true fated wasn't there.

When Worgen leaned in, Lana slapped him. The next second, she was staring at her hand, her mouth open. It had been a reflex, an instinct to push him away.

This is the end, she thought. He can't forgive this.

The hungry smirk on Worgen's lips begged to differ. Lana could not believe her eyes, but the general actually backed away from her. She was breathing heavily, knowing how closely danger had passed her by. She'd nearly called out Corden's name.

"Good, very good," Worgen said, his voice dropping to a hiss.

The desire in his black eyes was poison. Lana saw none of the kindness, the caring she'd seen when Corden was looking at her. All Worgen wanted was to possess her, because she answered some standards that he had for his match. Lana wondered what had happened to the girl he'd chosen for his lie.

"Your gesha," she said. "Your fake gesha, I mean. What did you do to her?"

"She's alive," Worgen said, "to keep up appearances. Once I have the recognizing moment, I'll get rid of her, of course. There is no need for you to be jealous."

Lana said nothing to that, mostly because she couldn't. The words that had been so easy before now refused to come. She's alive could have meant absolutely anything. Was Helia in a room of her own, scared and alone? Or was she passed around by the warriors in some communal hall? Or locked in some cage?

She felt sick, but couldn't let any of it show. Captain Lana Cormac had to be jealous now, but she let silence speak in her stead. Honestly, Lana didn't think she could utter the words herself.

Worgen laughed, a hollow chortling, moving in again to caress her. His hand made her skin itch and Lana dearly wished she could back away through the wall. She was pressing herself against it as hard as she could, but Worgen had closed the distance between them again.

When the mad general's gloved hand moved to slide under her clothes, Lana yelped.

"No!" she cried, pushing him away.

Worgen didn't even move. His lips were parted, the dark eyes burning with the same hunger as before.

"You won't let me fight?" Lana asked, putting both hands on the hot armor and pushing.

Her own strength would not be nearly enough to overcome Worgen, but the gesture was clear enough. He looked at her, curious. Lana's mind was working frantically. She didn't know much about the other Terran geshas. Their letters back to Terra were popular beyond belief on their planet, published and sold out in minutes. Everyone wanted to hear about the lucky girls who got to bang alien hunks, but were surprised to read it wasn't all fun and games.

Lana had never read any of those letters, feeling like they were on the level of a gossip column and none of her business. An intrusion into private matters. But she had picked up bits and pieces and suddenly remembered Isolde Fenner, the first of them. Thrust into a completely different world, she'd come up with a plan to keep her gerion away.

She'd given in to the feared Diego Grothan in the end, but that was not the point.

"You won't let a gesha fight," Lana repeated, forcing confidence into her voice despite being on the edge of panic. "What message do you think that sends? If you won't even let me have my right to resist you, how can it be real? It shows no strength, no true bond. Nothing worthy."

Everything she was saying was true, but Lana didn't know if Worgen cared. He dismissed so many other Brion traditions and values that this one would be nothing if added to his ever-growing list.

Theoretically, all geshas were allowed their fighting chance, a period of time when they resisted the bond. It was supposed to show that a couple came together out of their own will. It was also a sign of power for the men, to have the geshas submit to them.

And against all odds, it seemed to be working. Playing on Worgen's self-importance and pride had been a good idea. Lana finally dared to breathe out when he backed away from her again, nodding slowly. She didn't trust herself to say anything, afraid of breaking the moment.#p#分页标题#e#

"You are right," Worgen said. "A gesha must fight. That is how it should be. You can have your time and after, everyone will know that I won you."

Lana suppressed the shiver that wanted to go down her spine. She'd won a tiny battle, but made no illusions to herself. Worgen wouldn't be patient with her like other men would be. The time he gave to her was a grace period, nothing more.

Lana was almost positive that the next time they met, she wouldn't be able to stall him like that. And pushing him away clearly didn't work either.

The general left and Lana slid to the floor, panting.

That was how Corden found her a few minutes later. He ran to her, gathering Lana into his arms, holding her while she shivered. Lana could feel his powerful body shake with barely controlled rage, but he waited until she was ready to speak. It took her several tries to explain, but she eventually managed. With every word she said the fire in Corden's eyes blazed more fiercely.

"I can't meet him again," she whispered at last, "the next time he'll take me with him, I know it. Corden..."

Her general looked at her seriously.

"I will not let anything happen to you," he swore. "We will put an end to this. Tomorrow."





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Lana



Tomorrow.

The word gave Lana hope. She knew it could all go wrong in about a thousand ways, but at least it set a date for their rebellion. By that point in the whole mess, she found that any answer was better than the endless waiting. And since Worgen clearly had no intention of letting her go, Lana wanted it all to be over as soon as possible.

She nodded, letting Corden hold her.

"All right," she said. "I will do my part."

"I know you will," the general said, smiling. "I don't doubt that."

That was comforting to hear, in some ways even better than Lana's own resolve. Brions didn't make exclamations like that for the sake of a romantic gesture. No, Corden really meant it and that left Lana no other choice than to believe in herself as well.

"My gesha," Corden said then, the word gentle and soft on his lips. "I promise you everything will be okay, but I don't think you can avoid seeing Worgen again. He'll still expect you to welcome him aboard when you call him."

Lana shuddered in horror, shaking her head.

"He will take me with him," she whispered. "I know it. I don't want to—"

"I know," the general said, his deep voice gaining a growling edge. "And trust me, I don't want you anywhere near him. But we can't let him suspect anything until the time is right. You must be brave."

Easy for you to say, you're not the one who's about to be added to his harem.

Of course, it was easy for Corden to say. Courage came naturally to Brion warriors, while Lana had to steel her nerves.

"Yes," she said finally, "I will do it, of course. We can't back away now."

Corden's hands were strong and sure around her body, caressing her softly.

"You are afraid," the general said.

"I am not a Brion," Lana countered, but for some reason his concern made her smile.

The general lifted her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"Brions fear like everyone else," he said, "it's just different."

"What do you fear, then?" Lana asked. "I know it isn't Worgen and his men. Not even the Abysmal."

"No," Corden agreed. "They're just my enemies. All I fear is losing you."

Lana had no response to that, melting into the kiss the general pulled her up to. Her hands were clawing at his armor, trying to unhook the clasps that held it together. Corden growled deep in his throat, catching her meaning. He didn't ask anything, only gave her what she needed. Lana loved it, loved the touch of his powerful arms and the way he ripped her clothes off, loved him.

The word came to Lana so suddenly that it startled her, but there it was and she knew it was the truth. No matter how illogical it might have been, she loved him. Not only because he seemed to effortlessly know what she wanted from him, but... because of everything.

He was the embodiment of all Lana had ever truly wished for. He was her gerion and she was ready to submit to him at last. While the general was very good at removing her clothes, there wasn't much Lana could do about the complicated armor. She just stepped back, giving him room.#p#分页标题#e#

When she slipped a finger into her pussy, Corden halted in his actions. He literally froze, an armguard in one hand, staring at her with burning lust. A feral groan signaled how much he liked what he saw and Lana continued with a grin. She pushed the finger in and out of herself, seeing the way the general's eyes watched her like a hawk.