“Unless you want to meet with an unfortunate accident, lose everything but your underwear. We’ll allow you some modesty, this time.”
She twisted her head to glance back at Zelron. He met her worried gaze. Not knowing what to say, he nodded his reassurance and loosened his hold, but kept her within arm’s reach.
With another deep breath, she raised her trembling hands and unbuttoned the short-sleeved shirt, sliding it off her shoulders, revealing creamy pale skin.
She froze and Zelron realised he was growling in pure desire.
I must bring myself under control, I am a trained warrior. I will behave as such. He drew in a deep breath, but nothing would calm the pounding of his heart as she continued, sliding down the pants covering her legs. She stepped out of them and kicked them away. Lastly, she toed off her thick boots and peeled away the socks.
A pinkness crept over her skin, but her chin rose and she glared back at their captors. “Bunch of assholes. See, nothing! Happy now?”
Zelron admired the human’s defiant spark, but it would do her little good.
Forrester met Zelron’s gaze. “Alright, you know the drill beast. Do it now, and don’t move while we let her in.”
Zelron did not want to take his eyes from her, but obeyed for the sake of the trembling, little female. He walked to the wall, raised his hands behind his head and waited.
It took every ounce of Zelron’s will power not to move. His breathing became more rapid with the urge to fight, but he held his control; the doors unlocked and swung open on heavy bars.
“Hey! You overgrown apes!” The sound of shuffling, and then of the door slamming and the locks being shoved back into place.
He turned around, but stayed by the wall, struggling to draw in slow, measured breaths, letting his gaze sweep over the near-naked female. The abundance of the female’s rounded curves and soft-looking skin almost pushed him beyond his control.
Zelron swallowed hard. Her pretty, different-coloured hair ran down the provocative slope of her shoulder blades in a braid. She gripped the bars and he knew she stared out at their audience. Zelron wanted nothing more than to rip the smirks from their faces.
“This has been a most fortunate afternoon for us. Not so for you, Miss Velour. I hear the Kelon mating practices are rough. No doubt you’re in for a long, hard night.”
“You won’t get away with this!” She rattled the bars. “People will realise, when I don’t turn up for appointments, they will know something’s wrong and they’ll come looking!”
“Oh, we’ll make sure no one notices you’re missing—it’s what we do best. Try to enjoy your evening, Providence. We’ll go easy on you for the rest of the day; tomorrow, the real fun will begin and you had better be ready.”
“Just what the heck do you expect me to do? I’m not an alien; you can’t use me as a test subject, it’s inhumane!”
“You will be assisting us in our work. As your new alien friend takes a shine to you, it will make life easier. For us anyway. If you don’t co-operate, well, there will be dire consequences. Understood?” Forrester stepped closer to Providence. Zelron growled low in warning, making the grey-haired human step back again.
“There is no law down here. You belong to us and we will do whatever we want to them and to you. Behave or we can and will make your life a living hell.”
His last words dripped with deadly venom. Zelron knew from experience they would carry through with any threats.
They were laughing as they turned and walked out of the cell area.
“I’m going to kill them when I get my hands on those bastards!”
Zelron cleared his throat and Providence stiffened. Slowly, she turned around, her arms crossing over her chest, her eyes wide as she stared up at him.
“You…you’re not going to rape me are you?”
He fought the urge to roll his eyes and shook his head instead. “Protect, no hurt. You are safe.” He moved to the single bunk and ripped off the blanket they provided, holding it out. The more flesh she covered, the safer she was from him.
She did not need to know Kelon males only had sexual relations with the female they intended to claim. Until now, thoughts of claiming a female were the furthest thing from his mind, but now, with the temptation before him…
No, I cannot, she is human and finds me repulsive, as every Kelon female has.
“Thank you.” Her shoulders seemed to relax and she stepped forward, taking the offered blanket. As he watched her lift her arms, his gaze swept over her white garments covering her sex and her full and alluring breasts. She pulled the blanket around her shoulders, covering herself from neck to toe.