Retribution (Kall Alien Warriors #3) - Sue Lyndon Page 0,44
excitement only increased. She’d almost forgotten how good he was with the dirty talk. As his grip on her chin tightened, she felt like a quivering mass of need, aching and throbbing for his touch.
He started leaning closer, and she shut her eyes and lifted her face, realizing he meant to kiss her. But just as his lips brushed against hers, a low buzzing noise made him stiffen.
Chapter 16
Fluxx. With great reluctance, Zamek pulled away from Layla and glanced down at his wrist comm. He gave her a look of regret.
“I’m afraid I’m needed on the bridge.” He smoothed a hand through her hair, then pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Stay here, human, and behave.”
“You’re locking me in, aren’t you?” she asked. “I don’t expect I have a choice then.”
This argument again. He was growing weary of it. He gave her a stern look. “Do you have any idea how lucky you are, Layla?” He backed her up toward the wall. Releasing her chin, he placed his hands on either side of her and gave her a sharp look. “Yes, you’ll always be locked in a cage, as you put it, but you’ll also have my protection.”
She drew in a quick breath and opened her mouth, appearing as though she were about to argue, only to press her lips together in the next instant, looking rather chastened.
“Now, I must go, though I hope to return soon. There is food in the kitchen area over there,” he said with a flourish of his hand, “in case you get hungry, and I will see that a servant brings your belongings from the brig here soon.”
He departed his quarters and made haste for the bridge, though he suspected this argument with Layla was far from over. She was a stubborn but lovely creature, and pride swelled in his chest knowing that such a strong female belonged to him.
As he hurried to the bridge, he used his wrist comm to order his personal servant, Drias, to gather Layla’s meager belongings from her cell and bring them to his quarters. She didn’t possess much—just some clothing, the electronic library, and a few hardback books he’d given her, but he didn’t wish for her to become bored in his quarters and having reading material would certainly help.
Once they reached his home in Sumlin District, she would have the freedom to wander his vast property. He would do everything in his power to ensure that her cage didn’t feel so restricting.
As he went about his duties on the bridge, overseeing the extraction of valuable technology from the Bexxanian warbird, his crew discovered that the alien vessel had run out of reactor fuel and that’s why it had been stuck in one place. A distress signal had also been sent to the Bexxanian Empire, requesting assistance, but thus far, the Tammusha’s sensors showed no sign of approaching enemy vessels.
After conferring with the other Kall warships, General Zamek ordered the vessels to spread out and sweep the sector for any sign of the Bexxanians.
On his return to his quarters, Amorrga approached him in the corridor, his purple eyes lit with post-battle excitement.
Amorrga greeted Zamek with a Verrsuan handshake. “I cannot thank you enough, General, for helping my people get justice against the Bexxanians who attacked us. To know that all the Bexxanians on the warbird that attacked our trading vessels are dead is a great comfort. I will sleep better tonight and so will my comrades, and I will make sure Verrsuan leaders are made aware of all the Kall have done to help us.”
Zamek nodded. “It was a quick battle, but a good one,” he said, the surge of bloodlust filling him once more. Just seeing Amorrga’s excitement brought it all back. The thrill of forcing a dock between the Tammusha and the Bexxanian warbird, then charging onto the enemy vessel, weapons raised and ready to spill enemy blood.
“I killed twelve Bexxanians today,” Amorrga said, “and I couldn’t have managed it without your help. I wish to also thank you for teaching me battle techniques, General, and I want you to know that my experience with you and the Bexxanians has revealed a new life path to me—one as a warrior. I intend to leave my profession of trade behind and train to become a Verrsuan warrior. I also hope to convince my people that we need a larger force of warriors to better protect ourselves.”
“I wish you good fortune in your new endeavor,” Zamek said,