Kept: An Erotic Anthology (49 page)

We made our way to the middle of camp where a large tent sat and a crowd of people hovered around it. We had an audience? Great. Flushed and shaking with nerves, I followed Baen through the crowd toward the tent entrance. I couldn’t hear anything specific in the mumbles of the people, but I imagined them talking about me, about Baen’s undisciplined screw-up.

He reached out behind him and grasped my hand, towing me into the tent. My nerves settled a bit with my hand swallowed by his big one. It reminded me that he’d promised to keep me safe. But what if he couldn’t?

Three men stood behind a table and several others were scattered around the open space. All of them looked at me. I gulped and shifted closer to Baen, trying to keep my head bowed in submission. My stomach fluttered, making me feel queasy.

Just don’t barf, Maggie.

Baen let me stay at his side instead of pushing me behind him this time.

“Is this the girl who last touched the Clypeom?” the man in the center asked. His accent didn’t match the others. I raised my eyes to take a quick look at him. Unlike most of the men I’d seen so far, this guy had short cropped hair and a clean shaven face. But something wasn’t quite. right. His eyes were a little too big, his head a little too long.

I gave my head a shake then stared at the ground again.
Imagining things, Maggie
.

“It was an accident,” Baen said, defending me. “She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s tryin’ to set it right now.”

Oh good. It seemed he wouldn’t throw me to the big bad genetically modified metaphorical wolves.

“Let me see it.”

Baen handed the device to the man, who I guessed was their leader, T’rell.

T’rell fiddled with it then said, “I’ll reset it in the ship. I have no need for the girl.”

I jerked my head up. That was it? They didn’t even need me? I could’ve stayed home? I was almost disappointed. Boldly, I looked this T’rell in the eye. His expression was stern but there was pity there. He wasn’t jacked like the other men in the tent. T’rell was long and lean. His features were barely inhuman. Like he’d started out normal then been stretched just enough to fit in, but barely.

Then he blinked.

I gasped and stumbled back. Baen caught me and held me up while my knees wobbled.

“You didn’t tell her?” T’rell said.

“I was hoping she wouldn’t notice.”

I looked from Baen to T’rell then pointed. “H-his eyes,” I stuttered. “They…they…” I didn’t even know how to explain it. His eyelids were sideways, so instead of blinking up and down, his blinked horizontally, like a curtain being drawn. T’rell wasn’t human.

“I know.” Baen sighed and sat me in a chair that had miraculously appeared. Kneeling down in front of me, he grabbed my hands and squeezed them. His long sigh and worried expression didn’t bode well. “T’rell is –”

“One of them.”

He nodded. “He’s an ambassador of sorts. He lives here to help with situations like this. You don’t need to be afraid, lass. He won’t hurt you.”

My gaze shifted to T’rell. His lips pursed into a small smile. That gave me some hope.

Baen pecked me on the forehead then rose to face his leader. “Can she go home now?”

Home. Would I ever see Baen again? For some reason, a small part of me, way deep down inside, wanted to be his. For real his. Forever his.

It was ridiculous. I wasn’t really meant for this slave girl stuff. Sadness filled me, mixed with confusion. I wanted to get back to my normal life, didn’t I? I didn’t belong here among his people. Maybe I just needed to forget this whole thing happened. Rip it away quick, like a Band-Aid.

T’rell shook his head, sadly. “You know our rules, Baen. It’s too dangerous. Take the Clypeom back to the church. You can maintain your position there. The lass will stay here. I’ll give her to one of the men. She’ll be safe and well-cared for.”

What? Fear shot through me, so intense I thought I might faint. Stay here? Without Baen? Given to a stranger like some sort of rescued pet? I swayed, feeling my heart skip beats. I clutched Baen’s arm to ground myself. He patted my hand, soothing me the tiniest bit. He would fix this, right? He’d promised.

In his calm, quiet way, he replied, “She won’t tell anyone. She’s a good girl. And I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“You know our rules, Baen, and you know better than to question them,” T’rell said firmly. “The Clypeom needs to be returned to its rightful place for the shield to work. You are dismissed.”

I watched Baen, holding my tongue, trusting him to do something, anything. He gazed at T’rell for a long moment then sighed and nodded, sadly.

“What?” I yelled. He was just going to leave me here? Anger replaced fear. Hot rage speared me. I sucked in a deep breath. “You can’t leave me here! You told me to trust you! Now you’re going to let them give me away to some stranger? I trusted you! You said you’d protect me!”

His frown said it all. He’d given up. Maybe he felt bad, but that didn’t do me any fucking good. I wanted to hit him, kick him, shake him, cling to him so he
couldn’t
leave me. But hands grabbed my arms and T’rell’s men started dragging me away.

“No!” I fought, twisting and turning but their grips were too strong. “Let me go!” I looked at Baen, my last hope – I looked him straight in the eye, pleading, desperate and scared. “Please don’t leave me.”

They’d pulled me outside and the tent flap closed, blocking my view. Zip ties appeared and I fought harder but the men subdued me and secured my hands behind my back. I was pushed down into a chair where two guards held me, a hand on each shoulder. I gave up fighting and let a cold numb take over. Staring at the ground, I cried.

The collar around my neck felt like a lie. I was repulsed. I wanted it off, now. Briefly, I considered asking one of my guards to cut it off but I didn’t trust their knife near my neck. How did I let myself fall for him? Typical Maggie, investing in the wrong guys. God, I was such a loser. I’d swear off men but it didn’t seem like I had a choice. I was stuck being someone’s slave. Forever.

I was more upset about losing Baen than not going home. The icy betrayal was more devastating than never seeing Westburg again.

I watched my tears fall onto the ground and form a small puddle. Maybe my new owner would let me keep Toby. Was that enough to cling to some happiness? Tears fell faster, harder. I couldn’t think about my future, I felt too close to vomiting.

Boots appeared in my line of vision. A warm finger came under my chin, lifting my face. Baen stared down at me. I wanted to spit at him.

“Take this stupid ugly collar off of me now!” I put as much venom in my voice as I could. I didn’t care if it hurt his feelings. I wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt me.

His frown actually made me feel bad. Ugh! I hated that I still cared about him. So pathetic.

Ignoring me, he looked at the guards. “Let her go.”

Behind Baen, T’rell nodded to the guards and they cut through the zip ties. What the hell was going on?

Once I was free, Baen pulled me into his arms. “Shh,” he whispered, holding my head against his chest. He kissed my hair.

I melted into him, hating every second of it. Why wasn’t I kicking him in the balls? Or at least telling him off again? Why was I letting him hold me, and enjoying the way his strong arms felt protective and warm? A river of my tears ran down his chest.

“It’s over, love. You’re no’ going anywhere. You’re staying right here with me.”

I pulled away and he let me. Peering into his eyes, I looked for a lie. “What?”

“I quit my post. I’ve guarded it long enough.” He took my face in his big palms. “You can be mine. If you want to.” His forehead creased. “Do you want to?”

The offer still wasn’t home, but what was I missing at home anyway? I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. My mind was still reeling from the possibility of being given to a stranger. But here Baen stood, having sacrificed for me so I wasn’t left to that fate. Did he really want me or was he just doing it so he didn’t feel guilty? I should just say yes and ignore the rest but I had to know the truth. I didn’t want to be the object of his resentment.

But if he
did
want me, and I stayed at his little slave girl, would that be so bad? He could grow to love me and I was already falling for him. Maybe I could work with the animals in camp and start to like it here. It was hope, which was more than I had at home. Westburg was a dead end. Here somebody wanted me. Maybe.

I wiped the wetness from my cheeks and sniffled. “Do you…do you want to keep me?” My heart seemed to stop beating as I waited for his answer.

His lips quirked up in a smile as he gazed down at me. “Aye, Maggie. I want to keep you.”

By the warmth in his eyes, I knew he meant it. More tears fell, but I gave him a silly, giddy smile. His grin widened then he kissed me all over my face – under my eyes where I probably tasted like tears, my cheeks, even the tip of my nose.

I wanted to let go, to dive in fully, but something nagged at me still. One last secret I had to know the answer to. “What about Becca?” If there was someone else, he needed to tell me now.

He pursed his lips and let go of my face. “She’s the only slave I ever took. Years ago she decided this wasn’t for her. She couldn’t be a slave. I’m a dominant man, Maggie. I can tame it somewhat but it’s part of who I am. It won’t magically disappear.”

Was that a warning? It seemed more like he was asking for permission. To be himself? I would never deny someone that. As long as he wasn’t too harsh and kept his sense of humor, I didn’t mind the whole slave thing. It was pretty fucking hot in the bedroom at least. And I’d seen the women in camp. They were happy and cherished.

“Anyway, because she was one of us, born into the Order, they allowed her to leave. I loved her and it was difficult to lose her. I never took another slave after that.”

“Until now,” I reminded him.

He nodded. “Aye. But I’ll get you a better collar.” He pulled a knife from his belt and went to cut it off.

Panicked, I grasped it and backed away.

His brow furrowed. “What’s the matter?”

“I like it.”

“You said it was ugly. No girl of mine is goin’ to wear something ugly.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t mean it. I was just angry. Please don’t take it. I like it.” I didn’t know why I felt so strongly about a stupid piece of leather. It wasn’t ugly, truthfully, but it wasn’t fancy either. Other girls had shiny things, but mine had a story. The simplicity suited me. And even though he’d given it for pretend reasons, he’d chosen me in the end.

While I wore this collar, he’d made a sacrifice, risked his heart, and decided to keep me.

“The collar stays,” I said, putting every ounce of resolve in my voice.

His answering grin was contagious. “Aye, aye, captain.” He winked then pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Hard and passionate, like in my fantasy only way, way better.

This time I didn’t have to pretend he was mine. His kiss said what his words didn’t. He was starting to love me too.

About the Authors

Holly Roberts

Club El Diablo Series:

Book I: One Dom at a Time

Book II: Piercing a Doms Heart

Book III: Touched By a Dom

Book IV: Domination in Pink (a short kinky follow-up to Book I)

Book V: Two Doms for Angel (Angel’s Doms #1)

Book VI: Bad Boy Dom (Bad Boys of Rock #1)

Book VII: Loving Two Doms (Bad Boys of Rock #2)

Book VIII: Caught By Two Doms (Angel’s Doms #2)

Book IX: Temporary Dom (Bad Boys of Rock #3 coming soon)

Completion Series – New Adult

Play

Strike

Kick (coming soon)

Crimson Series – Erotic Vampire

Crimson Brothers (coming soon)

Writing as D’Elen McClain

Fang Chronicles – Paranormal Romance

Amy’s Story

Emily’s Story

Zenya’s Story

Mandy’s Story

Dmitri

Ivan (coming soon)

Fire Chronicles – Paranormal Romance

Dragons Don’t Cry (coming soon)

Angela Castle

Angela Castle is an award winning author of sexy paranormal, and science fiction erotic romance. She had been tantalizing readers with her drool-worthy macho alpha aliens and big cat shifters for the past few years.

In-between the para and sci-fi are a few cheeky little contemporaries, to get you hot under the collar and other places.

She lives the quite life in country Victoria, with hubby and three kids, dreaming up her next sexy hero and adventurous plot to keep her readers entertained.

She welcomes feedback from my readers, so feel free to e-mail her at [email protected], or you can visit her website,
http://www.angelacastle.net
or Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/angela.castle.39

Cari Silverwood

Cari Silverwood mostly writes kinky erotic romances though of late there’s been a turn for the dark, gritty, and twisted. But even when there’s a horribly tortured middle before the happily ever after ending, she never forgets to add her alpha males. Expect hair-pulling, deep growly voices, and men who know how to make a woman beg.