Tempting Rever (8 page)

“I’m not a killer.”

“That is too bad. I am not allowed to challenge her. The female asshole has demanded I prepare a meal for her so I’ll go now.”

Brenda watched Ali leave. She shut her eyes, relaxing on the bed, and the memory of Rever’s touch made her shiver from wanting him again. The man could be addictive if she let him be. She opened her eyes and a wave of sadness filled her knowing that right at that moment he was with Tina.
Would he make love to her?
Jealousy and pain were two emotions that didn’t sit well with Brenda but she felt both of them. Tina didn’t deserve the wonderful kind of man Rever was and that pissed her off.

To distract herself she put away the clothes Rever had bought her. She smiled, remembering the fun they’d had together until the
killis
incident. She’d screamed over bowling-ball sized sheep with sharp teeth. It had been damn sweet the way that Rever had carried her away from them so quickly to calm her down.

She stopped moving, anger flashing through her, feeling helpless that she wanted Rever permanently. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, letting it sink in that she wanted a man she couldn’t have. She wanted to be his bound, she wanted Tina gone, but they were stuck.
Maybe the bitch would trade Rever for Volder.
Snorting, Brenda knew life couldn’t be that perfect. Then again, Volder would definitely get the bad end of that deal since any man stuck with Tina would live to regret it.

She changed her clothes, putting on the red pants Rever had purchased for her with a thick, soft shirt that fell to her thighs. They didn’t make tight shirts for women or ones that even fit properly. The Zorn women were bigger and taller than Brenda so the pants were a little baggy but not too loose. She left her room about ten minutes later heading for the kitchen to help Ali fix dinner.

Ali was setting the table, so wordlessly Brenda just pitched in and helped. Ali flashed a smile of thanks.

“The other one has never tried to help me. Much appreciated.”

“No problem. Do you need help with anything else?”

“No. The food is prepared and I only made a light meal. Argis told me he ate earlier.”

The memory of lunch alone with him, hours before, flashed through Brenda’s mind.

She nodded. She wondered how uncomfortable this meal was going to be.

She saw Rever first and he looked furious as he approached the dining room. His beautiful gaze locked with Brenda’s before he looked away. When he stepped out of the hallway there was no missing the fuming Tina on his heels. The woman had her short red hair in a tight ponytail that stuck up on top of her head in an unflattering fashion but it matched the loose unflattering dress she wore as she stormed into the dining room.

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Tempting Rever

“Finally,” Tina groaned. “I’m so damn hungry I can probably choke this shit down.”

A soft growl came from Rever. “Ali is a good cook.”

“Then tell her to cook something good. The last two dinners were shit.” Tina threw herself in a chair.

Everyone sat but Ali. She disappeared into the kitchen to return carrying two plates, serving Rever first and then Tina. Tina frowned deeply at Ali.

“Why do you always give him the food before me? Haven’t you people heard of ladies first?”

Ali paused on her way to the kitchen to frown at Tina. “No. I have not. The males are always served first, then the bound, then the guests, and I eat last. It is the way that it is.”

“I want served first from now on.” Tina smirked at Ali. “That’s an order.”

“Argis is always served first. This is his home.” Ali’s frown deepened.

“It’s mine too and I want served before him.” Tina pouted, shooting Rever a dirty look. “Tell the servant to serve me first next time. I’m your wife and I demand you order her to do as I say.”

Rever looked pissed as his mouth tightened into a grimace. “Ali, please serve Tina first if it matters so much to her.”

Unhappily, Ali gave a jerk of her head but she looked pissed. Brenda clenched her own teeth together, feeling a healthy amount of anger herself. What in the hell was up with Tina? She purposely avoided looking at the woman. Rever cleared his throat.

“Tomorrow I return to work and I will be gone for five hours. Would you like to know what I do?”

“Not really,” Tina used her finger to poke at a piece of meat. “Just don’t wake me up if you leave early. I like my beauty sleep.”

Brenda glanced at Rever, seeing his disappointed expression. She wondered what part of Tina’s answer made him feel that way. Was it because the woman he bound to didn’t care what he did for a living or was it because she didn’t want to be woken up to say goodbye to him?

“I’d love to hear about it,” Brenda said before she could stop herself.

Rever lifted his head, their gazes locking. His mouth softened. “I train younger males to fight.”

“Wow. That’s cool.” Brenda smiled at him. “I know you’re a warrior race. How old are the boys you teach? At what age does training start?”

A smile played at his sexy mouth. “At five. The males I teach are a bit older. I am an advanced combat trainer so the males I am assigned are between seventeen and twenty.

The ones tomorrow have joined the Outlander crew that will patrol the areas outside the cities. Some of Zorn is still brutal. They—”

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Tempting Rever

“Oh, stop already,” Tina sighed. “She doesn’t really give a damn. It’s just polite conversation so stop rambling on. Nobody wants to hear it.”

Anger darkened Rever’s face. His lips pressed together into a tight white line. Ali walked into the room, almost slamming a plate on the table. She was a little gentler when she put Brenda’s plate down. Brenda shot a dirty look in Tina’s direction.

“Actually, I’d love to hear this because I’m very interested. I wasn’t being polite.”

Tina glared at Brenda. “Well, I don’t want to hear it. It bores the shit out of me.”

“Then don’t listen,” Brenda snapped, really pissed off now. “What would you know about being polite anyway? I don’t care to hear you constantly bitch about everything but that doesn’t shut you up, does it? Why don’t you eat and let everyone else have a conversation that doesn’t revolve around you making people miserable?”

“How dare you!” Tina stood up. “Get the fuck out of my house. I won’t be spoken to that way.”

Brenda stood up. “Someone should speak to you and tell you to get over your damn self.”

“Females,” Rever growled. “Enough.”

“Tell her to get the fuck out,” Tina snapped. “Now, Rever.”

“I won’t do that,” he said softly. “She is a guest in our home until her future bound arrives to take her and I have given my word to protect her until he comes. It was an order from my father.”

“I don’t give a shit. I want her out.” Tina crossed her arms over her chest, her green eyes glaring at Brenda. “Get the hell out.”

Brenda was seriously pissed when she turned her head to meet Rever’s tense expression. “If you want me to leave I can be returned to the medical center but first, do you mind if I have a little talk with your wife?”

He hesitated. “You will remain here but you may speak to her.”

“I want her out now,” Tina huffed. “Did you understand me, Rever? You get her the hell out or you can sleep on the damn couch for the next week while she’s here. You sure as hell won’t be climbing into my bed.”

A snarl tore from Rever as he rose slowly to his feet, glaring at Tina. “Is that a threat? Right now I don’t want to share a bed with you and the floor is preferable.”

Fury hit Tina’s face, making it appear red and splotchy. “You son of a bitch.”

Rever growled.

“Stop sounding like a damn dog!” Tina glared at Rever. “Do we need to build you a damn doggy door and maybe put up a doghouse in the backyard? Act like—”

“Shut the fuck up,” Brenda yelled, cutting Tina off. “What is wrong with you? You put our kind to shame. He’s a good guy but you treat him like shit. Don’t insult him by comparing him to a damn dog and especially knowing you upset him when you say cruel things. Ali is a sweet person, not a damn servant, and the food is delicious if you’d 41

Tempting Rever

just stop being such a spoiled bitch and give it a chance. I can see why you left Earth.

Nobody wanted you there, did they?”

Tina spun, a loud squeal tearing from her mouth and stormed away. Brenda went to move around the table to go after the woman but Rever suddenly reached out and took her arm, his large hand gripping her above the elbow gently. Their eyes locked.

“No. You won’t attack her.”

“Attack?” Shock rolled through Brenda.

Excitement laced Ali’s voice. “Let her challenge her, Argis.”

It hit Brenda then what they meant and she was horrified as she stared up at a frowning Rever who shook his head no. He thought she was going to physically attack Tina and so did Ali.

“I won’t allow you to risk your life for me,” he said very softly. “You don’t know her as I do. She is very mean and has no honor. The fight would not be fair.”

“I’m not going to challenge her. Is that what you think? I’m no killer. Someone needs to put her in her place. If you allow her to keep throwing these fits it’s just going to get worse because every time you give into her she will just get more demanding. Do you understand? I have no intention of hitting her, no matter how much she might deserve someone popping her in the mouth. I just wanted to argue with her and hopefully make her see how wrong she is.”

Rever took a deep breath, releasing her and retook his seat at the table. “No. Please sit and finish your meal. Let her go to our room to cool her temper down.”

Brenda sat, hating the way Rever had said ‘our room’. The idea of him sharing anything with Tina clawed at her inside where jealousy burned. The idea of him touching that bitch Tina just hurt. Her appetite was gone so she just stared at her food.

“Do you really want to know what I do?” Rever’s voice was soft.

Lifting her chin, she stared into his beautiful eyes. “Yes.”

The anger left his features. “Some of Zorn is still uncivilized. I am training males to patrol the Outlander areas to keep the peace and keep order. It is my job to make sure they are well prepared for anything they might face.”

“Argis Rever is a well-known warrior who has killed many in battle.” Ali smiled, looking proud. “He took over many of the Outlander areas and civilized them when he was a patrol leader.”

“It sounds dangerous.” Brenda felt a little fear for his safety. “Do you still do that?

Go out there, I mean?”

Shaking his head, Rever resumed eating. “No. It is my job to train now that I am older.” He didn’t look happy about it.

“You aren’t old. You don’t look more than thirty-three.”

He smiled, meeting her eyes. “That is old for an Outlander officer. They retire us in our late twenties to let the younger, faster warriors deal with the very aggressive. They make males like me trainers. I don’t miss the harsh living conditions and I get to come 42

Tempting Rever

home every night. While I was an officer and then a leader I would spend weeks in the Outlander areas living roughly.”

Ali chuckled. “There are no women in the Outlander areas. Most of the males don’t like working there because they have no females to mount.”

That shocked Brenda. “None at all?”

“Not that we have ever come across.” Rever sipped his drink. “Women would not survive for long out there without a very strong warrior male to defend her. The uncivilized males are brutal.”

“The wild males would fight and kill each other over women,” Ali softly said. “The women would be abused like in the old times of our history unless a family was strong and had many good fighters so they could protect the women from being stolen. The brutality stolen women would face gave them very short lives. Males would kill each other over the captured woman and she would be passed to the winner of each battle for her many times until her body couldn’t take the stress anymore. We advanced but there are wild males in the Outlander area who refused to change. Any woman out there would face that brutality.”

“It sounds scary.”

Rever nodded. “It is very dangerous. Your bound will never take you there so you will never see it or be in danger. Volder lives on the battle cruiser the
Drais
. We are not at war currently but we have had issues with a few other planets in recent years so the cruiser is out there more as a preventative measure.”

“I don’t think I would be happy living on a cruiser.” Ali finished her dinner. “You will be the only female on a ship with a few hundred males.”

That drew a frown from Rever. “She will be well protected and guarded. Don’t frighten her.”

“Sorry, Argis Rever.” Ali lowered her head instantly. “That was not my intention. I know her bound will protect her. I meant she will be lonely with no other females.”

Rever frowned. “Of course he will protect her and make sure she is happy.” His attention turned to Brenda, their gazes locking. “He would not take you there if it was unsafe. You will be well cared for.”

Dread hit Brenda at the mention of her future bound. What if she hated the guy?

What if Volder was an asshole? Living on a ship in space didn’t sound so great. She hadn’t exactly enjoyed the trip to Zorn but then again, they’d been attacked and Valho had been killed. She didn’t want to leave Rever knowing she’d never see him again.

“You will be well cared for,” Rever repeated softly, trying to assure her. His expression softened. “He will cherish you.”

She desperately wished it were Rever who would cherish her. She didn’t say that aloud but she sure thought it as she nodded at him.

Rever tore his gaze from hers to look down at her food. “You have barely touched your meal. Eat.”

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Tempting Rever

“I’m not hungry.” She forced a smile at Ali. “I had a big lunch. It was delicious though. Do you need help with dishes?”