The Barbarian's Captive (14 page)

She grunted. “As usual, nature has made it easy on the male. What is to keep either sex from wearing a condom and straying as they choose?”

“Condom?” he asked with a blank look.

“It’s a covering for the man’s”—she flapped her hand toward his crotch, seeing him frown—”for his rod, his cock as you call it.”

The appalled look on his face would have been funny any other time.

“You don’t have such a thing?” she asked.

“Maker’s bounty, no! Why would a male want to cover himself? I imagine that would reduce the pleasure, tremendously.”

She almost rolled her eyes at that piece of logic. Universally, men were the same, she thought silently, but decided it best not to address the pleasure and focus on the other benefits. “They also prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.”

He grimaced. “You pass disease through
sex
? That’s horrifying!”

“And pregnancy, how is that prevented? Hormone implants?”

“It isn’t.”

“Excuse me?”

“Eva.” The exasperated sigh he let loose was enough to ruffle her hair. “I explained our population destruction. Why would we prevent conception when breeding is the goal for mating?”

She blanched at how cold that sounded, reinforcing her fears. “This is unbelievable.”

“Believe it. We are a proud people. Sex before mating occurs, though it is discriminating; our people are not promiscuous. Often, both males and females wait until they have found their mate.”

“No wonder your sex drive is so high.” She eyed him with a frown. “You didn’t wait. I can tell you have experience.”

“I am not going to discuss my experience except to say that as a warrior and the principal leader, I have traveled extensively off world, where the boundaries do not apply. And, we have never encountered another breeding eligible species — until you.”

“So, it’s a free for all with breeding ineligible species? How nice for you.”

“You are trying my patience, little one. Would you like to discuss why you weren’t chaste at your breaching, or with whom or how many males you were intimate with?”

“That would be a very brief discussion.”

He inclined his head, pausing briefly. “That pleases me. I, however, would need a bit more time.”

She swallowed, looking away, not happy at all at the sound of that.

“Exactly. It is something neither of us wants to explore and the knowledge shall stay in the past, where it belongs. Destiny determined us to be mates; we will move forward from here.”

“More like determined by that wand thingy,” she grumbled. “What do you have to do? Insert it before each, uh, new encounter?”

His face tipped down. “I thought you were a woman of science.”

“I am a plant biologist.”

Amusement flashed in his eyes. It was much more pleasant than his previous anger which had thankfully dissipated.

“Well, my lovely scientist, tell me, once you have identified a plant’s makeup, do you have to test it over and over again?”

“Of course not. We record the plant’s specifications for future reference.”

“As do we, but in our case, it is for
breeding
specifications. At the age of sexual maturity, all males and females are tested and the readings put into a data bank.”

“Really? The men are… measured and probed too?” She couldn’t keep the satisfaction of that thought from curving her lips.

“With males there is no probing, just a simple blood test.” He laughed quietly when she made a face. “Sorry, sprite. Thank the Maker for that; he was the one that decided you got the innie and I got the outie.”

“The Maker is obviously a male.” She wrinkled her nose. “But it all sounds very clinical, like a matchmaking service. Is that how you’re paired up, through this data bank?”

“Yes. If a male finds a female he is attracted to, he will call for an analysis through the data bank. If they are compatible, the male can approach the female with confidence that a bond will occur.”

“What if they aren’t?”

“He will continue his search. If he is ready, he will start with females matched through the data bank.”

“What if he falls in love with someone who is incompatible?”

“It is unfortunate, but thankfully, it rarely happens. Our instincts have become very attuned to a potential mate.”

“Why go through it then? Why not let nature take its course?”

“Up until twenty-three years ago, we had that luxury. Now, if there is a breaching between incompatible mates, the union will not result in offspring. And once mated, as I said, it is forever and the couple will remain joined, though unhappily so as breeding is a goal for all Primarians. The best they could hope is to foster a child if something happened to the parents of a relative.”

She fell silent for a moment, taking it all in. “That makes me feel a modicum better, that all Primarian females go through what I did with that sensor.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s the same. It is most often done by a healer under controlled conditions.”

She snorted and arched a brow his way. “I was tied to your bed. I’d say my conditions were very… controlled.”

He had the grace to look chagrined, but that didn’t last long as a smile curved his lips. “Your testing was infinitely more enjoyable than it would have been in a med-bay, Eva.”

Heat flared in her cheeks. “Whatever.”

“Are you denying that you enjoyed it? You were drenched and highly aroused. It made the testing and the breaching easier than I anticipated.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s embarrassing. I didn’t know who or what you were and I acted—” ‘Slutty’ was the word on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back. “I refuse to say it and get chastised for vulgar language.”

“You are afraid I’ll think less of you because you succumbed to me so easily, is that it?” She refused to look at him. But that wouldn’t do for the infuriating man who was plainly set on leaving her nothing private, not even her thoughts. He caught her chin in his hand and tipped it up to him. “It is chemistry, Eva. Your scientific training should tell you that you can’t fight the forces of nature. We are matched and your body recognized it long before your brain did. Although I knew the instant I saw you that you would be mine.”

“How?”

“I had an inside edge.”

“What was that?”

“My cock got hard.”

“Kerr!” she gasped, looking around to see who might have heard, and thankful to see no one.

“It is a foolproof mate finding gauge, and it made running after you very difficult.”

This time she couldn’t help it, and the eye roll occurred, which prompted him to chuckle briefly before his hand tightened on her jaw and he lowered his head until they were nose-to-nose, his expression turning serious once more. “Do we have this nonsense about concubines and baby-making factories settled now?”

She felt her cheeks heat again. “I’m sorry for making a scene in front of—”

“Trask. He’s my general, but also my friend, luckily for you.”

“Lucky? What does that mean?”

“Such behavior in front of others would have required more than a lecture. I’ll let this slide because you’re still learning the rules. If it had occurred in the dining room in front of my men, with the elders present, swift and decisive intervention would have been required.”

“I’d ask if you were serious, but that’d be a waste of breath.”

“Smart girl. You’ve already figured out I am always very serious when it comes to a spanking.” He bent his head and ran his smoothly shaved chin up the side of her neck where he paused and caught her earlobe between his teeth. He tugged on it firmly before he continued. “Whether for punishment
or
for pleasure.”

Desire sparked within her at the idea, flaring even more intensely as she drew in a deep breath and her breasts brushed his chest. Her nipples tightened swiftly in response. Her skin began to flush as it always did when he touched her. Hell, who was she fooling? He could arouse her by simply breathing. Helpless against his magnetic pull, she angled her head up, offering her mouth freely should he feel so inclined to partake.

“Not so worn out after all, hmm?” Kerr teased before smothering her lips with a masterful kiss. Breathless when their lips parted long moments later, he murmured huskily, “We have to go in, sprite, because we’re expected. I’m starving, but not for food. We’ll eat quickly and return to our suite where I can have you for dessert.”

Chapter 9

S
even couples were awaiting them when they made their way to the large head table. Trask, Lothar, and Krager were with the females they had claimed during the hunt, but a trio of new warriors were escorting the last three Earthlings. One couple, Ram and his mate, were noticeably absent.

An attention-getting tug on his sleeve had him glancing down at Eva. He was pleased to see she had refrained from another outburst although she seemed ready to pop with a new question or comment. He bent close so she could reach his ear and pose her inquiry quietly to him.

“I don’t recognize the men with Dayna, Marta and Thora. And Eryn is missing. Has something happened?”

“Sadly, three of your teammates didn’t test well with their warriors, so they were rematched.”

“Oh my god!”

“It was before the breaching, Eva, and is the reason we test first. As far as the other female, I am not aware of a problem. Trask?” He turned to his general who was seated to his left. “Where is Ram?”

As her fingers dug into his forearm, Eva repeated his name under her breath.

“It is a shortened version of Ramekin,” Kerr reassured her. “Not a nickname with any hidden or salacious meaning.”

Her grip eased, and as an afterthought, she rubbed where her nails had dug in, glancing up at him sheepishly as she whispered, “Sorry.”

“Not to worry, sprite. We’ll check on Ram after—”

“I am here, Princep.” Kerr turned to see another one of his warrior’s rushing in, his shoulders unusually tense as a shadow of annoyance crossed his face. Ram came up to Kerr’s chair and bent slightly, addressing him in a low voice, intended for his ears only. “I can’t stay. I’m having some... difficulty.”

He felt Eva shift beside him and put his hand on her thigh, squeezing in silent warning that he hoped she would understand.

“Is there something we can do?” Kerr asked.

Ram shook his head. “I’ve had to call for Jarlan’s assistance.”

“You mean you haven’t…?”

Ram’s face turned dark red. “We have, but she is resistant and continues to fight me.” He looked away, distinctly embarrassed that he couldn’t tame his female as the others had. “I’m afraid that the tests were in error.”

“That isn’t possible. We’ve never had a flawed matching before.”

“These are alien females, Kerr.” Ram’s voice was harsh with both disappointment and frustration. “There are bound to be anomalies.”

“I pray to the Maker that isn’t so, my friend. You are excused. Go see to your female.”

Ram nodded, but didn’t say anything further as he turned and rushed back out.

“What will happen to her if she continues to fight and refuse?” Eva whispered at his ear, her concern palpable.

“It has only been two days. We’ll decide if and when the time comes.”

That wasn’t answer enough for his mate. “She is a warrior, Kerr. Proud and not easily bent to anyone’s will.”

“Ram is just as proud.”

“Would he do her harm?”

“He is an honorable warrior. She is safe. Now hush, so I can begin the meal.”

“But—”

“Eva, as I said, we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out.”

She opened her mouth to argue further, but he stopped her by placing his hand firmly on her nape and bending close to her ear. “All eyes are upon us. I warned you to speak only when spoken to. If you persist in this manner, I promise you will not like the outcome.”

With a click of her teeth, she snapped her mouth shut and went statue still by his side. The meal was a disaster from that moment forward. Stiff and withdrawn, Eva would do no more than answer yes or no, when he asked her a question. She was more amenable when one of the elders engaged her in conversation, asking her about her home planet, but aside from that, she wouldn’t look at him, pushing her food around on her plate rather than eating.

By the time they quit the dining room, he’d become as surly as she was and marched her quickly back to their quarters.

Inside, she headed straight for their bedroom.

“Stop! I did not dismiss you.”

She halted mid-stride, her back to him for a moment. Then, turning on her heel, she glowered at him, her arms crossed.

“Come here. We need to discuss your behavior tonight.” She didn’t move, simply staring at him defiantly. “Don’t make things worse for yourself with more disobedience.”

Her eyes flashed their luminous uladite green as she clenched her fists in an obvious show of anger. He waited to see if she would stomp her foot as well, but she refrained. Despite his annoyance, he appreciated her spirit and how magnificent she looked as she rebelliously glared at him. His cock lengthened instantly.

He’d much rather carry her to their bed, taking her repeatedly until she was breathless and limp with exhaustion than have the confrontation that lay ahead. It wouldn’t do to put this off, however. Delays only allowed her time to brood and build resentment, and he was too disappointed in her to leave things unaddressed.

He crossed his arms as she had and returned her regard with steely determination. She would learn she couldn’t defy him or act as a child and not receive recompense. His frown deepened as she remained in place. He gave her the look that had crumbled the resolve of much sturdier adversaries, and waited her out. His patience wasn’t unlimited though.

When she shifted uncomfortably and glanced away, he knew he had won. The next instant she stalked stiffly toward the couch he pointed to. She brushed by him without so much as a glimpse and sat, her back ramrod straight as she stared at the wall without blinking.