The look is full of interest and possessiveness, all wrapped up with a bow.
It stirs a quickening to my heart rate and a flutter low in my belly.
"Please," I say because I need a distraction from the inappropriate thoughts seizing my mind.
"We have not caught all those responsible yet," Kastor says. "You are wealthy, and many people sought to take their share of the pot. Hence my disguise as a gladiator. Tomorrow, a shuttle will arrive and you will be escorted to a secure base. You will need to remain under protective custody until the last of them are found."
My rising libido is damped at the mention of people seeking a share of my pot, and my anger surfaces to take its place.
"Who?" I ask, lips trembling. But the Devlin warrior is right. I'm not ready to learn who is behind this. Yet, I also need to know so I might begin grieving for what has transpired.
His dark, endless eyes glow in the poor lighting. "Your brother, sister, and Uncle Tobias were approached by an agency specializing in human abductions. Humans are snatched and sold at a great value on the black market. They favor wealthy humans with weak companions or family who might profit from their removal."
I feel sick. All of them, all of my family, betrayed me? I cannot reconcile myself to this terrible understanding. We have never shared love, yet they are my family. He's right in what he says. They are weak. They have always been weak. To sell me without caring for my fate is beyond callous.
"They gave themselves away when they tried to access your money," he continues. "A period of time must elapse before a disappearance can be viewed as deceased. When your assets were frozen, your family made moves to see your disappearance changed to death in a way that threw up red flags."
I shiver. It takes hold of my whole body and sets me adrift in a storm. The great beast beside me rests a gentle hand on my shoulder. His hand is enormous, and a lethal claw tips each finger.
How can a male so powerful be so gentle with me?
"It is a shock," he says. "I understand this… I am not well versed in the more sensitive side of this business. They mostly send me to do extractions."
A sob comes from deep in my belly. I curl up into a little ball and give in to the misery.
"Fuck!" he mutters gruffly. "I am not trained to deal with this! They warned me not to tell you!" He emits a low groan as though in great pain. "Please do not cry, tiny human."
Only I cannot stop the tears from falling. Suddenly, this beast is not a beast but the one source of light in my shattered life.
I pet the hot flesh of his chest. A deep rumble emanates from the center, vibrating under my fingertips. I want more of that. My broken heart needs to feel his soothing rumble under my cheek. Sobbing piteously, I scoot nearer, seeking the shelter of his muscular body, pressing closer until we are flush with one another.
His purr rumbles deeper.
He smells delicious, and it makes me a little woozy. It makes my belly flutter and my nipples peak. The apex of my thighs grows slick as my emotional state shifts from sorrow to arousal in an alarmingly short time.
Alien pheromones perhaps?
Or the shock of my imminent liberation?
It doesn’t matter how or why; I am sinking under a spell, one that breathes demand onto my flesh.
My tongue darts out to lap the skin at the base of his throat.
He groans.
I nip the flesh between my teeth.
His big hands tighten over me. "You smell aroused. They warned me humans can react in this way."
Kastor
I'm supposed to be rescuing her, but all I see is a cute human woman needing a master. She smells of fresh arousal and temptation. But I have a mission, one that does not involve fucking, and especially not fucking the woman I have just rescued. What can I say? I am only a simple Devlin. I did not anticipate one little human to make me ache to fill her up with my cock.
I need to focus on the mission and what I am here to do. But I am trapped by Cassiopeia's pretty doe eyes and the vulnerability she radiates.
She would not be vulnerable ever again mine. A would be a different kind of master, one who might devote his life to keeping her safe. I am done with this recusing business. I have enough wealth to retire and dedicate myself to exploring the slick folds and pleasure nub human females are rumored to have.
I need to think of something else, which is difficult when she is writhing urgently against me.