Page 15 of Tamed

“No, it was. I just wasn’t as ready for this as I thought.”

He brushed the hair back from her face and gazed into her eyes. “At the risk of sounding like an arrogant jerk,” he flashed a playful smile at the familiar phrase, “how long have you been imagining this?”

Heat burst across her cheeks, but she refused to look away. “Since we first met.”

“Really? You wanted to fuck me the first time you saw me?”

She wasn’t sure why the admission surprised him, but it clearly did. “Is that unusual?”

“Extremely. Females are usually afraid of me.”

“Clearly, I’m not.”

His lips quirked as if he were fighting off a smile. “Clearly. If I am the controller of your choice, have you also picked out your source?”

“I thought so, but,” she released a sigh, “he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want a mate.”

Zevon laughed. “Sounds like something I said about half an hour ago. Who is he?”

If it hadn’t been for Arcon’s behavior in the training room and then again when they were wresting, she would have kept his name out of it. But his response to her physical proximity had been unmistakable. Arcon might not be ready to claim a mate, but he was attracted to her. “Arcon.”

With a soft scoff, Zevon shifted her to the seat beside him. “Why am I not surprised? Every female on this station wants to fuck Arcon. Does he know how you feel about him?”

“A couple of days ago I would have said no, but he has been reacting to me in unusual ways.”

“The pheromones you’re producing heighten attraction. That’s why I was unable to resist you today when I’ve been able to ignore my desire before.”

This was the second time Zevon indicated that he had feelings for her. “You were attracted to me before today?”

He looked at her disbelievingly. “You are one of the most attractive females on this station. Of course I wanted you. Every heterosexual male on this station wants you.”

The admission thrilled her so much that she blushed again. “I see.”

He chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. “I’ve wanted to fuck you so badly a couple of times that I had to lock the door and make friends with my hand.”

She had no idea how to respond to that, so she just buried her face against his throat and allowed herself to grin.

“I’ll have your things moved to my quarters and I’ll inform Eden that I’ve decided to claim you. The next conduit on the list will have to go to Houkdi in your place.”

Kendra gasped and sat up so she could see his face. “Jessie drew number nine. If she’s forced to go to Houkdi, she will throw a fit.”

He thought for a moment then shrugged. “If she can convince any of the other females in the first group to switch destinations with her, I’ll allow it. If not, she is going to Houkdi. Personally, I think a strict Houkdi controller is exactly what she needs to finally get her attitude under control.”

He was probably right, but she felt bad that her good fortune had impacted Jessie so adversely. “So what happens now?”

“We go to my apartment and have dinner. Our physical compatibility is undeniable, but we don’t really know each other. That needs to change.”

She hadn’t expected such a tame suggestion, but she was pleased by it. “That sounds great.”

“And I’ll talk to Arcon. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to keep him here for weeks. You’re tempting enough to make almost anyone want to stay.”

“I hope so, but he was pretty adamant that he doesn’t want a mate.”

Zevon laughed as he laid her back across the couch and opened the blanket. “So was I, mate. So was I.”

CHAPTER 3

“Halt! State your business.”