Page 8 of A Merciless Bargain

He was now engorged, and the realization that the knot had almost doubled in size shocked me. I could barely deep-throat on a good day, unfortunately, and I definitely couldn’t deep-throatthose.

Dane pulled my mouth on and off his penis with increasing speed, the knot of his cock contacting my lips with each thrust, the rigid skin reminiscent of the firm testicles.

No longer needing my hands to control the motion, I palmed his balls and massaged them in time to the movement he desired.

The tempo became so quick I was uncertain that I could keep up. Then, with a final shudder, Dane growled once and the swollen knot slammed against my lips. I swallowed the hot, salty cum that filled my mouth. Dane kept his pelvis pushed into my face, his hands maintaining their viselike grip on the back of my head. My throat convulsed swallowing the ropes of cum that seemed never-ending. With a last jerk, the flow ceased.

Dane hissed and removed first his hands from my head and then pulled his cock from my tired mouth.

I offered him a wide grin before running my tongue along my lips to catch any stray liquid.

The Foulan stood, the unexpected action knocking me backward onto my ass. I stared up at him, stunned by the angry expression on his face as he refastened his pants.

Was the blowjob that bad?

“I am going to ask you once, and only once. If you lie, we are finished and I will bring you to Vadhea tomorrow,” he stated, his inflectionless voice belying the anger I sensed simmering beneath the surface.

“Uh, okay,” I agreed, my mind racing at warp speed, because I knew what was coming, and I didn’t know if he would believe me.

“Why were you surprised by my knot?” he demanded, his hands balled at his sides. I didn’t think he would strike me. That wouldn’t be professional. I suspected he was trying to control himself while uncovering the truth.

I’d been his prisoner for mere hours, and I knew without question he didn’t tolerate liars. There could be no question that someone had lied to him. The Syndicate. Or me. “I never had sex with Bowyer,” I said in a low voice.

“You lied.”

“No,” I hurried to explain. “You know Foulans don’t normally find humans attractive. That’s why you were surprised that Bowyer had purchased me from the Collector,” I reminded my captor.

Dane considered what I’d said. “You were skilled enough to satisfy the Collector.”

I flushed at his matter-of-fact praise of myskills.

“Continue.”

“I didn’t know about the exotic animal procurement thing,” I said with distaste, “but it didn’t surprise me because thatiswhy he wanted me to some degree. I was an exotic animal. Onefor him to show off. He’d explained that to me when he offered his contract. The recruiter had said that sometimes happened—women were occasionally even put in zoos for the duration of their contracts.” I shrugged. “It was still a lot of money. I figured I’d make it work.”

Dane stayed silent, staring down at me where I now sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor. I shivered. He offered a hand to help me off the floor. We stood inches apart again, the air an odd mix of sex, distrust, and uncertainty.

The Foulan gave one of his curt nods I was becoming rather accustomed to. “I believe you.”

“You do?” I asked, scarcely able to hope.

“I do. However,” he added, his deeper voice offering a hint of the threat a lie would cost me. “Our bargain is simple. You will not withhold information from me again.”

“Of course,” I hurried to agree.

“If you lie, there will be no discussion. I will bring you to Vadhea.”

Blood drained from my face and a wave of lightheadedness blurred my vision. His matter-of-fact statement combined with his flat voice told me he would show me no mercy. I nodded, unable to speak.

“I will help you so that I can uncover the real reason the Syndicate assigned you as my Runner,” he concluded our bargain.

Relief flooded me. Maybe I’d survive this nightmare after all. I opened my mouth to thank him. He spoke first.

“Tell me everything you know about Bowyer Haled.”

Chapter Five

“I’m notsure I know very much at all,” I acknowledged ruefully, “since I didn’t even know his primary business.”