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My eyes flicker between the three towering aliens.

Otho might have shown me mercy, but that’s all he’ll show of himself. I can see he doesn’t have the gentle side of Brennan, just as he lacks the deliciously sadistic edge. Otho looks down at me protectively, but with reservation; like I’m fire, and he’s nervous about getting his fingers burned.

But fire burns, and I can feel the heat flowing through me – as if the scalding spanks Otho laid across my ass have set my whole body aflame.

I step forward, taking a stride towards him. Before I even know what I’m doing, I place my palm across Otho’s powerful chest, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch.

Gods! His heart beats – so hard and fast, like the relentless beating of a war drum.

As I stand there, my palm pressed against his immense chest, Otho just stares down at me. His eyes are wide – like he knows he’s on the brink of snapping…

…and that’s when I step up on my tippy toes to take a kiss from him.

Oh, Gods! I can’t believe what I’m doing!

But it feels so right. After so long alone, trapped behind the stone walls of my father’s estate, it feels like my captors are the ones to actually set me free.

Otho’s lips find mine – and my body instantly shivers against his hungry touch. His hands lift, to wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I moan into Otho’s mouth as I feel his huge, throbbing cock pressed up against me.

Lust and fear well up within me. I’m not ready forthat!

But when I try to pull away, Otho’s grip is too strong.

For a second, it’s a battle of wills – as if Otho is on the brink of snapping…

…but then he breaks off the kiss.

“I w-won’t lose control,” he growls, his voice nearly cracking, but still barely holding on. He murmurs those words, and then leans in to take my lips a second time.

Gods! If that first kiss was hungry, his second is ravenous. Otho’s hand – the one that was spanking me just moments earlier – slides up my back, to curl around the nape of my neck. Otho holds me protectively, drawing me close to him as his tongue slips past my lips.

As we kiss, I hear heavy footsteps from behind me. The other two Aurelians are approaching, and the thought of their proximity sends a hot shudder through my body.

Otho pull backs, breaking off our kiss. His slate-grey eyes lift to meet the hungry gaze of his battle-brothers.

“Stay back,” Otho warns.

“Stay back?” Brennan’s voice is cold, with an edge to it that worries me. “You’re not the leader of this triad, Otho…”

Otho’s hand leaves the back of my neck.

He steps away from me, taking a step forward to block me from Brennan with the imposing bulk of his huge body.

Brennan’s eyes have no hint of cruelty in them as he watches his battle-brother square off against him, but his brows are drawn. Brenna’s eyes narrow at Otho’s unspoken challenge.

I shiver, cowering behind Otho’s enormous frame. There’s nothing in Brennan’s cold, slate-grey eyes except an icy, burning hunger – a hunger that I fear overwhelms his capacity for rational thought.

Otho speaks.

“I’m not the leader of this triad,” states Otho, “but nor is your lust. You’ll lose control, Brennan. Stay back.”

“You don’t decide what I do, Otho,” Brennan growls in response, his voice dominant. He takes another step forward, closing the gap between him and me.

Otho tenses – the only thing separating me from the towering leader of this triad. Like a cornered tiger protecting his mate, Otho’s haunches rise up.

“Not another step,” he warns.

“Orwhat?”