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After that, everyone was nice and orderly. There were no more incidents. But these people don't seem to have long memories or a lot of self-control. I worry there's going to be another incident. I worry there'll be a whole cluster of incidents if we stop being friendly and handing out food.

I'm truly starting to question this whole "army" plan.

"I will handle it," Corvak says, and rubs my arm. "They listen to me. If you don't want to cook for them, then do not. We will deal with the repercussions."

"No, I'll keep cooking for them," I say. Being tired is better than being dead. "Just…be careful, all right? How is the training coming along?"

He sighs, and the sound is as exasperated as I feel. "They are not good listeners, but I think we are making progress. I am paying special attention to a few that are smarter than others. If I can set them up as leaders, I can assign smaller groups to them." He pauses. "At least, that is the hope."

I snuggle up against him again, because I can hear the frustration in his voice.

He's been working hard at this army of his, but it's a lot like herding cats.

They don't listen well, and just because they look like people doesn't mean they act like any people we know of.

Their attention spans are brief at best, to go with their hair-trigger tempers.

But we can't give up, just because there are so many of them, and they're devoted to Corvak.

That devotion means safety for us, if we can get things organized.

I think of Pinkie's comments earlier, about the ones on the beach that never leave. "Have you seen anyone else? Any of the other gladiators?"

"No one. I think we are safe from them this far away from where we were dropped."

I choose my next words carefully. "Pinkie says she has seen others like me. Smooth-faced ones that live by a beach."

He stiffens against me and then relaxes. "Not close to here, then? That's not a problem."

"She also said they never leave. They just stay there and make families." I hold tightly to him. "That…that worries me, Corvak. How long is this game supposed to go on?"

Corvak wraps his arms around me, as if sensing my need for comfort.

"Just because she hasn't seen them leave doesn't mean no one has.

And I doubt very much that Pinkie went to the beach and came here in the same time frame we did.

That seems like a lot of traveling. She's probably making it up to make you happy. "

I'm not convinced. "She volunteered the information. I didn't ask. She just pointed it out as if it was something we should know."

He's not concerned. "She might be referring to a different group of gladiators. None that I have seen are 'smooth' like you." And he squeezes my butt.

Corvak has a good point. He said that the others he'd seen were like him—splices. Maybe she is telling stories just to please me, or maybe I misunderstood her subtle hand gestures. "I'm sure you're right."

"Have faith in your mate." He draws little circles on my butt cheek, clearly getting amorous.

He's not the only one. I run my hand down his side and move to his back, squeezing his tight, high bubble butt. It's really the nicest butt. Muscular and firm. "You know she told me that the parasite makes us horny? I feel like that explains a lot."

Corvak chuckles. "I do not need a parasite to be attracted to you."

I'm the same. Perhaps the parasite makes me aroused even when the situation is inappropriate, but there's so much to love about Corvak that I can't imagine feeling differently about him.

I love his protectiveness, his self-assured manner.

I love how attentive he is to me. When I have suggestions or complaints, he truly listens.

I'm so grateful that we were stranded together, whatever happens.

And of course, he's smoking hot and impressively muscled. Can't forget that, either.

I lean in and kiss away one of the droplets of water on his chest. He rumbles approval, his hand trailing up my back.

I decide to take charge this time. He's already naked, after all, and clean.

I have access to all the fun bits by simply sinking to my knees, and I do.

I smile up at him and then take his cock in hand, licking the head.

It never fails to make his breath hitch, his entire body jerking in response to that small touch.

God, I love that. I love the way his gaze turns heated right away, as if I'm the most stunning creature he's ever seen.

As if he's lucky that I'm touching him, when I feel like it's the other way around.

I have vague memories of other men, other sexual encounters back on Earth, but all of them pale in comparison to the way I feel around Corvak.

Surely not all of that is from the parasite.

I swirl the tip of my tongue around the head of his cock, playful and teasing.

His hand goes to my hair, holding my head just the way I like—firm, but not too controlling.

I move in, taking more of his cock into my mouth and working him with lips and tongue.

I've learned the things he likes in the last week of constant sex—that the cartilage-like protrusion above his cock doesn't have much feeling, but the underside of his shaft and the ridges there absolutely do.

That he likes a little bit of teeth, but only strategically and never near the ultra-sensitive head.

I've learned that he likes his balls gently gripped and tugged on just before he's about to come, and that when he does, it's so much that I'm never going to be able to swallow it all down.

I've also learned that he likes to cuddle afterwards for a few minutes before he uses his tongue on me.

Not that I'm going down on him to ensure I get my turn.

I just love making him feel good. I love his reactions, the musky taste of him, the feel of his heated, heavy length against my tongue.

I love toying with his sac, and like clockwork, he comes the moment I tug.

"My amazing Aidy," he murmurs, caressing my jaw afterward as I wipe myself clean. "Know that I would do anything to keep you safe. You do not need to fear anything with me."

"I know," I whisper. And I do.

We'll take things as we always do, one day at a time.