Page 51 of Galaxy Gladiators Romance Box Set #11-19

Chapter Three

M aximus

I’d thought this trip to Hyperion was going to be a vacation. I’ve only been on one vacation before in my life, when we docked on the Pleasure Planet for Blessed Peace Day a few lunars ago. It was the best time of my life. I dracked whores, ate, slept, and dracked some more. It was better than anything I’d ever dreamed of for those decades in my bunk in the gladiator barracks.

Vartan needed to be here for his match at the same time our ship needed to make a delivery to another sector. I offered to come with him, to be here in case anything went wrong during his match. It suits my skillset as head of security on the ship.

I didn’t think Vartan would want to waste our precious time on the planet doing good deeds. I can’t imagine anything I wanted to do less than sit in that dark stinking auditorium for hoaras waiting to buy other gladiators.

But what I’d imagined even less? Buying a slave. Even less than that? Buying this slave. Everyone in the room knew this one was trouble. She still had blood caked on her face when I carried her to the hover.

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea, though. It meets some of my fantasies about this trip. I have spent most of the day dracking . At first, she was prickly, accusing me of drugging her, but she’s let that go now.

And sucking my cock? I didn’t anticipate that. I won’t turn her down if she offers that again.

“Maximus?” Her voice has that tight tone she uses when her need flares. Her eyes round in her face as she presses into the chair back. I can smell a blast of her arousal—it’s returned with a vengeance.

I rise and lift her out of her chair, then carry her to the bed. I’ve grown able to gauge the level of her need by her scent. This bout came on her hard and fast.

“Suck or fuck?” I ask, using her word. It’s obvious she got the most relief when I came inside her.

“What?” she asks, but she knows what I’m asking.

In answer, she grips my cock and motions it toward her entrance. I make sure she’s slick enough to accept me, but that’s never been a problem. I wonder what was in that shot. It’s potent.

I slide into her, loving how tight she is around me. None of the whores I’ve been with have ever felt like this. Being inside Raine’s warm, moist sheathe is heaven. Usually, I only get a few thrusts in before she comes, but this time I get a longer ride.

I don’t think she’s enjoyed any of our couplings prior to this. They were desperate, in service to the drug, her need. This time she’s writhing on my cock, her hips dancing with me. Her little human hands are pressed against my back, sliding up and down my skin as if she likes the feel of me.

“Is this good Raine?” I husk, my mouth close to hers.

“Yes. Good.” Her lids slam closed as if she’s taking a trip to heaven. Why did I think Earth females weren’t attractive? Her face is pretty. Prettier than any of the Earth females on our ship. Her heart-shaped face is so beautiful framed by her light brown hair.

When she first woke up, her features were tight and pinched in anger. Now she’s allowing herself to feel pleasure. I pierce deep and circle my hips at the end of every thrust. She rewards me with a pleased moan as her hips buck to take me deeper. She arches her back in bliss.

When she lifts her head to kiss my lips, I shutter my eyes. I don’t want her to see my shock or have a clue this is my first kiss. It’s not something bestowed by females who are bought and paid for by owners who use them as rewards.

Keeping my mouth near hers, I let her take the lead, even as I drack her slow and easy, prolonging both our pleasure.

Her lips are hot and soft, then her tongue presses into my mouth and plays with mine. Now that I have the lay of the land, I take the lead, penetrating her warm mouth, exploring. Her taste is both clean and spicy at the same time. Her tongue flicks against mine. It’s almost playful even as our actions below our waists are in earnest.

I pull away enough to gaze at her. Her beautiful breasts jiggle with every thrust. I don’t want to think of them as barrumps anymore. That seems disrespectful. I don’t want to think of any part of Raine’s body that way.

I slow my thrusts a moment, testing the waters to see if she can tolerate waiting a few moments. Her unspoken answer is to slide her nails along my back and toss me a smile. Dracking has changed from a means to an end into a vehicle of pleasure.

I dip my head and flick my tongue against her beaded nipple. The touch that seemed insignificant makes her suck in a sharp breath. I have to scan her face to make sure, but that was a sound of pleasure.

I thrust a few times, to keep her satisfied, but I’m more interested in her breasts. I test her response with the tip of my tongue, then the flat of it. I try various levels of pressure. I’m shocked to discover the flat rasp of my teeth pulls the loudest sounds of satisfaction from her. A male could get addicted to pleasuring a female such as Raine. One who gives as good as she gets.

I decide to explore more later because her nails are digging into my shoulders, telling me she’s close. Her scent changes, her breathing shifts from gasps to pants. I want to come with her this time. It will be the first time I’ve released into her sweet xyzca .

I’ve already discovered that when she hits this plateau, when her mouth stays open as she loudly sucks in air, she likes it hard and fast. I give it to her and watch as her cheeks pinken and her pelvis rises to meet mine, demanding more pressure.

“Maximus!” she gasps as her muscles grip my cock tighter than my fist when I stroke myself. I’ve used all my willpower not to come inside her before, but this time I allow myself to let go. Her waves of release milk me, increasing my pleasure until I come with a grunt and a growl, bathing her with my fluid.

She slumps against the sheet and I join her as I lie on my side. She’s a pretty thing. Her hair is ten shades of gold and brown that surround her face in waves. Her green eyes have that faraway look as she enjoys the aftermath of her pleasure.

“Better?” I ask.

“Mmm.” She rolls on her side and nestles next to me, taking a deep sigh. “I think your sperm is what gives me relief. I feel almost normal.”

There’s only one thing in a gladiator’s life that provides pride—winning a match. As a free male, I’m proud of being chosen as head of security on the Devil’s Playground . That’s it. Those are the only two things that have ever given me personal satisfaction. Until now.

My chest swells with pride at her words. This little female feels good because of what I provided her.

I like being inside her, her hot moist xyzca clasping my cock. I like her hands gripping my body, her hips rising to meet me. I want to kiss her again, to master the art of sparring tongues and clashing lips. When I tip my head to have access to her face, though, I see she’s fallen asleep.

Rolling away from her, I retrieve the sheet I discarded hoaras ago, then cover her with it. I’ve never felt responsible for anyone in my life. I’ve only had to take care of myself, and that was a big enough job. With Raine, I want to ease her, provide her comfort. Strange.

I walk to the refresher and call Vartan.

“How’s your little pet?” I tease.

“Maximus, you’re such a dracker .”

“What? I just asked how she’s doing,” I manage to sound innocent and offended even though I was playfully trying to irritate him.

“It’s your tone. I know you don’t approve. I bought her clothes, took her to the bazaar and the museum. She’s . . . adjusting.”

They’ve had time to do all that? I glance at the clock. Have Raine and I really been dracking for more than a day?

“And you, Maximus? How many females have you dracked since I left you yesterday? Getting your fill?”

My comrades all respect my fighting ability, that’s not in question. They trust me enough to task me with the job of security. Males like Vartan don’t exactly approve of me, though. They think I’m coarse. What do you expect from a male raised by gladiators?

How do I admit to Vartan that this vulgar Addai bought a female to rescue her from death? How do I tell him I’m bringing her back to the Playground with us?

“Yes. Getting my fill.” That’s all he needs to hear right now. “Call me if you need any help making your tiny foot-kissing human follow your orders.”

“You’re such a duthic ,” he scoffs.

I’ll never hear the end of it when I bring Raine onboard.

Raine

It’s freezing in here. When I roll closer to Maximus for his body heat, he isn’t here.

“Maximus?” I call.

He comes out of the bathroom with a weird look on his face. I wonder what that’s all about.

“Is there a blanket in here?” I ask.

He strides to the foot of the bed and grabs a blanket he must have thrown off hours ago. After he covers me, I ask, “How long have we been . . . ?”

“More than a day. You’re cold?”

I nod, then realize I’m not burning up like I have been since I woke up tied to the bed. Could the aphrodisiac be wearing off?

“I never got a chance to ask, why did you tie me to the bed?”

“I wanted a bath. I’ve only had a few since I was stolen from Addai. They’re a luxury not provided to gladiators in a barracks, and water’s scarce on a space vessel. I wanted to bathe undisturbed, and I didn’t want you waking up and running off. The authorities would have taken you for a runaway slave. We both would have been punished.”

For some reason, I’m more upset at the thought of him yearning for the simple pleasures of a bath for decades than the fact that he tied me up. He was quick to release me when I needed it. I can’t hold it against him.

“It’s been a while since you needed me. You’re not burning up anymore. Do you think you’re better?” he asks.

“Maybe. I’m not feeling frenzied. I can think.” I sit against the headboard, tuck the blanket over my breasts and under my arms, and realize with a pang of fear that I’m this male’s slave.

“You bought me as your slave. What does that mean?”

He pulls a chair to the side of the bed and explains again that he bought me to keep the auction house from killing me. Then he tells me about the two vessels of escaped slaves who travel the galaxy in a loose alliance. Sometimes they travel together, sometimes they go their separate ways.

He seems proud of his position on board as head of security. After what he’s been through in his life, I’m glad he’s found something to give his life meaning.

“Vartan’s match is in two days. The Devil’s Playground won’t get here for a few days after that. When it arrives, I’ll take you onboard where you’ll be free. There are four human females there, all mated to gladiators. You’ll be fine, safe.”

“What you did was generous, Maximus. How much do I owe you? I’ll figure out a way to pay you back,” I tell him sincerely. He saved my life and is giving me my freedom. A picture flashes in my mind of the first male who bought me, the one whose face looked like the drippings of a gray candle. Things could have been worse. A lot worse.

“I . . .” he pauses.

For the first time since I’ve met him, this male looks shy. Is he embarrassed at my praise? Does he feel awkward telling me how much he spent on me?

“I don’t need the money back.”

Why does he look guilty?

“I insist. When I get onboard the Devil’s Playground I’ll get a job, right? I’ll pay you back out of my wages as soon as I can.”

“There’s no need.”

“Maximus, I insist.”

“It was only one credit,” he says sheepishly.

“One credit?” I’m outraged, but then replay the scene at the auction house in my mind and realize no one in their right mind would have wanted to buy a crazy bitch like me. “Thanks for taking the risk,” I tell him sincerely as I grab his hand. Is it my imagination that it feels like an electric spark arcs between us?

He nods, spearing me with a serious look. He glances at my blanket-covered crotch, then says, “Consider your debt paid.”

I don’t know whether I’m offended or amused. Maybe a little of both.

I haven’t felt my urgent needs for an hour. Maybe the drug has worn off and we can explore the planet. As soon as we begin to discuss things we can do in the city, my desperation returns, though, and we decide not to leave the room until we have to.