Page 274 of Gladiators of the Vagabond Boxset

Da’vi

Setting up several small agitators, spheres that gave off a noise designed to disorient animals, was an easy task.

I just needed to press the button and aim them in the right direction.

Plenty of time to contemplate what had just happened between the pretty human and me.

Time to face the fact that I wanted her to be mine, that, like Thorin had predicted, another really had bitten the dust. I found I didn’t mind, but I needed to come clean first. That was only fair to Arianna.

Casting a look over my shoulder, I watched as she sat at the fire, adeptly heating our travel rations over the open flame.

She was smiling and humming, and I found myself eager to find out just who this sunshine was supposed to be.

Was it an abstract figure—just a bit of song—or was it someone real?

I did know for sure that I would be crawling into that tent with her tonight; I was even starting to look forward to it.

I was even more grateful that Fierce and Hina were taking care of Babbit while I was down on the planet.

I didn’t need a nosy animal for an audience while I tried to tell her how I felt.

Shooting a glare at the backs of Jakar and Eoin, I hoped the two of them would keep their noses out of this, too.

With the agitators set up around the camp, I moved to haul the bodies of the two predators farther away from camp. They would attract scavengers if we left them lying out like that, so I made sure to dump each body a good distance from our walking route back to the shuttle and the camp itself.

When I came back, everyone was sitting around the fire, sharing food.

Arianna’s smile was radiant when I approached, and she held out a covered container that smelled like a heated Kertinillian food ration, the type they called meat with sauce.

I hoped it tasted as good as it smelled, but that was generally disappointing when it came to prepackaged foods.

Sitting down cross-legged next to Arianna, she smiled even wider.

“Hi, glad you’re back.” My tail flicked at the sound of her voice, and I gave in to the urge to curl it around her hip, seeking out the close contact, claiming her with the possessive gesture.

I knew that neither Jakar nor Eoin missed it, but that hardly mattered when Arianna scooted closer and stroked her palm along the limber tip of my tail.

I almost groaned at the feel of her fingers on my flesh, stuffing food into my mouth in a hurry.

Earlier, I hadn’t wanted to stop kissing her.

I hadn’t wanted to step back and let her go; it had been a fight to try to get myself to move—a fight I’d lost, but I couldn’t regret it.

I felt lighter for having made the decision to talk to her, to come clean about my shameful eavesdropping.

I shouldn’t be enjoying her eager nearness yet, but now that I’d made up my mind, I couldn’t stay away.

While she shared lively talk with the other two, I focused on eating my food. She’d already finished and had pushed away her tray with leftovers. She didn’t object when I pulled them toward me and finished them too. I was almost eager to get her into the tent now, to get this talk over with.

“I will finish getting the last of the ore,” Eoin said, getting up and wandering back to the cliff face, already deep in thought.

Jakar and I watched him go, then I shared a look with the Pretorian.

He was nodding barely a second in, his face splitting into a grin, and the colored freckles that marked him turned yellow.

I knew they marked his moods, but I hadn’t paid enough attention to know what that meant.

“Come on, Arianna, let’s get some rest,” I said, ignoring the grinning male.

Pulling her to her feet, I turned her to the nearest tent.

Then I hesitated, I wanted to throw her inside and pounce.

I needed to talk to her instead. Would she crawl into that tent with me?

Was I going to be strong enough to make her listen?

I was pretty sure that just a few of her touches would make me lose my mind to desire—the way it had every single time.

*

Arianna

I was a little unsure about how safe it was going to be to sleep in a flimsy fabric tent, but Da’vi didn’t seem too worried.

Casting a look over my shoulder at the gladiator still sitting at the fire, I decided that his four arms made him look more alien than a pair of horns did, or maybe that was just because I had a clear preference.

Catching the wide grin on Jakar’s face, I knew exactly what he was thinking we’d be up to soon.

Shooting him my widest grin, I winked, just to make it clear I didn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thought.

I really didn’t, despite hearing the nagging voices of my family in the back of my mind all the time.

I generally did do whatever I wanted, even if it was impulsive and got me in trouble.

I didn’t think I’d mind the trouble I could get into with Da’vi, though, so I was ready to let my heart rule over my mind.

Crawling inside, I found the space a little roomier than I expected, and the bottom of the tent was already soft and thick, like a mattress. Da’vi tossed a few blankets in after me while I was kicking off my boots so I wouldn’t track in all kinds of alien dirt.

Once he’d done the same and we were both zipped up inside the space, it was positively tiny.

His arching antelope horns were pressing up against the fabric ceiling, and I was worried he might puncture a hole in the flimsy roof.

His scent filled the space, his shoulders filled my vision, and his tail was already curling around my middle, pulling me closer.

“What did you have in mind?” I whispered, toying with the closing tab at the top of my jumpsuit.

I hoped he was going to say he was going to screw my brains out, I really needed that.

He’d make me feel good the same way he made me feel safe.

Abigail was right: he definitely had a soft heart, and I wanted to bask in that protection tonight.

“Talk,” he growled at me, his voice pitched low so it didn’t carry far, even if it wasn’t a whisper.

“I need to tell you something.” His tail was still clutching at my waist, and when I leaned forward and placed my hands on his shoulders, he tightened that grip.

I felt a surge of power, a tingle of desire.

I liked that I had so much control, that he responded so strongly.

I crawled into his lap on impulse, straddling his legs, my arms around his neck.

“So talk, I’ll listen,” I drawled, leaning in to rub my nose along his jaw, nuzzling into his neck until he was grasping me tightly with his arms and his tail.

His cock hardened into a hot bar beneath my ass; oh yeah, he wanted me as badly as I wanted him.

“Arianna,” he said, a reprimand in his voice.

I didn’t think it was a real protest, since he was running his hands over my back; one hand boldly sliding lower to grasp my ass and push me into his erection.

I loved the sensations, arching my back into his hands like a cat.

I darted my tongue out, dragging it along the strong column of his throat, the taste of his skin slightly salty.

I found myself pinned on my back so quickly that I was a little stunned, my body pressed into the firm, yet soft, portion that made up the bottom of the tent.

Da’vi was a dark shape looming above me, silhouetted against the soft orange glow of the campfire lighting the side of the tent behind him.

I could see the luminosity of his purple eyes, the way all the fine lines on his skin were shining, like he was about to burst with power from the inside out.

My body was singing, desire rushing through my veins.

I loved being in control during sex, but I loved it even more when that control was wrested from me.

He was pressing all my buttons, pinning me down with his legs on either side of mine, his cock grinding into my belly, his hands restraining mine above my head.

I couldn’t reach his mouth now, but I tilted my head just enough to press kisses along his chin.

“Arianna!” he snapped, his eyes glowing even fiercer.

“I said talk.” Then his tail curled around my throat, and my pussy twitched, a spasm rocking my body.

Yes, hold me down. I panted, a moan escaping my mouth, and finally Da’vi leaned in and kissed me, fiercely.

Much better, less talking, more kissing.

I chased after his mouth when he pulled back, hindered by his tight grip on my entire body.

He had me perfectly restrained; I couldn’t move more than an inch.

“Good girl,” he said, a smirk curling his lips—a smirk I found incredibly sexy.

There was the confident, bossy guy I knew he was.

That smirk looked good on him. I felt a surge of pride, of happiness, that I’d managed to make him look like that.

I knew I could help him remember how to enjoy himself.

“No, you need to hear this first,” he said, but he leaned in again, as if he couldn’t help himself.

His warm body caged me, his arousal evident where it pressed against my belly.

Then he pressed his forehead to mine, and everything suddenly felt tender, caring.

I felt owned. I had never experienced a sensation quite like that before.

It almost brought tears to my eyes. Why? I didn’t understand.

His breath came out of him with a shudder; he was struggling with some kind of deep emotion himself. I wished my hands were free so I could hug him, reassure him that whatever he had to say was surely all right.