Page 30 of Kidnapped By the Beast (Beasts of the Kindred #11)

“Do you like that one?” Brandt’s deep voice asked softly. “Do you have enough to buy it?” He had given her some money to go shopping with, but when she added it up in her head, Lexi knew she didn’t even have half the price of the necklace.

She shook her head.

“No, but it’s okay. We should move on.”

His golden gaze lingered, unreadable. Then he nodded once and turned away.

Her heart sank stupidly. She’d been hoping he might get it for her, but of course that wasn’t going to happen.

Why would he buy you jewelry, Lexi? You’re not his girlfriend. You’re his dairy cow with legs. Pull it together, she lectured herself and hurried to catch up with him.

They wandered on until they reached the center of the market where a huge crowd was gathered around an open court. Tall interlocking hoops hung suspended in the air, glowing faintly. Brightly colored balls zipped back and forth, caught and thrown by Terian athletes moving in dizzying coordination.

The crowd roared as one player leapt, spinning in midair to hurl two balls through opposite hoops at once.

“It’s called ‘Hoop-Dance,’” T’linga explained—she and Dr. TOo-loo were watching with rapt attention. “It’s our national sport—very popular.”

Dr. TOo-loo’s four eyes gleamed.

“Brandt, come—let us watch. The intricacies of the game may surprise you.”

Lexi wasn’t very interested—she’d never been much for sports. So she was glad when T’linga smiled at her and said,

“Why don’t we split up? The men can enjoy the match, and we’ll go shopping.”

“Sounds perfect,” she agreed. Anything to get out of watching sports—especially a sport she didn’t even understand, which would probably be twice as boring.

She caught Brandt’s eye as T’linga tugged her away. For a moment, his gaze lingered on her, half protective/half worried, as though he wasn’t sure he wanted to let her go. Finally, though, he nodded.

“Be careful, Alexandra. Be sure you and T’linga stay together.”

“We’ll be fine,” Lexi said dismissively. Then she turned and followed T’linga down a row of stalls that appeared to be dedicated to women’s goods. As the roar of the crowd faded, she took a deep breath.

Finally—some freedom.

Now she could really explore. But what she saw wasn’t promising.

Everywhere she looked were garments for four-breasted women—lavish corsets…

jeweled bras…shimmering breast wraps—all made for four-breasts.

Which made sense, considering the Terian physiology.

She touched one sparkly four-breasted wrap regretfully, shaking her head.

“Guess they don’t make anything in a two-breast size.”

T’linga smiled encouragingly.

“You’d be surprised what some designers can do. All you have to do is ask.”

“Maybe I will.” Lexi sighed. “But Dr. Brandt is afraid I’ll ‘hinder my nectar production’ if I wear anything too thick.” She nodded down at the wispy, barely-there piece of gauze wrapped lightly around her breasts. It still made her feel vulnerable to be on display like this.

“Ah yes—when you first start getting milked, your breasts are very sensitive,” T’linga said sympathetically. “They cannot be constricted in any way.

“I guess so.” Lexi sighed and turned away from a stall.

As she did, she noticed a group of women at the far end of the row.

All of them wore breast coverings in shades of green.

Suddenly she realized she hadn’t seen anyone else in the market wearing green all day.

Every other color, yes—reds, purples, pinks, blues, and golds—but never any shade green. Weird.

“Over here!” T’linga’s excited voice broke into her musings. The alien woman pulled Lexi across to a massive stall hung with colorful coverings. “This merchant has the lightest fabrics—guaranteed not to hinder nectar production. Dr. Brandt can’t possibly object.”

Lexi’s relief was instant. At last, she could cover herself. She wandered deeper into the stall, quickly separated from T’linga by the sheer size of the place.

A Terian merchant approached, his four eyes zeroing in on her chest. “Magnificent,” he breathed. “So full, so lush. You will be our finest customer.”

Lexi folded her arms over herself, flushing. Great. Apparently it’s a cultural norm to openly admire a woman’s boobs here. Lucky me.

“I’m looking for a breast covering for someone with only two breasts—not four,” she told him. “Er, something light enough not to hinder nectar production.”

“Certainly, we can do that for you, lovely off-worlder! We have whole sections of garments that haven’t been sewed together yet for customers who like to mix and match colors and fabrics. Come with me and let he show you.”

“Oh, thank you,” Lexi said, perking up. She might even forgive him ogling her breasts earlier if he could find her something to cover up with.

They came to a section of the stall with many two-breasted pieces on display. Clearly the idea was for a Terian woman to pick two of them to sew together. But of course Lexi could just choose one and put it on.

The helpful merchant showed her coverings in red, gold, lavender, and orange, but none of them really caught Lexi’s fancy.

“No, none of those.” She shook her head as she looked through a rack beside the payment station. “I’m sure there’s something here for me, though. I’ll know it when I see it…” Then her gaze fell on the exact garment she wanted.

It was a breast covering of the softest fabric she’d ever touched, in vivid green—the exact shade of her eyes.

“That one,” she said firmly. “That one is perfect for me.”

The merchant blinked, all four eyes widening.

“That one? Truly? But you seem like such a respectable young woman.”

Lexi frowned.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I like the color—that’s the one I want.”

He hesitated, then shrugged.

“Well, as you wish, though you may get unwanted attention when you wear it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Unwanted attention? No, you know what—never mind. Just let me buy it, please.” Lexi handed over the Terian coins Brandt had given her—she had just enough.

She stepped behind a large sign listing the wares the shop sold for some privacy since fitting rooms apparently weren’t a thing here.

Whipping off the gauze band which hid almost nothing, she slipped the covering on and nearly moaned with relief.

It tied behind her neck and around her back, like a bikini top and back on Earth, Lexi would have felt extremely exposed if she’d worn it in public. But after going for days with her breasts bare or nearly bare, it felt like the most wonderful coverage.

Finally, I’m covered. Thank you, alien Victoria’s Secret.

She had no idea that with the soft green fabric hugging her breasts, she had just stepped into more trouble than she could imagine.