Page 14 of Taking Jenny (Planet Orhon #4)

Jenny

M y ear was pressed to Tiger’s chest when I woke, and his body heat was like a furnace, keeping me warm. His heartbeat was normally loud—it seemed all the Ladrians had a loud heartbeat—but when I shifted against him and the rate of the beat doubled, I smiled.

“Good morning, Tiger,” I said softly.

He pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head. “Good morning, Jenny. How did you sleep?”

Completely naked and still curled against his side, I lifted my head and gave him a playful look. “You mean after the third time, when you finally let me go to sleep?”

He laughed, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Yes.”

“I slept like the dead,” I admitted, my body pleasantly sated, and sore in the best ways.

He arched a brow. “I’ll assume that means you slept soundly.”

I nodded, smiling up at him as I shifted my hips and slid one of my legs between his. “I guess that’s a strange phrase, but yes, it means I slept great.”

Suddenly, a small frown formed between his brows. “Is three times not enough for a night?”

I blinked. “What?”

“The way you said it, after the third time, like it was bad—"

“Oh my god, no! I didn’t mean it like that.

” I reached up to touch his jaw, reassuring him.

I had to remind myself that last night had been his first time, as crazy as that was to me, so his insecurities made sense.

“Three times in one night, especially after the day we had? That’s a lot. In the best way.”

He absently threaded his long fingers through my disheveled hair, his touch gentle and soothing for such a big, strong alien man. “You were pleased?”

“Very much.”

His body relaxed beside me, tension easing from his muscles. “That is good to know.”

But now I was the one hit with anxiety. “And you? Were you…happy with how things went?”

“Last night was the greatest night of my life.”

He said it with such conviction that my heart clenched and I inwardly swooned. “To my knowledge, I’ve never been someone’s first time before.”

“Then I am honored to be your first…first.”

“I guess it was a first time for us both, going by that standard,” I said, then added, “And I meant to say it last night, but I’m on a birth control shot, so we don’t have to worry about that.”

His stomach chose that moment to growl, vibrating beneath my palm. Then he chuckled. “Apologies.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Famished,” he said with a little growl in his voice. “You wore me out.”

I pushed myself up. “Then we should probably figure out what breakfast is around here.”

His expression turned serious. “I am a bit more concerned with escape at the moment. Especially now that we have daylight.”

My eyes widened and hope coursed through me. “Do you really think we could?”

He sighed, staring out the window. “I am uncertain. Though perhaps going to breakfast would give us the information required to flee this awful place.”

Then he looked back at me, a pensive look in his eyes. “However, there is a problem regarding breakfast, and I don’t know how to solve it. Could I ask your advice?”

“Anything, Tiger.”

He reached out to stroke my hair again, his hot, hungry gaze drifting down to where the covers had slipped to my waist, exposing my bare breasts. “How do I convince myself to leave this bed, when you look like that?”

I blushed, but laughed. “Well, if you don’t eat, then you won’t have the energy to fuck me.”

“Good point.”

I lightly smacked his shoulder and pushed away from him. “Come on. We both need to eat.”

“If you say so,” he grumbled.

We got out of bed to dress, and I was relieved to find daywear that was more of a breakfast appropriate wardrobe than what I’d worn the night before.

The most shocking and delightful discovery?

Jeans. Actual denim jeans from Earth. What kind of magic did Malice possess to get his hands on American attire, in my perfect size?

Then again, I thought about the well-tailored suits that he wore, so clearly Mal had his connections.

I grabbed the jeans immediately, pairing them with a white tee and sneakers. Whatever came next, at least I’d be comfortable.

Instead of his utility uniform, Tiger emerged from his bedroom in dark jeans and a black Henley that showcased his muscular arms and chest, and I nearly reconsidered breakfast altogether. He looked ridiculously hot—tousled, masculine, delicious.

He gave me a once-over, his gaze appreciative and warm. “Earth clothes suit you.”

I smiled and gave him a playful curtsy. “And you as well.” Then, I hooked my arm through his. “Let’s go find food.”

Navigating our way back to the dining hall was easy enough, though when we arrived, the doors were shut.

“Looking for your breakfast?” a voice interrupted behind us.

We turned to find an older woman in a simple black uniform. Her voice was calm but carried the faintest hint of amusement.

“Yes, we are,” I said.

“Master takes his breakfast on the patio, on the rare occasions he eats it. The others are out there, lazing through their meal, if you’d like to join them.”

The others…Longshot, Discord, and Surge.

I was hungry enough to endure the trio and their antics. “That would be appreciated.”

“Follow me,” the woman said.

She introduced herself as Vine and offered any assistance we might need. She had tan skin which shimmered a faint blue, making me wonder if the older someone was, the less shiny they were. Her hair was black, but her tail was almost bare, gnarled like an old tree root, which I found unsettling.

At the end of a long corridor, she opened a pair of French doors which let out onto the patio.

The rear terrace of the mansion surrounded a huge swimming pool and extended around both sides of the building.

It was paved with tight fitting gray stone and had all the features I had come to expect of high-end hotel terraces—fire features, water features, comfortable seating areas, uniformed servants, and enough potted plants to make Home Depot blush.

It was all so human, rather than an alien palace.

But around the main table were three distinctly not-human people. Evidently, breakfast was a casual affair, as each of them were in loungewear. Longshot smiled politely while Rhonda, the strigella/snake thing roped around his arm, eyed me. Discord sneered with disdain, and Surge said, “Hello.”

Platters of bread and unrecognizable items were spread out on the table, and I didn’t care what everything was, so long as I could eat.

We said our good mornings and sat next to Longshot this time, on the opposite side of his strigella.

It was around then that I remembered the biggest issue I ever had with travel.

My head began to throb. “Is there any chance anything here has caffeine?”

Discord’s sensuous lips pinched at one corner. “We are a civilized race, Jenny. No need for further insult.” She flicked a finger, and a servant came to us. “Bring her a pot of…” She raised her eyebrows at me.

“Would you happen to have coffee available?” I asked hopefully.

“What varietal would you like?” the servant asked.

I blinked in surprise. “Wait, are there Earth varietals?”

Their brows furrowed in confusion.

Discord huffed in that annoyed way of hers. “What type of blend were you going for, girl?”

“Something low acidity with enough punch to wipe out my caffeine headache.”

Discord addressed the servant. “Bring her the Grenevar varietal, medium roast. Cream and sugar?”

I shook my head. “No, thank you.”

Discord waved the servant away then looked down her nose at me. “Your…captor has an appreciation for your people and their wares, Jenny. If there is something you need, just ask and he most likely has it on hand, or something similar.”

“My captor has an appreciation for my people, but you don’t?” I guessed. “Am I to understand you do not like humans?”

“Your people are not without their charms,” she replied airily. “Though I find your politics offensive.”

I laughed. “As do I.”

“Perhaps there is hope for you yet.”

I tilted my head, wondering if I was somehow managing to make my way into Discord’s favor. “Perhaps.”

The servant delivered the alleged coffee and poured it into a delicate, dark blue cup. It smelled and looked promising—rich, warm and strong—but the truth was in the taste. Carefully, I took a drink. No acidity, full-bodied. A hint of natural sweetness to balance the bitterness.

“Oh,” I said, completely surprised and delighted. “Oh, that is quite good.”

Discord gave me a sly smile. “One of my personal favorites.”

I took another sip. “There’s an earthy note, almost like mushrooms, but in a good way. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it.”

Surge tore open what looked like a roll and explained, “Many of Earth’s plants actually came from Orhon and became your native plants, but they are hybrids of ours.

And vice versa. Our soil is different, yielding very different results from what you’re accustomed to.

You may find our meat, fruits, and vegetables to be not at all like what you know. ”

“I thought you were a murdering gambler, Surge, not a farmer,” I said with a mild tease in my tone.

“My mother is a food chemist.”

Tiger looked at me sidelong, then asked Surge, “Which would make you…?”

“Strategic,” he said, and took a bite of his bread.

I was almost certain we would never get a straight answer from the tiny man, but I didn’t feel threatened by him either.

Maybe that’s a part of his strategy . Either way, I chowed down on some kind of bread thing spread with what Tiger described as a fermented vegetable paste.

Whatever it was, I couldn’t get enough of it.

Salty, umami, spicy, and completely addictive.

The doors behind me opened, and Longshot’s expression went from observational to concerned. I looked back to find Mal storming toward the table, his expression ominous. He took a seat across from me and ripped a chunk of bread from a large loaf and angrily bit at it, like it owed him money.

“Trouble, friend?” Discord purred.