Page 25

Tanin

T hat little sound undid him.

Tanin was already having trouble keeping himself under control. No one had ever thrown a party for him before. Joy was in short supply on Rik-Vane, and surprises were not good things. As Garnet had demonstrated when she and her sister suddenly shouted, making everyone jump. It was a shame that their reactions so completely ruined their smiles.

He had to restrain himself from hurting Tebros further once he had him on the ground for that crime. Only knowing that it would just make things worse stayed his hand.

Then, when Garnet looked around at everyone trying the cake, she seemed so hopeful. So desperate for something about this party to go right. Tanin couldn’t describe the flavor of the cake if someone paid him, but the smile on her face when he gave his approval made it one of the best things he’d ever tasted – second only to her.

But then she took her own bite and moaned.

It was a soft sound. More of delight than pleasure. But it was a long, low rumble in her throat that reminded him of the way she reacted when he kissed her before.

He wanted more. He needed more. That sound shot straight to his cock, striking him like a lightning rod. He’d been doing so well keeping his urges under control in regards to her, but she made one little sound, not even thinking about it, and he was broken.

The second bite of cake was a lump of flavorless clay that he had to forcefully swallow to get down his tight throat. The sugary mass was not what he wanted to be slurping right now.

Was this what it was like to have a female? Your space was clean, you were given random gifts of parties and joy, and sometimes, they did something irresistible without even trying. It was no wonder males killed for this.

The party really kicked off after that. Trove broke out his supply of spirits and liquors that he liked to collect from the various stations and planets they visited. Alred played music, prompting the females to dance. The twins danced around them. Vytln posted up in the corner to brood as was his wont, but he didn’t leave – which he would if he wasn’t having a good time.

Tanin was interested, briefly, in how Alred followed Goldie around. He wasn’t obvious about it. His light form blinked between one place and another as he joined conversations or activities as he desired, but he was never further than a few steps from Goldie as she moved around. Smiling. Passing out food and drinks. Laughing. Dancing. Enjoying herself.

Tanin honestly didn’t know what Alred expected to come from that. He didn’t think Alred knew what he expected to come from that either. But whatever was happening, it seemed Alred was keeping to his word in that he was content for now to just watch her.

However, Tanin only noted that briefly. Most of his focus was on Garnet.

On the way she licked her utensil when she finished her cake. The way she smiled at the others. How her body bounced and jiggled when she was dancing. She took a shot of Trove’s liquor then immediately choked, half of it spilling down her front. She laughed and wiped desperately at her face, trying to clean herself up.

But he didn’t know why. She was unspeakably sexy even when she was drooling, eyes watering, face red. The kind of look he wanted to put on her face as she screamed her ecstasy.

The first chance he got while the others were focused on their merrymaking, looking away, he grabbed her by the arm – the one that didn’t have bruises but did have broken fingers – and carefully pulled her out into the hall.

Garnet didn’t look at all surprised, only eager, as he pushed her into a shadowy corner and claimed her lips. She grabbed him back with her good hand. Throwing herself into the kiss with just as much enthusiasm as the sounds of music and laughter floated into the hall.

She tasted sweet and tart, fruity. Ah. It really was a good cake.

Tanin broke away first. Pulling back. Staring down. Taking in the sight of her there, clinging to him with one hand, the other resting on his chest. Lips puffy, face flushed, eyes foggy. She was coming up on her toes even now, trying to reach him again.

His future. All of their future.

That’s what the others saw when they looked at her. Not because of her specifically, but because of what she represented. What they saw for themselves if he managed to prove it could be done. When was the last time they had a party? Fun? Tanin didn’t know if he’d consider his crew to be friends, but they were definitely closer than strangers. They relied on each other and, by agreed necessity, trusted each other.

The females were the ones who brought this change.

And could bring them more changes.

What if Tanin took what she clearly wanted to offer? Tanin’s goal in life had only ever been to survive. And to that end, he had to get out of Rik-Vane. He’d put everything he had into escaping that cursed station and making a respectable place for himself in the universe. One that he’d earned. That couldn’t be taken from him. That, if stolen, he had the right to gain back. He needed the help of each male on this ship to get here, and in return, he offered them that same escape.

In some ways, he’d fulfilled his goal completely. He was out, he was free, he had a business that earned him honest credz. He never dared to ask for more than that. He didn’t bother to hope for more because he didn’t think it was possible.

But what if he went even further? What if he took everything life could give him?

What if this was his future?

Leaning forward, he whispered into Garnet’s ear, “Make your peace with my body. And if you are still afraid of it, I will teach you to love what I offer you. Even if that is pain. You will enjoy it. You will crave it. Because I take what I want, and I want you. Get your thoughts in order, because I will come for you, and you better be ready.”

Pushing off the wall, he turned and left her there. Before he gave into his urges when she still wasn’t ready. Before he threw her over his shoulder and dragged her back to his room and showed her that there really was nothing to fear from his barbs.

He’d show her eventually. And if she didn’t lose that wide eyed look of surprise tinged with apprehension before then, he’d just make sure she was too fuck drunk to notice when he slipped inside her for the first time. And by the time she remembered she was supposed to be afraid of his barbs, they’d already be pressing into her flesh, keeping her locked to him as he filled her.

Because Tanin saw his own future, and he wanted it with a hungry desperation that clawed at his throat, deep from within his belly.

He’d have her. She would decide how it would happen, but it would happen.

It was too late. He’d decided.

She was his.