Page 54 of Wrapped in Their Arms

“What do you want?”Brightasked, sitting up and glaring at him.

“Why,I’vecome to collect my client,”Lupinsaid airily.“It’stime for thesecond halfof your treatment, my dear,” he added, speaking toNoelle.

Noelle felt her stomach twist and her throat tighten.Sheshook her head, her voice barely more than a whisper at first.

“No.”

Lupin blinked, looking startled for a moment—then he tilted his head and gave her a condescending smile.

“No?”he repeated.“Ohdear,Ithink you must be confused.Yousee, the first half was just the beginning.Thereal magichappens in the second stage.Westill have to finish enhancing your hormone balance, complete the glandular stimulation series, and of course, run the final neuro-sexual compatibility diagnostics.Sodo be a good girl and come along—time is money and the auction is fast approaching.”

“I saidno!”Noelle’svoice rose.Shescrambled to her feet, her bare toes curling against the freezing metal floor as she stared at him.“I’mnot going with you.Idon’t trust you—I’mnot going throughthatagain!”

Her whole body was trembling and her pulse felt like a drumbeat under her skin.Butshe kept her chin up.

Don’t let him see you’re afraid.Don’tlet him know,she thought frantically.

Lupintskedand adjusted the gaudy collar of the neon-green vest that was stretched tight over his rotund little body.

“Well then, suit yourself,” he said breezily.“ButImustwarn you, my dear…if you refuse the second half of the treatment, you’re going to havetrouble.”

That madeBrightandBurnmove like a matched set of guard dogs.

Burn surged to his feet with a low growl reverberating from his massive chest.

“What the fuck kind oftrouble?”he demanded.

Bright stood beside him, his lean body tense, one protective arm thrown in front ofNoelle.

“I think you’d better explain what you mean,” he said evenly.

Lupin raised a hand and gave a little flutter of his pudgy fingers.

“Oh,I’mjust talking about a little matter of…nectaritis.Andadvanced sexual hyper-neediness.”

There was a pause.

ThenBurnsnarled,

“What the fuck are those?”

“You may well ask,”Lupinsaid, his tone almost sing-song.Hisgreen eyes flicked pastBright, locking withNoelle’s.“AndIpromise, youwillfind out…if you don’t come with me now.”

His voice dropped to a silky, insinuating purr that madeNoelle’sskin crawl.Herheart thumped painfully behind her ribs.

She remembered the sensation of drowning in the pool of black goo…the stinging pain of the tentacle monster’s suction cups twisting and tugging her skin…the terrible sensation of being probed and forced to come as her womb was mapped.Noway was she going through any of that again.

“No fucking way,”Burngrowled, echoing her thoughts.Hismassive body moved until he was standing between her andLupin, every inch of him a wall of muscle and menace.“She’snot going anywhere with you.”

Bright nodded, stepping in beside him.

“You’ll have to go throughusfirst.”

“They’re right—I’mnotgoing,”Noellesaid again, trying to keep her voice steady.Itstill shook, but she lifted her chin defiantly.“I’mnot trusting you again.Notafter…after everything you did to me yesterday.”

Lupin rolled his eyes dramatically and crossed his arms.

“Very well.Refuseyour final optimization, if you must.Justremember, once you’re sold at auction, it’ll be too late for me to help you.Andyouwillregret it, my dear.”