Page 90 of Wrapped in Their Arms

Noelle let out a shaky breath, slumping slightly in relief.

At least it’s notThune.

She didn’t know what theTrolloxwould do if he found the three of them curled up like this, but she was fairly certain it wouldn’t be good.

“Shhh,” she whispered, already smoothing down her nightgown and tugging the covers up to conceal the presence of the two massiveKindredwarriors in her bed.“Letme handle this.”

ButBurnandBrightweren’t about to let her go to the door alone.Assoon as her feet touched the cold floor, they were there—flanking her like silent shadows, towering over her, protective and tense.

She cracked the door and peered out into the hallway.Standingjust outside wasCookie, the alien chef, with all four meaty arms crossed over his broad, stained apron.

“What do you want?”she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt as she stared up at the enormous cook.

“For you and your two little friends to get your lazy asses up and get some breakfast,”Cookiesnapped.“I’vealso got your uniforms and your work assignments—as if cooking for you wasn’t enough of a chore!”

“What work assignments?”Brightdemanded, already reaching overNoelle’sshoulder to push the door wider.

“And watch how you talk to our woman,”Burngrowled.

Cookie’s beady eyes widened for a fraction of a second, then narrowed.

“You’d better watch yourselves—oldThunedoesn’t like his ‘piggy-wigs’ breeding without his say-so.Here.”Heshoved a double armful of clothing at them with all four hands.“Putthese on and come eat before your breakfast gets cold.”

With that, he turned on his heel and lumbered back down the hallway, muttering under his breath about “breeding on their own,” whatever that meant.

“What the fuck was he talking about?”Burnasked, his eyes narrowing as he helpedNoellegather up the pile of dumped clothing from the hallway floor.

“Hell ifIknow,”Brightmuttered.“Thunedid call us ‘breeders’ earlier—you don’t think he bought us to breed more humanoid children for him, do you?”

“Oh myGod,Ihope not!”Noelleexclaimed, clutching the bundle of fabric to her chest.“Imean,Iused to want children whenIwas younger, butI’mtoo old for that now.”

“You don’t look too old—not that you ever did.”Burn’sdark eyes scanned her with something dangerously close to heat.“ButIthink since that treatment you had with theSkow, you look younger than us.”

“It doesn’t make sense, though,”Brightsaid, brows furrowed as he sorted through the pile of clothes.“Ifhe really wanted us to getNoellepregnant—which we can’t, since we’re not bonded, andTwinKindredcan’t impregnate a woman without their twin—he would be keeping her for months and months.Andaccording toCookie, he gets rid of his ‘breeders’ after only a week or two.”

“So breedingcan’tbe the reason he bought us?”Noelleasked, feeling a flicker of relief.

“I don’t think so,”Brightsaid slowly.“ButIstill don’t know why he’d want us.”

“Fuck it,”Burngrowled.“We’lljust have to do our best to find the key to his shuttle while we’re doing whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing today.Ifwe can get the key,Ican fly us out of here.”

“Agreed,”Brightsaid, nodding.“Fornow,Iguess we’d better get dressed.”

Noelle frowned down at the frilly black garment she’d been handed.

“What’s this?”she asked, holding up the short dress.Itlooked like something a maid in a bad porno might wear—short hem, puffed sleeves, and white lace edging at the neck and hem.Abrownish stain marred the trim at the chest, dried and crusty.

“Looks like whoever wore that last spilled something on it,”Brightremarked with a wince.“Sorry, sweetheart—that’s the only thingCookiebrought for you to wear.”

“Ugh.”Noellemade a face.“IguessI’llhave to wear it.”Shepulled the dress on, grimacing at the brownish stain.

Hot chocolate?she wondered.

But somehow she doubted theTrolloxkept cocoa mix stocked in the pantry.

At least her breasts weren’t leaking anymore.She’dworried the problem might return during the night, but though her nipples and pussy were still a little sore, the painful fullness from before had abated.

Thank theBlessedVirgin…