Page 98 of Wrapped in Their Arms

Noelle jumped like she’d been goosed, spinning around to seeCookiestomping toward her, a scowl etched on his doughy face.

“Stay out of oldThune’sspecial meat locker,” he said, squinting at her.“You’llsee things you don’t like in there, missy—Iguarantee it.”

“I wasn’t trying to do anything—Iwas just curious!”she said defensively, stepping back from the freezer.

Cookie gave her a sour look.

“That curiosity’s gonna get you turned into stew if you’re not careful.”Heturned away, muttering something under his breath aboutstupid breeders and their poky little noses.

Noelle’s heart was still thumping as she backed away from the freezer.

What the hell kind of “special meat” needs to be locked up like that?Andwhy is it a secret?

She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.Buta terrible thought flickered through her mind?—

What if it’s not animal meat in there at all?

She was still shuddering at the idea when she heard familiar footsteps behind her.Reliefflooded through her when she turned to see bothBurnandBrightentering the kitchen.

“There you are!”Brightcalled cheerfully, but before they could say anything else,Cookiewaved a spoon the size of a canoe paddle at them.

“Out!Getout of my kitchen if you’re gonna yammer.Takeit to your room if you want to flap your lips.Thisis a food prep zone, not a conference hall!”

Noelle raised her eyebrows at the guys and they both shrugged.

“Guess we’re having a team meeting in my bedroom,” she murmured, turning to leave the kitchen.

54

NOELLE

Back in her oversized suite,Noellesat on the edge of the ridiculousTrollox-sized bed, the mattress barely denting with her weight.Still, it was nothing compared toThune’sextra large bed, which she was still sore from making—wrestling that much bedding was like fighting a fabric kraken.Shefelt lucky that her own bed was clean and neat and not nearly as large—though it was still big enough to make her feel like a kid in a room made for adults.

Burn sat beside her, the bed creaking slightly under his muscular frame.

“No luck on the key in the shuttle bay,” he said grimly.“Ilooked fucking everywhere—couldn’t find it.”

“I didn’t find anything in the office either,”Brightsaid, frowning as he paced the room.“Well—not the key, anyway.ButIdidfind out what the humanoids that were here before us were doing.”

“Oh?”Noelleasked, perking up slightly.“Whatwere they doing?”

“Porn,”Brightsaid shortly, making a face.“Homemadeporn.Lotsof it.Differentspecies, all filmed right here—probably somewhere in this house.”

Noelle blinked.

“Porn?”she echoed.

“Yes.AndI’mpretty sureThuneis selling it—on a large scale.Theway the accounts are set up, there’s a constant stream of credits coming in and going right back out.Itexplains a lot.”

“I found some dirty pictures in his dresser drawers,”Noelleoffered, wrinkling her nose.“Reallyweird ones too.Heprobably jerks off to them.Ugh.”Sheshuddered at the memory.

Burn growled.

“Fuck.Isthat what he wants us for?Tobe in his sick little alien pornos?”

Bright shrugged, his face grim.

“I don’t know.Possibly.Hecould’ve hired anyone to balance his books or clean his room.Butus?Abonded trio?Witha human female?”Heshook his head.“Thatsounds like exactly the kind of twisted scenario someone likeThunewould want.”