Page 16 of The Thren's Fated

“If you come with me, I could show you.”

She took a sharp inhale of air and tried to control her breathing. There he was again, telling her to come with him. Why would she do that? To be an escort for a night? To be used and discarded like the men back in Westlip? She could only imagine how embarrassing it would be to make the walk of shame from his docked ship.

“The planet looks so beautiful from the station,” she said, blatantly ignoring the offer. “I can see it through the window in my quarters.”

“Your quarters…” Screl mused. His tentacles curled along the table in rolling waves, like he was reaching for her but holding himself back. “I would like to see that view.”

Of course, another invitation to bed her. Did this male ever quit?

“I’m sure you would,” she purred before she could stop herself.

Her eyes widened at her own audacity as Screl let out a long, low laugh. She wondered how that would even work. She knew nothing about Thren reproduction.

Did they even have sex organs? She’d felt something when she’d danced against him last night, that was certain, but it was surprising how many species reproduced asexually, even ones with vaguely humanoid appearances. Though there were always those tentacles…

Her brain needed to stop.

Why would she even be thinking about that? Wondering if he had a dick or not. Wondering what those tentacles could do? That split tongue? She stood up suddenly, trying to quell the lewd thoughts swimming in her head.

“If there’s nothing else that you need…” she trailed off, backing up to the curtain.

Screl moved with an agility surprising for his lumbering size. He was on top of her in an instant, his tentacles surrounding her, but not touching her. Her body screamed for him, eager for his embrace, but she tried to resist. He waited, breathing deeply as he watched her with an intensity that made her shudder.

It was clear what he wanted, however that may work between a human and a Thren. She had seen that look in many eyes before.

Commander Screl wanted her, and for some reason, that turned her on. Even if meant yet another one-night stand. Even if it meant another ghost in her life. It turned her on, and it was taking everything in her power to reject his advances.

“I think you know what I need, Lena,” he growled, his voice like the low rumble of a stormy night on Earth.

She swallowed the growing knot in her throat. Before she could stop herself, she reached out for one of his tentacles and, upon contact, he was on her like a magnet. His arms wrapped around her waist as the tentacles brushed through her hair, and she pressed her cheek into his chest, feeling the warmth of his body through his jacket.

One of the tentacles ran across her neck, eventually coming to rest on her chin as he pulled her up to face him. Screl grazed the tip across her lips, and arousal shot deep into her core.

“Come with me,” he breathed, not loosening his grip.

Why the hell did some part of her—and not a small one—want to obey? The thought of following him to his ship and letting him have his way with her caused her skin to prickle with goosebumps, a dark exhilaration coursing through her.

Would he tie her up like the wolf-alien? Or did he have something else in mind?

Lena snapped out of her daze, upset with herself for reacting this way. What the hell was she doing? She struggled in his embrace, once again experiencing the fight-or-flight response that he imbued in her.

Why was her body reacting this way to someone who so clearly was dangerous?

Because you’re desperate. You’ve done it before, gone home with someone when you knew you shouldn’t have. You have no self-respect, no sense of worth. So desperate for love, and yet no one is willing to give it to you. No one truly wants you.

Screl finally released her with an irritated hum, and she took a step back, feeling the silky curtain brush against her.

“I can’t. Really, Commander Screl. I hope you enjoy your time here on Henios.”

Her voice cracked, and she felt a knot welling in her throat as she pushed her way out of the enclosed space. She didn’t wait to see his reaction, just hurried back to the bar, tears dotting the corners of her eyes. When she told Ochin she was leaving, her boss just nodded, squinting with unasked questions.

She needed to get the fuck out of here before she let Screl drag her ass to his damn ship.

Without bothering to clock out, she hurried from the bar, needing to put as much distance between herself and the commander as possible. She went straight to her room, only letting out a sigh of relief when the door whooshed shut behind her.

Now would be a nice time to have a friend to talk to, but she hadn’t gotten past the casual acquaintance stage with anyone on the station yet.

Instead, she picked up her console, searching Threns to gather as much information as possible. She needed something to do, her thoughts racing too much to attempt to sleep, even though it was late. She scrolled quickly through basic species facts before stumbling on something that caught her attention.