Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
She bit her lip, sneaking a glance up at Dr. Brandt’s face. His strong jaw was set in its usual stern lines and his golden eyes looked as though he were deep in thought. He looked calm, composed, and perfectly in control—as always.
But that wasn’t the whole truth. She’d seen him lose control. She’d felt him shudder under her tongue…heard him groan her name like she was more than just a lab subject.
And that was maybe the most confusing part of all.
Did he feel anything for her—anything real? Or was she just a science experiment for the big Kindred? One minute he was barking orders and the next he was stroking her hair like she was something precious to be cherished. It was like he was too different warriors.
Which one was the real Dr. Brandt?
Lexi didn’t know. She sighed softly and burrowed further into his lap, even though her pride screamed at her not to. She shouldn’t be doing this…and yet she couldn’t seem to stop.
God, Lexi. You’re in so much trouble, whispered a little voice in her head.
Unfortunately, Lexi knew it was right. She had no idea how much trouble her growing feelings for Dr. Brandt were going to cause her…but she was soon to find out.
25
LEXI
Lexi hadn’t expected to find herself wandering around an alien farmer’s market with her grumpy Beast Kindred employer-slash-owner. Yet, somehow, that’s exactly where she’d ended up.
It had started that morning.
She’d woken in the soft moss-covered bed in her Terian guest room with her breasts still aching faintly, her nipples tender from the last session with the suction cups. She’d braced herself for the usual routine—Brandt coming in to take her to the milking lab…checking her body and hooking her up to the milking machine…then murmuring scientific observations while she tried not to die of embarrassment and pleasure.
Instead, he’d stood in the doorway with his arms folded across his massive chest, his golden eyes unusually thoughtful.
“It’s market day,” he’d said without preamble.
She’d blinked at him from under the moss-leaf covers.
“Uh…what?”
“The Terians hold a grand market once every seven cycles,” he explained. “Merchants from across the region gather to trade food, crafts, clothing, and other items. It’s quite a sight.” He paused, his voice softening slightly. “I thought you might enjoy seeing it.”
Lexi pushed herself up on one elbow, squinting at him suspiciously.
“Wait. You’re saying instead of strapping me to the dairy machine and milking me, you’re going to take me shopping? Why do I feel like there’s a catch?”
Brandt’s mouth quirked slightly, almost breaking a smile.
“No catch, Alexandra. You’ve been producing nectar reliably. Dr. T’Oo-loo has confirmed the Bacillus is thriving in your system, so we’ll be leaving in a day or two. But before we do, I want you to experience some of the culture here. What’s the point of going to a different planet if you only see the inside of a lab?”
Something in his tone—gentler than usual, almost indulgent—had made her stomach flip. Was this a date? Or just a Kindred science field trip with his human cow?
It was hard to say.
Still, Lexi had agreed eagerly. Which was how she now found herself in the middle of a sprawling Terian bazaar, surrounded by more sights, smells, and sounds than she could process at once.
The market was enormous—stretching as far as she could see, every stall draped in fabrics that shimmered like iridescent beetle wings. The air was thick with scents—roasting mushroom meats…sweet alien fruits…sharp herbal smoke from incense braziers. Music drifted from somewhere, high-pitched and haunting, played on instruments that looked like glass spirals and emitted chords when light passed through them.
Crowds pressed in on all sides—tall, purple-skinned Terians with their four eyes blinking curiously at her. And every single one of them seemed fascinated by her chest.
Lexi tugged irritably at the slight, gauzy scrap Brandt had insisted was enough clothing. Her nipples tightened under the breeze, making it obvious she was bare under it. She had on a short skirt—though no panties—which covered her bottom well enough, but her breasts were definitely on display.
“Remind me again,” she muttered, leaning closer to him, “Why exactly I had to come topless?”
“You’re not topless,” he corrected mildly, leaning down from his great height to murmur in her ear. “You’re wearing Telinga gauze, which is one of the only fabrics that won’t inhibit your nectar production.”
She shot him a look.
“Oh, well, in that case, I guess I’m totally covered. Clearly my dignity is safe.”
His golden eyes glinted with amusement. “Nectar production is best when your breasts are unrestricted. You know that.”
“Yeah, but do we have to advertise it to the whole alien farmer’s market? Look at them.” She gestured toward a cluster of Terian women, their lavender heads bent together as they whispered and stared. “I’m like a sideshow act.”
“They are curious,” Brandt admitted. His voice softened as he bent closer to murmur near her ear. “But they’re also impressed.”