Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“So those poor women were fucked to death by a two-headed troll?” Kara asked, feeling her stomach roll over. “That’s horrible!”
“Which is exactly why you ought to catch the next shuttle the minute we land on Paradise Prime and go back to the Mother Ship,” J’orn told her.
“What?” Kara twisted around to frown up at him again. “That’s ridiculous, though. You said they were taking women of, er, ‘prime breeding age’—that’s pretty much behind me now. Nobody’s going to want to kidnap a middle-aged woman who isn’t exactly thin. They’ll be looking for a pretty young thing who looks good in a bikini.”
J’orn shook his head.
“I don’t understand why you always underestimate yourself, Kara. You’re fucking gorgeous. As a Mature Elite, you’ll be in more danger of being kidnapped—not less.”
Kara felt a surge of pleasure go through her at his compliment—she knew she shouldn’t but she couldn’t help it.
“That’s very kind of you, but I really don’t think I’d be a prime target, J’orn,” she said. “Besides, I’ll be staying at an all-female resort—no males allowed. I should be perfectly safe.”
J’orn frowned.
“I still don’t like the idea of you being alone on Paradise Prime with this kidnapping ring on the loose. But I guess if I can’t change your mind, I’ll just have to escort you to your resort to be certain you get there safely.”
“Honestly, you don’t have to do that,” Kara said uncomfortably. “I really don’t think—”
“It doesn’t matter what you think—I’m going with you,” he growled. “And you’re not leaving the resort the whole time you’re there.”
“What? But I wanted to go to the beach and the mountains!” Kara protested.
“That’s too damn bad,” J’orn growled. “Promise me you’ll stay inside the walls of your females-only resort or I’ll call Commander Sylvan and ask him to send a long-range shuttle to come pick you up as soon as we touch down in the Paradise Prime port.”
“You wouldn’t do that!” Kara exclaimed. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh yes I fucking would,” he growled in her ear. “I’ll tell him you’re in danger and I saw a stranger eyeing you on the shuttle.”
He shot a meaningful look at Mr. Oatmeal, who was still taking in their conversation with rapt attention.
“Would you please put up the seat divider?” Kara hissed at J’orn. She didn’t dare to try to do it again herself—not after the vibrating incident where she’d almost come in his lap.
“Certainly.” He pushed the right button and the frosted seat divider rose smoothly between their seat and Mr. Oatmeal’s, much to Kara’s relief. But the moment it was up, J’orn spoke in her ear again. “Promise me,” he rumbled. “Promise you’ll stay in the resort. I know you’ll keep your word if you give it to me, Kara—so promise. Now.”
Kara wondered where in the world her formerly pliant and agreeable assistant had learned to be so dominating and demanding! But he was right—if she gave her word, she always did her best to keep it. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“All right. I won’t leave the resort.”
“Good girl,” he growled, much to her surprise. To her further surprise, the words sent a shiver down her spine and she felt her nipples getting hard. What was wrong with her?
“Excuse me?” she demanded, frowning up at him, trying to cover her confusion. “Did you just call me a ‘good girl?’”
J’orn gave her a lazy grin.
“Yes, I did. You got a problem with that?”
“Well, I hardly think—” she began but just then an announcement came over the overhead com system.
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen, and also to our customers who have no sex or more than one sex,” the pilot’s voice boomed out. “We would like to welcome you aboard this interstellar shuttle with non-stop service to Paradise Prime and inform you that we are about to enter a wormhole. If you’ve never been through a wormhole before, this particular one can be a bit bumpy. Please keep your harnesses fastened and stay in your seats for your safety, comfort, and convenience.”
The com system clicked off and Kara frowned. How bumpy could it be?
“You ever been through a wormhole before?” J’orn asked her.
“Er, no. I’ve never been anywhere but the Mother Ship,” Kara reminded him. “I don’t—Oh!”
Her words ended in a gasp because the shuttle took a massive jolt—as though it had hit a huge bump. It jerked and Kara was flung forward against the harness and then backwards against J’orn’s chest. The blackness of space outside the window suddenly went neon blue and wavy, as though they had dived into an ocean of light.
“Here—I’ve got you.” J’orn’s massive arms came around her, encircling her waist and holding her tight against him. Kara would have protested but she actually needed the extra security—the wormhole was extremely bumpy!
After what felt like forever—but was probably more like five minutes—the neon blue light that had flooded through the window faded to black and the bumping stopped.