Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
I’m tired. I never wanted any of that. And I’m not going to have to face it. I’m leaving this planet.
I may be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. That remains to be seen, but my gut tells me life with Papi will not be anywhere near as horrifying as the prospects of life with Brad. Even though it’s not my choice at all. Papi already made this decision for me. I’ve decided to stop fighting it. Take the leap.
“I’d like that, Papi. I’ll rest easier if you take me to the starship.”
He gives me a nod. “Done. I’m going to prick your skin now and put you to sleep for a while. You’re clearly in pain. When you wake up, you’ll feel much better.”
My lip quivers. “Do you have to stick that needle into me?”
He closes the inches between us and plants a soft kiss on my lips. Our first kiss. It’s filled with gentleness and promise. “I will prick you with my quill often, Little one. You’ll get used to it. You’ll learn to crave it. It won’t hurt. It will feel euphoric.”
I shiver. I don’t believe him. “I don’t like needles, Papi.” Though I hardly felt the first prick to my finger. I will probably survive if he does that again.
He kisses me before nibbling a path to my neck and behind my ear. His scent fills me. He smells so good. I can’t identify anything about his scent, probably because his soap is foreign to me.
I moan as my body reacts to his touch. His lips are distracting. His warm breath is teasing my neck. I’ve almost forgotten his intension when he suddenly pierces a spot behind my ear.
I wince and whimper, but it’s over fast and didn’t hurt. Mostly it just startles me. Two seconds later, I’m groggy, heavy, so tired.
“Sleep, Little one. Papi will be with you the entire time. Nothing will happen to you.”
I stop fighting and drift off.
Chapter Four
Bialar
It takes me less than an hour to make all the arrangements I need. I’ve spoken to the manager of Club Zoom, Zack, and informed him I’ve made my claim. I’ve warned him that Kendra believes there could be trouble so he’ll be prepared.
Zack will handle the fallout. It’s his job. He’s paid handsomely to smooth things over when a female is claimed. The law is on his side. The arrangement between the Eleadian governing body and various governments on Earth is rock solid.
The men in Kendra’s life who think to control her have lost. It’s done. There’s nothing they can do. Kendra entered Club Zoom of her own free will. She signed the waiver. She knew she might be selected. All claimings are final.
I suspect I will never know what sort of resistance Zack may face against her father and fiancé. Kendra and I will be long gone. We’re leaving on a pod to the starship now. We will no longer be on Earth by the time her men discover her missing. It’s what she wanted, and I can do this for her to ease her mind.
The elevator pings, and Riand steps off. “I have the pod ready on the roof, Bialar.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly.”
“No problem at all.”
I hand him the bag that contains my meager belongings as well as Kendra’s purse. He waits while I turn to pick up my sleeping girl and cradle her in my arms. She’s still sound asleep, which is a blessing. Her face is far more relaxed. I’m hopeful that when she awakens, the remnants of her drinking binge will have subsided.
I have wrapped her in a blanket made of the softest material we have on Eleadia. It’s made from the sumach plant. The same material was used to make her diapers, ensuring her bottom will always be swaddled in the most comfortable fibers, which are fortunately also extremely absorbent.
I frown as I snag her pacifier off the bed and pop it back into her mouth. Her lips are dry. She needs to be fed soon. She’s dehydrated. We’ll be on the mothership in no time though, and I’ll take her straight to the doctor’s clinic. Surgient might have some suggestions to alter her first few feedings to accommodate her hangover.
Kendra makes the sweetest sound as she resumes sucking the pacifier. I know she’s completely unaware she’s sucking anything. She’s also unaware I’ve diapered her. Both will make her uneasy when she awakens, but it’s important for Little girls to fully understand what their new lives entail as soon as possible. Dragging out the inevitable is never in their best interest.
I’ve done my homework. All men who come to Earth to find a mate spend considerable time learning about human females before and during the voyage. It’s important for us to be prepared.