Possessing Providence [Warriors Of Kelon Book 6] (5 page)

Best change the subject. She needed to get off this topic before she ended up saying something stupid like touch me, kiss me and take my virginity. “So, how did you end up down here?”

“During big battle, my…ship was damaged. I crash and I wake up here.”

Anger curled through her at the injustice of what the company was doing. It was all over the news what the Kelon’s did for Earth, but bastards like M.A.R.C. Cosmetics were using others for their own profit. “They should have sent you back to your people.”

There was another noise from the cells next to them. It startled Prov. “Who are they? They’re not Kelon.”

“They
—
” His stare turned hard as he glanced at the wall separating the cells. “Our enemy. Xersons. I will not let them near you. They will hurt you.”

“Well, it’s not as if we can go near anything stuck in here.” She licked her lips, her mind wandering back to the subject of attraction and sex.

Get your mind out of the gutter, Prov.

His chest heaved in a large sigh and he shifted back to his feet. Her eyes widened, watching him move closer; the bunk groaned under his weight when he sat down a hand’s span from her.

She felt the warmth of his body next to hers, even through the blanket, and she struggled not to shiver as her body awakened further.
Ignore it, Prov.
Easier thought than done.

“You are cold.” His gruff statement startled her. Phew, talk about hot and cold flushes.

“Uh, yes, sorry. It’s kind of weird. Not long ago, I was really hot, out in the sun, now, down here, I’m suddenly cold.”

She didn’t want to admit a total stranger turned her on. Neither of them could afford to give in to what their captors wanted.

His big, muscled arm wrapped around her shoulders. “My planet is hot outside, cooler within. We come from fire in the centre of our world, so all Kelons are warm. I will warm you.” He pulled her against his side, running his hand soothingly over her exposed arm.

The spicy, exotic scent of him both warmed and strangely soothed her, and she relaxed against him. She glanced up at him from under her lashes. What was it about this big guy which stripped her of her independent thought and made her want to be suddenly all girly? All her life, she’d been a rough and tumble tomboy, even following in her father’s footsteps to become a sparky like
him—always
trying to win his approval.

She frowned as a new thought occurred to her. “You’ve been alone down here for a long time, haven’t you?”

He didn’t verbally respond, only nodded. Her heart suddenly ached for him. She understood being alone, but probably not as he did. “How long has it been since someone touched you, like a friend or family, to show they care?”

She met his dark, starlight gaze and he simply shook his head.

Unable to stop herself, her hand sneaked out from beneath the blanket, reached across, placing her hand on his chest. The heat of his skin and the strong pounding of his heart radiated out through her arm. He frowned when he glanced down at her hand.

“I’m sorry. No one should have to be alone or suffer what you have.”

His large hand dwarfed hers as he settled his over hers, holding it in place. “Your touch brings comfort. Thank you. I find it hard not to want to touch you, Providence. If on Kelon, I would ask to claim you.”

She swallowed hard, her mind racing. “Claim me?”

“Make you mine, be together, through all of time.”

Whoa, no way he really means that, we just met.
Her head suddenly spun. “I…I think, this is what we, uh, humans, call marriage.”

He seemed to think on her words, and then nodded. “I have strong feelings, I want to claim, be marriage to you, but here and now no.”

Oh, wow, how the heck did she respond to that? This big, buff alien guy wanted her. “For real?”
Crap, did I just say that aloud.
“Not just because we’re stuck and I’m the first woman you’ve come across?”

“My body desires you. I fight it because I know it not good.” His thumb suddenly stroked over her lower lip. Prov struggled to hold in a whimper as her body suddenly
trembled—and
not from cold. “Soft, little human.” His voice deepened and became husky. His gaze fixated on her lips. “I will protect you, do not fear.”

Overwhelming emotions from everything which happened became suddenly too much for her to handle. Tears pricked behind her eyes. Damn it, she was not one to get all girly and cry, but she couldn’t stop the tears spilling down her cheeks. She sniffed, swiping at them.

“Sorry…I’m n…not usually like this.”

His hand stroked down her arm over the blanket. “Be brave, little Providence. I will not let them harm you. I swear by the great god, Elron.”

Chapter 5

The banging against the bars jolted Zelron from his sleep. “Oi, wake up!”

“Mine!” Zelron’s head snapped up, growling at the guard.

His gaze softened as he glanced down at Providence, his soft, little human. He remembered holding her, watching her red, wet cheeks, her lush body racked with sobs, until they faded and fell into a deep slumber. He gently laid her on the bunk and removed himself to the corner of the cell to watch her. For an endless time, he watched the soft rise and fall of her chest under the blanket. He studied the beauty of her straight, little nose, light brown lashes against pale cheeks and stray strands of her multi-coloured hair falling in wisps over her face. He admired her full, pink lips, parted slightly while breathing.

The magnificence of nebulae and star systems paled in comparison to the beauty of this little female, yet she seemed unaware of this.

Over and over, he battled to make sense of his mind and body concerning her. The human males disregarded her as important. His hatred for human males grew with the way they treated their females.

Was he being foolish to hope either of them could escape and have a future? Many other Kelon males took human females as their life-mates. From past experience and his damaged face, he could never win the favour of a Kelon female. Providence was an opportunity he would be foolish to pass up.

Why could she not be his prize for all he’d suffered at human hands? Take something they choose to neglect. The fact she did not find him repulsive helped to strengthen his growing resolve. Why fight the natural impulses riding him?

I want her and I will claim her and possess her
.
Remove her from a world that abuses their females.
He would protect and treasure her.
She and I are alone no longer.

Renewed determination to escape their captors and take her back to Kelon strengthened.

He would not touch her yet, not until she was ready. He clung to those thoughts while doing repetitive sit-ups and many more push-ups. Practicing his combat moves, as much as he was able, working his body, so he would not give in to his desire to pull her body against his.

“Breakfast for you and your little fuck friend. I was hoping for more of a show last
night—so
disappointing.”

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” Providence sat up, rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palm before glaring at the guard. “There’s a special place in hell for assholes like you.” She shuffled around, the blanket falling form her shoulders, as she stretched.

“Yeah, yeah. The docs want you to eat and keep up your strength. You’re sure gonna need it today. And to think my shifts is now over.”

Zelron marched forward, snatching the tray. Glancing down, he saw it was covered by a tan, hard lid. There were items there he has not seen before. Zelron sniffed at some of them.

“Don’t worry, beast, it’s not drugged this time. Some of that’s for your lady friend.” Zelron did not like the way the guard was staring at his Providence. He gave a low, warring growl and the guard backed off. He felt the menacing grin curve up the corners of his lips. Yes, they were all afraid of him and what he could do to them, if he ever got loose.

Zelron set down the tray on the end of the bunk and lifted the lid. The wafting, exotic smell felt good, making his stomach growl with hunger.

“Gee, there’s enough food here to feed
—
” She glanced up at him, her delicate eyebrow arched. “I guess you would pack away a lot.” Her brow creased in a frown. “Have they been feeding you right?”

“Docs said be good and you’ll be treated well,” the guard spoke up. Prov and Zelron narrowed their eyes at him and he backed off, shaking his head and muttering. “Acting like a married couple already.”

Providence’s soft sigh brought Zelron’s attention back to her. “Why do I get the feeling they don’t give you a breakfast like this every day?”

“Food is food. Need it to stay alive.” He picked up the glass of water and took a sip to make sure it wasn’t drugged before handing the glass to her. “Drink. I make sure it has no drugs first.”

Her fingers brushed his, sending his body back into a hardened state. The glass wobbled and he wrapped his hands around hers to steady them. The blanket slipped further off her shoulders, revealing the creamy swell of her breasts.

Her pretty blue eyes widened. “They drug everything?”

He nodded, raising the glass to her lips, making sure she took a long swallow before removing the glass from her hands and setting it down. Her tongue slid out from between her lips, collecting water droplets left behind. Why did he get the sudden urge to trace her lips with his own tongue? He groaned, reaching out and cupping her chin, tracing her pink lips with his thumb.

Her eyes fluttered closed, leaning into his touch. The trust she placed in his hands in such a short time touched him to the core. It was a trust he would never betray. With great effort, he pulled away.

He glanced down at the different foods, not knowing their names. “What do you call this?”

Her eyes opened and the shade of her skin coloured an arousing pinkish red. He saw the human males turn different colours when angered, but it was clear she was not angry from the shy manner he saw when she glanced down, and then back up at him. He could only guess it was another emotion making her skin shade.

She shifted on the bed, glancing down at the tray. He took the eating utensil and speared the gluey, yellow substance.

“Ah,” she cleared her throat. “Um, scrambled eggs.” He took a small bite, enjoying the salty taste.

Satisfied it wasn’t drugged, he fed her. The whole meal proceeded in the same manner, him asking what it was and tasting it before making sure she ate. When she protested that she had eaten her fill, he finished the rest before putting the tray back on the shelf of the cell bars.

Finished with eating, Zelron turned around and used the bodily waste bowl. Finished, he turned to find her glancing away, her skin a deeper shade of pink than before.

Concern made him crouch down and touch her shoulder. “Providence, something is wrong?”

“No, I mean yes…I’ve never been in a situation like this. I, um
—
” Her cheeks reddened.

“Your skin is shading. Are you angry? The human males do this when they are angry.”

“Oh, no. I’m not angry. I’m embarrassed; I need to use the bathroom, too.”

“Bathroom, I do not know this word.”

“Oh, god. The toilet, dunny, loo, that!” She pointed to the bodily waste disposal bowl. He actually chuckled. Foolish, adorable little female.
And mine.

“Bath-room. See, I learn new words. Use it. I will make sure no one views you.”

Her chest heaved a gusty sigh. “Thank you.” She rose from the bunk, hurrying over, and dropped the blanket. Zelron shook his head, but took a position in front of her and turned his back while she disposed of her body’s waste, heaving little sighs of relief.

“I’m okay now, thank you.”

He turned. She wrapped the blanket around herself so it sat over one shoulder, leaving the other shoulder bare.

He drew in a slow, steady breath. There was only so much a Kelon male could take when in such close proximity to his desire. “We in this together, yes? Care for each other?”

“Of course.”

The sound of squeaky wheels turned both their heads. “I guess breakfast is over,” she muttered, moving in closer to his side as Forrester and Martin arrived pushing a trolley. On top were various instruments.

“Good morning. I trust you slept well and are not too banged up,” Forrester greeted with a sinister smile.

“Open the door, and then say that,” Providence snapped back.

Zelron folded his arms and placed himself between the bars and his female, knowing the human males now possessed leverage over him. He would give in to anything now, as long as she stayed safe.

“Such a little flirt, Miss Velour. Well, I hope you don’t faint at the sight of blood because our little party is about to start.”

It was always a given Zelron would kill this man, but if he laid one finger on Providence, he would make sure the human’s death was long and painful.

* * * *

Crap!
There went the nice mood of the intimate breakfast. It was kind of bizarre, at first, but Prov couldn’t bring herself to protest at him wanting to feed her. Remembering he was alone for far too long, she wanted to show him every kindness and respect she could.