Free Talson Temptations 2: Talson's Test by Marie Harte

came from. What you’re running from.”
    “I grew up in Werfal 5, like I told you. What I didn’t tell you is that my father is Tearn Rem.”
    Zaret and Val shared a look. Z turned to her, his gaze incredulous. “Not Tearn Rem, the most wanted man on the Outer Colonies. That Tearn Rem?”
    “Yes.” She sounded so miserable.
    Without meaning to, he pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair. “Oh man. Well, I guess it could have been worse. He could have been a human pirate. At least he’s Otra.”
    “Better not let Mom or Roarke hear that,” Val murmured.
    At Adri’s look, Z explained. “Our birth mother died a long time ago, and our father remarried a human. Shea Talson, our mom. My youngest brother came from her.”
    “He’s half human.”
    “Yes.”
    She didn’t seem to have a problem with that. “But you seem to hold him in regard.”
    “We do. Hell, we love our baby brother. Shea too. But they seem so unlike the other humans we’ve met. Roarke’s mate, Jamie. She’s human too. But so strong, so different from the ones we’ve come into contact with.”
    Adri snorted. “I hate to tell you this, but most humans are like that. I have a feeling you’ve been dealing with the large underbelly of society. The humans who work shipping and the docks are usually aligned with the criminal classes on Earth. I’ve spent the last months working at the Shipping News, so I’d know.”
    “Maybe.” Z liked how she felt on his lap. And Stars help him, but his cock couldn’t stay soft near the woman.
    “Zaret.” She shifted and flushed.
    Val raised a brow but said nothing about her embarrassment. “Your family,” he prodded Adri to continue.
    “They mean well, but I was raised with all boys. They know little about Selection, or what girls want. My father loves me. My brothers do too.” She met Z’s gaze. “All six of them.”
    Val had the nerve to laugh.
    “So why did you run away?”
    “Because my father thinks that marriage and children will make me happy.”
    “But…” Z needed to hear what she desired, and he wanted to satisfy her.
    “But I need more. I need to be on my own. To see new worlds and experience life. A little danger won’t hurt me.”
    Remembering his dreams, he frowned. “It might.”
    “And I might be hurt riding my hovercycle. The point is, for the last nine months I’ve been on my own, and I’ve never been happier.”
    “Then I came along and you’re stuck with another male.”
    “Another overbearing male,” Val added.
    “You’re not helping.” He shot his brother a rude gesture and turned to his iriu . “I wasn’t looking for this, but we’re tied. You feel it too, I know.”
    “I do.”
    He didn’t like her looking so glum. “Adri, I don’t know your family, but the Talsons, the ‘Or Fal, aren’t dictators. My mom lives side by side with my father.
    Roarke’s pretty little mate won’t bow to him.”
    “Ever.” Val nodded. “That woman is going to give him fits, I can tell.” Adri smiled. “I think more males need that.”
    “Honey, most Otra are built to give our mates what they want and need. If we’re going to make a go of this, you need to know that.”
    “So if I want to go offworld?”
    “We’ll go. Adri, I run Port Nule, Wefal 7’s lane to New Hattan. From an Earth perspective, I live offworld.”
    “Hmm, I guess you do.” Her eyes sparkled. “Do you have a newsprint there?”
    “Hell. I’m not sure.”
    Val shook his head. “We don’t, and we should have one. We could really use the added information on other shippers and galaxy trade, don’t you think?” Val glanced from Adri’s hopeful face to Z. Think, Z. Your mate needs something you can provide. Speak, freak. Tell her what she needs to hear.
    Yes, tell me. Adri grinned at Val, who stared at her in shock.
    “She can hear us?”
    “Apparently.” Z wanted to frown, but his smile continued to grow. “You’re a troublemaker, I can feel it.”
    “That’s not all you