Free Coletti Warlords: Just Desserts by Gail Koger Page B

staggered backward and toppled down the stairs.
    The fat lizard jumped to his feet and lashed out viciously with his fist.
    I ducked and drove my foot into his knee.
    He went down.
    I rammed my knee into his face. “Here I am, minding my own business, and you guys decide to pick a fight. Big mistake.”
    Talree appeared. His face a mask of rage, he grabbed both lizards and hurled them into the swamp below.
    “Guess we aren’t waiting for the cops?”
    Talree’s furious gaze met mine. “No one attacks my mate and lives.”
    “Is this the beast talking or you?”
    Talree’s eyes hardened with deadly resolve. “I will not lose you.”
    “I wasn’t in any danger. On my world, this is a normal day at work.”
    “This is not your world.” He wrapped a possessive hand around my neck. “Is it?”
    “No, but—”
    “Look around you.”
    I did as he commanded. The ragtag assortment of trappers and traders watched the Warlord warily. Even the freakin’ bug thingy looked worried.
    “They fear me.”
    “Well, yeah, you’re a pretty scary guy, but I’m a trained police officer. I arrest guys like that all the time.”
    “I protect what is mine.” Talree leaned down until we were eyeball to eyeball. “Now they know you belong to me, and none of them will be foolish enough to touch you.”
    My temper erupted. “You don’t own me.”
    Every inch a Warlord, Talree snapped, “Have I not claimed you? Have I not made you mine?”
    It was like talking to a rock. “Yes, we had sex, but on my world when a guy wants to claim a girl, he proposes. If the girl accepts his proposal, they get married. Is that too hard for your tiny brain to comprehend?”
    Talree gave an indulgent shrug. “If it eases your mind, my father will gladly perform the bonding ceremony.”
    Good God Almighty. Could Talree make it any harder? It was time for a more direct approach. “I did not accept your proposal. I want you to let me go.”
    Menace filled Talree’s eyes. “Do you? You simply want me to abandon you? Leave you unprotected on this planet? With no way of getting home? Knowing that your people will continue to die?”
    I hated when he made sense. “Why is it so hard for you to understand? I want to go home and be with my family.”
    “I am your family.”
    A groan of frustration broke from me. “You can’t bully me into doing what you want.”
    Talree didn’t say a word. He stared down at me, giving me his big bad scary face.
    I twitched. Damn. He had terrifying down pat. It definitely threatened my bladder control. When had I turned into such a wuss? “You win. I know I need you to survive this hellhole.”
    “Is that all?”
    I guess he wanted his pound of flesh. “You’re really handy to have around.”
    “And?”
    Rolling my eyes in exasperation, I added, “You’re a good kisser.”
    “Anything else?”
    “The sex was adequate,” I mumbled.
    Phantom fingers stroked my body, sending a shock wave of need up my spine.  “Adequate?”
    I sucked in a shuddering breath. “Does ‘fucking awesome’ work for you?”
    Talree grinned. “I think a shower will cure your bad temper.”
    My anger evaporated. “A shower? For real?”
    “Yes.”
    “Let me get the babies.” God, I was so easy.
    The shower was the size of an old-fashioned phone booth. Talree and I barely fit. I stood under the pitiful stream of lukewarm water, letting it wash away the stink of the swamp and relishing the feeling of being clean again.
    The kids chittered their displeasure from the door frame.
    Holding out a hand, I called to them. “C’mon, don’t ya wanna be clean?”
    They fled.
    “Tabors don’t like getting wet.” Talree poured shampoo on my scalp and massaged it in.
    I sighed with pleasure. The man’s touch was pure magic. “What about the rain?”
    “Their webbing is waterproof.” Talree’s soapy hands slid down my body as he gently cleansed the grime away.
    A delicious warmth danced over me as he washed between my thighs.