Codename Winter by Aubrey Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

arrangement. “Once a woman is claimed, do other males have access to her?”
    “It depends who claims her. There are several females who are shared by three or four men, but only those three or four are allowed to have her. I’ve seen women traded temporarily to another man when that man had something her owner wanted. It’s also common for a woman to be shunned by her owner as punishment for wrongdoing.”
    The sudden despondency in her tone revealed how upsetting she found the topic. He needed to move on quickly, but he’d never heard of shunning before. “What happens to the woman when she is shunned?”
    “She’s fair game for anyone who wants her, and the men take full advantage of the opportunity.” She ran her finger around the rim of the wineglass, her gaze following her finger. “A few days of such abuse are usually enough to curtail the woman’s misbehavior, but occasionally a man will release his claim and someone else will be allowed to claim her.”
    “How were mates chosen before the Gathosians arrived?” What she described was unacceptable, even by Valtorian standards. Females must be protected, not abused.
    “A couple would meet and gradually explore their attraction. But that was a different world. The ratio of men to women was far more balanced.” She set her glass aside and licked her lips. “What did the Gathosians expect when they slaughtered so many women?”
    It was a valid point. “I can’t undo the devastation. However, I can fine-tune the current system. The claiming is unavoidable, but any man who doesn’t protect his woman doesn’t deserve her.”
    “How romantic,” she muttered, absently fingering the pendant encircling her slender neck.
    He set his glass aside as well and released a frustrated sigh. “Romance abandoned Earth the day we arrived.”
    “That sounds almost like you miss it.” She shot him a sidelong glance filled with warmth and mischief. “Are you lonely, Mr. Brant?”
    “Are you offering to keep me company, Mistress Winter?” Desire burst through his good intentions with shocking intensity. He’d asked her here to talk, nothing more. He wanted to make sure she had recovered and was adjusting to her new life. That wasn’t exactly true. He’d thought about her constantly, wondered what she was doing, and if she was happy. And it wasn’t like him at all.
    Life as a Gathosian henchman made it almost impossible to develop relationships. He was despised and feared everywhere he went. So why was this woman comfortable with him?
    He shifted position, embarrassed by his instantaneous erection. His body had never reacted this fast or this intensely to the casual flirting of a female.
    “I’m still deciding.” A lazy smile curved her lips and she lowered her lashes. “Autumn wants to create an elite class of ambassadors, a second tier, who only accept one customer at a time. They will be reserved for those willing to pay extra for a long-term, exclusive association.”
    “Like she has with General Noirte?”
    “Exactly. It’s her relationship with General Noirte that made her wonder if other highly placed officers would be interested in a similar arrangement.”
    He lightly cupped her chin, turning her face toward him. “And you thought of me?”
    “Mistress Autumn suggested it, but I’m not opposed to the idea.”
    Another surge of need threatened his composure. He wanted to push up her dress and fuck her right here, right now. “Why?”
    “You cared enough about Cub to take on half of the refinery.”
    “My position makes that easy. Don’t mistake me for a hero.” He explored the underside of her jaw. Her skin was incredibly soft. “I’m no one’s idea of a hero. I’m not even nice most of the time.”
    “I can’t go back to the workforce. I know I wouldn’t survive.” Her eyes were wide and guileless. She was so open, so damn innocent. “An embassy is my only alternative, and I don’t want to be passed around from man to man. I’m