how did she know they weren’t going to wipe her memory or something even more sinister?
“Here.” He came back in and placed some overalls, folded neatly as if they had been steam ironed, onto a shelf by the door. “Once you take off the rest of your clothes, I can set the program to run.”
“Can’t I stay like this?” she asked nervously, now wishing she had stripped down and was sitting in the chair, at least she could have covered herself up with her hands. Now she would have to stand naked in front of him and then walk to the chair. A thrill coursed through her body. Did that mean she liked the idea?
A heat crept between her thighs, answering her question.
Taking her courage in both hands, she walked over to where he stood, watching her. Then with her eyes fixed on his, as if challenging him, she unclasped her bra, letting her breasts fall forward. He licked his lips, and she wanted to feel him on her skin, his full mouth trailing kisses along her body.
Embarrassed by her thoughts, she let her eyes drop. Big mistake, now they were zeroed in on his groin, where his pants were stretched tightly across his hard cock. At least she hoped it was hard, because he looked huge, and panic filled her. Humans and Karalians were physically compatible. Right?
“And the rest.” His eyes dropped down to her panties, and she hesitated, not wanting him to see how wet they were from her arousal. What was she, some kind of nymphomaniac? No, it was the shock of being here, standing in front of this colossal man, with his dark hair, which was curled around his collar, not cut short as you would expect an astronaut’s hair to be.
And his eyes: deep pools of desire, dark, unfathomable, but a stark contrast to his skin, which now glowed gold and yellow.
“Tamzin, take off the rest of your clothes.” His voice was a command, sending shivers through her body. Something about him made her feel alive.
And then she erupted into a burst of coughing, her hand to her mouth, almost doubled up, as her body tried to get the sand out of her lungs. The moment was broken.
Garth came forward. He lifted her up, placing her down onto the chair. “Are you ill?” he asked, his expression concerned.
“It’s the sand. I got some in my lungs. I’m sorry. I should have told you. If you need to return me, I’ll understand.”
“Return you? It makes you sound like a bottle on a shelf I could just return to the store because it’s tainted.” He urged her back, his hand innocently stroking the side of her breasts, but that didn’t stop her body reacting. Inappropriate timing again.
“Well, I’m not going to be much use.”
“You can still breed.” He turned to the computer console and pressed a few buttons. So that was what she was to him, a breeding machine. It didn’t matter if she was dying as long as she could pop a baby out. “You were picked for me specifically.”
“You lucked out, then.” The coughing had subsided, for now.
He didn’t say another word, simply came back to where she sat in the reclined chair, and hooked his hands around the elastic of her panties and dragged them down over her plump thighs.
“The decon’ will begin shortly.” He placed her panties on top of the overalls. “Stay in the seat. I’ll come back for you when it’s done.”
Then he exited the room, pressing a button for the door to close, and she heard the sound of it sealing. Sealing her in here, with what? Gas? Was it safe? She lay still, not daring to move, holding her breath so she didn’t breathe it in.
But that was useless, and the air escaped her lungs, making her cough again. Trying to calm herself, she lay back, closing her eyes and decided to let whatever happened, happen. She was tired of fighting, tired of struggling, and if she could make Garth happy—he seemed reasonable, if demanding—then she might have a good life.
Another cough. If she lived that long . Her mind wandered back over the images of her mom lying in
Lisa Anderson, Photographs by Zac Williams