Taming the Raven's Son (Galactic Lust) Read Online Free Page A

her as the last man had. Still, the emotional toll of
the ordeal had rendered her drained.
    “Are you satisfied?” Sovereign asked as Jacob worked to
release her wrists.
    “Quite,” Jacob replied as he moved to her ankles.
    “We’re nearly to Prevelor. Take her to your cell and wait
there until we land.”
    She couldn’t muster the strength to raise her head from the
table. Thankfully, the stinging turned into numbness, which crept into her
thighs.
    “I’d like to take her back to the med unit.”
    “There isn’t time. Besides, leaving her with the pain may
remind her of her place.”
    Jacob didn’t reply as he helped her turn over. To her
surprise, he offered his shirt, which she gladly slipped into. When he picked
her up she wanted to punch him in the face. Instead, she managed to wrap her
arms around his neck. He’d wielded the whip. She should hate him for what he’d
done.
    She also understood he’d given her the secret to tolerating
the ordeal. It couldn’t have been more obvious from his expression that he’d
never wanted to beat her. He drew her closer as if protecting her. The scuffle
of feet accompanied by the scrape of chairs and tables returning to their
previous spots surrounded them. Jacob walked and she laid her head against his
collarbone, her forehead against his neck, his head turned so his chin held her
in place.
    “You did well,” he mumbled, speaking so only she could hear.
    She closed her eyes, concentrating on keeping her lips
sealed tight so she wouldn’t bite him. The bouncing from him walking caused a
smoldering in the flesh of her rear end. It wasn’t unbearable, merely
unpleasant.
    A lifetime of hoping to explore beyond her base planet had
resulted in an entire day aboard a passenger ship, leisurely sipping delightful
drinks before the ship had fallen victim to hijackers? A few hours later she’d
been sold to a smelly alien who’d taken her straight away to that dungeon of
torture. Within minutes, she’d been stripped naked, strapped down and beaten
half to death.
    How often would something like this happen? I’d bet my
last coin it’s rare.
    How could the guarded passenger ship where only a handful of
people were taken hostage, wind up targeted. The entire incident reeked of a
well-planned disaster, removing her from her position within the Bastillous
Corporation.
    To be fair to Jacob, she’d been rescued and her injuries had
been treated. Wow, a high point to her much-needed adventure. Only to be
strapped down and beaten once again. Was it too late to go home? Could she get
a refund on the exorbitant amount she’d paid?
    Yeah, right. Exotic planet of extreme pleasure, my ass. When
she removed herself from this deplorable situation, heads would roll!
    “You’re mumbling under your breath,” Jacob said.
    She opened her eyes. They’d reached their destination. He
stood within a small cell. It housed a cot and nothing else.
    Lest I forget the promise of top-quality accommodations.
    “You can release me,” she said, hoping to gain some distance
from him.
    “Not yet.” He sat down on the cot and repositioned her
within his arms.
    She inhaled as her abused cheeks came to rest against his
legs. “No, really, I’ll stand.”
    He tightened his hold. “You’ll rest here.”
    “I won’t do a damn thing except bludgeon you in a minute.”
She struggled and his big, muscled body wrapped around her, trapping her.
    She refused to be coddled and cuddled like some child. Her
parents hadn’t done such things to her. They’d made her strong and resilient.
Her seat at the head of Bastillous finished stripping any weakness from her.
After the recent humiliation of being naked and on display, she needed distance
to tuck away her raw emotions. Regardless of the situation, she would not cry
or bemoan her situation. Predators preyed on that type of weakness. Jacob had
proven his position and it wasn’t the victim.
    “Hush and lean on me. I know you’re in pain from the