Captivated: 3 (Mating Ritual) Read Free

intrigued,” and there was no doubt in his mind she would, “we will show her what it’s like to be with us all.”
    Then she would be theirs, helpless to resist them. As they were her.

Chapter Two
     
    The next morning Cindra found herself unusually eager to start the day. She tried not to think about why.
    After awaking early and bathing in the women’s area of the stream, she hurried off to work, where she proceeded to pass another boring few hours.
    How different my life is now than it was two years ago.
    She’d been the daughter of the Chivean king, a spoiled princess of the most royal blood. Her every moment had been attended by maids-in-waiting and bodyguards. She hadn’t even been allowed to bathe alone.
    Now she was the fiancée of a poor Keulot farmer, as well as a shop maid. Her father would have been horrified, of course, but she’d learned to take her happiness where she could find it.
    What about the Spygian men, some little part of her prodded.
    No, they were dangerous. She couldn’t think of them. No matter that the memory of their images made her breasts go hard and her thighs wet. Spygians were space travelers and therefore much more likely to run into Malucons than she was here, in this small, rustic town.
    The bell above the doorway rattled as the door opened, and Cindra glanced up toward her newest customer. Her chest tightened when she saw who it was. Bannor.
    “Good morning,” she said, drawing her gaze down to the counter.
    “Morning,” his deep, sexy voice rumbled. To her shock, rather than perusing the store, he strode straight to her. “I find myself in need of sustenance. What do you recommend?”
    “I…” She straightened to full height, trying not to meet his eyes. Pointing toward the wicker baskets in front of the counter, she said, “The fruits and vegetables are very good. They are fresh-picked.”
    “From your farm?”
    His question startled her into meeting his gaze. “How did you know we live on a farm?”
    His silver eyes sparkled as he broke into a charming grin. “Small town.”
    “Oh.” How right he was.
    “So…” She squirmed in her spot. “What brings you here?”
    “My pod members and I are here to collect our mate.”
    Our mate, he’d said. Her gaze met his. Suddenly she remembered something else she’d once learned about Spygians. They tended to mate in groups. In pods, as they called it. Which meant…Bannor and his three pod mates were going to share the same woman.
    Oh gods . She bit her lip to hold back the lush moan that longed to escape. Her nipples hardened into tight beads and liquid rushed between her thighs. Why did the thought of those four wondrous men with one woman practically electrify her with desire?
    “Is…is she close by?” she managed to choke out.
    His grin widened and he leaned forward on the countertop, invading her personal space with an ease that sucked all the breath from her lungs. “Very.”
    “ Oh. ” She shifted in her spot, resisting the urge to fan her face. When had it gotten so hot in here?
    “Spygian mates are predestined, you know,” he continued in a low, silky tone. His hand crept onto the counter, inches from where hers rested lightly on the edge, and she watched with bated breath. His fingers were so strong, so long and artistic. Nothing like Adamon’s rough, farmworker hands. What would it be like to feel them against her skin? The buds of her breasts?
    Between her legs?
    Oh heavens, why was she feeling this way? She couldn’t recall ever feeling so…so tight, so needy. Certainly not with Adamon. All she felt when she was in his arms was comfort. A sense of home.
    So don’t ruin that , she reminded herself. No matter how tempting this Spygian might be.
    The doorbell suddenly clanged again and she drew back with a degree of alarm that probably looked suspect, when she thought further of it. Glancing toward the door, she saw that it was Amra, one of the townspeople. Forcing a smile to her face, she