Gladiator's Prize Read Free Page A

his lips touched hers, K’rilla fell into a whirlpool of sensation. Twists of burning desire raged to life in her loins, puckering her nipples. Her body sank into his, reveling in the hard strength of his cock rising against her stomach. It felt like he’d split her in half, given the chance. She was tempted to offer it to him too… Goddess, he was magnificent! Nothing like anything she’d felt before.
    Darius pulled away from her and reason returned far too slowly. The roar of the crowds filtered through her ears and she swayed, trying to reclaim her equilibrium. She took a deep breath, touching her faintly tingling lips with shaking fingers. Darius turned away from her, raising his arms to drink in the glory of the crowd, and she flushed with embarrassment.
    He was simply putting on a good show, she realized—the consummate military leader doing his best to rally the populace and the troops by kissing a woman passionately after his win. It was so perfect that she wondered if the entire thing was scripted. If so, someone should have warned her. Unlike many of her peers, K’rilla 13
    Joanna Wylde
    never sought out drama in her life and she certainly didn’t care to be a part of something so public. Just the thought of returning to work after this made her feel a little sick to her stomach. They’d tease her without mercy.
    Darius dropped his arms, but the audience kept up their shouts of adoration. The lictors turned as one, signaling the end of the ceremony. K’rilla looked to Darius, expecting him to stride out of the arena. That’s how it was supposed to go. She’d probably never seen him again. She’d stand on the podium with the priestess until fanciful mists rose around them, disguising the fall of the podium into the depths of the arena. The entire incident would end, and perhaps later tonight Darius would laugh with his fellows about the aging virgin who’d melted in his arms.
    But instead of leaving, Darius gave her a fierce grin and swept her up in his arms.
    K’rilla squawked and the priestess lurched forward. K’rilla’s panicked eyes met hers and the woman mouthed “play along” as the crowd grew frenzied in their excitement.
    “What are you doing?” she demanded, grabbing Darius’ shoulders, trying to hold herself steady.
    “I’m kidnapping you,” he said. “Now smile, or someone will think you don’t want me to do this.”
    “I don’t want you to do this!”
    “Smile anyway, half the Federation is watching,” he replied. “We want to give them a good show.”
    He was right, Goddess-be-damned. But K’rilla couldn’t pull it off, so she hid her face against his shoulder as he carried her across the heated sands. This had to be the most mortifying experience of her life. Absolutely.
    She expected him to put her down when they reached the tunnel entrance, ending the entire humiliating display. Instead he continued into the depths of the arena, leaving the lictors and gladiators gaping.
    “What are you doing?” K’rilla asked once more, feeling a rising tide of fear and confusion. This wasn’t part of any plan, she was sure of that. Nobody kidnapped thirty-14
    Gladiator’s Prize
    five-year-old engineers… Except spies. Her blood ran cold and she considered the tiny explosive chip in her head. She had to protect her secrets, even at the cost of her own life. Then reason took over. He wasn’t a spy, he was Admiral Darius. If he planned to betray the Federation, he wouldn’t need her to do it. Why the hell was he taking her?
    Clearly, he’d lost his mind. The pressure of his situation snapped him and now he’d decided to kidnap an innocent woman.
    K’rilla squirmed in his arms, clawing at his face. She didn’t care if she fell, she only wanted to get away. He laughed, flipping her over his shoulder. The air rushed out of her and she realized the futility of her situation. Fighting him wouldn’t work, she needed to think of something else. They left the training section of