"Dani." Krijero's warm hand cupped a shoulder. He turned her slowly to face the clan.

"Yes, Imdiko Krijero?" Polite tone. Please the clients, get the job done. Afterwards, she would spend too long trying to wash the night away in the cold water of the brothel's shower. Just another shift. It would end eventually, though not soon enough.

"Where are you right now?" He leaned down, propping his hands on his thighs as he brought his pretty purple eyes level with hers. Dani couldn't figure out if she wanted to escape the intense stare or drown in it. Krijero looked self-assured for a change, not awkward at all.

"Here with you." She frowned. His question didn't make sense to her.

"Maybe physically, but you've gone somewhere else in your head."

His tone sounded so concerned. As if her distance mattered.

"What do you care?" The words fell out of Dani's mouth before she could stop them.

"I care because I'm worried you're upset about something. What's wrong, sweetling?" He continued to look at her with that patient interest, as if he had all night for her answer.

Dani swallowed. She knew her mental state didn't worry him in the least, except what it might do to the rest of his night. "Nothing of importance, Imdiko. It won't affect my performance. I promise you will be satisfied and get your money's worth."

"Perhaps if we were the kind of men you're used to, but we're not, Dani. Kalquorians are very protective of women. Not only are we committed to females' physical wellbeing and sexual fulfillment, but emotional welfare must be addressed as well." He stroked an errant lock of hair off her face.

Unexpected tears prickled Dani's eyes. She blinked hard, holding them back. "You have no reason to worry about me. I'm just a whore."

"Is that how you see yourself, sweetling?"

"What else would I be?"

Krijero smiled, the expression as warm as the hand he stroked her face with. Dani basked in it despite herself. "What about smart and fun? How about resourceful, brave, and loyal? Aren't you those things?"

ALIEN SLAVE Tracy St. John 55

She clenched her fists at her sides. She would not let him in. Not an alien whom she'd only met the night before. "No one cares about that. All anyone cares about is what they can get from me, whether it's sex, money, or staying quietly in the background and not causing a fuss."

Damn it. Her stupid mouth had run off again, telling more than she wanted anyone to know.

"I'm sorry that's what you're used to. You're worth a lot more than that."

Dani jerked away, out of his reach. Screw this. She should have stuck to the terms of her contract. "Go away. Just leave. The brothel won't refund your money, but I will."

She stared hard at the floor, waiting for them to go. Holding back the tears that flooded her eyes, doubling her vision.

"Your parents were good at that, weren't they? Pushing you away, leaving you on your own, and using money to make up for it?"

Dani didn't remember launching herself at him. The next thing she knew, her fists were pounding Krijero's chest as hard as she could hit while she cried, "Shut up! Shut up!" over and over in harsh sobs.

The huge alien took her abuse, standing still as her blows thudded against his body until her fury exhausted itself. Then he gathered her to himself, holding her, stroking her hair as she cried. Other compassionate hands joined in the soothing, petting her arms and back. Dani buried her face in the hollow of Krijero's shoulder, needing any shelter. Even that of an enemy.

That's why when he lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers, she melted into the kiss. Clinging to the man she'd just attacked, Dani dove into the illusion of his concern, the lie that another person might care.

Her clothes fell away, tugged free by the surrounding Kalquorians. They lowered her to a cushioning mat on the floor, tender fingers and mouths caressing her grief away until she gasped with need.

But when Dani reached for Gelan's crotch, his sexes straining the fabric of his pants, he drew her hands away. "No, little girl. This time is for you. Relax and let us show you how it should be between men and a woman."

"You're my customers."

"Then serve us through letting us serve you."

The Dramok made no sense to her. None of them did. Her storm of anger should have sent them stomping to Pob, demanding a more compliant playmate or their money back. Instead, Gelan's kiss swept her away from care, his tongue lapping the whole of her mouth with thorough grace. END EXCERPT Wynhod's lips worked delicately on her breasts, suckling with a sweetness that brought fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. Krijero gently mouthed her womanhood, sipping her juices with reverence as if partaking of a rare elixir. They fed on her body, but it was her arousal that gorged on the feast, growing with every taste.