No Rules by Jenna McCormick Page A

she’d leapt from the bed while babbling incoherently.
    He sat up, his body protesting the quick movement so soon after another round of aerobic fucking. The words spewing from her mouth as she yanked her dress back on made no sense. Something about a frying pan and a fire. Since neither of them was preparing food, he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.
    â€œAlison, slow down, you’re not making any sense.” He reached for her, but she threw her arms up defensively.
    Stung, Fenton sat back. Was this some kind of delayed reaction to his rough claiming? The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her beautiful body, she gave him so much pleasure. But once the split took over, he had two minds and he was unable to think beyond the need to fuck her hard and fast, to come on her, in her, fill her up, make her his.
    Her eyes were wild as she bolted for the door. “I have to get out of here.”
    â€œYou can’t.” Not in this state. He couldn’t let her out in public when she was ranting. Though it hurt him to deny her, he wouldn’t risk his mission to set her free. “I told you I’d secure you separate quarters.”
    She pounded on the door, which had been sealed with his genetic code. Frustration radiated from her. Screaming wildly, she struck the metal door. Only once before had he seen a person look so much like a trapped animal. Shoving the memory aside, he reached for his pants. “It’s soundproofed. No one will hear you. I promise not to touch you again if you settle down. You have nothing to fear.”
    She didn’t seem to hear him. How could she, over the thudding of her relentless siege on the door?
    When he saw the smears of blood she left on the pristine metal, he forgot about dressing and scooped her off her feet. “Stop it, you’re hurting yourself.”
    She screeched again and flailed wildly, but he was through with her tantrum. Dropping her back onto the bed where they’d been blissfully content only a few moments earlier, he pinned her arms on either side of her head. His legs trapped hers between them, ceasing most of her movement. To his shame, his cock stiffened from the struggle, but he made sure to keep it from pressing against her. No need to incite her further. “Alison, you must compose yourself. I won’t let you go until you do.”
    Tears filled her hazel eyes and spilled down her pale cheeks. “Please, let me go.”
    His gut twisted. “I can’t. Believe me, if there was another way . . . I’m sorry.”
    Sobs broke from her, a horrific, defeated sound, and all the fight seemed to drain from her. Releasing her hands, he moved away, and pain ripped through him when she huddled in the fetal position, making herself as small as possible to minimize damage from an attack.
    Oh, how well he knew that mind-set.
    Fenton wanted to wrap his body around hers, to physically shield her from any external hurt. But he’d caused this response in her; he had no business touching her.
    â€œI vow on the memory of my family, I will let you go as soon as I possibly can. We’ll be in the space lanes for a few weeks, but I won’t come near you again. You have my word as a warrior on that.”
    Turning away, he picked up his ruined shirt and slid his arms through before exiting into the adjacent chamber.
    Though the suite was soundproofed from the rest of the ship, her sobs chased him. The door barely hissed closed behind him before he moved into his fighting stance, reaching for his calm center.
    You’re a fuckup, Fenton. From a line of fuckups. It would be a mercy to put you down now.
    Sweat beaded his forehead as he concentrated on the movements of his muscles. But his focus was stuck in the past, haunted by ghosts that lingered in the shadows of his mind. How many times had the overlord threatened his life, or that of his sister? Xander was reputed to be cruel, but Fenton knew from