The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6) by Donna McDonald

their morning meal be delivered. The female snuck a covetous glance at Ji as the cover slipped off his back and down low on his hips.
    “The Siren is very beautiful. You are lucky to serve a male who looks like that every day,” she whispered softly.
    “Yes. I am lucky. The Siren is my preferred suitor,” Seta whispered softly back.
    “May the Creators direct the will of the great Trax in your favor then,” the server replied.
    “Thank you for bringing our food,” Seta said, bowing her head respectfully. The female seemed unsure of what to do in return, but eventually nodded and fled.
    Seta closed the door softly behind the female. When she turned, Ji was staring at her, so she bowed her head to him as well. The moment of acknowledging his presence was too awkward for her to hold his gaze. She gave him her back as she started laying out their food.
    “I asked for some of our more traditional dishes so you could have some variety. Once we head into the desert, the food is bland and uninteresting. I can’t even imagine what the miners eat, though I have heard that they feed massive crops with underground springs. Most of Ethos relies on trade with other planets to have enough for our population.”
    “Seta—stop,” Ji whispered, closing his eyes. “You don’t have to fill the silence between us. I—you hurt my feelings and I reacted poorly. I’m sorry to have caused you such discomfort with me.”
    Seta shook her head. “You have caused me no discomfort. I tried to express myself and chose my words poorly. Until you, I never practiced intimate talk with a male after bonding. I assure you I meant no disrespect to your. . .Siren abilities.”
    “You told the server I was your preferred suitor,” Ji pointed out, still amazed at having heard her saying those words. “Did it bother you to say that to her?”
    Seta swallowed, considered, and shook her head again. “No—it didn’t bother me—but I also don’t think we shall maintain the connection for long. What is being a mate? It is an agreement. I have given you more than any other male. Mate or not, logic would dictate the connection between us needs to be honored. I’m sorry if I indicated I did not feel that way about what we did—because I do—feel that way, I mean.”
    Rising from the bed where he’d denied himself the pleasure of holding her, Ji walked to where Seta stood by the table.
    “Do you truly always feel violated?” he asked. It still hurt him greatly to think so.
    Seta sighed. “No answer I give you will make you less disappointed in me.”
    “Your reaction is unacceptable. You must change your reaction,” Ji declared.
    Seta crossed her arms. “You don’t have the power to change what I feel.”
    Ji snorted, leaned down, and kissed her hard and full on the mouth. “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” He kissed her again, more gently this time. Time, he decided. He just needed time.
    “Would you mind getting dressed before we eat?” Seta asked.
    Ji snorted. “Why? Am I too tempting like this?”
    Seta picked a speck on the wall and stared. “I would rather not answer the question, but if I must, the word I would choose is distracting .”
    Stepping behind her, Ji circled his hands around the front of her body to cup both her breasts. She groaned and leaned forward into his palms. He squeezed gently, lovingly.
    “Mine,” he whispered. “This response is mine. These are mine. I take good care of what is mine, Seta Trax.”
    He smiled as Seta groaned again when he let go. Dipping his head to her throat, he kissed the spot where his love bite had temporarily branded her. He lingered in his kiss until she shivered, then moved away from her to get dressed while his restraint was still in place.
    “Dress for the desert today, Ji. Wear a face scarf and cover your arms. We leave as soon as we’ve eaten,” she said.
    “Good. Now the real adventure begins,” Ji said, disappearing into the cleansing area.
    Seta sank