by Renee Rose
“I was connected to you.” I offer a wobbly smile. But my stomach flips.
“You’re safe? You’re healthy?” Gorde sits beside me, takes my hand in his. As always, I marvel at how strong and large his fingers are compared to my small ones. I always felt protected, having him hold my hands. But now I’m full of anxiety.
Are they here to say goodbye?
“I am. They had to cut her out.” I lift my tunic to show the incision. “But like Dr. Daneth said, I’ll recover.” I act like this is no big deal. In fact it’s not: so many things have happened since then. It was a million sun cycles ago already.
Benn’s face blanches and he sinks into the chair beside my sleepdisk. “Did it hurt? Are you in pain?”
“No physical pain, not right now.” I shake my head.
“And the young?” He swallows. “She’s healthy, too?”
“Yes. She is. I need to tell you—”
“Wait. Let me go first.” He stands back up, comes closer. He puts his hand onto my cheek and cups it, gently. “Gorde and I, we talked. Danica, you can’t go to Jesel. We won’t allow it. You belong to us. We’re sorry we had our heads shoved up our asses, but we need you. We want you back. Even if the young isn’t ours.” He swallows. “There are all kinds of families in this galaxy, all kinds of ways to make a home. Maybe she’s not a Zandian. But she’s part of you, and that makes her precious.”
Gorde squeezes my hand. “Danica, we’re still not happy about the deception. But we understand why you did it. You must have been terrified.”
I nod through my tears, which suddenly blur my vision.
Gorde continues. “We can have more young, Zandian young. This one will be”—he pauses and laces his fingers into mine—“their sister. She will be like you, and because of that, we will treasure her. Do you understand?”
I sob out a half-laugh. “You mean it? You really want me back?”
“Do you want us back?” Benn’s voice is uncertain.
“A few moments ago I thought I was going to Jesel.” I wipe my eyes. “But my whole heart is here, with you. Come closer.” I tug at Benn’s hand, and he sits beside me, on the other side, so I’m sandwiched between my two mates. “Of course I do. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“Then we are still together.” Gorde’s voice rings out loudly, and the young stirs. I twist back and reach between my mates, who shift to allow me access. I stroke her back and murmur, but she whimpers and rubs her little fists over her eyes, turning.
“She’s waking up.” My heart pounds. They don’t know, yet. What will they say when they find out? “Do you want to see her?” I pull back the cover and shift her so Benn and Gorde can see her face, her limbs. Even dressed in the one-piece soft cloth outfit, her purple skin is clearly evident.
The two of them lean in, entranced.
“But she’s not green.” Benn’s voice halts. “She looked green, on the console pictures. Danica?” He turns to me abruptly.
“She has purple eyes!” Gorde shouts it out, a grin spreading across his face. “They were wrong, Benn. All wrong. She is Zandian!”
“She’s complicated.” I put a hand on his arm to calm him. “She started out Akronian and human. But along the way…when you two mated me, she incorporated your DNA as well. And changed herself.”
“But that’s impossible.” Gorde reached out a finger to her horns, pulls back. Extends it again. “Can I touch her?”
I laugh. “Of course you can. You’re her father.” I flush and lower my voice, feeling a surge of new emotion. “Both of you are. She’s unique in the galaxy now. There’s nobody like her, ever, anywhere.”
“Unique like Zandia.” Gorde puts both hands under her little body, then pulls back. “Ah, I don’t know how. Show me?” He flushes purple. “This is new to me.”
“To me, too. To all of us.” I smile at my two mates. “Like this, see? You have to support her head with one hand. Scoop with the other.” I lift and place the baby in Gorde’s arms.
The sight of my strong, fierce warrior holding a tiny girl makes my heart sing. “You’re a natural.”
“I want a turn, too.” Benn runs one finger down her cheek. “She’s such a light purple color.”
At the touch, the baby opens her eyes. I feel her surprise and joy when she sees Benn and Gorde. Here! Mine!
“Yes, yours,” I agree, squeezing her little foot softly. “Your fathers are here now.”
“Is she talking to you?” Gorde’s eyebrows go up.
I flush. “She communicates with me without talking. She already knows you two from your voices. She missed you.”
Gorde transfers the baby to Benn’s arms, and they both bend over, staring into her face. Smiling at her. Talking to her, saying their names. When each of them touch her small cheek, I almost choke up.
“So we need to talk about these, ah, powers you seem to have.” Gorde raises one eyebrow, a few minutes later.
“It started when I became pregnant.” I stroke her little toes. “I could hear things, even really far away. And I can communicate with her. Sometimes, I can make things move.” I think back to the cuffs. “Or hold them in place.” Taxx. “Not all the time, and I can’t direct it. I don’t know; if I practice, I might get better. But I was trying to pretend it didn’t exist.”
“I knew there was something else going on.” Gorde’s voice is triumphant. “Something you weren’t telling us.”
“I’m sorry.” I look up at him. “It was too strange. No way to explain it, and it was confusing to me.”
“It’s in the past.” He looks down at the child, then to me.
“Well, not really. It’s still here, now.” I smile and touch his face.
“I know.” He laughs. “What I mean, is that the secrets are in the past. Yes?” He looks down at me.
“Yes.” I smile, relieved. “Definitely.”
Benn strokes my thigh, holding the baby with one hand. Already comfortable with her. “What’s her name?”
I pause. “I didn’t pick one yet. I was waiting, just in case you two…” I trail off.
Gorde clears his throat. “There’s an ancient Zandian word, marea. It meant future.”
I try it out. “Marea. That’s lovely.”
Benn squeezes my leg. “I like it too. Marea.”
The baby waves her tiny fists. Then she squeals out a little peal of laughter.
“I think she agrees.” I touch her chin. “Do you like your new name, Marea?”
Happy. Sleep. Marea closes her eyes in Benn’s arms.
“Well, I guess it’s decided.” I laugh.
Gorde takes my hand. “Good.” Then he leans in and whispers into my ear. “And once you’re properly healed, little human, Benn and I are going to have to punish you for all of these secrets, my love.” The look on his face makes it clear that the punishment is going to be of the enjoyable variety.
“Oh, you will?” I lean in and rest my head on his strong chest.
“King Zander typically remands disobedient humans to their mates for correction,” Benn agrees. “And I think we may need several thorough sessions to make sure you’re properly disciplined.” He runs a hand lightly over my thigh, the touch at once a caress and a tease.
“Maybe each night?” I suggest hopefully, looking from one strong Zandian to the other. “And in the morning as well, just to make sure I remember?”
“Definitely.” Gorde growls and bites my neck. “As often as we can manage it.”
Chapter 18
Gorde
Our daughter is sleeping. I check to see that her eyes are shut, and they are, her purple lashes brushing her pale lavender cheeks. She makes a little snorting noise as she slumbers and I smile, pulling the covers over her shoulders.
I grab the YoungWatch holo monitor, enable Soundproof, and close the door. Then I head back out to the common area, focused on Danica.
“I think it’s time for a reckoning.” I raise my eyebrows and cross my arms. “Dr. Daneth gave us th
e go-ahead, my love.”
“So he did.” Danica steps out of the alcove.
I catch my breath. “Veck, beautiful, what are you wearing?” I stride across the room. “I can see your pussy through it.” My cock hardens instantly at the sight of her in those tiny panties.
“You like it?” She preens and sticks out her hip, putting her hand there. “Gossamer lace. It’s new. Benn, do you think it’s nice, too?” She runs her hands over her breasts. Her nipples are already hard.
Benn groans. “Danica, you know I do.”
“Why don’t you come show me how much,” she teases, pinching her nipples. “I’d rather have your hands on me than my own.”
“Gladly,” I growl, taking her into my arms and sticking my tongue into her mouth. She returns the kiss, eager, her hands exploring my chest, my abs, and winds one long leg around mine, pulling my hips closer to hers. The kiss goes on as Benn comes up behind her and gets to his knees.
“Spread your legs,” he urges her. “Don’t stop what you’re doing. I’m going to lick you while you kiss him.”
“Mmmm.” She makes a little noise into my mouth and puts her leg down, widens her stance, all the while kissing me. I feel her body shake as he slides the panties down her thighs. I know the instant his tongue touches her because she moans again and clenches up before relaxing.
“Shhh, enjoy it,” I murmur, reaching between us to finger her nipple. “Let us both bring you pleasure.”
“Mmmph.” she nods, then surrenders to my mouth.
I tease her with my tongue, and play both nipples with my fingers, tweaking, rolling, pinching them. Soon enough, with both of us working her body, she starts to make little moans of arousal, and her kisses become more urgent. When I move to bite her neck, she cries out and lets her head fall back, panting a little.
“Are you close?” I wind both hands into her hair and palm her head. “You want to come?”
“Yes,” she whispers, eyes shut.
“Then it’s probably time to punish you,” suggests Benn, letting go of her thighs and leaning back on his heels. He wipes his mouth with one hand. “You’re delicious, baby, but we still need to chastise you for lying to us, you know.”
“That’s right.” I reach back and give her a light slap on the ass. “King Zander said to make it a good one. Really teach you a lesson.”
“Mmm. And we always obey orders from our ruler,” Benn agrees, getting up. “In fact, we even acquired a new implement just for you.”
“What?” Danica’s eyes fly open, half alarmed, half aroused.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” I pull her back for a kiss. “I don’t think it will be your favorite, though.”
“You’re so bad,” she complains, but when I reach down to cup her mound, she sighs in pleasure. “Yes, there,” she whispers.
“Not yet.” I scoop her up in my arms. “Benn, where shall we do this?”
“Let’s bend her over the ottoman.” He points. “With her delectable, bare ass pointing upward for the leather strap.”
Danica squeaks. “Leather strap?”
“It will probably hurt a lot,” Benn promises her. “Definitely remind you never to lie to us again.” His voice is serious.
She sucks in a breath. “Benn?” She looks from him to me. “Gorde?”
I put her down. “Don’t you agree that you need to put this behind us?” I raise an eyebrow.
She bites her lip. “Yeees, but—”
“Then do what we ask, love.” I flick one nipple.
She makes a mewling noise. “Should I be scared?” Her face is a little wary, even aroused.
“Probably.” I smile. “Lie down on your stomach, legs as wide as you can spread them.” I gesture to the ottoman. “Don’t worry about reaching back; we’ll tie your hands.”
She reaches down tentatively to touch the ottoman, looks at us again, then lies down. Spreads those vecking creamy, perfect thighs. She’s so wet that her pussy glistens in the light, and she pushes her hips down into the surface of the ottoman, seeking relief.
“No,” Benn warns her, as he comes over with a silky cloth. “Not until later, love. Put your wrists together.”
When she’s tied up, the red of the cloth gorgeous against her pale skin, we both stand over her, admiring her lush form. Spread out for us like a vecking feast.
She shifts and moans. “What are you going to do?”
I fetch the new strap from a storage bin.
“Hmm,” I say, running a finger over the thick, shiny surface. “It’s a little stiff, being so new. But your ass will help it soften right up, I’m sure.”
She clenches her buttocks and new moisture appears at the juncture of her thighs.
“Oh, you just think you’re going to like it.” Benn runs his hands over her body. “But I promise it will sting like the devil, Danica. And we won’t stop until we think you’re really sorry.”
“I already am sorry,” she whispers, shifting her thighs.
“Not as much as you will be.” He slaps her ass once, and my cock twitches as a red mark blooms on the soft skin.
“Ouch.” She bucks her hips.
Benn slaps her again, and again. “This is what happens to naughty humans who lie to their masters. They get a hard spanking that turns their ass cherry red.”
“Mmmmph!” she mutters, twisting her hands in the cloth. “Ow.”
“My turn.” I’m going to die if I don’t get a chance to touch and spank my mate.
Benn moves aside and I kneel down beside her. “You ready for more?”
I spank her hard, not waiting for a reply, again and again, right on her sit spots. “Going to go harder now, baby, to really warm you up for that strap.” I raise my hand high and crack her across both buttocks, gratified to hear her cry out. Loving the way she twists to get away from the punishing blows. The way she gets even wetter when she can’t escape.
“You ready to apologize?” I rain a flurry of spanks right at the base of her thighs, and she thrusts her hips up at me.
“I’m so sorry.” She gives a little sob, and I check her face—she’s still enjoying this, rough as it is. But she’s crying.
I wipe away a tear. “What are you sorry for?”
“That I lied. That I had to lie. That the universe can give us impossible choices, sometimes.”
“Aw, baby, that’s cheating.” Benn chuckles as he comes in front of her, cups her chin in his hand. “This is about you, not how the galaxy tosses dice.”
I stroke her ass, soothing the burn we’ve surely ignited. “We only want an apology for your part, Danica.”
“I really am sorry.” She turns her head, looks at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. “You know it’s true.”
I wipe another tear. “Just to be sure, though, how about a dose of the strap? Benn?” I slap my thigh, enjoying the way her body jumps at the sound, and hold out my hand. “How many should we give her?”
“Start with ten and go from there,” he suggests. “That should be enough to make her sore tomorrow, but not so much that she can’t enjoy her regular routine.”
“We’ll reserve the strap for serious punishments.” I run it over her ass, and she quivers at the touch. “When she really needs to be chastised. When we bring out the strap, she’ll know she’s really in trouble.”
“That’s right, Danica.” Benn strokes her hair. “If you come home and see the strap lying on the sleepdisk, you’ll know that you’re in for a serious punishment later on.”
“Maybe we’ll even send you a comm picture of it, a close up.” I turn the strap sideways and run it slowly between her legs, making sure that it presses down into the crack of her ass. I push, and she sucks in a breath. “So you can think about it all day, and know what’s going to happen later.”
“No,” she murmurs, but when I move the strap, I can see how vecking wet she is now. She’s practically dripping.
“You don’t get to say no to us.” I stick two fingers into her, unable to
resist. She makes a sound of satisfaction, and I groan, her warm moist body calling to me.
“Taste this, baby.” I put my fingers to her mouth. “Suck your juices from my hand. This is how turned on you get when we talk about punishing you. You like being mastered by us. You thrive on it.”
“The pain and pleasure both.” Benn smiles. “She vecking loves it.”
“And she knows she needs this.”
She shifts and whimpers and I can’t wait a second longer.
“I’ll do the first five,” I decide. “You’ll finish it.”
I stand up and adjust the ottoman so it floats higher, giving me the perfect distance to swing the strap at her ass. “I think she’s ready. Ass up, love. Push it higher. I really want to see you reach for this punishment.”
I wait until she pushes up her hips, raising her ass to me. Then I lift the strap and bring it down, hard, right across both cheeks.
There’s a loud crack, a second delay, and then she howls.
“Ouch!” She twists furiously, but Benn grabs her tied hands and whispers into her ear. “That was just the first one, Danica. Nine more to go. You earned it, so you force yourself to take it.”
She sobs and nods, stills her body.
“Ask me to continue.” My hand itches. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but veck, I love having her tied down at my mercy, taking my stripes. I want it to hurt. Then I’ll make it better.
“Pl…please, Master Gorde, continue whipping me.”
The sound of her voice saying the word whipping inflames me. I raise the strap and slap it down again, this time at the base of her cheeks, and she screeches as the red stripe appears. “Ouch,” she whispers, closing her thighs, pressing one foot into the other.
“Legs open.” I tap her thigh. “And they stay open, unless you want a few strikes of the strap here?” I stroke her pussy.
She squeaks in alarm. “No, Master Gorde, not there.”
“That would certainly not feel good later, when we veck her,” Benn observes. “She’d be smart to keep those legs open.”
