When he went back into the bedroom, he found Rayslie repacking her cell scanner.
“This is a healthy specimen. No broken bones, no internal injuries. The scanner reads no tumors or other lurking problems.”
She examined Adriana’s fingernails and took her pulse in a number of places. “The main thing wrong with this creature is that she’s been locked in a starship for far too long without anywhere close to enough food. She’ll need to be brought back to full health slowly. Patiently.”
The grey-haired woman raised an eyebrow at him. “Think you can muster a little go-slow for a change?”
Kaljeet bit his lip self-consciously. Rayslie had been his healer since he was a child. She was the only person in all of Devmaer who could talk to him like that, could make him feel sheepish with the simple lift of an eyebrow.
“I’m sure I can,” he said, trying not to sound defensive.
“This creature—what did you say she is? Whoman?”
“Human.”
“This human—strange word—could be good breeding stock. She has wide hips and a strong but emaciated body. She may have other talents. One thing for sure, she’s not going to be dancing at any balls for a while. She’s too weak, too feeble. Do you want a female servant to bathe her or would I be correct in guessing you want that privilege for yourself?”
“I’ll do it.” His tone was frostier than he intended. “She’s my responsibility.”
“A bit of a step down for the Lord of Senne,” she said, picking up her bag.
When Kaljeet didn’t explain himself she added, “I’ll have some appropriate food sent up for her. Don’t play with her in the bath for too long. I’ll also have some garments delivered. I think I know your preferences.”
Adriana listened to the conversation in the room but didn’t open her eyes until the old woman was gone. As soon as Kaljeet tried to remove one of her boots, she moaned and pretended she was surfacing for the first time since he’d smacked her so soundly as she rode over his shoulder.
“I can undress and bathe myself,” she murmured.
“I suppose you could if I didn’t want to do those things for you.”
A mutinous rage swept over her, but she held it in check. She couldn’t afford to show anger or fear. She had to play a waiting game to find the optimal time to escape.
She was the model of cooperation as he removed the last of her clothing. She didn’t flinch when he stood back to examine her more fully and his hair made a curious change from blue to black. At the same time, she noticed the tenting at the crotch of his trousers. Yes, Devmaereans were very humanlike.
She didn’t have to worry if she had enough energy to make it to the bathroom, Kaljeet wasn’t going to let her walk anyway. Before he lowered her into the water of the deep, claw-footed tub, he dipped her wrist in it.
“Warm enough? Not too warm?” he asked, his face knit with concern.
“It’s perfect.” She didn’t have to lie about that. The sensation of being laid in the warm water was the most comforting thing that had happened to her in years.
When it became apparent that Kaljeet truly intended to bathe her himself, she tried not to flinch or push him away. She didn’t have the energy. She lay back and thought how nice it was, if just for a minute or two, not to have the responsibility of command.
His hands, one with a bar of soap, the other with a soft flannel cloth, moved all over her body. They moved up and down her legs, like a luxurious massage. He stopped at her cleft and soaped her pubic hair with one hand before rinsing it with the cloth in the other. His fingers dipped between her thighs. He held her eyes with his as he opened her crease and teased her clitoris with his index finger.
Her moan this time was genuine. She couldn’t remember the last time hands other than her own had touched her there.
“My girl likes that, does she?” he asked, his hair now ebony and his voice raspy with lust.
She pushed his hands away reflexively, hating that he could see her so vulnerable. He grabbed one of her hands and held it palm up. He smacked it lightly, but both their hands were wet and the slap stung.
“Never push my hands away unless you want a very sore, very red bottom. The only reason you’re not being spanked right now is your weakened condition. You are mine now. You will learn to obey me without question.”
Adriana stopped herself from replying but couldn’t stop the red tide of embarrassment that burned up her neck. To calm herself, she said, “What have you done with my crew? I must get back to my ship and make sure that all personnel are well.”
Chapter four
Kaljeet picked up a thick green towel and held it open for Adriana to step into. “Show me that you’re strong enough to get out of the bath by yourself and we’ll walk back to your ship.”
Easy, she thought. As she lifted herself half out of the water, her legs folded and she fell back into the tub.
Kaljeet shook his head. He lifted her out of the buoyant water and set her in the middle of the towel he’d just laid out. “You’re going to eat. And then you’re going to bed.”
“Not your bed,” she tried to sound like she was joking but somehow it came out more like a tease. “I can’t stay here. You need to take me back to the Condor6.”
He sat, drawing her into a sitting position on his knees, and began drying her. “There is no one left on your ship. By now your crew has been moved to the barracks here at the castle. Your craft will be under constant guard while the weapons are disarmed, and your cargo is documented.”
Before Adriana could protest that she and her crew came in peace, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
“Come in,” Kaljeet said, carrying Adriana to the bedroom and setting her down in a wide armchair by the fireplace.
Two young women entered the room. Blue-skinned and amethyst-eyed, one was clearly the same species as Kaljeet. The other one had honey-colored skin, mismatched eyes, and tiger-striped hair, orange and black, that hung in corkscrew curls to her waist.
“Captain Adriana Brennan, these young ladies are Nahla and Saavi. I see Saavi’s appearance interests you. She is a Kedrant. Nahla is Devmaerean like me.”
Both young servants gawked at Adriana as she sat wrapped up in a towel like it was her cocoon.
“Take a good look at her, girls,” he said as the maids moved closer. “You’re one of the few who will meet the captain today. As soon as she’s eaten, she’s going to bed.”
Nahla set a tray of food on the table next to Adriana. Saavi took the clothing she was carrying and hung it in the closet.
“Nice to meet you,” Nahla said. Saavi stood behind her, nodding enthusiastically.
Adriana smiled at them. “I’m sure we’ll be great friends.”
The maids beamed at this response and Adriana knew she’d made her first allies on the planet of Devmaer.
After they left, Adriana decided to follow Kaljeet’s instructions for the rest of the night. Once she was dried, he handed her a pale green nightgown and ordered her to sit down and eat. That was one command she was grateful to obey but she tried to look indifferent, even as her mouth watered at the fragrance of the meal in front of her.
Kaljeet didn’t allow her to make her own selections and she understood clearly what he was doing; he was asserting his control over her. She needed nutrition so she certainly wasn’t going to fight this intervention, if the food was any good.
He lifted a dish off the tray and cut what looked like meat into tiny pieces. “This is roasted swavbird.” He handed her the dish with a fork but no knife. She said nothing, simply popped a single morsel into her mouth. It was moist and tasted like buttery chicken. She closed her eyes in appreciation. Fighting the impulse to eat greedily, she savored each small piece slowly, drawing out the wonderful sensation of having real food again. The patchers were a bit like yams, a bit like potatoes. Best of all were the sweet berries and cake. The portions were tiny, but it was the best, most filling meal she could ever remember eating.
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When she was finished, Kaljeet sat and stared at her for the longest time. Adriana tried to keep her face neutral, wondering what he was seeing when he looked at her. She didn’t care. For the first time in months she could feel the goodness of real food flooding her system.
Finally Kaljeet asked, “Feeling better?”
“Yes, thank you for your hospitality.” Her tone was formal, one commander to another.
“Show me that you can walk unassisted now.”
Hiding her indignation at being told first to sit and now to walk like a show pony, she stood and walked around the large bedroom suite, once in one direction, then in the other.
“Fine.” Kaljeet nodded. “You may go to the bathroom and prepare yourself for sleep.”
Once the bathroom door was closed, she leaned out the wide window to see how high up she was. This room was at the top of the castle, with a sixty-foot drop to the ground below.
No escape there.
She went back to the bedroom and found Kaljeet sitting in the armchair across from the one she’d been in before. The food tray had disappeared, and three frightening pieces of leather had taken its place.
Adriana took a step back. “Those aren’t for me,” she said.
“Indeed they are,” Kaljeet stood and moved toward her.
“I am a free woman.” She inched toward the door.
Kaljeet held up the key. “You were a free woman. Now you’re mine. Sit down and hold out your wrists. Don’t make me fight you for this physically, because I will win. You will end up over my knee having your bottom blistered, and I will still have you in cuffs and a collar before you get into my bed tonight.”
“Is this how you treat all visitors to your planet?”
“You are the first incomers to this planet since the Kedrants were permitted to settle here hundreds of years ago. But this,” he gestured at the cuffs and collar, “is a common custom used for difficult females.”
“It’s unnecessary,” she said. “I give you my word.”
“I’m going to count to three.” The coldness in his voice was new.
Refusing to be intimidated, she said, “We don’t do this on Earth.”
“You’re not on Earth any longer, Captain.” Kaljeet slipped the first cuff around her right wrist. He slipped a finger under it to make sure it wasn’t too tight before locking it into place. The cuff had a soft, supple leather-like texture.
As if reading her mind, he added, “These cuffs may look like animal skin, but they’re not. They are made from a tough, synthetic fabric so you can bathe with them on. They will be part of your uniform from now on. But don’t think of cutting them off because you’ll blunt whatever tool you use. This fiber needs a particular cutting tool for removal.”
Adriana looked helplessly at her bound wrists. Each cuff had a single ring in it. The collar had a large heart-shaped loop that settled at the base of her throat. Kaljeet took both cuff rings in one hand and held her wrists up to her collar. “And if your hands get in the way, they can easily be clipped up here so they aren’t accidentally spanked when your naughty bottom is my target.”
Rebellious anger surged through her, but she fanned out her hands, holding them in front of her as though admiring them. “They’re quite lovely,” she said. “They suit me.”
“Indeed they do. Now come.” He stood and walked to the bed. “It’s time for you to sleep.”
He was insisting she sleep in his large four-poster bed? Was he going to rape her? She swallowed the lump of fear that suddenly burned up her throat.
He shook his head at her worried expression. “You will sleep in my bed. No more than that. I still haven’t decided if the task of training you will be worth my time and effort. I’m allowing you to share my bed to see if I like you as a sleep partner. That is all. I will not harm you.”
She shrugged as if she hadn’t been worried at all and slid under the blankets that he held open for her. She lay on her back and watched him open a drawer on the night table on the opposite side of the bed.
He returned with a long chain and reached for one of her hands. Instinctively she pulled them away from him and tried to bury them under the covers.
“Do you want your first spanking right now? I understand that a bedtime paddling can relieve tension and help females sleep better.”
Choking back a choice profanity, she held out her nearest wrist.
“I am securing one end of the chain here.” He joined the last link of the chain and the ring on her wrist cuff with a small padlock. “And the other end goes here.” He wrapped it around one of the metal upright posts in the headboard before closing it with a lock as well.
Adriana immediately tested the range of movement the chain allowed. It was generous enough that she could change position in her sleep although it would stop her at about three feet if she tried to leave the bed.
Kaljeet watched her test the restraints, an amused smile on his face. “This way I know you’ll be here when I come to bed in a few hours.”
He bent over her and for a moment she thought he might kiss her. In fact, she kind of hoped he would. It had been a long time since a handsome man had covered her lips with his and now that physical hunger had been satisfied, a longing for something else, something more intimate, was taking its place.
All he did was lift a single lock of her copper-colored hair. He twisted it around his finger and smiled.
Then he released it and left her there. The flexing of his thighs and buttocks as he walked away made her heart race.
Chapter five
Kaljeet hummed on his way back to the impact site where the Condor6 had dug its own grave.
Adriana. He kept repeating her name over and over to himself. Smart and adaptable, this woman was a suitable adversary for him, but he wasn’t fooled by her acts of obedience. He could almost hear the gears of her thoughts trying to outsmart him as she went through the motions of compliance.
She was biding her time, regaining her strength. As soon as she was healthy again, she’d challenge him every step of the way. Like training any spirited equid, he’d soon tame her. He couldn’t wait for the challenge.
When Kaljeet finished his shower the next morning, he found Adriana still sleeping. He allowed himself a minute to savor her beauty. Relaxed in sleep, she looked young and untroubled. Her unusual copper-colored hair fanned over the pillow and he resisted the urge to stroke it.
He hated to wake her but there was a major breakfast planned to welcome the incomers. It was being held in the inner courtyard of the castle, the only space in the castle that was large enough to hold all Kaljeet’s senior counsellors as well as Adriana’s full crew.
Reluctantly, he woke her and selected a tunic for her to wear. It was made of the finest silk and hung to the top of her thighs.
“Model it for me,” he said as he pulled on his black trousers.
She frowned at how short it was but, after catching his disapproving look, quickly changed her expression to one of neutral indifference. He nodded to let her know he’d seen both the frown and the correction.
“Come here,” he said, motioning to where he sat on the end of the bed. When she got close enough, he pulled her across his knee, lifted the tunic to expose her pantied bottom, and then he spanked her lightly three times. “I could spend all day doing this,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Don’t give me a reason to do so.”
Then he tipped her back to her feet and noted with satisfaction that her nipples were standing tall and hard.
“Your shapely legs are lovely to look at.” He held onto her hand so she couldn’t walk away. “In such a brief garment it will be easy for me to paddle your bottom any time I feel like it, which I will. A lot. When it is just you and me alone in a room, this is how I want you dressed.”
She studied a spot on the wall behind him, doing her best to conspicuously ignore him. In response, he stood and turned her face to his. She refused to meet his eyes.
“I just spoke to
you, but you didn’t acknowledge my words.”
She glared at him.
“You want to be the silent type? I think I know how to persuade you to speak.” His voice was steely. He made a slight move back toward the bed.
“I don’t know what to say!” she snapped.
“Temper,” he cautioned. “And look at me when I’m talking to you. All you need to say is yes sir or no my lord. It’s simple courtesy to reply when someone is speaking to you, or are there no manners on planet Earth?”
She shrugged. “You’re right. I should have been more polite.”
“Good.” He smiled with approval. “Now I’d rather you didn’t display to the whole world the treasures that are mine.” He ran a hand down her thigh. “You may select trousers to wear with this tunic.”
“Thank you,” she said, not disappointing him by adding a sir or lord as he’d just instructed her. It would be no fun training her if she obeyed his rules too quickly.
When Adriana woke the next morning, it took her a minute or two to remember where she was but the rattle of the chain on her wrist brought her back to reality fast. She stretched, glancing at the empty space beside her. The blankets were rumpled and stirred a vague memory of Kaljeet climbing in beside her in the middle of the night.
Sounds of running water reached her from the bathroom so she closed her eyes and drifted back into delicious sleep.
The next thing she knew, he was leaning over her, unlocking her wrist cuff. His touch was as gentle as it had been the day before, totally at odds with his crazy demands for submission and obedience. She smiled, hoping to encourage more kindness and fewer demands.
As he grinned back at her, black flashed through his hair.
“Your things are here.” He pointed to her footlocker at the end of the bed.
She leapt out of bed like she was five years old and it was her birthday. As soon as she opened the locker, an inner quiet settled over her. Her books, her clothes, the few souvenirs from different missions, connected her to who and what she was.
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