Chosen for Their Use (Ventori Masters Book 4)

by Ivy Barrett

  He pushed one of his hands into her hair, his thumb stroking over her cheek. “You’ve been through one hells of an ordeal. Can you talk about it?”

  She stepped closer and lowered her head, unable to take the intensity of his gaze.

  He moved his hand to the nape of her neck and gently massaged as he silently waited for her to answer.

  The simple contact of his touch soothed her, helped her relax enough to take a deep breath. And then his scent filled her head and all she could think about was him. “You know what happened.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Tell me anyway.”

  Why did people always think talking about horrible things made them better? Maybe reviewing the subject just reinforced the trauma. She didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to admit that it was all her fault.

  “Talk to me. That’s an order.”

  She sighed. Maybe she should just let him spank her. She wasn’t brave enough for that, so she said, “I acted like a fool and very nearly paid the price for my—”

  He placed his fingers against her lips, then tilted her head back until their gazes locked again. “Unacceptable. What happened with those guards was not your fault.”

  She turned her head, dislodging his hand. “And today? Are you going to pardon me for anything I do, no matter how wrong I am?”

  “What did she say that made you so angry?”

  She cringed. Was he really going to make her repeat it? “Nothing I hadn’t heard a hundred times before. This fight wasn’t about Star. She just happened to be there when I lost it.”

  “I agree, but I still want to know. What did she say?”

  Sighing heavily, she admitted, “She made fun of my weight, called me a fat whore.”

  He tensed. She could feel his muscles harden beneath her hands. “You are not fat. That’s ridiculous.”

  She said nothing, was too upset to explain her lifelong struggle to someone with less than ten percent body fat.

  “Did Star hit you first?” His voice changed, hardened, as he went back into chancellor mode.

  Thank God. She needed a judge, not a lover. She didn’t deserve tenderness. At least not yet. Her bad decisions were compounding because there had been no consequences. She didn’t know how to stop the downward spiral, but he did. “She gave me one little slap and I beat the shit out of her.” She shook her head, horribly ashamed of her overreaction. “She’s rude and mean-spirited, but she didn’t deserve that.”

  His long fingers curved around her chin and his gaze narrowed. “And last night? How large a part did you play in what happened?”

  She tensed. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. “I flirted with them. Oh, God, I encouraged one to smell me, knowing it would arouse him and the others. Sniffing is like foreplay to you guys.”

  He locked his hands behind his back, gaze unreadable as he stared down at her. “There’s no ‘like’ about it, Kyla. Sniffing is foreplay. To Ventori males potential mates smell like fresh baked bread. We can’t help but want a taste. Did you want the guards to taste you?”

  “No.” She backed up a step. Smiling Bron was intimidating enough. Frowning Chancellor Savator terrified her. She wanted the teddy bear back, the male who’d kissed her knuckles and wiped away her tears. “I just wanted to hold their attention long enough for Erin to escape.”

  The door banged open as LeAuntiez burst into the room. He rushed to Kyla and held her shoulders as he looked her over carefully. “What in Creation’s name is going on? Your anger just about knocked me over and now I feel fear.”

  “She should be afraid,” Bron muttered. “She’s finally explaining all the things she did last night, so I can determine her punishment.”

  Punishment. The word reverberated through her mind like thunder. She’d urged him in this direction, but it sounded so much more damning when spoken in his deep, authoritative voice. Would another spanking make her feel better? Would it rid her of this oppressive guilt?

  Something noticeable, yet silent, passed between them, then LeAuntiez nodded. “Don’t let me stop you.”

  “Enticing the guards was foolish, but what followed was entirely their fault. You will not bring it up again.” Bron paused and waited for her attention to refocus on him. “Your wrongdoing lies with Erin.”

  Understanding unfurled inside Kyla and her blood turned to ice. “I didn’t mean for her to be gone this long. I planned on letting her get far enough away to feel like she’d accomplished something, then I was going to notify…” His expression didn’t change, didn’t soften. Trepidation sped her pulse and made it hard to breathe. She’d really done it this time. Bron was seriously pissed. “This isn’t what I’d planned. I would never hurt Erin. She’s my best friend.”

  “And yet you enabled her to spend the night in the wasteland. Do you understand how dangerous it is out there?”

  She lowered her gaze and nodded, too ashamed to speak.

  “I require a verbal answer. The proper response is ‘yes, Sir.’”

  “Yes, Sir.” Her mouth was so dry she barely got the words out. This wasn’t a game, a semi-entertaining act to help her work through her emotions. She was in big trouble this time.

  “We will continue this at home.” They exited headquarters through a side door and she automatically moved toward LeAuntiez. Bron caught her arm and said, “You’re with me.”

  LeAuntiez nodded once then leapt into the air, and his ‘wings’ appeared as if by magic. She smiled, despite the turmoil around her. He called it manifesting, but it truly was magical. His wings weren’t covered in feathers. In fact, they weren’t even solid. They were a hazy, iridescent state between matter and energy. She didn’t understand how it worked, but the phenomenon was beautiful.

  “Come.” Bron tugged on her arm to ensure she obeyed.

  Generally when she was given that command, it was a lot more enjoyable.

  She rode on the back of his skimmer, arms wrapped around his lean waist. Touching him, pressing against him, and inhaling his scent over and over awakened her body, preparing her for—something that wouldn’t happen until after she was disciplined. Oddly enough, that thought added to her arousal rather than extinguishing it.

  She’d been intrigued by the concept of domestic discipline and the spanking LeAuntiez gave her this morning only heightened her fascination. Yes, it had hurt more than she expected, but what followed had been worth every spank. Her heightened emotions had made the orgasms that much more intense.

  It wasn’t far to the house he shared with Bron, but the trip was depressing. Fort Smith had once been a thriving community, at its heart a sprawling military base. Now it was a charred ruin, a stark testament to the power of their enemy.

  LeAuntiez had opened the garage door for them, so Bron flew into the mostly empty bay. He motioned for her to precede him then triggered the motorized door.

  The house felt cool and welcoming after the humid warmth of the Texas evening. The sun set during their ride, but it was not yet dark. He led her into the living room where LeAuntiez waited. She looked at one male and then the other, heart thudding madly in her chest.

  “Undress,” Bron ordered.

  Here? Shouldn’t they go to the bedroom? They weren’t going to fuck her, at least not yet. They were going to punish her.

  “Failure to obey a direct order is a punishable offense,” LeAuntiez reminded.

  Surprised by his harsh tone, she looked at him.

  “Lower your gaze,” was his only response.

  Okay, so they were going to be like that. She started undressing. Her hands shook so badly she could hardly accomplish the task, but neither moved to help her. She hadn’t worn underwear since the Ventori started providing her clothing, so she soon stood before them naked—again. She desperately wanted to see their faces, but it didn’t seem like a good idea.

  “Why are you in trouble?” Bron resumed, his voice every bit as gruff as it had been in the lounge.

&nbs
p; “I endangered my best friend.” Her chest felt tight, her heart heavy. How could she have been so careless, so reckless?

  “Correct. What else?”

  She licked her lips, barely able to stand still. Adrenaline was making her jittery. “I flirted with—”

  “No.” His voice sliced like a knife. “Stay focused on Erin.”

  She could do that. Erin was still in danger because of their foolishness. “We were out past curfew.”

  “True. Why did I enact the curfew?”

  With a heavy sigh, she admitted, “To keep us safe.”

  He circled her slowly, hands clasped behind his back. “Was Erin the only one endangered by your behavior?”

  “No, Sir. I put myself in danger as well.”

  “And who are you? Why is your safety so important?”

  She tensed, unsure what he meant. “I’m…” Nobody. A chubby department store clerk, one among thousands.

  “Who are you to me?” Bron prompted.

  Her eyes widened and she glanced at him then back down. His expression was fiercely protective, almost predatory. Of course. “I’m your potential mate.”

  “Am I important? Is LeAuntiez?”

  “Of course, Sir. It’s your job to protect the entire Earth. If it wasn’t for you and your men, humans would be dead or enslaved by the Skarilians.”

  “Then is the safety of our mate any less important than Erin’s safety?” He moved in close, his voice soft and textured with both menace and sensual promise.

  “No, Sir. I was wrong to take such risks. It was foolish and it won’t happen again.”

  He wrapped his hand around her throat, banding her flesh without squeezing. “We’re going to make damn sure of it.”

  She trembled, knees nearly giving out.

  “Bend over the ottoman, ass in the air.” He moved his hand so she could obey.

  No longer sure if she could remain standing, she knelt and laid her torso across the ottoman. The smooth leather felt cold against her breasts and cheek. Bron walked up behind her and pulled her hips up, raising her ‘ass in the air.’ But then he moved to the other side of the ottoman and sat in the matching chair. He gathered her arms, pulling them up on either side of her head. He held her hands as if to keep her from—

  Her ass cheeks were pulled apart and she gasped, trying to look back. It was no use. Bron held her down and she’d momentarily forgotten about LeAuntiez. She’d been focused on Bron, presuming he was going to punish her.

  LeAuntiez spread cool gel around her anus. He’d been busy while he waited for Bron and her to arrive on the skimmer. He teased the puckered opening, making her squirm. “Hold still. You will accept your punishment without struggle. That’s part of submission.”

  Was he going to fuck her ass, drive his big cock into her like Becky’s mates had done? Kyla couldn’t stand the tension and blurted, “What are you going to do?”

  “What needs to be done.”

  This was why Bron was holding her down. They didn’t want her to see what was coming. Anticipation and uncertainty were part of the punishment. She stilled, sinking deeper into the moment, focusing on what her body was telling her rather than the chaotic thoughts twisting through her mind.

  “Better. Try to relax.” LeAuntiez rubbed her firmly for a moment, then slowly pushed inside. The angle made it seem like he was using his thumb. Moments later his fingers played with her folds, confirming the position of his hand in her mind.

  “Stop thinking and feel.” His free hand reached around her hip and plucked her clit, ensuring she follow his advice. “Feel my thumb sliding in your ass, and my fingers in your pussy.” As he pulled nearly out with his thumb, he positioned his fingers and then pushed into her together. “No matter what I do to you, no matter how good it feels, you are not allowed to come. If you do everything we say without argument, the pleasure will come later. Much later.”

  He filled her with short, hard thrusts, his other hand continuing to lightly pluck her clit. Pleasure built inside her, rapidly carrying her toward a sharp climax. “Stop, please stop,” she cried. “I’m really close.”

  “Fight it off.” LeAuntiez released her clit for a moment, but didn’t withdraw his fingers or slow the motion of his hand. “Pleasure must be earned.”

  She gritted her teeth and frantically fought back the urgency as her body threatened to betray her.

  “It works better if you relax,” Bron told her, his voice soft and throaty. The bastard was enjoying this! “Concentrate on your breathing.”

  She closed her eyes and followed his advice, but LeAuntiez wasn’t helping at all. He rotated his hand, sliding his fingers out of her pussy. His thumb withdrew next and she breathed a sigh of relief, but the reaction was premature. He positioned his fingers against her anus and slowly pushed inside. Was that just two fingers? They felt enormous. How in the world was she ever going to take his cock?

  “Your body belongs to us now. You belong to us. Never again will you endanger yourself. Is that clear?” He punctuated the question with a series of super-fast thrusts, rocking her against the ottoman. It didn’t hurt, but the wet slapping sounds made her feel degraded, used. There was no tenderness in this, no connection. He’d basically done the same thing this morning after her spanking, but the contrast was glaring.

  He shoved in all the way, then pulled up until her anus stretched and stung. “I asked you a question.”

  She cried out, shocked and humiliated by his harsh treatment. “Yes. I understand.”

  He lowered his hand, then slowly removed his fingers. She felt strangely empty and alone. More gel drizzled onto her abused rear opening. She tensed, then shivered as he worked it inside with the tantalizing slide of those wicked fingers. She’d just begun to enjoy the sensations, when he pulled his hand away and positioned something larger. Was that his cock? No it wasn’t warm, like flesh. More like a butt plug or dildo. She’d done this sort of thing before, but the toy she used was smaller than a cock, probably smaller than two of his fingers. She liked the slide. It always made her feel naughty. But she feared the stretching pain of anything more invasive.

  He drove the toy inward with steady pressure. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, even push out against the invasion.

  “Take it,” LeAuntiez ordered. “This ass is ours and we intend to use it often.”

  Dark desire curled through her as she imagined LeAuntiez filling her, using her, stretching her until she screamed with the pleasure/pain. Her sphincter gradually spread, opening for whatever he was working inside her. She clenched and unclenched her hands, fighting hard not to struggle or tense up.

  The slow burn flared into actual pain for a split second, and then the stubborn muscle contracted around a narrowing and she sighed. Definitely a butt plug. She’d seen images of them on the internet, back when the internet was still operational.

  “Good girl,” he praised, but he wasn’t finished.

  She heard the familiar hum of a vibrator and groaned. If she wasn’t allowed to come, this was going to suck. He traced her slit with the toy, awakening nerve endings she thought she had under control. His free hand wandered over her ass, down her legs and up onto her back. And that horrible toy slid over her sex, pushing just barely inside her pussy, then circling her clit.

  Her arousal built quickly, helpless against all the new sensations. But LeAuntiez knew how to read her body, when to push her and when to pull away. Over and over he brought her to the brink, then denied her the reward. She whimpered and moaned, moving her head to one side and then the other. Still, she couldn’t escape the persistent stimulation.

  “Please!” she cried as yet another orgasm fizzled away. “Either stop or let me come!”

  He turned off the vibrator and set it aside. “This is your first real punishment, so I’ll go easy on you.”

  This was easy? Her core ached and her clit felt swollen and over-sensitized. Even her nipples hurt from rubbing against the ottoman. “Will you please take that thing out?
It feels really strange.”

  “It stays until morning,” LeAuntiez stated emphatically.

  “Why?” She twisted around so she could look at him. “I didn’t resist. I stayed still like you told me to.”

  “That’s not part of the punishment. You need it, love. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He was stretching her, ‘training’ her, so she could take his cock without pain. She was glad for the precaution, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

  “Besides, I love the way it looks. There’s a sweet pink jewel tucked between your soft, round cheeks. Adorable.” He squeezed the cheeks he’d just praised then lightly swatted her. “I think it would look even better with some more color. What do you say, Bron?”

  Letting go of her hands, Bron stood and they switched places. Now LeAuntiez held her down and Bron stood behind her.

  Her heartbeat thundered through her veins. If LeAuntiez wasn’t going to fuck her ass, then this would be a more conventional punishment. Which likely meant pain. But what would Bron use—firm open hand, a paddle? Oh, shit, what if he had a flogger or some sort of whip? All those things had been titillating to look at, to read about and imagine. The prospect of actually being hit by any of them was not nearly so tantalizing.

  Bron ran his hand along her back as he shifted position. “Your skin is so smooth, so pale for a human. Do you never go outside?”

  “Sunscreen.” Her voice broke, so she swallowed and tried again. “I burn really easily.” She was still horribly aware of the plug lodged deep inside her. It didn’t hurt, just felt intrusive.

  Bron’s fingers contoured to her ass cheek. Why did they keep doing that? Good thing they had big hands. She cringed at the denigrating thought. What more could they do to assure her that they liked her body just the way it was? She was being ridiculous.