by Ivy Barrett
He chuckled. “I don’t need permission to discipline my mate, or even my potential mate. This is not sexual. Besides, your genetics supersedes the contract you signed.”
They were not human. It was foolish to expect them to behave like humans. She’d heard all the justification, but they didn’t calm the emotions raging inside her now. “The chancellor promised us that nothing would be forced on any of us. If you do this, you will be forcing me.”
“I will be teaching you, ensuring that you don’t make the same mistake next time.”
“Next time?” she scoffed. His refusal to soften even a little made her dig in her heels. “You honestly think there will be a next time after this?”
His only response was a cocked brow and the challenge burning in his eyes.
Licking her lips, she tried one last effort to make him see reason. “I didn’t realize orgasms were a ‘mistake.’ I assure you it won’t happen again!”
He turned away, but not before she saw his lips twitching. Was the bastard fighting not to laugh? She was glad someone found this amusing, because she sure as hell did not!
A moment passed and when Sintar turned back around, his expressionless mask was firmly in place. “There are techniques that can help you resist the need to come. I will teach them to you if you like, but that doesn’t resolve this issue. You made no effort to alert me to your distress or to ask permission before you orgasmed. This is not acceptable. Your pleasure belongs to us.”
She stood there seething while he walked to the bed and finally selected his weapon from inside the mystery case. After rummaging around for a few moments, he pulled out a multi-strand flogger. Holy shit. He intended to hit her with that?
He swung his arm several times as he returned to the foot of the bed. The flogger swished rhythmically and bright sparks of sensation tingled across her skin. It had been more humiliating than painful when Tarlon spanked her, and the tenderness had already faded. But this would be the third time in one day that her bottom had paid the price for her temper. She tried not to tense, had learned quickly that clenching her butt cheeks intensified the pain.
“Why are you being punished?” Sintar asked as the flogger made contact with her backside for the first time.
She gasped and breathed through the pain without even trying to speak.
“I asked a question.” Another swat prompted her further.
“You’re flogging me because I foolishly enjoyed having sex with you!”
He swatted each side twice in silence, allowing the sensations to compound. The heat blazed and pain gradually built until the fourth strike drew a strangled cry from her throat.
“Finding pleasure when our bodies join is not against the rules. Now answer honestly.”
Again it was a demand, not a request, but she wasn’t quite ready to surrender. “Your opinion is irrelevant because it’s never happening again!”
“Another lie.” He sounded disappointed, not angry, but his next swing was significantly harder.
Searing pain stabbed into her already tender flesh and she screamed, exasperated as well as hurting. Why did he always push her like this? Why couldn’t he just—another fire-kiss from the flogger scattered her thoughts and ignited her senses. Emotions swelled with sickening intensity. She was unable to combat the pain and her memories, regrets, and sorrow.
Stroke after stroke followed, forcing the emotions closer to the surface. She stopped counting each individual impact, concentrating entirely on holding back her cries as often as possible and reclaiming her numbness, her protective detachment.
When her entire ass throbbed and burned, he moved on to her back. He wasn’t hitting her as hard, but each swing still delivered heat and inescapable pain.
“Stop it!” she yelled, finally breaking her long self-inflicted silence. “Please, stop.” A shattering sob followed the pathetic plea.
“Are you ready to answer honestly?” Sintar’s tone was firm, but not angry. Well, she was angry enough for both of them. She focused on the anger, the one emotion she allowed herself to feel. Anger was strong. Anger was safe. Anger helped maintain her sanity.
“I didn’t ask permission to come,” she admitted in a snarly whisper. She stared straight ahead. She could barely see Tarlon in her peripheral vision, but he didn’t seem willing to interfere anyway.
“Then did you deserve discipline?” Sintar persisted.
All the snide remarks twisting through her mind would only bring her more pain. “Yes. You were right to punish me.” It might be what he wanted to hear but she didn’t believe a word of it. “Thank you, Sir, for this valuable lesson.”
He sighed, though his expression didn’t change. “Your attitude is still unacceptable, but more corporeal punishment at this point would harm you. So we’re going to use another form of punishment.”
Her pain-clouded gaze shot toward his face. “What other form?”
“Punitive penetration.”
Her eyes widened and she rocked on the balls of her feet. Even the subtlest move sent a fresh wave of pain rippling from her neck to her knees. If he meant what she thought he meant, she had to get the hell out of here. “Get me down. Right now!” She yanked against the restraints, twisting and arching wildly.
Sintar stepped in front of her and Tarlon moved around behind.
“I don’t want this. I do not consent!” Panic surged through her discomfort, burning the muddle from her thinking.
Tarlon caught her around the waist and held her firmly in place. “Be still.”
She tried to move but he wouldn’t let her. “Tarlon, please.”
She trembled, dreading what was to come, yet knowing it was inevitable.
Sintar took control of her wiggling body, holding her in place as Tarlon began her punishment.
Carefully parting her still burning cheeks, Tarlon smoothed lubricant around and into her back passage. She cringed and shivered, resisting the dark pleasure his touch elicited. She would not enjoy this, refused to give them the satisfaction of watching her lose control.
“You need this, love. Don’t fight it.” Tarlon sounded much less autocratic than Sintar, but just as determined. Holding her open with one hand, he slowly pushed a finger into her ass.
She sobbed, humiliated and incensed, yet also titillated. How the fuck could she be both? How twisted was that? And why was he doing this? Tarlon was her champion, always there to pull Sintar back when he became too aggressive. “Please.” Another sob tore through her, the violent shudders jostling her breasts.
Sintar lifted her face, searching her gaze as if he could see into her soul. His expression was tense, almost sad. “Accept it, love. Don’t resist.”
“I’m not!” She twisted, trying to dislodge Tarlon’s invading finger. “I’ll let him fuck me, just not like this.”
She felt more lube sliding down between her cheeks and then a stinging stretch as he worked a second finger into the tight opening. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, hating the helplessness even more than the slight discomfort and sense of objectification.
Her clit twitched and her core tightened, jealous of the attention her ass was receiving. Tarlon didn’t reassure her, didn’t caress or tease. This was not meant to arouse—even though it was definitely turning her on. Despite the similarity, it wasn’t sexual. This was brutal domination, inescapable proof of his power over her, and their unwillingness to accept her defiance. He slid his fingers in and out, stretching her, as he spread the slickness inside and out.
“Please stop. Please!” Even as the words left her mouth desire rolled through her, making her moan. She wanted this, needed it. She craved punishment and pain, desperately wanted them to use her. Only her pride stood in the way.
Tarlon withdrew his fingers and carefully pushed his cock into her ass. The smooth tapered head entered easily, but he was thick and long. So very long. The fullness invaded deeper and deeper with slow steady pressure. She tossed her head and twisted her body, unable to escape the emo
tional tempest brewing all around her. She arched her neck, eyes tightly closed as another harsh sob tore from her throat.
“I hate you! I hate you both so goddamn much!”
She felt betrayed and humiliated—dirty. So why was she so close to coming?
He pulled nearly out, then filled her again, forcing more unwanted emotions to the surface with the impact of his hips.
Sintar framed her face with his warm hands, drawing her more fully into the moment. “Open your eyes.”
She tried to turn her head, but his hold was as unrelenting as Tarlon’s on her hips. There was no escape, no comfort, just punishment, degradation, and unwanted arousal. As if of their own volition, her eyes opened and her gaze locked with Sintar’s.
Compassion, even tenderness glowed in his strange alien eyes. Not now! She had to remain angry or she would never survive this.
“You can do it,” Sintar insisted. It was part encouragement, part command. “We’re here for you.”
Her next cry was anguished and broken. Tears flowed freely from her eyes. Tarlon didn’t stop. He rammed his cock into her with punishing force, jarring her entire body with each ruthless stroke. She came so hard she screamed and sparks of light danced in front of her eyes.
Sintar stroked her face and whispered encouragements. She yelled and screamed, sobbing helplessly as emotions flowed out of her in purging torrents. Another orgasm tore through her body, but she barely registered the release. Her emotions eclipsed physical sensations and made it impossible to think.
She emptied years of resentment and fear, heartache and loss. Tarlon slowed for a moment, allowing her to catch her breath, or maybe to keep himself from coming. Then he was right back at it, fucking her fast and hard.
Her head swam and her belly clenched, her pussy achy and needful. She wasn’t really aroused anymore, just confused and restless. The emotional tumult gradually receded, leaving her weak and depleted.
“She’s nearly gone,” Sintar warned, moving close enough that she could lean against him.
Tarlon jackhammered into her, and then came with a muffled groan. She felt the warm gush of his cum and strange tingles erupted all over her body. Her punishment was finally over, her humiliation complete.
Sintar held her as Tarlon pulled out and unhooked her from the ceiling. Then Tarlon picked her up and carefully placed her on the bed. A fresh rush of emotion had her sobbing all over again. Seeing her distress, Tarlon climbed onto the bed and propped himself against the headboard. She moved between his legs and rested her head on his chest. He was her tormentor. Why in the universe was she expecting comfort from him? But he held her securely, stroking her back and hair.
Utterly empty and exhausted, she soon drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Five
Tarlon smoothed the hair back from Nikki’s face, tenderness swelling inside his heart. She slept like a babe in his arms, exhausted, yet trusting. It had been half an hour since they facilitated her emotional breakthrough. It was hard to tell how well it had worked, or if it had worked at all. Yes, she’d released a lot of pent-up emotions, but would she understand that they had only punished her to trigger the cathartic reaction? Well, she had come without permission, but that never would have earned such a harsh punishment. At least not from Sintar. Despite all his scowls and rule stating, he was not nearly as strict as some.
“Are you sure she’s all right?” Sintar paced beside the bed as he’d been doing since Nikki fell asleep in Tarlon’s arms.
“She’s fine, just tired,” Tarlon assured his brother. “I monitored her emotions the entire time.” Tarlon’s empathic receptors were so sensitive that he kept them shielded most of the time. But this was too important. Despite his reluctance to use his abilities on people who were unaware of them, he’d carefully gauged her emotions as they punished her. “This reaction is almost expected after all we’ve asked of her today.”
“I think it was too much.” Sintar wasn’t a worrier, and he never second-guessed his decisions, so it was amusing to see him like this. “Did you listen to her thoughts? We shouldn’t have pushed her this hard, this soon.”
“You know damn well I didn’t invade her mind.” Strong emotions radiated outward. Technically, she invaded his mind. A scan, regardless of how well-meaning, would have been a violation of her privacy, her trust. “If you’re honestly worried that we harmed her, go get some healing salve. Her back and bottom have several harsh welts.”
“Where?” He stopped pacing and faced the bed, tilting his head this way and that, trying to locate the telltale welts. “I was firm but careful. There shouldn’t have been any lasting marks.”
“That’s why there aren’t any.” Tarlon grinned. “We were both firm but careful. Now stop clucking like a mother hen. She’s fine.”
Sintar ran both hands through his hair then motioned toward the door. “I’ll be downstairs. If I don’t take a few minutes away from her scent I’m going to fuck her again.”
It was doubtful she would have complained, but Tarlon understood the precaution. He’d just enjoyed the blissfully tight grip of her ass and already he was hard again. It might be wise to follow his brother’s example.
He tried to disentangle his limbs from hers, but she clung to him, whimpering softly. So he scooted down, lying beside her until she fell more deeply asleep. Well over an hour passed before she allowed him to leave. He was thrilled that she still turned to him for comfort after what he’d done to her. It had felt amazingly good to him, but he knew it had been traumatic for her.
Sintar was sitting at the small kitchen table, where he’d fucked her earlier. Was that the reason for his location? “She’s finally peacefully asleep,” he informed as he slipped onto the chair across from his brother.
“How do you think she’ll react to our actions?” Sintar sounded so glum that Tarlon wasn’t sure how to cheer him up.
“I think she’ll be embarrassed and won’t want to talk about it, but eventually she’ll understand it was for her own good.”
“She needs to talk about it,” Sintar stressed. “If not with us, then with one of the females. We obviously shook some emotions loose, but she’ll never be free of her past until she faces her demons.”
“Do you have something specific in mind to put her in a talkative mood?”
Sintar shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m working on it.”
They lapsed into silence as they contemplated various strategies. When nothing particularly helpful came to mind, Tarlon let the subject drop.
As the silence became uncomfortable, Sintar said, “I can’t believe it has happened this quickly. I knew bonding fever was powerful, but the thought of being without her is physically painful. I will do anything to win her for us.”
“As will I, but it’s unwise to reveal how badly we need her until she feels the same way about us.” It felt as if they’d switched roles. Sintar was usually pragmatic, assessing every situation logically. Tarlon tended to react more emotionally. “Overwhelming her cannot be our only strategy. She’s much more vulnerable than she appears.”
Sintar nodded, looking out the window for a moment. “I thought she’d be harder to break.”
“She’s far from broken.” Tarlon waited until Sintar shifted his gaze back to him. “And now we need to help her heal. She needs to feel safe with us.”
Sintar’s chin came up and his shoulders squared. “I will protect her with my life. You know that. But I can’t change who I am. I will always be strict with her.”
“Part of her needs your aggression. I’m not asking you to change, just bend a little. Let’s make dinner for her, show her that life with us will be more than spankings and demanding sex.”
“Agreed. Loax knows we’re courting. He’ll keep things running smoothly until I’m ready to take over.”
“Loax has basically been running this place since its inception,” Tarlon pointed out. “Will he resist your authority now?”
“Human compatibility changed the focus
of this place. Our interesting social experiment is now a fight to avoid extinction. The stakes have been raised a thousand fold. Involvement of the high command was inevitable. Loax understands that. He’s smart and perceptive, yet he has information vital to this project. I’m going to appoint him as my lieutenant governor. I’m hoping that will allow a smooth transition.”
Tarlon nodded. Every Ventori Defender understood the chain of command. This would honor Loax’s accomplishments and utilize his expertise. “It’s a solid plan.”
Sintar chuckled, pressing back into his chair. “I’m glad you approve.”
“Now that you’ve actually seen the camp, is it better or worse than you anticipated?”
“A little of both,” Sintar admitted. “The perimeter is basically secured by the devastation. This entire area is only accessible from the air, so security will be less of an issue than I anticipated.”
Nodding again, Tarlon asked, “And what was worse than you thought?”
“I thought more bonded pods had been transferred here.”
“How many pods are here and how many have females?” Too restless to sit, Tarlon pushed back from the table and stood.
“There are only six bonded pods, another six are actively courting, and there are ten pods either waiting for carnal companions or hoping for a mate.”
Tarlon filled a glass with water, more to busy his hands than because of any great thirst.
Sintar watched him closely, amusement gleaming in his eyes. “Are you all right? You’re as antsy as a cadet on his first day of training.”
“I thought getting out of that room would help, but I still need her like crazy.”
“There’s nothing in this house that will allow us to prepare a meal for her. Go back to the school and round up whatever we’ll need to wine and dine her.”
“Gladly.” He set down the water and headed for the front door. “Any preference on cuisine?” he asked in the archway leading to the living room.
“Something she’ll recognize, I suppose. We’re trying to appeal to her, not us.”
