by Lily Harlem
Suddenly Gast straightened. He stared past Walden and out of the window. “Someone is coming.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Who is it?” Walden turned.
“I’m not sure.” Gast urged Briella to her feet. “Onto your cross.”
“Yes, Sir.” She set down her drink and hurried to obey.
“And you, slave,” Walden said, also standing.
Nhah stood next to Briella, head bowed. “Who do you think it is?” she whispered.
“I don’t know,” Briella said. “Enforcers maybe, we’re likely due a visit.”
“We’ve only seen them once. The day after I arrived to ensure I’d taken a punishment.” She shuddered. “I don’t like them. I’m glad they’re not my master.”
“I feel the same, and—”
“Quiet,” Gast said sharply. “Remember your place in my dome, slaves.”
“Sorry, Sir,” Briella muttered, clasping her hands together and staring at the floor.
“I cannot see from here,” Walden said.
“No, we’ll go outside,” Gast said, “and meet whoever has journeyed to my dome.”
Briella and Nhah stood in silence, both too worried about upsetting their masters to speak, both concerned about the visitors and their intentions.
Within a few minutes Briella heard familiar voices.
Her heart sagged. It was the enforcers. And it was the same ones who’d visited that first day.
“Ah, so you’re having some kind of party,” the lead one said, his footsteps tapping into the eating room.
“If that’s how you describe a friend calling in for food and company then I guess so,” Gast replied, belligerence in his tone.
The enforcer huffed. “I see you have stuck to the rules, Gastion, and placed an extra cross on the floor while you have a visiting slave in your dome.”
Gast didn’t reply. Briella could imagine the surly expression he’d be wearing.
“And the cot is in here, good,” the enforcer said. “Mark that off the checklist, Baron.”
“Yes.” A new voice, one Briella didn’t recognize.
She stiffened as a shadow slipped over her and Nhah and slid up the wall in front of her.
“And have they eaten, these two slaves?”
“Yes,” Gast said. “We were just about to order them to clear up.”
“Good.”
Briella snatched in a breath. Her short skirt was being lifted. Cool air wafted over her buttocks.
“When did you last punish this one?” the enforcer asked.
“What business is it of yours?” Gast said.
Briella clenched her fists. Her ass was on show to everyone in the room. She didn’t like it, and she had a feeling neither did Gast.
“It’s very much my business; I have to report back to the king that policy is being upheld in all masters’ homes. And this ass, well, it looks only vaguely pink, hardly touched at all.”
“She’s disciplined when necessary,” Gast said.
Briella thought back to the night before. Yes, he’d disciplined her well and truly and her buttocks still held a sting if she rubbed her hand over them. There obviously wasn’t enough color on her skin though, not for the enforcer’s liking.
“And when was that?”
“She was disobedient last night. What can I say, she’s healthy with good skin, she heals quickly.”
“Mmm.” The enforcer flapped her skirt down.
Briella let out her breath, pleased that she was no longer being examined.
“And has she received medication in her ass?”
“Yes,” Gast said, the word sharp and fast.
“I should check.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Gast moved to Briella’s side, his body heat radiating onto her skin.
“That’s for me to decide,” the enforcer huffed.
“No, she’s mine. Medicating in every orifice is what I signed up for and you’ll have to trust me.”
“Why should I trust you when you’re already on your second slave?”
“Through no fault of my own.”
Briella trembled. She’d never heard her master’s voice so low and dangerous. She could almost feel the waves of anger flowing from him.
“I suppose not.” The enforcer paused. “Bend over, slave, I wish to examine your entry points.”
Briella bit on her bottom lip. Humiliation swept through her. She was going to be prodded and poked, examined by these horrible Roun men.
“Do not bend over,” Gast said.
“Yes, Sir.” A tremble attacked her belly.
“You’re playing with fire,” the enforcer said. “Have her bend double, I wish to check for myself that she has been entered in all holes.”
“No, that’s not going to happen. I’m telling you she has and you’ll have to believe me. Besides, how can you possibly know?”
“I just will.”
“No, you want to humiliate me and my slave and that’s not going to happen.”
Silence descended.
Next to her, Nhah let out a small squeak.
Gast shifted from one foot to the other, his shoulder brushing hers.
Briella wanted him to gather her up, hold her, murmur into her ear that everything would be all right.
They’d been having such a nice time and now this…
“I wasn’t aware you and Walden knew each other,” the enforcer said gruffly.
A modicum of relief went through Briella. He’d changed the subject.
“We’re acquaintances.”
“Who live a long way from each other.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Walden said. “But as masters it’s important for us to get together.”
The enforcer huffed again.
“And when we met at the lineup,” Walden continued, “Gast here, being the experienced master that he is, offered me support. This is my first slave; advice is appreciated.”
“We are here to advise you,” the enforcer snapped.
“And that’s welcome; however, since you do not have a slave woman, it is also pertinent for me, as a new master, to take advice from someone more experienced. And as you can see, my new slave is fit and well, her breathing stable, and her bottom nicely rouged.”
Nhah jerked a little and Briella guessed her skirt had been raised.
“So it is, well done,” the enforcer said a little begrudgingly. “Perhaps you should practice what you preach, Gastion.”
“I’ll see that my slave is thoroughly spanked the moment she has finished tidying up this room,” Gast said. “Spanked and beaten until she cries.”
Briella swallowed hard. Another spanking she didn’t mind but a beating till she cried, that injected fear into her.
The enforcer stomped across the room toward the door. “Fun as this is, I’m actually here on order of the king, to deliver notice.”
“Notice of what?” Gast asked.
“Tomorrow is the slave parade. The king insists, as you know, that all the new slaves are presented in full dress and freshly punished, at the main courtyard of the palace at midday.”
“Tomorrow?” Walden said. “That’s not much notice.”
“It’s enough notice. It’s what the king wants and what His Majesty wants, he gets.”
“Don’t we know it,” Gast muttered.
“Watch it,” the enforcer said, his words slashing through the air. “Disrespect will earn you a whipping.”
“I’m not being disrespectful, only stating a fact. The king takes what he wants regardless of the effect that has on others.”
“I should have you taken in for treason.”
“But you won’t.”
Briella locked her fingers together so tight her knuckles hurt. Surely that wouldn’t happen. They couldn’t take her beloved master away. Not now. Not when everything was working out so well.
“No, I won’t,” the enforcer said, “but only because you have a slave to look after.”
Gast d
idn’t answer.
“You’ll be in the courtyard tomorrow, all of you, in full presentation order. If not… well… the consequences will be severe, for everyone, male and female.”
“We’ll all be there,” Walden said. “As instructed.”
“Good,” the enforcer said. “I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure, but this bumpy drive out to your dome, Gastion, it’s nausea-inducing.”
“Knock me off your list next time, then,” Gast replied.
“And wouldn’t you just love that. Goodbye… for now.”
As the enforcer’s footsteps faded, the room went quiet except for the sound of Nhah’s breathing. She had a slight wheeze.
“Suns above, that man makes me want to kick something,” Gast said, his voice steely.
“He enjoys his job too much, seeing Zoid women, touching them. It’s no wonder he’s not a master; the power would go to his head,” Walden said.
“It already has.” Gast wound his arms around Briella and pulled her back into his chest. He breathed deep, as if taking in the scent of her, then touched his lips to her hair.
“We should go,” Walden said. “We have a long journey and then there’ll be much to do to prepare for the parade tomorrow.”
“Of course,” Gast said, releasing Briella.
She missed his arms around her; the gesture had been comforting after she’d been so scared.
“But I hope you’ll come again,” Gast said.
“Yes, we will, and you should visit us. Your slave might enjoy seeing the desert and the cambrels.”
“I’m sure she would,” Gast said, “very much.” He stroked his hand down her naked back.
The feeling of happiness that she’d had before began to soak through Briella. A life here on Roun was good. Her master was kind and considerate and protected and nurtured her. And if she could spend time with her friend, experience some of the wonders this clean planet had to offer, then she’d have more than she’d ever dreamed of.
And now children were being born. Would that… could that happen to them?
She felt giddy just thinking about how wonderful that would be.
“But before we go,” Walden said. “My slave needs medicating. Do you have a room we could use?”
“Of course, the sleeping room is to the left.”
“I remember.” Walden took Nhah’s hand. “Come, slave, I don’t want that wheeze to get any louder.”
They left the room and Gast urged Briella to face him. He tipped her chin up and studied her eyes. “I wouldn’t have let him touch you,” he whispered.
“I know, Sir.” She hadn’t known, but it was nice to hear him say it, in case there was a next time.
“I couldn’t have stood by and watched him poke and prod you like some animal. You’re to be treasured.”
“But… but I’m just a slave, Sir.” She slid her hands up his chest then knotted her fingers behind his neck, enjoying the way her nipples scratched on his chest hair.
“A slave, yes, but not just a slave. You are my Zoid woman, the person I share my dome and my bed with. I will not allow a bitter, twisted man like him to touch your body, a body I hold responsibility for.”
“I wouldn’t like him to touch me.”
“That pleases me.”
“It does?” she asked.
“Yes. I want you to only want me.”
“That’s already the case, Sir.”
He smiled, the softest smile she’d ever seen him produce, then set his lips over hers.
She sighed into his kiss and touched the tip of her tongue to his when he probed past her lips. Thoughts of the enforcers and the parade drifted away. She had no worries if she was in her master’s arms.
* * *
Briella woke the morning of the parade feeling refreshed. Her chest was a little tight, as usual, but her mind was clear and her limbs well rested.
Gast lay next to her, snoring softly, his arm secured around her shoulders.
Gently she stroked over the patch of hair that covered his sternum, then circled his nipples.
He stirred and she looked up at him.
His eyes were cracked open a fraction and he was looking at her. “Hey, beautiful.”
She smiled. “Hey, Sir.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I always do when you hold me.”
He slid his hand over hers, then down to his groin. “You may take your medication orally.”
“Yes, Sir.” Her mouth watered just at the thought of taking him. His taste, his bed-warm skin, the steeliness of his cock, it was the perfect way to start the day.
She flicked the covers from him and slid lower, until his cock was towering before her face. Carefully she took it in her hand.
He released himself and placed his palm on her head.
She adored it when he did that. She didn’t know why but it was so controlling, yet also held an element of his craving for her.
After sweeping her tongue over his tip, she stretched her mouth wide and lowered onto him.
He moaned and drew his legs up slightly, bending his knees.
This spurred her on. She worked him with extra care, increasing the pressure as the hardness in her mouth grew. She fondled his hair-covered testicles and stroked the patch of skin between them and his anus.
He tightened his hold on her hair. “Ah, slave.”
Saliva dribbled from the corners of her mouth but she ignored it and kept on bobbing up and down. A pearl of salty fluid coated her tongue and she knew he was getting close to his erotic moment.
He bucked his hips. She increased the pressure of her lips, hugging his shaft with her tongue.
“Stars above,” he muttered, then jammed her onto his cock.
Her mouth and throat were full of him as the first rope of semen jettisoned from his tip.
She swallowed greedily, taking it in fast and being careful not to waste a drop.
He released her head and she drew upward, only to dip back down again rapidly and guzzle the next burst of his release.
She rolled his testicles, delighting in the long low groan that seemed to generate in the very depths of his chest as a final spurt of pleasure shot down her throat.
Once she was sure he’d emptied himself into her, she released him and caught his cock in her free hand. Sitting at his side, she continued to fondle his testicles.
“I like it when you do that,” he said, cupping her right breast and flicking her nipple.
“I like doing it.” She smiled and watched his testicles rolling in her palms, soft sacs of skin that she knew were super sensitive and contained what she needed to live.
“Even if you haven’t had the erotic pleasure?”
“Yes. I enjoy your erotic pleasure, Master. Feeling your gratification, your release. I enjoy everything about it.”
He reached for her hand, drew it up from his testicles, then pulled her on top of him.
She giggled as he brushed her hair from her face.
“That makes two of us then, because I enjoy everything about you.”
She kissed him, her heart swelling with love.
Should she tell him? That she loved him? Not the way she loved her parents, brother, or cousins back home. Or the way she cared for and loved Nhah. But a new intense passionate love that made her feel crazy at the thought of not being with him. Of knowing she’d break if he left her, not just physically but also emotionally.
“It’s time to get on with our day,” he said, breaking the kiss and easing her off him. “I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
“Why, Sir?”
“The king is not my favorite person.”
“Why is that, Sir?”
He paused. “It’s none of your concern.”
“Of course, Sir. Sorry for asking, Sir.”
He stood and plucked a chair from the side of the room, set it in front of the vast window. “You will shower, wash your hair, then sit here. I wish the suns to dry you before we begin preparation
s.”
“As you wish, Sir.”
“I will be back in one hour.” He left the room.
Briella stared at the shimmering skyline. It was going to be a hot day. Gast, the man she loved, didn’t like the king… why not?
Chapter Sixteen
Briella stood under the shower fall enjoying the sweet scent of the soap Gast had left for her to use. It was so girly and light, the way she hoped her sunflowers would smell.
After dabbing off the worst of the drips, she wandered naked into the sleeping room and sat in the chair facing the window.
The suns’ rays were hot and powerful and she could feel the last of the water evaporating away.
“You’re ready?” Gast said, stepping into the room.
“Yes, but your breakfast. I—”
“I’ve fed myself, and here is yours.” He set a plate on her bare lap, the underside cool. On it stood a cup and a slab of morning protein. “You can eat while I braid your hair.”
“Yes, Sir. As you wish.”
“I do.”
He reached for the brush that sat on the dresser, then began to carefully ease the tangles from her long locks. He was so gentle, so tender that she became almost hypnotized by his movements.
“Eat,” he said, “it will be a long day.”
“Yes, of course, sorry, Sir.” She began to nibble at her breakfast.
Her hair was practically dry by the time he’d finished brushing it and sectioning it off. And by the time he’d plaited it in several long strands, she was getting quite warm in the sunshine.
“It’s nearly finished,” he said when she fidgeted.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“And it’s very becoming like this.” He set about pinning the long braids on the top of her head, like a crown.
After a few minutes he took the plate from her and held out his hand. “Come, that is the first stage of preparation for the parade complete.”
“Are there many more stages, Sir?”
“A few.” He led her to the cross in the corner of the sleeping room. It had stood dormant since the flogging on her first day. But now it seemed it was to be used again.
As he put the plate on the bed, he nodded at it. “Step up there.”
She swallowed, wondering if the flogger was to be taken to her ass again. It seemed the king was expecting the slaves to have marked skin on their buttocks, and the more heavily rouged the better by the sounds of it.
