Starlight [Warriors of Dareen] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Sara Anderson

  Kara set the towel and brush down and walked out of Laura’s hospital room. It was empty. Even Varnis was gone, which was strange. He had been stuck on Laura like an ant to honey. “Hey,” she called, but there were not even any other sick people in here at the moment. She sighed. Surely it would be fine to go and get a bit of lunch.

  She walked out of the infirmary and tried to remember her way to the cafeteria. She passed warriors who looked down at her in confusion. “Backward knot-heads,” she grumbled. “They think I need a babysitter for every little thing. I think it is another level down,” she said to the wall as she approached an elevator. Joran had taken her there the other day and she tried to remember how they got there. This was a huge ship. She got into it, pressed the down level key, and waited. She would notice if it was wrong and try another floor. The doors opened and she sighed at anther corridor that was identical to the others. Perhaps it was on the other side of this floor. Kara tried humming to herself a bit. It was way too quiet here. She got to the end of a corridor and stopped in amazement. There was a huge, round window looking out into space. Once again, it hit her. She was on a spaceship orbiting the Earth. It was beautiful, seeing the Earth below her and space stretched out in front of her. She placed her hand on the glass and felt the coldness of space seeping in. It was so strange to think that on just the other side of this glass was death. She stared, almost in a trance, when there was a hand on her shoulder.

  Kara jumped, screamed, and turned around all at once. There stood a light-brown-haired warrior. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.

  “I am looking for some lunch.” She scowled at him and crossed her arms over her chest. He didn’t need to scare her and be rude.

  The warrior looked around with a confused look on his face. “You cannot find anything to eat on the prison level.”

  “Prison level?” she squeaked. Instantly, she knew she was in some deep shit with Joran. She remembered his warning to never leave the infirmary without a warrior protector. She had completely forgotten, she was so used to just going and doing as she pleased. Surely, he would go easy on her. No harm done, maybe.

  The warrior grabbed her arm and yanked her along with him, obviously angry. “Where are we going?” she asked, suddenly not feeling so confident that Joran would understand. This guy seemed really upset with her. He may tell him a story and get her in a lot of trouble, and trouble with Joran meant she would spend the evening tied to something while he teased her till she screamed and begged. Maybe that is not so bad after all. There are worse ways to spend an evening, she said to herself.

  He pulled her into an office. “Wait here,” he commanded, and picked up something resembling a radio and spoke in it in that language she now knew was Dareen. It came to life and she recognized Joran’s voice, and her optimism faded. He sounded furious.

  “You are to wait here. Your bonded is on his way,” the warrior told her, giving her a look that she would expect a disappointed babysitter to give a child. For some reason, she wanted to squirm and hide under the table.

  Chapter 13

  Joran drummed his fingers in fury as the shuttle slowly docked into its slot on the warship. She was on the prison floor, the fucking prison floor. Again, the panic, then anger, flared in his blood. His greatest enemy was just feet away from her. If they had escaped, she would have been right there. His hands clenched into tight fists, then slowly released as he tried to manage his anger. The shuttle set down and the doors released. Joran pushed them open and stalked toward the security office. He thanked the Mother of All that his officer found her before she could get into any real danger.

  Kara sat in a chair, shaking, while the warrior that brought her into this office leaned against a desk and stared at her like she was a misbehaving child.

  “I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.” Kara fisted her hands in her lap to hide her fear. This huge alien looked like he could tear her apart without any effort on his part and he was glaring at her.

  “What you did or didn’t do wrong is not for me to decide, little human. Your bonded will decide your fate.” He continued to stare down at her, his gold eyes unblinking.

  Kara could not imagine how horrible it would be if these men were her enemies. They all knew how to make a person shake with terror simply by staring at them.

  The door opened and Joran walked in. She took one look at him and cringed. He was a giant mass of fury.

  “Joran,” she began, hoping to plead her innocence, but he cut her off with one menacing look. “Please listen to me,” she begged.

  “Hush, we will talk when I take you home.” Joran turned his attention to the other man. He clapped him on an armored shoulder and the two men spoke in their own language to each other. Kara felt like a child that was in deep trouble and she was waiting for her fate. That was ridiculous, though. She was a twenty-five-year-old woman, not a child. They ended their conversation and Joran turned his attention to her. He pulled her up out of the chair and drug her along with him.

  “Don’t you even want to hear what I have to say?” she asked as she ran to keep up with his long strides.

  He ignored her until he got her into their apartment. He took her straight to the bedroom and threw her on the bed. She bounced once before settling in the middle of the bed. She had never seen such an intense look to his eyes. Joran was right behind her, crashing on top of her, just barely leaving enough room not to crush her.

  “Joran?” she yelped but had no other chance at words. Joran grabbed her hair hard and held her head at the perfect angle to claim her lips. His mouth crashed down on hers. There was nothing sweet about this kiss. He was like a feral animal as he took her mouth. He was savage as his mouth moved.

  He released her hair and pulled up slightly, his face still all menacing as he stared at her. “Get this off, now,” Joran grated out as he pulled her shift up.

  Kara helped him pull the light fabric up and over her head, then tossed it somewhere over his shoulder. He grabbed her panties and ripped them from her body in one yank. The fabric shredded with a tearing sound before he turned his attention to her bra. He unclasped the front and yanked it off of her, leaving her naked under him.

  Joran leaned up slightly and looked her over as if making sure she was all there, perfectly whole. He leaned down and claimed her lips again. This time he was a gentle lover. He was tender as his lips coaxed her to open for him and he caressed her body. Slowly, every nerve came awake for him. His hand found her heated core and he gently pinched her clit, bringing her body to life in fiery need.

  Kara ran her hands over the smooth contours of his back armor. She moved her hands lower to cup his ass and when he found her pussy, she dug her nails into his steel muscle. She moaned and pushed her hips up to meet his throbbing cock. Only Joran could take her from fear to burning need in this short amount of time. She panted and wiggled her hips, hoping he would fuck her hard now.

  Joran broke the kiss and stared into her eyes. He placed a hand on either side of her face. His look was so tender, so loving. “You scared me. I have never known fear as I knew when Diviak informed me where he found you wandering around.”

  “I was trying to find the cafeteria,” Kara told him while tracing his lips with his fingers.

  “I know. I do know you did not intend to end up in a secure area, but what were you told to do?” he asked her with a hard look.

  “I don’t understand, no one told me anything.”

  “When I gave you permission to sit with your friend while I was on duty, what were my instructions to you?” he demanded.

  Kara shrank into the bed at his dangerous tone. “You told me to never leave the infirmary. But I—”

  “But nothing,” he cut her off. “You were given those instructions for your own protection.”

  Kara flinched. The anger was back, but behind the anger she saw fear. She had scared him and for that, she felt truly sorry.

  “I’m sorry.” She tried to soothe his anger by running
her hands along his arms.

  “I have gone light on your punishments because you do not understand our culture, but this…” He shook his head. “You knew not to leave, yet you did so anyways. You could have been harmed if the Shara had broken loose.”

  Kara had thought perhaps she would get out of a punishment, but by the dangerous glint in his eyes, she knew she was in for it now. Her heart rate accelerated as real fear set in. She knew by that look he was not going to just deny her an orgasm for an hour or so, then fuck her senseless.

  “Would it help if I told you I was sorry?” Kara smiled up at him hoping it gained her some mercy.

  “I already know you are sorry, my lenora. So am I, but it is my duty as your warrior to punish you.” He got up off the bed, still fully dressed in his uniform and armor, and pulled her off the bed with him. He pulled a leather-looking strap out of the closet. Kara’s eyes widened at the leather strap.

  “Joran, please, no. I said I was sorry. I simply forgot,” she sobbed.

  “I know you are sorry, but you were warned about why obedience is so important. You did not obey me.” Joran took her to another room and opened the door. There was a padded bench that looked ominous. “Kneel on this bench,” he commanded her.

  “Joran,” she croaked as she sucked air into her lungs. “Don’t do this.”

  Joran dropped the strap and pulled her over to the bench. “Do not fight me, or I will add more to your punishment.”

  “Fuck you,” she screamed, kicking his armored legs before she realized she was only harming herself.

  Joran pulled a pair of handcuffs out of a pouch on his belt. “Cussing at me will not lessen the punishment you are about to receive.” He had her bent over the bench, holding her in place while he clipped the cuffs onto her wrists.

  Kara screamed in pure rage while tears dripped off her face. He grabbed one of her kicking legs, trapping it easily. By the time Joran grabbed her other leg, she was losing the will to fight anymore. She was trapped, and whatever Joran wanted to do with her, he would do. There was nothing she could do to stop him.

  Joran knelt down at her face. His face was full of his own pain as he looked at her tears. “I do not want this either.”

  “Then don’t do it.” Kara hiccupped.

  “I have no choice, it is my duty as your bonded to punish you for not obeying me. I do hope you learn your lesson well and I never need to repeat this.”

  “Bastard,” Kara spat out at him through her tears.

  “I know you are angry. I wish you could understand.” Joran sighed. “I am not going to be near as harsh on you as I would a Dareen woman who is used to obeying. Hold on to these handles.” He guided her hands to the padded handles she was cuffed to.

  “Here is something for you to bite if you feel the need.” He pointed to a leather looking strap she could easily get into her mouth.

  “Joran.” Kara looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Joran,” she screamed when he got up and walked behind her. “Don’t you dare.”

  Kara flinched when a hand stroked her ass gently. “You will receive ten stripes for disobeying me. That is light considering standard is twenty-five. Like I just told you. Since you are not familiar with our ways, I will go easy on you.”

  “That is not easy.” Kara cried.

  “It is, and for your fighting you get another five stripes, and for your foul language toward me, you get another two.”

  Kara squeaked out a strangled sob. “Seventeen. You are going to spank me seventeen times?”

  The door hissed open before Joran could answer. A man slightly shorter then Joran walked in, He may have been shorter, but he had the air of authority about him that made it clear to Kara immediately that this was the captain. His light-brown hair was not yet turning gray, but he had the lines on his face that showed the concern he carried with him for his duty and his men.

  She was just wondering why he was here when Joran spoke. “Kara, this is Captain Aster. He is here as your guardian, to make sure you are not abused.”

  Fear, anger, and embarrassment made her sniffle as she cried. “This is already abuse. I could have had you arrested back at home for this.”

  Captain Aster sighed. “But this is not Earth, this is a Dareen warship. You will be far happier if you acclimate quickly.”

  Joran looked at Kara. “She already knew about obeying me. This is her second punishment.”

  Captain Aster raised his eyebrows. “You punished my charge without my presence.” His voice rose, not in anger, but in authority.

  Joran did not blink, flinch, or show any sign of backing down to his captain. “Her first punishment was orgasm denial.”

  Aster smiled. “What a novel first punishment. Pity it didn’t work.”

  Kara’s anger and humiliation grew as they stood there discussing her as if she was not even in the room, and worse yet, she was bare-ass naked. “Do you mind?” she snapped out.

  Their conversation stopped immediately. “That is another stripe. You never interrupt your guardian and your bonded as they discuss your punishment,” Captain Aster told her with the same disappointment Joran had.

  “So, does this guardian stand around and watch every punishment?” Kara knew she sounded hateful and disrespectful, but she could not stop herself. They had no right to punish her for a simple mistake.

  “No, only the first one is required, and if Captain Aster is concerned, he may require being present for more.” Joran rubbed her ass while he spoke. Kara could feel her sex getting slick with her juices. She was mortified. She could not believe she was getting turned on by a man getting ready to beat her.

  Joran leaned over so he could speak to her soft enough so Captain Aster would not overhear him. “Do not be embarrassed or ashamed,” Joran told her while he stroked her hair. “I am pleased that, despite your fear, you are still finding pleasure.”

  Kara opened her eyes she had closed in humiliation. Joran looked at her like he was proud of her. She had no idea why he would be proud that she was getting turned on at the thought of a good beating.

  Kara shook her head, preparing to deny his claim she was getting aroused. “Do not forget, I can tell when you are lying, my beauty.” Kara glared at him while her face burned hotter.

  The captain stood off in the corner, adding to Kara’s humiliation. She could see him just standing there as if he was waiting for the show to begin. His boots had a shine she was used to seeing on brand new cars.

  She had begun to contemplate how his boots stayed that shiny when, whack. Kara’s body flinched in anticipated pain. It hurt but it was not as bad as she feared it would be. He hit her again. That one stung a little more. Kara almost smiled at the lack of pain. This was the horrible punishment? It hardly hurt at all, if anything it was making her wet with arousal. With each lash of the belt it hurt a little more. Joran’s arm went up than came down hitting her hard. Kara let out her first cry at the pain. Then to her added humiliation it turned her on even more. He hit her again making her let out a scream. She was not sure if she cried from the pain or from the embarrassment of enjoying it. She gripped the handles while trying to kick free of the cuffs on her ankles. Another explosion in her ass and her body that was not locked in place came off the bench.

  “Please, Joran, please stop. I can’t—” Whack. Another blow to her ass cut her off, making her scream. She felt her orgasm start. The blows came quicker now. Kara cried out in pleasure with every lash of the belt. She screamed the entire time, not caring another man stood there watching her make a fool of herself with how loud she was coming. Even with the pleasure mixing with the pain she was unsure if she could handle another one. Her ass was throbbing now.

  The strap fell to the ground at her face and Joran knelt in front of her. He uncuffed her and gently pulled her into his lap.

  “My dear lenora. I am so sorry I had to do that to you.” He rocked her as she sobbed into his armored uniform. “Let it out, let it all out. I am here,” Joran murmured softly while h
e stroked her hair.

  Joran’s gentle urging broke open the dam of emotion in her. She let all the pent-up fear and pain out. She cried because her ass was on fire, she cried because she just had an orgasm while a man she didn’t know watched, she cried for Laura and how she lost herself after her attack, she cried because of the life she lost due to the aliens attacking her. Joran held her close the entire time she cried. She should be angry with him, but he felt too nice and comforting to be angry with. He rocked her while speaking soothingly to her and ran his hand gently over her head and back.

  She should have shoved him away from her, but she continued to cling to him. His uniform became wet with her tears, but he didn’t seem to care.

  Kara’s sobs finally lessened to sniffles before she calmed entirely. She heard the scuff of boots and looked up to see Aster stand up. From this angle, she noticed he, too, had a body thick with muscle. He looked down at them with an expression she couldn’t read. “Your bond has grown quite strong in such a short amount of time. I had stayed here thinking I was going to have to force her to accept your comfort, but I can see that is not needed.” With that, the captain turned and walked out of the room. The door hissed shut, leaving them alone.

  Chapter 14

  Kara took a deep, shuddering breath. She felt cleansed, somehow. It was strange. She should feel violated, abused, and feel hatred toward the man that had just beat her with a belt. Instead, she felt at peace. Everything that had her on the edge of crying no longer seemed to bother her as much.

  Kara wiped her tears off of her face and took a deep breath. Her ass still throbbed in pain, but she was stunned to realize that, emotionally, she felt better. She felt stable again, like she did before her father died suddenly, or discovering that Ryan had been cheating on her.

  Joran’s voice broke her out of her thoughts. “I am sorry I had to punish you like that. I do not ever want to do that to you again, my dear Kara. I cannot stand to feel you in that much distress.” Joran’s tone was full of regret.