Chapter Five

J’Ssett stared at her and shook his head. “That is not the outfit the master ordered you to wear.”

Cam raised her chin. “That was not an outfit and I am not wearing it.”

The day had passed quietly enough. She had spent more time talking to Sonda and Leeda. Eventually they drifted away and she returned to her room and resumed her reading lessons. Once again, she fell asleep in her chair. After she woke, she took a long soak in the bathing pool. When she emerged from the bathroom, the lights in the atrium had gone out and the great space was dark once more. The so-called outfit had been lying on her bed. Sonda had poked her head in to let her know that she was to get dressed and be ready when J’Ssett returned for her in an hour.

When she picked up the clothing, she discovered that it consisted merely of a series of fine gold chains and some thin wisps of silk. She wasn’t even sure how to put it on and she wasn’t about to try. Instead, she had chosen another halter and sarong, this time in soft gold silk. She chose not to think too much about why she had chosen clothing in what appeared to be Kievan’s favorite color—or why she had taken advantage of the cosmetics in the bathroom to darken her eyelashes and add color to her lips.

J’Ssett appeared on schedule and he was obviously concerned about her failure to obey, but damned if she was going anywhere in gold chains. Surely she could explain that to Kievan; she could appeal to that softer side he occasionally revealed. The small alien read the decision on her face, shook his head again, and headed for the door. The outer lounge was empty and Cam followed quietly in J’Ssett’s tracks, attempting to project a meekness she did not feel. At Kievan’s door, he knocked once, opened the door for her to step inside, and then closed it quietly behind her.

Her heart beating unexpectedly hard in her chest, Cam’s eyes went straight to Kievan. He was seated at the desk, bent over a screen, and he didn’t look up immediately so she was able to study him. Her eyes traveled appreciatively over his handsome alien features and the muscled perfection of his chest visible through the open vest. But she could also see the tension in those broad shoulders and she had a sudden desire to walk up behind him, wrap her arms around him, and nibble kisses into the strong column of his neck. Her nipples tightened at the image. Damn, what was wrong with her?

As though aware of her appraisal, Kievan looked up, a half-smile curving his lips until he took in her appearance. The smile remained but his eyes hardened.

“Take them off.”

Cam stared at him. “What?”

“Take off those clothes.” She hesitated and the smile disappeared. “You have already earned one punishment for disobedience. Do not make me add to it.”

The door was temptingly close and the urge to run was almost irresistible. She still had no idea exactly what he meant by punishment but, especially after her earlier conversation with Sonda and Leeda, she was terrified of the prospect. However, if she believed the rest of the conversation, even if she did manage to escape, her situation would not improve. Biting her lip, she reached behind her neck and unfastened the halter. Trembling fingers untied the sarong. Kievan had returned to his screen but he was obviously aware of her actions because as soon as the silk whispered down her legs, he pointed to the floor at his feet. “Kneel.”

Anger and fear fought for dominance but fear won—barely. She crossed the floor and knelt at his feet, trying to remember the correct posture from the morning. He glanced at her briefly but didn’t make any adjustments to her position before returning to his screen. He then proceeded to ignore her.

Cam tried to be patient, but without the pillow her legs were getting sore and her back was starting to hurt. She tried to move subtly to ease the discomfort but as soon as she did, his hand came down on her shoulder.

“Keep still. Each time you move, I will add a stroke.”

A stroke? Oh god, a stroke of what? Panic momentarily filled her head and it took several deep breaths before she calmed enough to realize that his hand was still on her shoulder. What’s more, it felt good there—warm and comforting. Her body relaxed the tiniest fraction. They remained in that position as he continued to work. After a long, silent interval, his fingers started to stroke her shoulder, before moving up to curve around her neck and then higher to cup her cheek. With a sigh she nuzzled into the warmth of his hand and then froze as she realized that she had moved. She looked up and he was watching her. His eyes were warm again.

“Responding to my touch is never a problem, little flower,” he whispered, and unexpected tears filled her eyes at the warmth in his voice. When he spoke to her like that, he actually seemed to care. “I think that’s enough for now.”

He stood up and pulled her carefully to her feet, holding her steady as the circulation returned to her legs. Unfortunately, as her steadiness increased, so did her embarrassment. She was standing there naked while he was still fully clothed. Her cheeks flamed and she studied the floor.

Kievan grasped her chin and raised her face so that he could see her eyes. “Never be ashamed of your beauty, my pet. It gives me great pleasure to see you—all of you.” He was still using his warm voice and her cheeks flushed for an entirely different reason as his hand dropped and his fingers skated lightly across her erect nipples. Her breath caught and she swayed slightly toward him. He smiled but put his hands on her arms and held her at arm's length. “We’ll get to that. But first, you are still going to be punished.”

“That wasn’t being punished?” She stared at him in shock and his lip twitched but his voice was firm.

“No, that was training you to behave. You are being punished for disobeying my order regarding your clothing.”

“But I couldn’t wear that. It was just chains. Even if I could have figured out how to put it on, it didn’t cover anything,” she protested.

“As opposed to what you’re wearing now?” he asked dryly. She had to admit he had a point, but he continued without requiring her to concede it. “What did I tell you this morning were your duties?”

She really didn’t want to answer that but she forced out the words. “To obey you and to pleasure you.”

“Exactly. I chose that outfit for my pleasure. You chose not to pleasure me by wearing it and you disobeyed me. Therefore, you will be punished.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper. “How?”

Instead of responding, he reached back to the desk and retrieved two gold chain bracelets, each link consisting of a smaller wires forming a small rosette. Once he fastened them around her wrists, the catch disappeared. They were beautiful and she admired the gleam of the gold against her skin. She opened her mouth to thank him but he was already reaching for two more. These matched the first set but were slightly longer and she eyed them with uneasy suspicion as he bent to fasten them around her ankles. Her thoughts flashed back to the metal cuffs the slavers had used, but those heavy metal bands were a far cry from these delicate golden links.

“What are those?” she demanded.

He laughed softly and the low rumble sent a shiver of pleasure up her spine in spite of her trepidation. “Let’s just say that they will help you learn to please me.”

She eyed him warily and he laughed again before leading her over to the golden wall sculpture. Keeping one hand on her wrist, he manipulated another control panel until the wall began to rearrange itself. A broad, padded shelf slid out of one section and two narrower padded shelves followed, one on each side of the wider shelf.

“Oh god. What’s that?” She tried to back away but his grip was too strong.

“It’s called a spanking bench. I can’t say that you’ll enjoy it, but I know I will.”

Once again she tried to back away but he lifted her with humiliating ease and placed her face down on the wide shelf. Two openings in the surface left her breasts exposed. Keeping her in place by the simple expedient of leaning his weight across her back, he pulled her arms down on each side. There was an audible click and her bracelets locked in place, keeping her hands extended out and down. Her legs were bent and placed on the narrow shelves, the ankle bracelets also locking into place. Her ass extended over the end of the bench and she flinched in horror as the narrow shelves moved apart until she was spread open before him.

“Very nice.” One large, warm hand stroked her bottom while the other hand reached forward to caress a hardened nipple. A flare of arousal rushed through her so quickly that her head spun. She tried to pull against her bonds but couldn’t move a muscle. To her shame, that only added to the arousal. The hand stroking her bottom dipped lower and her cheeks flamed again as she felt how easily it slipped between her damp folds.

“Hmm, perhaps you will enjoy this after all.” Kievan’s voice was husky. One thick finger circled her suddenly throbbing clit and her hips instinctively tried to arch into his touch. Her inability to move sent another rush of heat between her legs. Kievan leaned over her pinned body as he stroked her and the heat of his large body was both arousing and oddly comforting. His spicy scent surrounded her and filled her senses. He added another finger, pressing against her entrance and awakening all of the nerves in the tight passage but never plunging inside. She started to pant. He kept circling and pressing, teasing her until her body was quivering for release. His other hand continued to work her nipple, rolling it between his fingers and increasing the pressure until it throbbed in time with the ache between her legs.

“Please.” Her voice was so hoarse she could barely recognize it.

Instead of answering her plea, he removed both hands. A sob escaped her lips before she could muffle it.

“Now, little flower, time for your punishment. Since this is your first time, I will only use my hand. You will receive ten strokes and you will count each one. If you lose count, I will begin again. Do you understand?” His voice was still husky but there was no trace of compassion in it. She forced her mind to focus on his words and managed to squeak out a yes.

Without further warning, his hand slammed down across one cheek and her bottom exploded into fire. She had never been spanked, had never felt anything like that before in her life.

“Count,” he reminded her.

“One,” she finally managed.

“Very good, pet.” His voice was approving and his hand moved across the fiery sting, drawing some of the pain away.

The next stroke was worse and she cried out but remembered to count. Each time she counted, he rewarded her with a soothing touch but by the time the fifth stroke arrived she was crying uncontrollably. His hand no longer helped to ease the pain but then his finger moved back between her legs and she slid back into arousal with dizzying speed. After each of the last five strokes, he stroked her swollen folds. Her whole body was on fire, torn between pain and arousal, her mind barely able to process the conflicting sensations. As soon as she whispered the final number, he pressed down on her clit while he drove one long finger deep inside her. Her back arched impossibly against the restraints as she screamed and came in mind-numbing convulsions.

Cam floated on a fuzzy pink cloud. She was vaguely aware of the shelf beneath her body and of the fiery glow of her abused bottom, but they seemed very distant. A warm hand stroked her back and it felt nice—very nice—but that was distant, too. Kievan’s voice finally penetrated.

“Little flower, answer me.”

“Hmm?” Had he asked her something? She tried to focus but she couldn’t remember the question.

“When did you eat last?” he asked patiently.

She tried to wave a hand, mildly surprised when it responded. “Berries…pool…earlier,” she finally mumbled.

A low laugh sent a pleasant shiver through her body. “I think I had better feed you before we continue with my plans for the evening.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Another low laugh and this one was even nicer since somehow she was cradled in his arms and she could feel the vibration against her chest. Sighing, she nestled closer and buried her head in his neck, breathing in his amazing scent as she drifted off to sleep.

Kievan stared down at the small woman curled so trustingly in his arms. She was beautiful; her face was still flushed from her climax, and her body warm and soft in his embrace. Carrying her easily, he ordered food and went to place her on the bed. He felt curiously reluctant to put her down and when he tried, her arms tightened sleepily around his neck and she burrowed closer. Unwilling to dislodge her, he carried her to the couch instead, sitting down with her in his lap.

He almost groaned as her soft ass settled on top of his erection. His cock had been aching steadily since he had seen her standing at the door, beautiful—if not obedient—in gold silk, and looking at him with that intriguing mixture of desire and defiance and fear. Having her soft body kneeling at his feet while her tempting fragrance teased him had only added to the pain. And then her reaction to his punishment—and his touch—had been even better than he had anticipated. The sight of her creamy skin reddened by his hand, her swollen folds dripping with her arousal, and her beautiful face taut with ecstasy had almost driven him to take her right there on the spanking bench. But when she collapsed into a dazed heap he managed to restrain himself. As on the previous evening, he wanted her wide awake when he entered her for the first time—no matter how much he wanted her now.

When a quiet knock sounded at the door, he covered her with a blanket. It had never occurred to him to cover a slave before—their bodies were for his enjoyment—but the thought of exposing her naked body to anyone else angered him. A brief flash of astonishment crossed his normally impassive servant’s face before he placed the tray of food on the low table. Kievan raised a brow and the servant’s face paled. Bowing hastily, he left the room, but Kievan couldn’t sure be that he had quelled the man enough that his uncharacteristic actions wouldn’t be discussed in the servants’ quarters. He sighed and dismissed the thought; if he needed to make an example of the man, he would.

Turning to the tempting bundle in his arms, he stroked her cheek until her eyes opened. Sleepy blue eyes stared up at him and then she smiled. His chest tightened but he ignored it.

“Time to eat, little flower.”

“Okay,” she whispered, but made no attempt to move. He laughed and lifted her up, keeping her in his lap while he fed her sips of a healing broth. She drank obediently but her eyelids kept fluttering closed. After the soup, he tempted her with a creamy dessert, letting her suck the rich mousse from his fingers. The feel of her warm mouth closing around his fingers as her small tongue lapped at the treat sent shockwaves straight to his cock. She wiggled against him and her nipples budded but her eyes were still heavy. As soon as he removed his fingers, her eyes closed and she turned into his chest and went to sleep.

Despite his aching cock, he felt unexpectedly content. Apparently the Sardoran instinct to provide for his female was more deeply ingrained than he realized. His jaw tightened; she was not his female; she was his slave. Since he never allowed slaves to sleep with him, he should have her returned to her room. The idea did not appeal to him and he finally dismissed it. He intended to take her as soon as she awoke in the morning so it would be easier for him if she was already here. Decision made, he rose easily to his feet, taking care not to disturb her as he carried her to his bed and crawled in behind her.