Chapter Twenty
Several thousand stares home in on me at once. They’re all hyper-intelligent, ancient creatures who are here to judge not just me, but my entire species. I don’t have a speech prepared, and I’m totally naked. As far as bad dreams go, it’s hard to imagine one much worse.
However, after listening to Kest and thinking about him and Bakan, I know what I want to say. I know what I have to do.
“If not for Agent Kest, I wouldn’t be here today,” I begin, looking at him briefly. “As he told you, he saved my life. I was being hunted down by bad men, all because I tried to do the right thing. It happens on Earth a lot: speaking out gets you in trouble. Now I’m going to get punished for breaching your Council etiquette, but whatever. It’s the right thing to do—no matter how much it hurts… or where it hurts.”
Kest nods, unable to hide a smirk, causing the councilors to laugh.
Good, get them excited.
“Humans are far from perfect. You don’t need to spend a hundred years on Earth to figure that out; a few days are enough. My world has problems—serious problems! But they can be solved, I’m sure of it. We’ve been solving them for centuries, and with your help, we could reach our true potential. We need your guidance.”
I look to Bakan, who glares at me with a fury that could melt steel.
No deal, asshole.
I give him a wink of my own before continuing. “I’m not going to question Agent Kest’s judgment. If he feels humans are in danger of extinction, he’s probably right. But remember what he told you from the start: we’ve come close to the brink before, and we’ve come back from it. Humans join together in times of crisis and help one another. Sometimes it takes a threat to our very existence to make us put aside our differences, but it happens all the time. That is what you’ll see if you invade Earth: humans who will change the world for good… with your help. I promise. Please believe me: humanity is worth saving. Thank you.”
A polite applause sounds out through the chamber as I offer a bow. When I look up, Bakan is out of his seat and marching out, followed by a small contingent of Dominars.
More important, Kest is standing before me, crouching at his knees so he’s level to my eyes. He leans in and kisses my cheek. When I grin instead of scowling, he kisses me again, on the lips.
“Can I continue, pet?” he asks, grinning.
“Yes, sir,” I say.
Kest turns to the audience, who watch with renewed interest.
“What Miss Feyn here says is true. Despite everything I’ve said, there is much about Haley I love, and plenty about humanity to save. Human love can be truly pure—it can be unpredictable in enchanting ways. Their compassion can be just as powerful as their hatred. What they lack in maturity as a species, they make up for in potential. They just need a little help.”
A phallic device emerges from a compartment in the floor. Kest hovers it before me, then lets it sink down, headed toward my pussy. The telerings spread my legs, causing my core to ache, ready to receive the device.
“They’re also great fun to play with, and will make their Dominars very happy.”
I groan as the device spreads apart my soaking entrance and nestles deep inside me. Vibrations begin immediately, causing my bliss to surge.
“You know the rules, pet,” he says.
“Yes, sir,” I mumble, already fighting hard to keep the cresting wave of ecstasy at bay.
He pats my head, then turns back to the audience. “Praetor Bakan would have you believe that there is no hope for humanity, and thus they are not worth our time. He’s wrong. Haley here was ripped from her home and dragged to the other side of the galaxy. She’s shown incredible bravery and resilience; so many humans in her position would have utterly lost their sanity. The fate of her species has been placed on her shoulders, a pressure no human could be expected to endure. Isn’t that right, pet?”
“Oh, God,” I moan, enduring plenty of pressure.
“Haley’s done what’s right for her people at every turn. She may be an above average human specimen, but she is not alone in having these qualities. I believe, with our help, all of humanity can rise to her level.”
Kest kisses the top of my head and reaches down to my clit, rubbing it softly. “Okay, pet, you may come.”
My orgasm erupts, overwhelming my entire body. Though I scream, the sound is drowned out by the applause of the Council.
He did it!
The sound is deafening. When I open my eyes and scan the audience, the entire body seems in motion, standing and clapping. Whether it’s from the thrill of success, or the inescapable sensations pouring through the device, I come again and again, howling and shaking in euphoria and relief.
“Thank you all,” Kest says as the applause fades. “We will speak more during the deliberations. Please submit your questions, and we will proceed soon. Now, I must attend to my pet.”
My last orgasm lifts me into a trance of bliss so fully, I hardly notice the vibrator sliding out of me or Kest picking me up. By the time it all wears off, we’re back on the tram, surrounded by guards. Though I’m still nude, I’m long past the point of feeling self-conscious in front of the Dominars.
“Is it over?” I ask.
“For the moment. The Council will take time to formulate questions and decide on the best course of action,” Kest explains.
“Will they invade?”
He nods, lifting me to my feet as we arrive. “I think so. The only question is when, and with how much force.”
The guards escort us all the way back to the apartment, and I think they would have followed us in if Kest hadn’t ordered them to wait outside, telling them we wouldn’t take long.
“What now?” I ask, setting myself down on the couch. After standing in front of the Council, nearly frozen in place, it feels wonderful to get comfortable. “Do I have to go back out there?”
“Yes, the Council will want to speak to us both,” he answers, taking a seat next to me. “But don’t worry, Haley. Just be yourself and you’ll be fine—they know what to expect from you now.”
“No problem,” I laugh, letting him lift my legs up over his lap.
“But for now, I just wanted to be with you, alone.” Kest’s smile fades as he climbs on top of me. He brushes my hair out of my face and looks into my eyes. “Haley, I’m sorry I doubted you last night. It was wrong. And I should have told you everything. I didn’t want to jeopardize your support, and that was also wrong.”
“Thank you, Kest,” I say, blinking a tear from my eye. “I get it. You were trying to help Earth. Your heart was in the right place.”
“Thanks,” he replies, kissing my forehead.
“I guess you superior beings aren’t perfect.”
He laughs and caresses my cheek. “I love you, Haley. Whatever happens with Earth and the Council, I want you to know that.”
Adrenaline rushes through me as my heart soars. I feel like a crust of ice around me cracked when Kest and I were on Ohalessa, and now it’s shattered and fallen away forever. For the first time in a long time, I can breathe.
“I love you too.”
Kest’s jaw drops in a relieved smile, and then he kisses me. I shut my eyes and let our connection convey how we feel. The happiness inside me burns, and the passion in Kest’s need tells me what we’re feeling is real. It’s one thing to fall in love on a world like Ohalessa, where everything is beautiful; to find out it was more than just the adventure, that what we share goes beyond our species and circumstances… it proves that love is real, no matter what.
When our kiss ends, Kest lifts up off me and strips out of his clothes. I bite my lip watching him undress, revealing his impeccable form.
“Haley, put your hands on your head and spread your legs,” he says, his tone suddenly stern.
“Okay,” I say, complying.
The chest of drawers opens again, this time so that Kest can retrieve a black leather paddle.
“You’re really going to punish me?” I ask, biting my lip as a tingle of anticipation spreads across my rear.
Kest grins. “It is my duty to uphold the rules and laws of Dominar society,” he explains.
“Seriously? I had to speak! The future of humanity was up to me!”
“And you did very well. Your speech was wonderful. The people of Earth may never know the debt they owe you, but the Dominars do. Still, if you’d just told me before the meeting that you wanted to speak, I would have arranged for it to be part of the presentation. We could have avoided all that squabbling with Bakan.”
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I was mad at you.”
“I know,” he says, wrapping his arms around my shoulder and kissing my cheek. “I’m sorry too. Now stand up straight so we can get this over with.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kest practices swinging the paddle, cutting through the air faster than I can follow.
Oh, God.
“Is this going to hurt?”
“Of course it will,” Kest muses. “But you can take it. And I promise I’ll make you feel better when it’s done.”
I should know by now that there’s no talking my way out of Kest’s discipline, but if he says I can do it, I believe him.
When he begins, he starts with a series of short, mild taps. The leather is cool against my skin; I don’t mind the soft contact, but Kest is only warming up. I stay quiet, trying to build up a reserve of calm and fortitude, but my heart pounds from the anticipation.
The first heavy smack surprises me, even though I knew it was coming. I yelp loudly. It only takes a moment for my cheek to start aching. After another series of taps against the other cheek, Kest snaps the paddle hard, leaving both sides burning.
“You will count the next ten,” Kest instructs. “Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
The next swat is sharp, but Kest was right: I’ve dealt with worse. “One,” I say in a clear voice, determined to take this punishment with strength and dignity. I’m going to prove to Kest, and all the Dominars, that humans can rise to a higher level. I will show them that we can learn, that we can be better than we are—even if getting there means enduring a little suffering.
“Good girl,” says Kest. He runs his fingers over the tormented cheek, causing fresh jolts of pain. I twitch involuntarily, but otherwise keep my reaction in check.
The second slap of the paddle targets my other cheek and hurts just as bad, even though I’m expecting it. Nevertheless, I keep my hands firmly on my head and stay put, trying to exhibit the discipline I think Kest wishes to see.
With each touch of the paddle I shake, savoring the harsh throb. Trapped in my perverse enjoyment of the pain, I lose my concentration, and when I mutter “six,” Kest shakes his head.
“Excuse me?” he says, chuckling. “What was that?”
Oh, crap.
“Six?” I say again, embarrassed at not being sure. For crying out loud, Haley!
“No. That was five. Try again.”
He unleashes a surprisingly hard swing of the paddle, one that makes me lurch forward on my toes. Groaning, I let go of my head and massage my cheek. “Five,” I utter, annoyed at having to receive an extra stroke, simply because I couldn’t count properly.
“Resume the position,” Kest orders, softly caressing my bottom. “You’re doing well, pet.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Once I’ve reset myself, he takes another swing, this time centering the paddle’s aim to torment both my cheeks at once. I receive two more of these, each making me gasp and grunt as the bizarre pleasure warms my core.
By the eighth, I find myself imagining the paddle leaving a pattern of pink imprints on my skin and feel my fluids trailing down my thigh. I’m close to finishing the punishment, but part of me hopes that we’re not quite finished.
“One more,” he says after I count number nine. “Gotta go big this time, okay?”
I inhale as deep as I can before nodding, squirming in place. Then the paddle swings for the last time, and I scream, “Ten!” I let out my relief, tearing up from the pain.
Kest rushes to my side, scooping me up in his arms and cradling me against his chest. “I’m proud of you, Haley,” he says. “You took your punishment very well.”
“Thank you… sir,” I say, still processing the pain of the last stroke. It really hurt, though I’m not sorry. I feel weirdly good. I’m proud of myself for having such resilience, and being held tightly by Kest can make any pain go away. In his grip, under his control, I know I am safe, loved, and needed.
“Now, have you learned your lesson?” he asks, lifting me up so he can kiss my forehead.
“Yes, sir,” I say. “No more interrupting Council meetings.”
He smiles. “I think you’ve earned that reward, pet. Sound good?”
“Yes, sir,” I say, smiling and licking my lips. As soon as I say it, the throb of my bruises begins to fade, and I realize it’s the nanites helping extinguish the pain. For once, I’m happy to have those things.
“That better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Quickly, my strength returns, and I’m left feeling the hard muscles of Kest’s body holding me close. I blush, biting my lip.
“Sir?” I say, throaty and raw.
“Yes, pet?”
“I think I’m actually still in a bit of pain… Do you have another way you could make it go away?”
He laughs, setting me down on the couch. “You are awfully bold for a captive human, you know that right?”
“Is that a no, sir?” I reply. Kest takes his cock in hand, stroking it even though it’s already fully erect. Spreading my legs, I want him now more than ever.
When he plunges his rod into my hungry pussy, we both groan deeply. He thrusts slowly, taking his time, creating a new pulse of bliss with every move. He leans down to kiss me, which starts at my lips and then moves down to my ears and neck, nibbling at each as I writhe. His hand cups my breast, and his fingers tease my nipple, making me yelp from the quick jolts of pain. Kest chuckles at each outburst, then tickles my side.
“Oh, my God!” I shout, cackling uncontrollably.
“How did we go all this time without learning you’re ticklish?” he asks, ruthlessly running his fingertips across my skin.
I shake back and forth, howling with laughter until Kest stops; as soon as he does, he throws himself fully into hammering my aching pussy. My amusement turns to mind-numbing ecstasy as quickly as flipping a switch, and my moans fill the apartment.
“No permission… needed… pet,” Kest says between thrusts.
“Thank… you… sir,” I reply, on the cusp of a powerful climax. I let it go immediately, allowing its energy fill me completely. In seconds, I’m lost in pleasure, beyond coherent thought. All I can do is feel Kest’s every touch until my orgasm is utterly spent and my pussy drips with his seed.
“That was incredible, pet,” he says at last. I’m on top of him now, resting in his grip.
“You too,” I say, my throat dry with thirst.
“We need to get back to the Council, but… in a little while.” He clutches my ass, and I can feel him getting hard again.
As tired as I am, I’m not going to argue. I can already feel my nanites empowering my body to receive him once more.
Kest lifts me up, but whatever he had in mind for us is interrupted by a blast that sends the door of our apartment flying inward, smoke pouring in through the wrecked frame.
Immediately Kest is on his feet, and I’m sitting up on the couch, but there’s nothing we can do: standing before us, in his full battle armor, is Bakan. A pair of Council sentries lie on the floor outside our door, unmoving. Behind Bakan are two more Dominars in matching armor.
“You should have taken my offer, idiot human,” Bakan spits, staring at me.
The first bolt of energy hits Kest. Screaming, I try to stand and run, but the next bolt hits me and all goes black.