I smile and go with him to a long sofa, and we sit next to each other as he holds my hand. His father takes a seat across from us and frowns. “Why would you be afraid to fly? Have you never flown before?”
“No sir, I have not. Until the day of the wedding, I had never left our estate.” I look out the large window and see we’re moving, but I didn’t hear or feel a thing. “My, we’ve already taken off.”
“See, nothing to be getting anxious over,” Kerr says, and he gives my hand a squeeze.
His father clears his throat, and I look back at him to find him looking at our clasped hands. “The idea of keeping someone trapped in one place for so many years is quite barbaric. You are twenty-three years old. You are telling me you have been left in the same place all those years?”
“Yes, sir. The estate is large though and only a few times did I feel trapped. Not often. I have my theories of why the females like me are kept from everything.” I stop speaking as he holds up one hand.
“You have theories?” He chuckles as does my husband, igniting a streak of pure rage in me. “My dear girl, your blood may be made from that of Earth’s finest, but you are inherently female on top of being from Earth. Your theories are most likely incorrect and of low quality.”
“May I be alone, husband?” I snap.
Kerr holds my hand tight. “Why?”
I glare into his eyes. “Because I am not used to being talked down to. That’s why.”
“You should get used to this. It’s how you will be talked to once we get home anyway.” Kerr smiles, and I find I’d like to slap the smile off his handsome face.
My heart is pounding, and I feel like I just might go off and really get myself into trouble. “Please, sir, may I go to our sleeping chamber?”
“No. It won’t help you to acclimate to your new life if I allow that.” Kerr releases my hand and points out the window. “Just watch the sky turn from blue to black and don’t worry about a thing. No one’s asking you to think anyway.”
Keeping my mouth shut, I turn and look out the window. I’ve never been one to curse, but expletives are bouncing around my brain. This will prove harder than I ever imagined.
I try to focus on the gorgeous flying ship we’re in. It’s much like an extremely upscale yacht. A bit larger though. The cabinets in various areas of the vessel are made of a dark, red wood. Kerr told me they were crafted out of some of the ancient trees in the red wood forests on Euthenia.
The entire ceiling has lighting behind it, making it glow overhead. Little remotes in each room can be used to control the amount of light produced and when turned completely out in space, leave one in the most darkness there is possible.
That’s a thing Kerr cannot wait for. He wants to couple in that deep darkness, he thinks it will be otherworldly, which I bet it will. Alone, Kerr and I get along better than I could’ve ever imagined. Perhaps that’s why I get so mad when he acts differently around others.
Kerr’s father laughs a bit, bringing me out of my inner thoughts, and then says, “You have your work cut out for you, son. I told you this would not be as easy as you thought. She has been raised much differently than the females of our planet. The strap may be a thing you have to carry on your side with this one.”
My body tenses with his words and Kerr pats my leg. “Father, please. Kataline will learn how things are done. As far as people from her planet go, I’m sure she’s a far cry from most.”
My jaw is tight from holding back the barrage of words I want to throw at the men. Even Kerr’s compliment is derogatory.
“I just hope your offspring gain your superior intelligence, Kerr,” his father says, and I can’t stop myself.
I get up and walk out of the room and go to our bedchamber. Kerr doesn’t say a word as I leave. He can beat me until I’m black and blue if he wishes, but I will not sit and let anyone talk about me like that.
Once in the small chamber housing a large bed and little else, I sit on the side of the bed and try hard not to cry.
All things in this room are done in shades of silver. Except for the bed which has been covered with a white cloth, soft as the downy feathers of geese. Kerr said it’s a cloth made from the fibers some insect on their planet makes.
Kerr comes in and holds a small tray in his hands. “Kataline, we were about to eat. I know you’re upset with the way my father talks. He’s old and thinks outdated things. It’s one of the reasons I accepted you as an award. I want to change the way people see females on our planet.”
“Then why let him talk the way he does?” I snap.
He sits next to me and places the small, covered silver tray on the bed. “He is the king. No one can tell him not to think or speak in any certain way. I’m sorry it’s like that, but there’s not a thing I can do. Here, eat something.” He pulls the lid off the tray, and I nearly pass out.
Small, wormy creatures move about in what looks like dirt. “Kerr, what is that?”
“Good for you,” he says. “The base is a nutrient mixture, and the protein is hand raised in incubators until they reach the perfect size to give their full content to nourish our bodies.”
“It looks like worms in dirt, Kerr.” I look at the little things move in and out of the dark soil. “It must taste terrible.”
He takes a tiny, silver spoon and fills it then pops it into his mouth. He swallows without chewing and my stomach clenches. “It really has no flavor. Our planet is not like yours. We don’t consume food for any reason other than to nourish our bodies. It’s impractical to do so and leads to obesity. Here, try a bite.”
I hold my hand over my mouth. “Kerr, no! Yuk! Please tell me there’s some food here I can eat.”
“You can eat this food. Here just let me put it in your mouth, and you simply swallow.” He scoops up another tiny spoonful and moves it towards my mouth.
“Kerr! Stop! I will spit that out!” I scoot away from him, and he frowns.
“You will have to eat what we have, Kataline or you'll waste away to nothing. I will not have that. There really is no flavor to it, so what is your problem?” He places the spoon back in the bowl and looks at me.
“They move, Kerr! They move!” I shake my head. “Why do they not even cook them? It’s beyond disgusting!”
“We don’t cook them because it takes the nutrition away. You swallow so quick I swear to you that you never feel them move in your mouth. Now get back here and let me place a bite in your tenacious mouth.” He scoops another bite as I shake my head. “Now!”
His sharp tone has me doing as he’s said and I close my eyes and open my mouth and in goes the stuff. “Swallow!” he orders, and I do.
I open my eyes and smile. I didn’t taste or feel a thing. “Did you really put anything in my mouth?”
He nods. “I did, and you swallowed it. Was it so horrible after all?”
“I didn’t feel or taste a thing.” I run my tongue around my mouth and wonder how that is.
“See. Here, let me give you another bite. It’s not nutritional unless you consume at least five bites.” He fills another small spoon, and I close my eyes and let him place it in my mouth. As soon as I feel the spoon leave my lips, I swallow.
I giggle. “You may have to feed me like this until I get used to eating bugs and dirt, husband.”
Kerr leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Then I will do as you need me to. I know it seems as if I don’t have your back like I told you I did, but I really do. Only in front of others, we must maintain the decorum my planet requires. In due time, you and I will rule, and I swear to you we will make changes.”
Kerr’s mix of stern and soft are somewhat confusing, but I have to admit I respect him for not bending to my will. “Thank you, husband.”
He smiles and says, “Now you must be punished for leaving the room without my permission, Kataline.”
I may have spoken too soon about this respect thing after all!
Kerr
My wife has much to learn
about her new life as a Euthenian princess. The fact is, she cannot get to our planet acting anyway she wants. It is considered treason to disrespect my father or me for that matter.
“You’ll need to undress now so that I can administer the punishment, Kataline. Stand and disrobe.”
Her eyes are filled with fear, and it makes something inside me fill with pain. “Kerr, what are you going to do to me?”
“To disrespect the king or me is punishable by jail or even death, Kataline. You have to be taught to never do what you did, walking out of a room without permission from me. You’ve left me no choice but to make sure you remember. I don’t wish to see your head rolling away from your body after all. I have grown to care for you, and I would miss your company.”
She surprises me as she stands and does as I’ve said. I honestly thought she’d fight me on this.
Kataline looks at me as she pulls her deep blue dress off her shoulders and lets if fall in a puddle of silky fabric at her small feet. “I had no idea, and perhaps a rule book could be made for me. If you have to punish me then just do it and let’s get it over with.”
In seconds, she stands before me naked and waiting. This is going much smoother than I thought it would. I take a cord and run it around her wrists and then take her to face the wall. Pulling her hands up I loop the cord over a hook.
To the side of the hook hangs a long strap. The hook and strap are in every home on my planet as women are to look at it and know what will come in case of behavior not allowed.
I pull the strap down and ask, “Do you understand what it is you did wrong and why you are being punished?”
“I left the room without your permission, thus disrespecting you and your father. I will not be doing that again.” She takes in a deep breath, and I find myself not wanting to do this.
“Kataline, this is the first time I’ve ever had to do this. I want you to know this isn’t easy for me. I have no wish to cause you pain. Please let me know when you feel you can handle no more lashes as I have no idea of what your threshold is.”
My heart is pounding, and if it weren’t for the damn surveillance everywhere and my father’s words to me before I left him, I’d let her get by with this. She was unaware of what the outcome of her action would be after all.
But Father told me either I can punish her or he will, and I can’t have that. Women must always disrobe before any punishment is rendered. The thought of anyone laying their eyes on her body, which belongs only to me, is a something that makes my blood boil.
I also have to admit it heats me to think of anyone laying a hand on my wife. It would take everything in me to allow such a thing and even then, I don’t think I could.
Her voice is strong, and I know she’s upset with me as she brings my attention back to her. “I will let you know, sir.”
With a loud crack, I lay the strap across the pristine skin of her ass, and she makes a little scream. I hesitate to see if she’s going to say that’s enough, but when no words come, I slap the strap across her skin again. This time, no sound comes from her.
Another strike I give her. I hear a loud sigh. Another one I give her and see the strap leaving welts on her skin. “Kataline, is this enough?”
“I can take more.” Her voice is still strong, and now I feel her stubbornness affecting the discipline.
I lay the strap across her ass again and her body jerks. The welts are growing angrily red, and I decide she can take no more. “That’s enough,” I say.
Taking the cord off the hook, I quickly pull her down and release her wrists from the cord. Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears. “Thank you, sir, for teaching me my place.”
Placing a long, white robe around her to cover her naked body, I close my eyes and pull her to me. “Kataline, please just do as is expected of you. That gave me no pleasure. Quite the contrary, it hurt me far worse than it did you.”
Inexplicably her hands run through my hair. Her words fall soft near my ear. “Kerr, it is my fate to be with you. I was bred to fall into place with whatever alien race I was awarded to.”
“You are more than I deserve, Kataline.” I pull her back to look at her.
Guilt plagues me as I should’ve given her something that would tell her of all our rules and customs. “I am what you deserve, Kerr. Teach me all I need to know before I’m unleashed on your planet to help me stay away from the strap. That is all I ask of you.”
“I will, I promise.” I pull her back into my arms and hold her tight to me.
This woman may very well be the best thing that’s ever happened to me or my planet and hers.
My father appears at our door, his face ashen and he looks almost as bad as when my mother died. “Father, what is it?”
“The settlers from Earth have taken advantage of our absence it seems. We just received word from Euthenia that the Earthlings have risen up and are trying to take over the capital.”
“No,” Kataline says with a quiet sigh.
My father’s eyes dart to her. “Was this the plan all along, woman? To get the royal family and the majority of their guards away from home so they could overtake it?”
“Not to my knowledge, sire. No, sir,” she responds. “This is terrible news to me as well, sir.”
“Son, she has to be locked up until we know the truth.” My father snaps his fingers, and two of our guards appear.
I shake my head. “That will not happen, Father. I will stay with her if you want her watched over.”
“Son, we have no idea what she’s capable of or has been told to do. You may be in danger.” He looks at the guards. “Secure her.”
“No!” I shout, and in a split second I find myself paralyzed and falling to the bed as a guard pulls back the syringe he used to stop me. I can only watch as they bind my wife’s hands and take her away from me.
Her deep blue eyes haunt me as they are full of fear. “Are you okay, Kerr?” She struggles to get away from the guards and come to me. “What did you do to him?”
My father doesn’t answer her as he tells the guards, “Take her to the holding chamber.” He looks at me and frowns. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, son. I truly am. You’ll be kept in here until I decide you understand what I expect from you. Complete cooperation is what I must have from you. We are at war son, and you are married to the woman who may have started it all.”
Click the image below to read how the story continues:
http://ashleylhunt.com/Amazon-To-Kerr
The Story Continues Here
Click the image below to read how the story continues:
http://ashleylhunt.com/Amazon-To-Kerr
Also By Ashley L. Hunt
Albaterra Mates
1. Rex - SciFi Alien Romance
2. Duke - SciFi Alien Romance
3. Dane - SciFi Alien Romance
4. Lokos - SciFi Alien Romance
5. Khrel - SciFi Alien Romance
6. Zuran - SciFi Alien Romance
7. Venan - SciFi Alien Romance
Alien Mates
Luke - A SciFi Alien Romance
Kerr - A SciFi Alien Romance
Jasih - A SciFi Alien Romance
Volistad - A SciFi Alien Romance
Yahn - A SciFi Alien Romance
Cyberpunk Tales - A SciFi Thriller
About the Author
Ashley Hunt gained her Philosophy degree in Denver, Colorado at The University of Colorado. She made Denver her permanent home when she married her college sweetheart. Married six years the couple has a adorable daughter and a yellow Labrador named Oodles.
Living in the shadow of Gray's Peak proves to be inspirational to Ashley as she sits at her desk in her home office where she writes her Romance stories and can merely look out the window to renew her creativity.
She strives to make stories with beautiful scenery and intriguing plots. Heroes with great strengths, physical and mental, she pairs with strong heroines who test their limits. In the end, finding deep, passionat
e love, the way she thinks every relationship should be.
For more information you can contact Ashley L. Hunt Here:
www.ashleylhunt.com
[email protected]
Zuran: A Paranormal Sci-Fi Alien Romance: Albaterra Mates Book 6 Page 34