by Ivy Barrett
“Your attitude is unacceptable.” He’d lost control of the conversation, which had not been his intention. Her initial passivity had given him the wrong impression of her personality. She wasn’t shy or introverted. She was a firebrand. “I will not tolerate insubordination.”
“And I will not be treated like a street-corner whore.”
He’d backed himself into a corner, but there was no help for it now. If he reassured her, it would be that much harder to establish control next time they had a disagreement. She’d think rebellion would be rewarded with compromise. Such was not the case. Rebellion was a serious offense, and he must act accordingly, even if his own strategic misstep was responsible for the needless conflict.
Glaring into her eyes, he pointed to the armchair beside him. “Bend over the seat and spread your legs, ass in the air.”
Chapter Two
Amanda no longer cared that she was stark naked and on a spaceship filled with alien warriors. She would not put up with this arrogant jackass another minute. “Fuck you!” When Loax stared back at her in stoic silence, she added, “Tront was right. This nonsense isn’t for me. I’m enacting the thirty-day clause. I demand transportation back to Earth.”
A triumphant smile slowly crept across Loax’s black lips. She’d actually found him handsome until his domineering behavior had changed her perspective. His features were symmetrical and well-shaped, different from a human’s yet appealing. And his body-hugging black-and-red uniform left very little to the imagination. The commander was built like a professional athlete, all well-defined muscles and lean flesh.
“Did you actually read your contract? Or did Mr. Tront explain it to you?”
She froze, trepidation dropping into her belly like a brick. “I… everything happened really fast.”
His strange eyes gleamed so brightly they almost glowed. The colored portion was much larger than a human’s, leaving very little white. His irises were black marbled with shimmering red, and his pupils were slits rather than round. It would have been easier to forget he was from another star system if not for his black lips and Ventori eyes.
“The thirty-day clause allows you an escape,” he conceded. “However, it can only be enacted after the first thirty days have elapsed. We are guaranteed thirty days to train our females, without any interference from Earth. The condition was one of the original stipulations and it will never change.”
“But this female is no longer willing to be ‘trained.’” What a repulsive word. Pets were trained. Horses were trained. No one trained their sexual partner.
He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her silently for another long moment. “You surrendered your right to refuse when you signed the contract. You are ours to do with as we will for a minimum of thirty days. Then, and only then, can you break the contract.”
“That’s insane.” She took a step back, crossing her arms over her breasts in a much belated attempt at modesty. “You can’t keep me here against my will. That’s kidnapping.”
“You agreed to these conditions, Amanda. You wouldn’t be here if you had not. Did you willingly sign the contract?”
“Yes, but—”
“Were you dragged onto the shuttle in restraints or sedated somewhere along the way?”
She just glared at him.
“You arrived of your own volition and signed the contract willingly. If this were not true, I would not have laid a hand on you. I know you’re afraid, but it’s too late to change your mind.”
She looked around, feeling trapped and panicked. “I didn’t know, didn’t understand.”
“That can’t be true. I know Ealin Tront. He goes out of his way to make sure there are no misunderstandings. It’s one of the reasons we chose him to broker our offer. And the entire point of this conversation was to detail my expectations of you. You were not tricked into any of this.”
“I don’t want to fuck anyone but you,” she cried, coming back to the reason for her resistance. Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid she’d pass out.
“What about Rentar?”
“You know what I mean. I agreed to having sex with you and your brother, not being lent out like a garden tool.”
His lips twitched; he pressed them together, then allowed the smile to form. His angular features softened and warmth filled his strange red-and-black eyes. “I don’t intend to share you, but it would be within my rights if I did.”
Relief so intense it left her lightheaded rushed through her system. “Thank you. I appreciate the honesty.” If he didn’t intend to share her, she might be able to deal with the rest.
“Good. Now bend over the chair.”
She felt her eyes round and took another step back. “Why? I’m not arguing anymore.”
“Really?” One of his silky black brows arched. “Sounds rather like arguing to me.”
“I was afraid. You intentionally frightened me.”
“That’s why you’ll be spanked instead of paddled.”
She looked at the chair, then back at her intransigent employer. “But—”
“Keep arguing and I will use a paddle.”
Knowing there was no help for it. Not for the next thirty days, anyway. She moved to the chair and started to bend over, but she couldn’t make herself do it. She’d bent and begged, compromised and sacrificed for her father, and look where that had led. She hadn’t even been safe in protective custody. Her life was in tatters, and a drug lord’s henchmen were hunting her!
“Amanda.” A detailed warning wasn’t necessary. His tone said it all.
“I can’t.” She sounded as defeated as she felt, but her pride and frustration were insurmountable. “You provoked me. This isn’t fair.”
“I decide what’s fair. You are no longer in control.”
He moved so fast all she could do was gasp. Suddenly, he was sitting in the armchair and she was facedown over his lap, her arms neatly trapped between his strong thighs.
His open hand landed across her upturned bottom with resounding force. Shock kept her first reaction to a startled yelp, but the second spank dragged an enraged cry from deep inside her. It hurt. This wasn’t a game. He was actually hurting her. Never in all her twenty-four years had anyone laid a punishing hand on her.
“Stop it!” she screamed, desperate to escape the stinging spanks. “What the fuck is wrong with you! I’m a full-grown woman, not a child.” She twisted and thrashed, bucking and kicking, but he hardly seemed to notice. The twisted fucker was seriously strong.
He spanked her again and again, hard, skillful swats that sent heat and pain radiating up her spine and down her legs. Spanking was supposed to be fun, a titillating game used to spice up a boring sex life. Tears flowed from her eyes and fear overwhelmed her anger. What if he didn’t stop spanking? She was utterly at his mercy. No one would interfere. He commanded this ship, and no one on Earth could rescue her even if they knew she was in danger. Her silent tears turned into shuddering sobs as the reality of her situation crashed down upon her.
She’d fled Earth because her life was in danger. She’d honestly believed that two years of sexual servitude was an acceptable price to pay if she regained control of her life once the ordeal was over. Anger shattered her other emotions. As usual, she’d jumped from the frying pan into the fire. She wasn’t safe here. She was in more danger than she’d been in on Earth. These aliens could do anything they wanted and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
He paused and rested his hand on one burning cheek. The heat sank deeper, triggering an unwanted ache between her thighs. What was wrong with her? Nothing about this was arousing.
“Why am I punishing you?”
“Because you’re a sadist pig.” She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. “Wait! I didn’t—”
The next spank was even harder and landed on the back of her thigh.
She screamed and renewed her struggles, trying desperately to fr
ee her arm enough to elbow him in the balls. His legs were solid muscle, easily immobilizing her. Emotions churned, threatening to abolish what little remained of her composure. It was too much. It was all too damn much. She sobbed, feeling helpless and abandoned.
After four hard swats he stopped again. “Why are you being spanked?”
“I was disrespectful and argumentative.” Each word tasted bitter, so she whispered under her breath, “After you intentionally provoked me.”
He firmly held her down with one hand as the other pushed between her thighs. She tensed, expecting to be finger-fucked with punishing force. Her inner muscles fluttered and her clit tingled. Despite her humiliation—or perhaps because of it—she was seriously turned on.
Instead of forcing his fingers into her pussy, he collected her wetness and moved it up to her other opening. Her eyes rounded and dread paralyzed her struggles.
“Discipline can take many forms.” He drilled into her tight rear opening without further explanation. His finger was wet, so it didn’t really hurt. But she felt invaded, shamed and embarrassed as never before. Her cheeks pulsed with heat and discomfort, and his finger felt enormous in her ass. Then he pulled his hand back, slowly sliding the offending finger nearly out. He bent closer to her ear and whispered, “Ass play can be incredibly pleasurable, or it can be more humiliating than you can imagine.” He thrust in fast and hard, forcing her to take his entire finger. It took no imagination at all to picture how mortifying it would feel to be punished by his cock ramming into her ass.
A deep voice snapped from across the room in a language she didn’t understand. Amanda looked to see who had spoken, wishing she were anywhere but here. Her hair hung across her face so all she could make out was a tall Ventori standing by the door. Then unshed tears blurred her vision, creating a shapeless mass of black and red. It had to be Rentar. Who else could enter the commander’s private quarters without permission?
Or had Loax given the stranger permission? Invited him inside to witness her humiliation?
The possibility was too horrible to consider. “Let me up,” she begged. “Please, Sir, stop.”
Loax responded in the same harsh language, but kept his accursed finger right where it was.
Amanda turned her head back around, hiding behind her hair. She could just imagine what the stranger was seeing. A naked female, behind bright red, draped over the legs of his commander while he forcefully fingered her ass. She willed herself to pass out, ready for any escape from the degrading scene.
The stranger spoke again, obviously angry.
Loax finally removed his finger and dragged her to her feet as he stood. She backed away, covering herself with her hands, but the men were focused on each other. Their hostile exchange quickly escalated into a shouting match.
Unwilling to stand there naked while the two duked it out, she snatched her dress off the deck and pulled it on over her head. By the time she’d gotten her arms into the sleeves and started working on the buttons, the stranger stood in front of her, as if to protect her from Loax.
“Is this about me?” She had to shout to be heard over the rapid-fire argument, but their verbal joust halted.
Surprising her even more, Loax answered. “My brother is dissatisfied with my conduct. He feels that your behavior did not warrant such a hard spanking.”
Chest still heaving with barely suppressed anger, Rentar pulled her to his side so he could see her and Loax. “I am Ventori. I believe misbehavior deserves discipline, but you did not misbehave. You reacted naturally to intentional provocation.”
She glanced at Loax, but said nothing. This was an impossible situation. If she agreed with Rentar, she’d piss off Loax and vice versa. Sibling rivalries frequently ended in bloodshed and her contract obligated her to meet the needs of both males.
She turned back to Rentar. She had to deescalate the argument, but she wasn’t sure how. “He warned me that I would be punished and I lost my temper anyway. I deserved the spanking.”
Both males looked shocked by her attitude.
“Now what he did with his finger was unnecessary and extremely unwelcome.” She should have stopped while she was ahead.
Loax shook his head and snarled a parting shot to his brother, then stormed from the cabin.
She stood there with her gaze on the floor, trembling with uncertainty.
“Are you harmed? Ventori are much stronger than humans. Did he injure you?”
Rentar’s voice was so different from Loax’s, caressing, almost tender. It sent a shiver down her spine, then a fresh rush of raw emotion inundated her being. It had been so long since anyone had cared about her, worried about her, much less put her wellbeing above their own. Rentar had just taken on his podmate and brother in defense of her. A harsh sob tore through her and she turned around, unwilling to let him see her crying.
He didn’t allow the retreat. His touch was gentle yet insistent as he turned her back around and pulled her into his arms. His offer of comfort only made her sob harder.
“I’ve got you now. You’re fine, love. You’ll be just fine.” He stroked her hair, patiently waiting for her emotions to run their course.
Amanda drew in a deep breath confused by her own behavior. She wasn’t usually a crier, felt grand shows of emotion were a waste of energy. But the spanking had shaken something lose inside her that she didn’t understand. She felt vulnerable, almost desperate, but she couldn’t identify what she needed.
Rentar brushed her hair back from her face once her sobs subsided. “Better now?” She nodded and tried to step back, but he tightened his hold and pressed her against his chest. “Not yet. This feels too good.” He whispered the admission as if he didn’t want anyone else to know.
“Thank you for stopping him.” It was easier to speak without his piercing gaze assessing her.
“Loax is strict and demanding, but he’s not cruel. It’s important that you know that.”
He’d been ready to go to blows a few minutes ago and now he defended the same person? “Then why did you stop him? He sounded really angry.”
“You just arrived and you were clearly terrified. I can’t stand seeing a female that upset.” His long fingers curled beneath her chin and he tilted her head back until she looked at him. “Did he tell you my name?”
She nodded. “May I use it or do you also prefer being called Sir?”
He smiled and strange emotions churned within Amanda. Their features were similar, though Loax’s hair was much longer. Their eyes were almost identical, yet she found Rentar more appealing.
Which was probably why he’d intervened.
The realization came to her suddenly and she took a step back. This was classic ‘good cop, bad cop.’ Her father was a policeman, or had been for many years. She knew all the dirty tricks they pulled to garner information. Had the brothers worked out the strategy together, or was Rentar manipulating Loax? If their argument had been for show, they were both damn good actors.
“Loax requires many things I don’t,” Rentar told her, but she was wary of his subtle charm. “When we’re alone, you may call me Rentar. When others are present, I prefer Sir, or Commander Drey.”
“Isn’t your brother Commander Drey also? That could be confusing.”
“We work opposite shifts, so we’re never on duty at the same time.” His gaze narrowed as she continued to stare at him boldly. “Don’t let my actions confuse you. I also require respect.”
She immediately lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry, Sir. You raised my eyes when I kept them downcast, so I thought you wanted me to look at you.”
He chuckled, the sound as warm as his voice. “I’m beginning to see why Loax spanked you. Your helpless appearance is misleading. Beneath that angelic façade burns the heart of a warrior.”
Angels were warriors. There were more stories about them waging war than delivering messages and comforting virgins. But she managed to keep the observation to herself. Unfor
tunately, she didn’t like being manipulated and lost the battle with the instincts begging her to keep her mouth shut altogether.
“Was Loax in on it too, or was his anger real?” She raised her gaze just far enough to see his reaction, but avoided direct contact with his eyes.
He crossed his arms over his chest. The position made him look even more like his brother. “Was Loax in on what?” Yet the irritation in his gaze told her he knew exactly what she meant.
“I was raised by a detective, Sir. I recognize ‘good cop, bad cop’ when I see it.”
His features tensed, making him look older and meaner. Why was she provoking him? He’d rescued her from the unwanted attention of his brother. Unless Loax’s attention hadn’t been entirely unwanted. She wasn’t nearly ready to face that possibility.
“I’m not familiar with that game.” His tone grew gruff and his eyes narrowed.
He might not know it by name, but he sure as hell understood the concept. “You rescue me so I would feel a connection with you, a sort of indebtedness. Often the harsher person is in on the scenario as well.”
“Do you prefer dealing with angry males? Your distress seemed genuine. Loax enjoys taming females. Did you provoke him so he would demonstrate his dominance?”
She started to answer, then really thought about what he’d said. “How long were you standing there? Or were you watching from somewhere else?”
“I know how easily Loax loses his temper. I was monitoring the situation.”
“Is he ‘monitoring the situation’ now?” She took a deep breath, then forced assertiveness into her tone. “I’ll be blunt, Commander. This feels like a setup.”
Loax returned, still looking irritated. “Unlike me, little brother, our Terran hellcat saw right through your pointless game. I think we’ve both underestimated her.”
“Apparently.” Rentar studied her with new interest, all pretense forgotten. “You’re beautiful, and clearly intelligent. Why did you agree to become a carnal companion? You’re not at all what I expected.”