“Is that a cat?”
“It’s a purrada.” Roth bent and scooped it up in his arms, managing its heft easily. Obviously familiar with him, the large ball of fur raised its chin for a scratch, purring as loudly as any contented Earth tabby would.
“It sounds like a cat.” Tentatively, she reached out to pet it, then stopped suddenly and stared from the animal to the man holding it. “Wait, isn’t that what you’ve been calling me?”
“Meet Precious. She belongs to the mated couple who reside on the floor below me. She is quite sweet, but when thwarted, has razor-sharp claws.”
She arched her brow at him, not appreciating the analogy.
He grinned. “She’s also soft, golden, and likes to be petted, and if you stroke the right spot, she purrs. Listen.” He fell silent and the loud, rumbling sound was very distinct. “She’s a lot like someone else I know.”
“I do not purr. And I don’t look at all like that cat.” She crossed her arms and eyed the enormous furball. “She’s fat. Are you saying I’m fat?”
He chuckled, dropping the animal, who landed on her feet. She promptly glanced back at Maggie with an affronted look, and with her tail swishing high in the air, walked away.
“Poor purrada, you’ve insulted her. Neither of you is fat. She’s of average size, and you, my mate, would do well to eat more.”
He caught her hand in his and pulled her along the walkway, his long strides making her hurry to keep up.
“What’s the rush?” she asked breathlessly, “I wanted to ask about the garden.” But he didn’t slow as he led her beneath an archway, also stone, and through the unlocked front door. The last surprised her so that she forgot her other questions. “You don’t lock your doors?”
“What would be the need?” he replied. The hand, riding low on her back, guided her into a lift. “Four,” he said, low.
“Pardon?”
“The lift is voice activated, mate.”
She blinked up at him. “Programmed to yours, only?”
“No,” he replied glancing down at her with a hint of a smile.
“You aren’t worried someone will break in and steal from you?”
“For what purpose?”
“Hunger, poverty, addiction, perhaps?”
His soft expression turned quickly appalled. “We have none of that. By the Maker, what kind of world do you come from?”
“One that is in conflict, and in desperate straits.”
“No doubt, if that is what you must deal with.”
“You don’t have poor, struggling, or homeless?” She gaped when he shook his head. “How, in such a large city?”
“We take care of our own. Everyone works and contributes to make that happen.”
“What about crime? You have no theft? No citizens coveting their neighbor’s stuff?”
“That does not occur when everyone has what they need. As for crime, as you’ve seen firsthand, we have intrigue, treasonous plots, and rebellions, although fortunately that type of thing is rare. Most disputes are minor and easily settled. Although there has been an increase in misconduct since our population has increased recently.”
An unwelcome flush suffused her cheeks. “You can’t blame that on us,” she replied with a frown, “when you started it by snatching us in the first place.”
The lift doors opened into a large, spacious residence. It reminded her of a luxury condo back on Earth. “Yours is the only residence on this floor?”
“Yes, I’ll give you a full tour, later. After we have our discussion about your misconduct in the recent treasonous plot.”
“Wait, you lured me here to punish me? Roth!”
“I hardly lured you, mate. I took you by the hand and we walked.”
She scowled up at him, not liking him much at the moment. “I dispute the charge of treason, since I believe it is an act against your own country, which Ariad, or Primaria, whatever… is not.”
He let out a short bark of laughter, shaking his head. “Maggie, you are more stubborn than any female I know. We’ve been over this. You belonged to Primaria from the moment we took control of you and your ship. And, there is the matter of taking the Prima. Treason also occurs with an attempt on the sovereign’s life.”
“Kanei reported the Princep is doing well. Besides, he wasn’t our sovereign. And I thought you said he wasn’t the king.”
While pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a heavy sigh, before continuing. “As my mate, you belong to me; as such, I am responsible for addressing your wrongdoing.”
“What if I don’t accept your right to do so?”
“You can stand there bearing my mark and challenge my right?”
“Yes. We were captives. Yet you fault us for doing what was necessary to regain our freedom and exercise our right to self-determination.”
“You are Primarian citizens now, Maggie, and are subject to our laws and penalties. And I think we’ve addressed your rights as a female before.”
“We did not consent, so cannot be held accountable.”
“Irrelevant. Female consent is not required here, only her male’s. Which brings us full circle. Even before we became mates, you came under my authority, and beyond that subject to Primarian rule.”
“You are right in that we keep talking in circles; we won’t ever see eye to eye on this.”
“This is true, so we should save our breath. Treason aside, we should get the sentence for the other charges over with.”
“What other charges?”
His eyes flew wide in disbelief. “Your group stole weapons, assaulted several warriors, planted explosives that risked lives, left the planet without clearance, stole a ship that had been commandeered by me, thereby the state, and kidnapped the Prima. Those are the major crimes; shall I begin listing the minor ones?”
“I was involved in only a few of those acts. I don’t know about the explosives until after the fact.”
“And thank the Maker for that, many were injured. But you were directly involved in stealing the Odyssey. You cannot deny that.”
“Reacquiring something that belongs to me isn’t stealing.”
He drew in an irritated breath and released it. “You knew the rules, Maggie.”
“How could I? I’ve been here a matter of weeks.”
“You attended the orientation classes, didn’t you? I was told all of you did.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring up at him. “I was not myself and was too distracted to retain most of what was being said.”
He studied her a moment. As he did so, the tension eased from his face.
“I’m sure you were; the effects of the bonding and the separation sickness were already upon you by then. But you knew your ship was claimed, and ignorance of the law is not an excuse, I’m afraid.”
Catching her wrist with his long fingers, he pulled her down a long hallway. At the end, a set of wide double doors were thrown open to a large bedroom. Peeking in, she guessed it was his room, judging by the dark masculine colors. There was also a bed, which suited his size, set off in a corner on an elevated platform. The sheer size of it—half and again bigger than any king size she’d seen at home—made it the focal point of the room.
As she took in the rest of the large space, she noticed an odd-looking contraption in the opposite corner. It had padded rods, hinged pieces, and foot pedals. A cross between a stair climber one would find at the gym and a medieval piece of torture equipment—although to some, herself included, they could be one and the same—something made her think its purpose was not exercise.
When he indicated with the sweep of his arm she should head in its direction, she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Maggie…”
“Wouldn’t you rather have sex and forget all this talk of treason and misconduct?”
“Oh, we’ll be having sex, there is no question about that, but we need to take care of this before getting to it.” He angled his head toward the cor
ner, saying without words for her to get on with it.
“I don’t suppose I have a choice.”
“Certainly, you can walk to the corner and mount the mate’s helper under your own power, or I can carry you.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“I know that.”
She scowled up at him, her fists clenched in frustration.
“So stubborn,” he sighed as he bent and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Wait, don’t I get a safe word or a white flag? Something?”
“Why is it when you’re about to be spanked, I have a hard time understanding much of what you say?”
Her breath caught in her throat as the simple word sent both dread and excitement washing over her, making her tingle everywhere, especially all the places between her knees and her waist. Dear heavens.
Effortlessly, he toted her across the room and set her on her feet in front of the strange device. Up close, it resembled an antique valet stand for hanging clothes that she’d seen once in a museum.
She spun around, placing her hands beseechingly on his chest. “You could make my penance ironing. Believe me, I’ve read about that and it really would be punishment.”
“I have no idea what you’re going on about, Maggie. You’re getting spanked, plain and simple. Now, strip off your gown while I fetch what I need.”
The last time, he’d taken off her clothes. To do so herself made it seem like she was agreeable, that this was voluntary.
“Do you have a problem with your hearing?”
Her face angled up, meeting his gaze. “No, why?”
His hand came up to rest along her jaw, one long thumb beneath her chin. “Because I tire of repeating myself for no reason, mate.” Gazing down at her intently, he waited for her to comply.
What did she do now? Resist, knowing he could subdue her? Call the police and report him for being an overbearing ass? She could imagine their reaction: horse laughter and high-fiving Roth for being a dominant jerk like themselves.
“Don’t add to what you already have coming,” he warned softly.
“This is unfair. You’ve convicted me without a trial.”
“You’d rather let the council of twelve decide your fate, rather than someone who cares about you and has vowed to protect you?”
“Spanking an adult woman is barbaric, not to mention humiliating.”
“It is our way. Accept it, you’ll be forgiven, and when it’s done, we move on.”
“I hate you,” she muttered, as he continued to gaze down at her with his penetrating stare.
“No, you don’t, and when you think back on this, you’ll see you are making more of a fuss over it than is necessary, and only adding to your stress by challenging me.”
Another idea popped into her head, except she discarded it quickly. Stomping her foot and throwing a tantrum was a childish reaction and discounted her claims that she was an adult. And besides, since he was intent on giving her a child’s punishment, she doubted Roth would be swayed by that one bit.
He cleared his throat indicating his patience was waning.
“Fine,” she snapped, although it was anything but. Yet she pulled her dress over her head, leaving her completely bare in front of him once again, with him fully dressed.
“Step up on the platform.”
She twisted and glanced dubiously at the alien contraption.
“Trust me. It will make the spanking you have coming easier to take.”
Not liking the sound of that, she retreated a step; unfortunately, it brought her right into him.
“Do as I say, Maggie,” he directed evenly, his hands resting lightly on her hips.
“But Roth—”
One hand moving to her lower right cheek accompanied his low growl of “now, mate.”
A tantrum was looking better by the minute.
“You’ve been over my knee before and survived. This stalling is simply putting off the inevitable.”
She’d been spanked, yes, except being over his knee was far more intimate and a lot less scary than being strapped to a cold, unyielding frame. Plus, while over his knee, he had used his hand, and hadn’t left her to fetch whatever it was that he needed. What could that be?
The hand on her bottom applying a firm squeeze gave her incentive to step forward. Tentatively, she put one foot then the other on the foot pedals. He moved quickly once she did, snapping cuffs around her wrists and thighs the next moment, but she didn’t make it easy, squirming and resisting the entire time.
“Stop it,” he growled. When she didn’t, he landed a stinging swat on each cheek. She yelped. And while she did, he hooked her wrists to the rings on her thighs, and added a strap at the waist.
“Helper, position five,” he murmured near her ear.
“What?” She twisted her head around to see him.
“You’ll see in a moment. Face front.”
There was a whirring noise as the rods and arms began to move.
“Roth,” she cried, as the pedals on which she stood separated and moved back.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, stroking one hand along her spine. “You’re perfectly safe.”
She didn’t have the capacity to comment on the irony of that statement, too busy being reconfigured mechanically into an alternate position with her feet at least eighteen inches apart and her upper body bent forward at an angle. Her weight was supported by a padded bar bifurcating her breasts along the center line of her body and her ass jutting up and out in the perfect pose for a spanking. The moving and lurid positioning wasn’t the most surprising part, that came a second later when Roth spoke.
“Low speed,” he said, giving the voice-activated machine another order. Instantly, something moved between her thighs and slipped in between her slightly parted pussy lips. It was smooth and rounded, and came to life, vibrating the full length of her slit, from clit to already weeping entrance.
“Ohmigod,” she gasped as the buzzing sent tingles coursing up through her belly and beyond to her breasts, hardening her nipples instantly into stiff peaks.
His head dropped to her shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”
“No, don’t go!”
Both hands slid around her waist, warm and reassuring, moving up and over the flat of her belly, coming to rest beneath her swollen, and at this angle, dangling breasts. His thumbs swept out and ran lightly over her nipples as he placed more kisses along her shoulder, moving up her neck to her ear, where he nipped at her lobe.
“I wouldn’t ever leave you while bound, mate. I’m only going across the room to get something. Ten seconds, no more. Promise.”
“Okay,” she breathed, lost in the amalgamation of sensations from her bound limbs, the heat of his body along her back, his warm breath on her skin, and the thumbs that flicked lightly over the aching tips of her breasts. She didn’t include the vibrations steadily buzzing her clit because on low, it wasn’t fast enough to bring her over the edge and it was becoming quickly frustrating.
It took half that time before he was standing in front of her, a leather strap in his hand.
“Roth…”
“You’ll receive five strokes, which is a small fraction of what the council would have ordered. Twenty is the least I’ve ever known them to assign.”
Gazing up at him, she whispered, “I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can. You have before.”
“That was different.”
“How so?”
“You didn’t use a strap, and you sort of just… did it.”
“The charge of treason is very serious, Maggie. I must attest that your behavior was addressed with sufficient severity. It is my fervent hope that a repeat of this offense, or anything remotely like it, will be deterred. Do you understand?”
Blinking up at him, when she read determination but also concern on his handsome face, she nodded. It wasn’t that she had changed her mind, or agreed with the charges. Hell, no. However, the low speed vibrat
ion continuing unabated on her clit, his close proximity, and the tips of his fingers gliding over her skin, even the thought of the leather biting into her bare ass, all combined to make her tremble with need. She already felt her desire full force, the evidence of which was trickling down her inner thigh.
Dipping his head, he kissed her, his hands returning to her breasts where he flicked the nipples lightly, before catching them between his thumb and forefinger and squeezing, firmly. She let out a whimper, enjoying the way he played with her body. He released her, and she felt disappointment, wanting more. He gave it to her, but only a single nipple received his attention as he slid one hand between her spread thighs, bypassing the tormentor that was driving her wild and on to her entrance, a long, thick finger gliding inside through her slickness.
“You’re drenched, Maggie,” he uttered huskily against her mouth. “I told you my little helper would make this easier to take.”
“I can’t wait anymore, Roth, I’m going to come.”
“Not yet,” he denied, adding another finger and sliding in deeper. “I have one other surprise before we get started.”
She groaned, as his fingers slipped out.
“Penetration level one,” he ordered aloud.
As her brain flashed on what that meant, the smooth vibrating entity on her clit extended and curved upward, moving inside her. Roth’s fingers, slid along its length, as if checking the fit, then he hummed in approval before giving one last command. “Up speed.”
The helper responded, the vibrations instantly increasing in velocity.
A primal cry came unbidden to her lips as her entire pelvic region lit up with sensation.
“Perfect,” he hummed with approval as he eased away. His hand lingered, gliding across her mound and along her hip as he moved behind her. “You’re gorgeous this way, Maggie. Your skin is rosy, your eyes dilated, and your breasts are full and taut with need. All of that, plus your sweet nectar flowing freely and glistening on your thighs makes my cock rock hard and eager to drive into you.”
“Do it, Roth, please.”
“Very soon, purrada.” His hand rubbed over her bottom. “After your punishment.”
His By Command (Primarian Mates Book 2) Page 18