As I breathe deeply, trying to overcome my nausea, Aelon sits in his chair, completely comfortable.
He’s playing games with me, I realize – keeping me constantly guessing as to his intentions and desires.
His eyes narrow – and suddenly, he looks at me anew. “I know you, Tasha.”
“You’ve never seen me before in your life!”
“Aye – but I don’t need to have seen you before to know you, Tasha – better than you know yourself.”
I bristle as his words, but he continues without pause.
“You’re young – mid-twenties – and you’re the captain of your own vessel; one that probably undertakes more illegal jobs than legal ones, despite the mining beams and the crew of workers you have.” His lips curl. “It’s not so easy to deceive me. You’re full of pride, Tasha.”
Me? Full of pride? That’s rich – coming from him.
The sheer arrogance of this Aurelian infuriates me, but I hold back the tirade of insults I want to throw at him. That becomes more difficult as he continues with his monologue:
“Oh, yes – I know you, Tasha. The thing you fear most is that hesitation – the moment between you giving an order and it being carried out. You fear the hesitation of your crew.”
Dammit, it’s like he’s inside my head.
“You worry that one day, your crew will stop listening to you – so you put on a big, tough front, don’t you, Tasha?” His eyes flash. “You’d never let your crew see you weak.”
“No Captain should let their crew see them weak,” I snap back, jutting my chin up. My voice is defiant – but it’s hard to be taken seriously when my feet can’t even touch the ground.
Aelon chuckles.
“Aye – but I still see right through you. You’re a skilled pilot, Tasha – you’d have to be, to get away from those Toads. You’re clearly a skilled captain, too – to keep your crew following orders against all odds.”
The towering Aurelian leans forward.
“Inside though? You’re soft and delicate, Tasha. That’s why I won’t be keeping you in the brig. You’ll have your own room, and a nice plush bed.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “No fucking way! I demand to be treated the same as my crew!”
Big mistake.
I spoke in anger, unable to hold back the biting words. In response, Aelon pushes his chair out slowly, standing slowly until he looms over me like a mountain.
I gulp – suddenly reminded of just how massive and intimidating the Aurelian Captain is compared to me.
“Tasha,” he warns, “you are in no position to make demands – and if you use that tone with me again, I’ll turn your bottom red.”
My jaw drops.
How dare he!
I already felt small and helpless, sitting in this chair with my feet dangling off the floor. Now, being threatened with a spanked bottom, I feel even more in his control.
I also feel something I’m ashamed to admit to – curious.
Tingly.
Dammit!
I know Aurelians have a reputation for being passionate, frenzied lovers – but I hadn’t thought that the other rumor I’d heard about them was true – that their species loves nothing more than to punish human women for perceived wrongdoings, making them whimper and writhe under their hard, spanking hands.
I shouldn’t feel surprised – it makes sense. The power gets them off – I should have known.
Back on my home planet, women were always flocking to join Aurelian harems – becoming one of the countless human women dedicated to serving a triad of the perpetually amorous warriors.
It’s an understandable choice – especially for a world wracked by poverty, like mine. The women turn their backs on the hardscrabble life in exchange for the promise of safety and luxury – and all they have to provide in return is their everything...
…including their dignity, because now I realize that ‘everything’ also includes harsh, strict punishment.
Some women might like the sound of that – I mean, I’m ashamed to admit that I feel butterflies in my stomach at the mere thought of it – but I’m not here to play the rebellious concubine. I might be a prisoner, but I’m still a captain; and I still have a crew relying on me.
I decide diplomacy is the best strategy, and murmur: “I… I apologize.”
I hate that my voice is sounding weaker than I want it to – but I know that insulting Captain Aelon, or showing him any disrespect or defiance – is a game I’ll ultimately lose.
Just look at him! He could bend me over that table without breaking a sweat, and tear the overalls off me like they were made from tissue paper. I’d be powerless to stop him using those huge hands to spank my ass over and over, again and again – until I beg him for mercy and mean it.
And that’s not even the most dangerous part. If Aelon made good on his threat and he did punish me, there’s no telling how into it he’d get. I have to remember that Captain Aelon isn’t aligned strictly to the Empire, and he’s probably never been denied by a woman in his life.
If Captain Aelon tore my clothes off and spanked me until I was begging and squirming, who’s to say the fabled Aurelian mating frenzy wouldn’t overwhelm him? What’s to stop Aelon from turning into a rutting beast – one who can’t resist doing more to my helpless, naked ass than just spanking it.
I shudder at the thought – both terrifying, and compelling
Gods, what would it be like?
I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the image.
Oblivious to my racing mind, Aelon nods at my apology.
“Good girl,” he says,
