She’d been trying to help somebody, not stir up trouble. “I’ve been good. This is my way of being good. Getting medicine.”
He removed his arms and scanned her, his eyes blazing with concern. “You’re ill?”
She couldn’t fathom him. Why was he worried about her? She shook her head. “Not for me. Another woman.”
“Why didn’t she go to the infirmary?”
“They don’t go here because they’re afraid of those medics and their creepy ways.”
Marco sighed. “I shall ensure they stick to the protocols. I shall also request a female doctor be brought to Tagra. However, that doesn’t alter my decision.”
“Decision?”
“To punish you for willful violation of the being good request. Buying illegal drugs. Putting yourself in danger. Unnecessary danger. I think that’s plenty to be going on with. Now, you’ll come back to my office, bare your fine ass, and I will spank you until I’m satisfied that you won’t make that mistake again.”
She gaped. Her face must have turned crimson and she crushed her thighs together as she pictured him admiring her bare bottom. What was it about her sex and the way it responded to his demands? She was feeling hot and bothered, and it wasn’t due to the heat.
“You want to punish me? That’s your answer to this. To us?” she hissed.
“Yes, for now,” he softened his voice. “I don’t want to punish you, but I must for your sake. If you walk away from me, decide to live down here
alone and vulnerable without my protection, then so be it. But if you come with me now, then I will make it my personal mission to look after you.” His nose brushed against her forehead and he sniffed, inhaling deeply.
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I care what happens to you. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t get involved with prisoners, but you’ve taken a part of me and while you have it, I shall keep you safe. I shall make you mine. Come with me, Freya.”
“And you’ll spank me?”
“Absolutely. But that’s the start of it, Freya, not the end.”
She pressed her clammy hands against the cool wall, trying to calm her thumping heartbeats. “I’ll go with you.”
Chapter Five
The alert had flashed up on Marco’s desk console. He’d asked for any unusual movements, any sign of Freya operating outside of her accommodation block or the laundry. The alarm had been raised when she’d headed toward a notorious League den. The sergeant had swiftly assembled his team and Marco had joined them in the speeder, which landed them a short distance away from the building.
They’d arrived in the nick of time. He’d no doubt the bald man intended to rape her. Her excuse was laudable, but flimsy. Trapping her gorgeous body against the wall, he held back from holding her tight in his arms. She was irresistible. Her fragrant smell remained divine and the fire that burnt in her eyes was intoxicating.
Marco flitted between annoyance at her stupidity and relief at her safety. His internal barometer of ethics battled against his natural desires as he remembered where he wanted to take her. While the limp form of the oaf who’d threatened her was dragged out of the room, Marco showed restraint. He possessed unassailable powers over all the inhabitants of Tagra and with it came the authority by which he could justifiably touch her. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t force her to come with him.
Don’t get involved, he’d told himself countless times in the last few days. Although he’d been busy with assessing the dismal state of Tagra’s penal colony, and monitoring the processing of the new arrivals, he’d often paused in mid-thought or even midsentence during a briefing and thought of Freya. He pictured her lithe body, her bright eyes, full lips, and if he allowed himself to wandered further into his daydreams, her pinkened ass and the bare folds of her sex.
He’d ordered the release of the women in the den. They probably worked as prostitutes, voluntarily or not, and he had no reason to punish them. Prostitution technically wasn’t illegal, since there was no official currency to trade in goods or services. However, the prisoners had found numerous ways to barter and sex was the most powerful currency on Tagra. Not just for the prisoners, but the guards too.
When he’d explored the city, he’d located the official Volta—the pleasure facility that a penal or military colony provided for their soldiers. The female Vendu in charge of the Volta, whose name was Lalita, had given him a personal tour of the facilities. The rooms with their specialist furniture and equipment, the quarters where the jenjins slept and socialized, and in one corner of the exotic building, which was isolated by a thick wall, the punishment suite.
“We have strict rules, governor,” Lalita had said. “Protocols and rituals to ensure the jenjins are maintained in the perfect state of readiness. If they refuse to comply, we apply swift punishments on your behalf. Now, sir, we can provide you with a girl, or if you wish, you can select your own.”
“You carry out the discipline?” he’d asked as he swept his eyes around the room, taking in the varied implements, benches, and other devices. He’d swallowed hard, and his cock instinctively hardened in his pants as scenarios raced around in his head.
“We have highly trained disciplinarians—all females who specialize in extracting the best behavior and sexual ability from our jenjins. Vendu citizens, naturally. The servants are sourced from the stock of older prisoners or retirees—trusted ones who look after the girls for us. Spanking is our preferred punishment. Harmless if done correctly and effective.”
Marco eyed the rods hanging from the wall. “I’m fully versed with the techniques. Which is why I wish to do my own disciplining.”
Lalita smiled slowly. “Of course, governor. This room is free for you to use. Do you have someone in mind?”
Up in here, in the domed city, she’d be safe and in a strictly controlled environment. Whereas down there, he dreaded what might happen to her. “I’m working on it,” he’d replied.