“This is the meditation room. You’ll spend time here every day. Mindfulness is a good for mental health. Focus on nothing but here and now, don’t worry about your future or your past.”
A few women sat cross-legged on the floor, their eyes shut and their hands resting on their knees. At least in this room, they were permitted more clothing, noted Freya.
What sounded like harp music drifted out from somewhere. Lalita opened a door and Freya gasped.
“This is the main pleasure salon,” she said softly, so not to disturb the occupants.
In one corner was a loveseat, similar to the one in her bathroom. The woman lying on it was bound in place while a man thrust repeatedly between her legs. Two other men stood waiting in the shadows for their turn.
“Three men…” Her eyes popped open.
“That is their pleasure, and hers too, I might add. She does love to be shared.” Lalita tapped Freya’s arm. “Whereas the young soldier here is being treated to the company of three jenjins. I gather he was very heroic on a recent mission and has been granted a special reward.”
The man, whose chest was covered in dark tattoos, lay sprawled on a couch while three naked jenjin bathed him with their kisses.
Freya’s face was growing hotter. Her cheeks must be flushed. She hadn’t expected to see such open displays of sex, especially the lack of humiliation at her intrusion. If they weren’t ashamed, why was she embarrassed on their behalf?
They left the room, and as they walked through the open areas, Freya felt a tingle between her thighs and the familiar dampness that came with it. Another pleasure room and this one had the trappings of kinkier things—bondage tables and other furniture. The room was unoccupied.
“This way.” Down a corridor to the back of the building, they moved away from the open areas into a dimmer places. “Here is where you will receive instruction.” She opened a door and the interior resembled a classroom with tables and chairs. Lining the walls were numerous pictures of sex positions. “You’ll be taught all of these and tested on them.”
Lalita opened a cupboard and removed a wafer-thin tablet. There were no books in the room. She held out the tablet. “These are the rules and rituals you must adopt and learn. There are two hundred and sixty specific protocols to follow. How you dress, speak, wash, and so on. You will be examined regularly, so you best pay attention to what you read.”
Freya swiped the view screen and a list of protocols flashed up—orgasm control, diet, exercise—everything was controlled. She swallowed hard. Was all this necessary? Would Marco mind if she skipped out on a few things?
“You cannot leave the Volta without permission. That is our strictest rule. No jenjin may approach a man for sex; he alone can initiate. As for yourself, you must only touch yourself when commanded by me, or the governor. I shall discuss with him how you will masturbate in his absence. You need to maintain your readiness at all times.”
Freya opened her mouth to blurt out a lewd retort, but her throbbing bottom was a reminder of what would happen if she did. She snapped her mouth shut.
“Yes?” Lalita raised her eyebrows.
“Nothing. I just wondered where I eat.” She swiped the screen and blocked out the list.
“There is a dining room near here. I’ll show you.”
The hubbub of voices raised in laughter and chatter greeted Freya. At last, some semblance of normality. Seated around the table, and dressed in reasonably decent garb, were a dozen or so jenjin tucking into wholesome-looking food. Freya sniffed. She smelt something unusual.
“Fish!” How was that possible on a desert planet?
“It’s imported from another colony,” Lalita explained. “An ocean penal colony, which floats on an artificial lagoon. They provide us with some nourishment. We have fruit too and sweets. Do Earthlings like sweet things?”
Freya smacked her lips. “Oh, yes.”
“I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t.”
The last room was down a long corridor and behind a thick wall. Cast in darkness, Lalita switched on the light. Freya froze. Before her were benches of different shapes and sizes, but their purpose was obvious—spanking benches.
“Yes,” Lalita confirmed. “This is the punishment suite. Spanking is the preference.” She pointed at the wall where implement after implement hung ready for use: everything that could make an impact on a bare ass. “But that isn’t the only measure I like to use.”
She opened a cabinet and inside upon a shelf were rows of bottles. “The anus is ideal for discipline. These ointments elicit different sensations—stinging, burning, or iciness. In combination with a large butt plug, they temper any young woman’s disagreeable behavior.”
Freya’s feet had glued themselves to the floor. This was not on her acceptable list. Lalita touching her asshole, spanking her—it was never going to happen. Once Marco got back, she’d reminded him it was her choice and if necessary, she’d change her mind again. She spun on her toes, ready to march out.
Something buzzed and Lalita examined the disk on the back of her hand. “He’s on his way back. We’ll conduct the rest of the tour later. You must be in place ready for him.” She hurried past Freya, touching her arm. “Come. Don’t fret about this room. Pleasure awaits you. Think upon that.”
Freya followed the swirling white dress of Lalita. Pleasure, yes. She welcomed it, but later, they would have to talk about that room.
* * *