Once the other men saw her, they would want her as well. Her bright red hair was a most unusual color, rarely seen on Trion. Her body was lush and had the most delightful curves. Such passion in one so small, so soft, so delectably round and curvy. I pushed the button to the bathing unit with more force than necessary at the thought of her full breasts swaying with every movement of her body.
The unit’s door opened and I stepped in, allowing the water to spray and swirl around me. With my eyes closed, I thought about her curved belly, the softly rounded body that would soon grow with my child. Hips broad and lush for holding as I fucked her.
The water shut off and the drying cycle began.
I was pleased she had already been breached, for I did not have to worry about causing her pain. But I’d been delighted—and surprised—to discover that the walls of her pussy had never pulsed around another man’s thick cock, that no other had managed to bring her to that pleasure. Those she’d been with on Earth were not real men if they could not make a woman of Evelyn Day’s beauty come all over their cock. It would be my ultimate goal in life to bring her to pleasure as frequently as possible.
I didn’t know if I should thank the gods or science for the perfect matching. Either way, I had no doubt Evelyn Day was for me. She, however, had time to decide. Therefore, I had to heed a fine balance between pleasuring her into remaining and taming her reckless and possibly dangerous behavior. The thought of her choosing another, of letting another man touch her, fuck her, protect and cherish her, made my gut clench.
I dressed quickly, then walked to the tent for the general council meeting. I pushed away my anger and frustration at all the possible political implications of my new mate and savored the lingering feelings of satisfaction I’d found in her body. Many on the council made no secret of the fact that they wanted to assume my role and take the mantle of power from my shoulders. The idea that one of them might attempt to use Evelyn Day as a pawn in a coup made me clench my hands into tight fists.
Perhaps my mood—angry and surly—was better than that of a satisfied lover for this meeting of the general council. For now, I knew that my mate was in the harem, that she, along with the other women, were safe. Only when we returned to the palace and she was protected, by not only the thick walls but the full contingency of my loyal guards, would I breathe easily. I could not even allow her to sleep with me, as I desired, for fear of being attacked in the night by those who wished to take my place.
“She is safe,” Goran said as he approached, his footsteps muffled in the sand. I turned to my second-in-command and nodded. With the knowledge that Evelyn Day was under the eyes of the well-trained guards, I could focus on the business at hand. I opened the tent flap, ducked and entered. The general council stood in deference to my rank as high councilor among them.
“Be seated,” I said, moving to the raised dais and lowering to a pillow, as did the others before me.
“We have heard your mate has arrived.” Councilor Roark grinned at me and I nodded my head. He was young and not yet mated. As councilor of the southern continent, he was my closest ally among this group, but also the most virile of the men. Evelyn Day would tempt him greatly.
“Yes, and she has been claimed.” I lifted my chin at Goran, who stepped forward from his place, standing along the perimeter of the meeting circle.
“High Councilor Tark’s mate has arrived. She passed her medical examinations and has been claimed per our protocols. All data have already been sent to the Interstellar Bride Program for processing.” He stated the facts in a voice that invited no argument or dissent and I was grateful. Goran was loyal. A good man, and one waiting for his own mate to arrive. He would fight beside me, even die with me to keep Evelyn Day safe.
“Very well. Thank you, General Goran.” Councilor Roark nodded gravely and I realized that he had acted in my best interests, ensuring that my mate’s status was clear to all present. I tipped my head to him in acknowledgement and thanks.
“A criminal. A killer? And this is the type of female you expect us to obey? To respect above all others?” Councilor Bertok was a bitter old man who had lost two mates already. He was ninety years old if a day, and his pale blue gaze never failed to be cold and unfeeling. “We could all be killed in our sleep. A rugged woman from the wildlands would be a better match than a convict from another planet.”
“I have accepted my mate. Claimed her. There will be no more discussion.” I wanted to pummel the old man into a pile of mush with my bare fists, wanted to feel the hot splash of his blood on my skin. “No one threatens my mate and lives.” I glared at each man around the circle to make sure they understood the sincerity of my words.
“Understandable, high councilor. Perhaps a public beating. You must show your strength and let your mate know who is in control.” I ignored the councilor to my left and his eager suggestion. No one would see Evelyn’s pain but me, and even then it would be tied to her pleasure.
I eyed the man carefully. He meant no disrespect and was not threatening Evelyn Day directly; on some parts of the planet, a public beating was a way for a man to show his domination over his woman. The idea was barbaric and something I was trying to have outlawed.
“When will the public claiming occur?” Another voice, this time from the opposite side of the circle.
The comments and opinions continued… and escalated. It reached a volume and intensity where I’d had enough. I raised my hand and silence fell. As ruler, I found it important to hear the opinions and thoughts of the councilors. I never wanted those I ruled to feel that they had no say. Before today, their voices had been used for planetary business. Even though I was the high councilor, my personal life and my mate were not up for discussion.
“As is custom, and as my second-in-command has said, she has had her first fucking.” I tilted my head to Goran who sat off to the side and nodded his confirmation once again. “The act has been witnessed, recorded, and reported.” My hand fisted at my side and I wished for a blade to twist my fingers around. None of these men would see my mate’s personal pleasure. I would not share. Ever.
“We should have all been present.” Councilor Bertok spoke again. He was from the outer region, the wildlands he had mentioned, and I knew their customs regarding their mates was much more brute strength than gentle persuasion. While I knew the first fucking must be witnessed, it did not mean I enjoyed the idea of providing pompous farks like him with sensual entertainment at my mate’s expense. My life as leader was under constant scrutiny, but there would be one aspect that would remain private. Once back at the palace, my actions with my mate would be ours alone. Not even Goran would be in attendance. I would train her to my personal expectations, not to those of the entire council.
I did not respond to the comment, but said, “I have claimed her. She is marked by my seed and she bears my chain. There will be no further discussion.” I curled my fingers, beckoning Goran to join me. “If you look at the agenda for this session, we can start with the economic gains made in sector four.”
I turned my attention to the reason for this meeting. Continuing to talk about my mate only extended the time I would be kept away from her. Her life on Earth—or what she’d done to be banished—did not concern me. She was here with me now and I would not let her go.
* * *
“Look at the chain dangling between her legs. She hasn’t pleased him.” The woman’s shrill voice had me spinning around, the chain whipping against my thigh as I did so. I hissed out a breath and picked up the chain to hold it so it would stop stimulating the walls of my pussy. That didn’t work. I had only been carrying the spheres in my body for a few minutes and I was ready to weep and beg Tark for relief from the constant pleasure. It was a subtle hum, enough to constantly remind me of his control over me—and my orgasms—but not enough to bring me that sweet release.
They vibrated and pulsed similarly to the medical probe, although in a much more subtle way. By having to hold them inside, I had to clench my inner walls, which only added to the delicious torture.
Several women stood before me. They all wore an identical simple garment that looked like a sheer slip dress. I could see the outline of nipple rings through the thin material, but I couldn’t see that any of them had a chain strung between them, as I did.
The woman who’d spoken was beautiful, except for the
sneer on her lips. Her dark hair flowed long down her back. She was tall and willowy with small breasts and a slim waist. She was everything I was not.
The skin on my bottom was sore and I wondered if they could see the marks Tark’s touch had left on me through the thin slip Goran had given me to wear. My complexion was pale enough that I couldn’t even hide a simple blush. A red bottom would be blatant. Their scrutiny was intense, eyeing me as if I’d come from a different planet—which I had.