“I loved teaching but I have to admit, I love being with Valen more,” she told Jess.
“Of course you do! And didn’t I tell you that Ma’shorka Centra was the perfect place for you and your kinky tendencies?” Jess winked at her and Selena blushed.
“Jess…”
“Oh come on, you know it’s true.” Jess leaned closer. “Between you and me, we’ve been playing a bit too. Tolern makes a fabulous Master and I’m pretty good at being his ‘Dependent Female.’”
Selena was pretty good at it herself. She and Valen kept their play inside the bedroom when they were on the Mother Ship, but when they were on Ma’shorka Centra, it came out into the open. Selena had another Seal of Independence, printed for her by Kat, but she rarely wore it. It felt sexy and naughty to be on display and wear a breast harness held by her husband.
Not that she was always the perfect Dependent Female—sometimes she was naughty and then he had to spank her. But since he always “kissed her better” afterwards, just as he had after the spanking at the Pet Parade, Selena found she rather looked forward to spankings now…
“Well, hello little one.”
The deep voice in her ear made her gasp. Turning, she saw that Valen had sneaked up on her as silently as a big cat. Though how someone whose thoughts she could hear could sneak up on her, was beyond Selena.
“I was able to sneak up on you because your thoughts were concentrated on being spanked and having me kiss your soft little pussy and ass better afterwards,” Valen growled through their link.
“Mmm…sorry about that, Master. I guess I was being naughty in my head,” Selena sent back, kissing him.
“You can be as naughty as you like, little one. I’ll punish you later,” he promised.
“Well, hello to you, too, Valen,” Jess said dryly, interrupting their internal conversation. “Don’t worry,” she said, raising a hand when Selena started to apologize. “I understand how it is when you’re first bonded—you just can’t get enough of each other. But don’t you think you ought to take your mind off nookie and concentrate on what you’re going to play tonight?”
“Oh—you’re right.” Selena looked sadly down at her borrowed violin. “If I can make a decent sound come out of this thing, of course.”
“That is a fairly shabby instrument,” Valen remarked, frowning down at the violin she was holding. “Do you think you’d feel better about the concert if you had a nicer one to play? Maybe…one like this?”
He drew his hand out from behind his back and presented Selena with a beautifully burnished violin case.
“Oh, Valen! What did you get me?” Handing the borrowed violin to Jess, she looked down at the expensive-looking case.
“Why don’t you open it and find out?” He arched an eyebrow at her, giving her his sardonic little half-grin.
He didn’t have to tell her twice. Eagerly, Selena lifted the latches and threw open the case. Inside was the most beautiful instrument she had ever seen.
“Oh, Valen!” she breathed, caressing the shiny, dark wood reverently. “Is this a Guarneri?”
“It is—you have an excellent eye to match your talented ear, sweetheart.” He held out his hands. “May I hold the case for you so you can try it out?”
“But…but these are so expensive!” Selena protested.
He nodded. “Almost as much as a Stradivarius. Which was what I initially wanted to get for you. Unfortunately, no one who has one was willing to part with it.” He shrugged. “So a Guarneri it is—I am assured they put out beautiful tones.”
“Yes, they do!” Selena agreed rapturously. She tucked the new violin carefully under her chin and drew her bow across its strings. Heavenly notes drifted out, so beautiful they brought tears to her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Valen asked anxiously. “Do you not like it? You’re crying.”
“I…I’m crying because I’m so happy,” Selena whispered, looking up at him. “But Valen you shouldn’t have!”
“I absolutely should have.” Leaning down, he looked into her eyes. “You have no idea how frightened and worried I was when I saw your old violin, smashed in the waste receptacle at the spaceport. I vowed to myself then and there if I ever got you back, I would get you the finest instrument money could buy.” He touched the violin reverently. “This is your voice, little one. It should sing as sweetly as the voice I hear in my head through our bond.”
“Oh, Valen…” Holding the new violin carefully, she leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “How did I ever get so lucky?” she whispered, when they broke the kiss at last.
“It wasn’t luck, little one—it was the will of the Goddess,” he murmured, searching her eyes with his. “Now go out there and play your piece—I’m sure you’ll bring tears to everyone’s eyes, not just your own.”