Bought By The Zandians (Zandian Brides 2)

“What you need to do”—he strokes my hair—“is to accept this. Benn, she’s ready. Go again.”

“Of course.” I hear a smile in Benn’s voice, and then the fire blossoms once again, a new stripe just below the first.

Good thing I’m lying over this sleeping platform, because the pain makes my knees go weak. “It’s too much!” I cry out, twisting my hips.

“He didn’t even go too hard,” says Gorde. “Again.”

The cane strikes once, a second time, and now I’m sniffling and whimpering, shifting my hips.

“Last one,” Benn says, his voice surprisingly soft. “You’re doing well, Danica. Just one more. Before I give it to you, tell us why we had to cane you, please.”

“I-I…” I suck in a breath.

Gorde runs his hands over my ass, making me hiss out my breath. “Ow!”

He slaps my ass once, not too hard, but it stings like crazy on top of the cane strokes. “Danica, we better hear contrition in your tone or I’ll take that cane and repeat the punishment.” His voice is hard enough that I believe him.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to cause danger. I just reacted, all right? It was instinctive. I wanted to get to Jesel. I didn’t think about repercussions or how sensible my plan was…or wasn’t. It wasn’t a logical decision. It was…from the heart.” My voice gets low and the tears start to fall.

“All right.” Benn steps back. “Last one will be harder than the rest. You’re going to thank both of us for the punishment. I don’t want to hear anything else but that, or else I will give an extra. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” I stifle a sob.

He steps back and the whoosh of the cane is louder than before, and when it hits, I cry out with the instant burn. It’s far worse than the others, and I realize how much he was holding back; how much power he has in his arm. But at the same time, need surges through my body, making me wetter than before. I press my thighs together.

I whimper, more from desire than anything at this point, but remember what I’m supposed to do. I manage to get out the words. “Thank you, Master Benn, Master Gorde, for punishing me. I’m sorry!” I clench my pussy muscles. “Please.”

“Good.” Benn’s voice is easy. “Will you try to escape again, Danica?”

“No! Please, it hurts.” I twist, trying in vain to reach back again, although if Gorde actually released my hands, I’d go straight for my clit. That’s what needs attention right now.

Benn drops the cane; I hear it clatter to the floor. He sits beside me and strokes my shoulder. “Why won’t you run?”

“Because it put you in danger. It almost got you killed. I won’t do it again.” I push my hips up. I hear Benn suck in his breath and smile to myself. They’re going to fuck me now, I know it.

“No.” Gorde’s voice is harsher than ever. “That’s not why.” He lets go of my neck, and I immediately turn to look at him. Although I can see his arousal in the bulge of his trousers, his voice is taut. “Danica, it’s not just us. It’s you. Don’t you get that? Do you know what that transport worker could have done? You’d have been back at auction in a heartbeat, and probably one in a much fouler, depraved environment. Those shuttle operators are notorious for”—he shakes his head—“unspeakable things. You need to look out for yourself.” He takes his other hand off my back.

“That’s what I was trying to do!” I struggle to my feet, not even caring that my argument is sort of negating my apology.

“You’re never going to get exactly what you want, in this life,” he snaps, clenching a fist. “It’s time you grow up and learn to take the best opportunity available. Don’t squander what life brings your way, Danica. Us—this?” He waves a hand. “This is the best vecking chance you have right now. Don’t forget it.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, looking over at Gorde. I can see how badly he wants me—his cock, outlined against his flight pants, is hard and thick. But he’s mad at me, more than Benn. And that hurts more than the cane.

Tears come to my eyes at the expression on his face, such disappointment and anger. He sees it; turns away, and that flips a switch inside me, and suddenly I’m sobbing.

Benn responds immediately. “Danica?” He sits me up to peer into my face. He glares at his friend. “Gorde.”

“I can’t do this right now. You take care of her.” Gorde curses under his breath, something in Zandian, and strides away, over to the flight console. He sits down at a chair and I see his shoulders tense, even across the room.

Benn swoops me up into his arms and sits down, putting me onto his lap. “He’ll cool down,” he whispers into my ear. “Give him time.” He licks my neck. “In the meantime I’ll help you…recover.”

The touch of his lips to my skin is an instant hit of pure desire, and I squirm across his rock-hard thighs, the fabric of his clothing scratchy against my sore ass.

“Hurts?” he murmurs, reaching down. “Lift up.” He cups one ass cheek in his hand, and although I whimper at the touch, it becomes soothing in just a few seconds. “I can make you feel better now, Danica.” He bites my neck, softly, then again, harder. “You ask for it, I’ll deliver.”

“What exactly…will you provide?” I close my eyes and lean my head back, exposing my neck. My pulse comes harder.

“Everything,” he says simply, and at the tone in his voice, my eyes fly open to examine his face. He’s not smiling, not teasing. He looks at me for a long minute, as if he’s discovering something for the first time. “Everything,” he repeats, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “That makes you cry out in pleasure. You took your punishment like a good girl, Danica. And good girls get rewarded.”