Mastered by the Zandians (Zandian Brides 3)

“Animal. You know what I mean.”

He lets go of one of my wrists to slap my thigh. “Is that the way to talk to your master?”

“If he’s being difficult.” I slide my thighs apart. “Definitely.”

He breathes in and lodges his cock between my parted legs. “If you want this”—he thrusts a little, making me moan— “you better behave.”

“Teach me how to tap out veck you and I’ll squeeze around your cock so tight your horns will blow off.”

He roars out a laugh. “Oh little vipn, I’ll spank you for that.”

“Not unless you teach me the sign for it first.” I bite his horn when he bends his head down.

Later though, after we’re relaxing, I go back to the code. “I want to learn all the words. Teach me.”

Lanz blinks. “It takes time.”

“Which we have. Plenty.”

“Okay, every night we’ll teach you one. In return, you suck our cocks.”

“You know I’ll suck your cock regardless. So be nice.”

He laughs. “Here’s one you could use.” He taps it out on my leg.

“What does that mean?”

It’s more complicated, and it takes a few tries for me to remember it. “Is it an attack code?”

He smiles. “It says, vipns around, be careful.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip. “I see.”

“But it could be an attack code, if you plan it that way. Anything can mean anything, as long as you agree on the meaning.”

I nod. “I suppose you’re right.”

“So this one”—he taps out a really long one that I can’t catch—“which means ‘when you see me move my right hand, attack,’ could really mean that I just like you.”

“Good thing you told me. Otherwise I’d have to watch my back.”

“As long as we’re here, we’ll help watch it for you.” He pulls me to him. “I mean that.”

And because right now I’m happy Mirelle, the one who plans to be here forever, tears come to my eyes. “I’ll do that for you too.” I squeeze his hand. “Both of you.”

Mirelle

* * *

“Craft 7Yv23, cleared to land on run X-3. Proceed.”

“Veck it.” I frown and run my hand over my secret scanner. Lately it’s been getting mostly static, and I only have small pockets of time here and there to listen. Naturally when I do have time, I hear junk—mostly air tower chatter from local planets, only a few hundred light years away.

I switch channels, and suddenly stop. “…avoid Midrian belt…Ocretions…plan attack…”

I hold my breath and then tap the enhance feature, hoping to make it clearer.

“Change path…course setting to outside…the…”