Page 29 of Alien Captain's Prisoner

“I… I accepted their punishment for them.” I close my eyes. “Well, Itriedto, anyway. I thought I could put Aelon in a no-win situation by offering to take their lashes for them…”

“Lashes? You’d take the punishment forallof them? That would kill you, Tasha!”

I nod silently.

“I thought I was being smart. I knew he wouldn’t let that happen, but he had to honor a captain’s demand to accept punishment in place of their crew…”

“So? What happened?”

I sigh, looking up with embarrassment.

“Once I’d volunteered to accept their punishment, he commuted it.”

“Commuted it? Towhat?”

“He’s not going to hurt me,” I sigh, “he’s going to humiliate me, instead. The twisted bastard commuted the crew’s lashes to a spanking, instead – in front of everyone.”

Sawoot’s jaw drops, and as soon as she notices, she clamps it shut.

I’m grateful for her reaction, though – I was half-expecting her to laugh at me, just like Chris and the others had. Instead, she shakes her head resolutely.

“Don’t give me that look, Tasha – you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You protected your crew, that’s all that matters. If they think any less of you for taking a spanking, sothey’dbe spared lashes? Well, you need a new crew.”

I laugh bitterly at that. Thank the Gods that Sawoot gets it.

She reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“Be brave, Tasha. You’ll get through it with nothing more than your pride hurt.” Then, a mischievous smile quirks her lips. “Gods, Aelon mustreallylike you.”

I raise my eyebrow.

“Like me? No, he wants to humiliate me.”

Now, Sawoot does laugh – but lightly, not mockingly, and only because she knows I’m not in mortal danger.

“Well… from what I heard about the Aurelian harem my friend joined, a spankingdefinitelymeans he’s into you. They love that shit, those misogynist bastards. The power and domination turns them on as much as sex does.”

My cheeks burn, but I sense Sawoot is correct. Every interaction with Captain Aelon has so far been a battle of wills – with him enjoying the challenges I present to him, but being ruthless in maintaining the upper hand. It’s like he and I are playing a game of chess; only half of my pieces are missing.

Sawoot leans forward.

“Something else my friend told me about – she’d taken more than a few spankings during her years in the harem.” My best friend squeezes my hand. “It’s going tohurt, Tash. I can tell you that.”

I snort bitterly.

“Good. Iwantit to hurt. I want to at least feel something for taking the punishment instead of Chris and those idiots…” Then I allow myself to laugh. “It’s still going to hurt less than lashes – and it’s better than facing a firing squad.”

I sink back on the bunk, until my back is pressed against the wall. The hard metal is a reassuring weight behind me, and the bunk is adequately soft beneath my backside.

Suddenly I wonder if I’ll still be thinking that after tonight. Will I even be able to sit for a week after taking my punishment? Once the Aurelians are done with me, what state will my backside be in?

I look across at my first officer, a bitter taste in my mouth.

“So, your friend who was in the harem. She said that this is how Aurelians show affection? By spanking you until you can’t sit down?” I snort. “They really are a fucked-up species.”

Sawoot shrugs. “They sure are – but can you blame them for being so messed up?”

What a weird question.

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