Page 18 of Varro's Human Bride
“We’ve been here since morning. You’ve seen enough of the capital city for one trip. It’s time to go home.” He grabbed her hand and tried to lead her away, but she pulled against him and her hand slipped from his grip.
Desperate to run into Nova, Julie rushed away from Varro, all but breaking into a run as she joined the crowd moving down the street. She looked over her shoulder at him and beckoned him to follow. “Please,Xerr. It’s a lovely day.”
His face darkened further as he followed after her. Once he reached her side, he grabbed her hard and spun her around to travel in the opposite direction. Several people looked their way and her insides twisted as she realized they were making a scene.
But she couldn’t stop herself from arguing with Varro.
“No,Xerr, I’m not ready to go home.” She tried to wrench herself from his grip and panic set in when he didn’t release her.
* * *
Varro pausedin the middle of the crowded marketplace, holding Caylee in his arms while she struggled against him. He couldn’t believe her defiance. What had gotten into her? How dare she disobey him and cause such a scene in public? He felt the eyes of the passing crowd around them and fury built inside him, hot and dangerous.
“We are leaving now, little human.” He leaned down until his face was level with hers. “You will obey me in this.”
To his shock, she still attempted to pull away, forcing him to tighten his grip on her arms. “Please,Xerr. I wish to walk through the entire market. You don’t understand. I’ve been looking forward to this for days.”
He resumed walking in the direction of the hover transport, keeping a tight hold on her. She resisted him every step of the way, but her strength was no match for his.
“No,Xerr. I don’t want to leave! Not yet! Let go of me!”
He couldn’t believe her outrageous behavior. What had happened to his sweet, submissive bride? He didn’t understand her sudden resistance.
He paused briefly and leaned down to speak directly in her ear. “When we get home, Caylee, you are going to answer for your rebellion. I am your husband and master and you would be wise to walk calmly the rest of the way to the hover transport.”
All the color drained from her face and she went still in his arms. Yet she continued to plead her case and her continued stubbornness incited his anger further. “Please,Xerr, I really wanted to keep walking. That’s all. I-I am sorry for arguing with you, but could we please continue through the market?”
“No.” He jerked her forward. “You will obey, wife, and come with me. If you pull against me and try to escape my hold one more time, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you to the hover transport. If you force me to do that, trust me, your punishment will be so much worse than I’m already planning.”
Her look of indecision startled him. When she shook her head and once more attempted to yank her arms from his hold, he followed through on his threat and lifted her, tossing her over his shoulder. He made haste for the hover transport, his fury growing with each rapid step.
Once he got her home, she would pay mightily for her transgressions.
He imagined bringing the leather strap down across her quivering bottom cheeks, over and over again, until she tearfully begged for forgiveness and promised not to disobey him in such a way again. It was practically unheard of for females on Tarrkua to defy their husbands in public. Most females walked with their heads slightly bowed around their mates, often several steps behind, though he had preferred to hold her hand as they moved through the crowd.
He carried her onto the hover transport and sat her in the seat next to him.
She lowered her head and a lone tear cascaded down her face. Despite her extreme naughtiness, a surge of compassion flared inside him and he found himself reaching to wipe the tear away. The pilot guided the transport through the streets and Varro was glad they were finally out of the crowd and on their way home where this matter could be settled in private.
“Why are you crying?” he demanded.
“Because you-you’re angry with me.” When she met his gaze, he saw a spark of defiance burning in her depths, even though she was upset enough to cry. “And everything is ruined now. Everything. Everything…” Her voice trailed off and he found himself at a loss for words.
Though the doors of the hover transport were closed and locked, he didn’t release his hold on her during the entire journey home. After the pilot stopped the transport in front of his home, Varro once again lifted her over his shoulder and carried her. He didn’t care if any of his family members witnessed him carrying her inside like this. He didn’t want to risk her fighting him and he needed to get her upstairs immediately.
For the first time in their marriage, she would feel the sting of the strap on her bare bottom.
Given the seriousness of her disobedience, he would not go easy on her.
Chapter 12
Julie stood before Varro, naked and trembling. Her bottom lip quivered and she blinked rapidly, struggling not to break into tears. How could their day have gone so horribly wrong? They were supposed to enjoy a beautiful day in the capital city together and then run into Nova byhappenstance, where plans would be made for the long-lost friends from New Leesburg to reunite again soon.
What would Nova think when she couldn’t find Julie near the jewelry booths as they’d planned? Julie realized she had behaved badly and embarrassed Varro, dishonored him, even, but she hadn’t been able to help it. In her desperation to see Nova and fulfill their carefully laid plans, she’d found herself arguing with Varro and even struggling to escape his hold.
Varro scowled at her, jaw clenched, eyes blazing with disapproval. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and circled her several times. The air between them thickened with tension and she braced herself, fearing he might snap at any second.
She cast a fearful glance at the strap, which still hung on the wall. A quiver raced across her bottom cheeks. She already regretted her actions, but she knew she was about to regret them a whole lot more.
