Page 41 of Commander's Slave
“Eat,” he said in a commanding tone. He appeared agitated and she wondered if he’d had trouble getting rid of the general.
“Master this all looks delicious, but this isn’t the food meant for servants. Or slaves.” Her voice wobbled. Maybe he didn’t know she was supposed to eat the servants’ leftovers.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said, still sounding agitated.
“Tell you what?” Worry clenched in her stomach. He was starting to look quite mad and she hoped he wasn’t upset with her.
He stood up and ran a hand through his hair, his movements rough and shaky. His eyes blazed down at her, but a moment later, his visage softened and he released a long breath. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were eating the servants’ leftovers, little human? Holy Fires, I would have never permitted that. I hope you haven’t been going hungry.”
Surprised, she glanced at the plate in her hand and then back at Edek. “I assumed it was normal and that I didn’t have a choice. I’m a slave, Master, and on your planet, that means I’m below servants. I can’t sit at the table in the kitchen and share meals with them. I-I tried on the first day I was here, but they wouldn’t let me. So, as I said, I assumed it was normal.”
He uttered a string of Kall curses and ran a hand through his hair again.
“You will no longer eat the servants’ leftovers, or even food meant for the servants,” Edek said in a voice full of authority. “You will eat the same food that is prepared for the dining room.”
She opened her mouth to question him, but he held up his hand, making a gesture for her to remain silent.
“You will not argue with me about this, little human.” More curses fell from his lips. “Why aren’t you eating yet?”
She reached for a utensil and started to eat. Stunned didn’t even begin to describe her feelings right now. Slowly, over the course of the last few weeks, Edek had been treating her like a slave less and less and more like a lover.
After a few bites, she peered up at Edek. “This is delicious. Thank you, Master. And just so you know—I haven’t been starving. I’ve gotten more to eat here than I did in the refugee camp back on Earth or the prison or the slaveship that brought me here.” She shot him a polite smile, hoping to calm his worries.
“I spoke with the servants a while ago and ordered them to treat you better. I hope they’ve been bothering you less, but if they haven’t, I hope you will tell me. I will kick them out of this house—that is, if I don’t strangle them first—if they ever harass you again.”
Betsy almost choked on a bite of purple sauteed vegetables. Well, Edek was certainly full of surprises tonight. She chewed carefully and swallowed, then dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
“I had a feeling you’d spoken to them not long after your arrival here. They aren’t exactly kind to me, but they have stopped cursing at me and pushing me out of their way. I appreciate that you stood up for me,” she said. “Thank you, Master.”
He gave her a curt nod.
“Master, you’ve mentioned appearances before and how others perceive our relationship,” she paused and her face heated after she realized she’d used the wordrelationship—oh dear, “and if the servants were to talk to people in town and it became widely known that you were making your servants wait on your slave—and a human slave at that—well, would that not cause problems for you?”And problems for me.
“That is for me to worry about, little human, not you. Now please, finish eating. Be sure to try the dessert,” he said with a sudden twinkle in his eyes.
Betsy obeyed and proceeded to eat her fill, making sure to save room for the scrumptious dessert. Weeks ago, when she’d first arrived on this planet, if someone had told her that her master would one day serve her a decadent meal in bed, complete with dessert, she would not have believed them.
After she finished eating, Edek set the tray in the hallway outside the bedroom, clearly intending for a servant to come pick it up. Her face heated and she shifted in bed, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Shouldn’t she carry the tray downstairs? Shouldn’t she rush to the kitchen and help the cook finish cleaning? It was so very strange to lounge about in bed in the early evening, when she was normally finishing up her daily chores at this time.
He walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, and she heard the usual sounds of running water as he prepared for bed. Her heart raced, beating a frantic rhythm against her ribcage. Her breaths came in short gasps and she fidgeted under the covers, the aching in her core deepening as she anticipated his return.
A short while later, he exited the bathroom. He was naked, his huge cock standing at attention. A shiver rushed down her back and heat pooled between her legs. His dark gaze focused on her, causing her to flush.
“Go get ready for bed, little human,” he ordered, “and hurry up.”
She rushed into the bathroom and went about her business as quickly as possible, washing her face, combing her long hair, and brushing her teeth. She removed her dress and panties, tossing them in the clothing refresher. She paused for one last glance in the mirror before returning to Edek.
He was seated on the bed, atop the covers, not bothering to conceal his nudity. And why should he bother? He was all solid muscle and beautiful dark red skin. Her palms tingled with the urge to touch him all over.
He gestured for her to approach him and she was quick to obey. The aching in her center deepened when his masculine scent reached her nose. Would he take her over his knee like he usually did before bed? Or, given the circumstances of the evening, would tonight be different?
To her surprise, he lifted her and sat her on his lap. Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden tender gleam in his eyes.
“No spanking tonight, Master?” she asked in a whisper.
He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and resting his chin atop her head. “Not tonight, little human. I only wish to be… gentle with you tonight.”
