I couldn’t avoid my mate or what he planned to do to me. I could try, but decided against it because my bottom was very sore and still suffering the consequences of my previous actions. While the doctor had pricked my ire, Tark made me feel something else entirely. I wasn’t happy that he’d spanked me—absolutely not—but he did make a clear argument and I had been in the wrong. I liked that he’d given the punishment, then moved on. I, too, felt I should move on from it as well. Learn from it, of course, for I didn’t wish to go through that again. I reached back and gently rubbed my hot skin.
Odd. There was something about him, his power, his protectiveness—he had protected me from the doctor—and his dominance that was very appealing. Looking at how well his large body was defined in his dark clothes, I wanted to please him. Besides that, I itched to run my hands over his arms to feel his biceps, over his broad shoulders, down his chest. Surely his abdominals would be hard and well defined. And lower…
I went over to the table and Tark followed. With his hands at my hips, he lifted me up onto the metal surface and I hissed at the cool contact with my overheated bottom.
“Lie back,” Tark told me.
Licking my lips, I settled back onto the table as I watched his eyes rove over my body. Unlike the doctor, Tark looked at me with arousal, definitely, but also something like reverence. I keenly felt the heated slide of his gaze, as if his fingers were actually tracing the curves of my flesh.
“As I said, you must be examined to ensure you are well. I have plans for you, gara.”
I could do nothing but lick my dry lips at the raspy sound of his voice.
“I will touch you now.”
I gasped when his hand cupped my breast, for the touch was gentle, yet I felt rough calluses on his palm.
He watched as my nipple tightened, then rubbed his thumb back and forth over the taut peak, shifting the gold ring.
“Why… why the rings?” I asked, my voice soft. I shivered at the idea of a stranger—who was also my mate—touching me.
“We adorn our women and find the rings both beautiful and arousing.” He watched my breast as he replied. “All of our mates have rings placed in their nipples. It is a sign of claiming and respect.”
“They don’t hurt,” I said.
He smiled then. “I hope not. My touch should bring you pleasure, gara, nothing else.”
No, they didn’t hurt at all. Instead, the soft tug and pull of the metal felt incredible. My nipples had always been sensitive, but now, I arched my back to press into his palm more fully.
“You were processed according to our social customs. It normally takes several weeks for the rings to heal and I had no intention of waiting that long before I touched you… here.” He flicked the ring and I gasped. “A perk of the transfer… for both of us.”
“And the chain?”
Tark lifted the chain and I noticed a small crest had been stamped into several tiny golden disks that were woven into the shining strand. “This symbol is my birthing mark, and the mark of my line. It signifies that you are mine. Until I claim you and mark you permanently, it is also your protection.”
“Protection?” I didn’t understand how rings in my nipples were going to protect me from anything, but the way he continued to play, I didn’t really care.
“No one will dare touch what belongs to the high councilor.” He sounded like a possessive caveman. “Enough questions. Place your hands above your head and allow me to examine my mate.”
I froze, my hands locked in front of me. “Tark, I don’t—”
“This…” He moved his hand a little lower and gently tugged on the chain, sending a hot sizzle of pleasure from both of my nipples directly to my clit, “…is also a tool I will use to make sure you learn obedience, gara. Just one of the many ways your body will learn to submit to mine—and keep you from arguing.”
He let go of the chain and it fell onto my skin once again, the once cool metal now heated by his touch. Tark gently wrapped each of my wrists in his big, strong hands and slowly maneuvered me until my hands were above my head on the exam table, as he’d requested.
“Or, I can flip you over onto your belly and spank you once again. It is your choice.”
I almost rolled my eyes and realized he would definitely consider that impertinence.
“That is not much of a choice,” I grumbled.
He offered a small smile. “You are learning quickly, gara. Know this, I will never harm you. But I will also never allow you to hurt yourself. Bron—” he spit out the man’s name, “—is new to my service, and after how he behaved, I will summon a new medical officer immediately upon our return to the palace. I wouldn’t let him treat my frim, let alone my mate.”