The tension in my mate’s chest translated to my worn-out body and I began to tremble in his arms.
“The examination is complete, Harbart. My bride is healthy and whole. I will now take her to my personal quarters without further delay. I’m sure you can understand.”
“Of course, of course. Such a disappointment, really. We shall have to inform the Prime that we missed it, right, Prince Nial?” Harbart took a small step forward, but stopped when Zane actually growled at him. Harbart held up his hands as if in surrender, but the gleam I saw in his eyes made the air catch in my throat as he continued. “Oh, commander. She is not wearing your band around her pretty little neck. Has she then, in fact, refused you already?”
The tension in the air was so thick I could barely breathe. I looked at the black strip of strange fabric in my hands and quickly lifted it to my neck. There was no clasp, but as soon as I held the ends together, they sealed, then settled against me, the collar resizing itself until it felt like a second skin.
Zane immediately relaxed and I felt the tension leave my body as well. I had pleased him, and hopefully pissed off the nasty old man who now glared at me like I’d just taken away his favorite toy.
“Ah, my mistake, commander.” He bowed slightly at the waist, his long brown robe just hitting the floor in front of his boots. “My lady. Welcome to the Battleship Deston. I very much look forward to making your acquaintance again soon.”
He turned on his heel and left me alone with the doctor, the prince, and my mate, who practically snarled at the prince the moment the door slid closed.
“Keep that man away from my mate, cousin, or I will kill him.”
The handsome young prince wore battle armor similar to Zane’s, but with slightly darker shades of browns and some black. He was big and strong, just like my mate, and his eyes were kind and very interested as he looked at me.
“Lady Deston, welcome.”
When I remained silent, Zane jostled me, just enough so that I would know he expected me to speak. “Thank you.” It was all I could manage. It was enough.
With a bow, the prince of Prillon Prime left us alone and my body melted into a puddle in Zane’s arms. I had no strength of will to resist or assist as Zane stood with me in his arms.
“Ah, commander. One last item for you before you take your mate to your quarters.” The doctor picked up the box from the table. “Her examination did show one issue that you must resolve.”
I frowned and I felt Zane tense at my back. “Oh? What issue?”
“While her pussy has been breached by another, her ass is still unclaimed. It is tight and untried.”
I flushed at the doctor’s words. It was true; I wasn’t a virgin but no one had done anything to my bottom until the examination just now.
The doctor held out the dark box and then opened the lid to show us both what was inside.
My mouth fell open as I took in the array of butt plugs. I knew what they were immediately, for while I was an anal virgin, I hadn’t lived under a rock. My heart, only now slowing from the earlier exam, jumped in my chest and I couldn’t bear to look at them, or think about what the doctor wanted Zane to do with them.
“What… what do you need those for?” I asked.
“As part of the mating ceremony, we will claim every part of you. Your mouth, your pussy, and your ass. These—” Zane pointed at the contents of the box, “—will train you to take a cock in your bottom. It is my duty as your mate to prepare your body so you feel no pain during the claiming, only pleasure.”
We? Had he said we?
The doctor closed the lid with a click and Zane took it from him.
“Thank you, doctor, for your concern in this matter. We will begin her training as soon as we are in my quarters.”
There that word was again. We.
The doctor bowed his head.
Zane tucked the box beneath his arm and looked down at me where he held me nestled against his huge chest. “Now, Hannah, I will take you to your new quarters.”
I gulped once again and tried to convince my stomach that it did not need to churn and ache. Zane was going to take me back to his quarters and do… things to me. My bottom clenched just thinking about this training. My mind screamed at me to run, run very far away, but the collar about my neck heated and pulsed, sending a quick ripple of pleasure through my body.
I couldn’t help but gasp.
The corner of Zane’s mouth tipped up. “I see our collars are now linked, as they should be. From now on, you will feel my pleasure, Hannah, as I will feel yours. The link is only half strength now, temporary, but when the claiming ceremony is complete, the link will be powerful and unbreakable. It’s just one of the benefits of wearing your mate’s collar. Do not fear, my little human. I will bring you only pleasure, even when that virgin ass of yours is trained.” When the door opened and he carried me out into the ship, all I could do was hold on as my body savored that little blissful pulse of his pleasure. He was going to do whatever he wanted to me, and trapped here, on an alien battleship in deep space, there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.