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Sharp, red-hot painflaresacross my tender flesh – but it’s the chorus of laughter and hoots from the Aurelians that I find almost as painful as the physical punishment.

Almost.

I grit my teeth and force my head to the right. My crew is leering at me, just as disrespectfully as those testosterone-fueled Aurelian warriors.

The sight of Chris smiling so wolfishly is what hurts the most. He’s grinning at the sight of the captain he resents so much being punished in front of him – forhiswrongdoing! It makes me realize how wasted all my patience and generosity was with that man – he’d never have respected me, no matter what I did for him.

But the laughter of my crew quickly wilts under my stare. As I glare at them, their snickers catch on their lips. Guilt washes over them – and even Chris looks down at his boots, shifting uncomfortably in his seat under my accusing gaze.

The Aurelians have no such qualms, however – and why would they?

Over a hundred pairs of eyes are staring at me hungrily, with rapt attention. I can see the naked hunger burning in their ubiquitous, slate-grey gaze. These warrior-beasts have been pent up in this warship for Gods-know-how-long, without a single woman to sate their legendary sexual appetites…

…and nowI’m here,clad in only my black, sensible t-shirt in front of them. To the Aurelians’ eyes, my bare ass probably look as appetizing as the ripest, juiciest fruit would to a man dying of starvation.

The third spank hits me hard. The crack echoes across the mess hall, and I feel the flesh of my backside jiggle as pain blossoms across it.

I drop my head this time, looking down at the floor. I don’t have the strength to hold my head up anymore. Exhaustion has overwhelmed my pride.

Vinicus grunts as the sharp crack of flesh-on-flesh fills the room again. It’s taking all my self-restraint not to whimper and cry out in pain – and we’re only on the third spank.

Towering above us both, Captain Aelon stands stock still. He’s looking down at me as if I’m a delicious, steaming plate of dinner. Yet I know the weight of command weighs heavy on his shoulders – that as enjoyable as this spectacle is, it’s also necessary. He couldn’t have let me off easy – not after what Chris and my men tried to do to his crewmember.

My fate is humiliating, shameful and painful – but this was the only option. Aelon’s punishment was the only way forward that wouldn’t lead to serious harm to me or my men. I think everybody in this room – from Chris and my crew to the nameless, faceless Aurelian soldiers watching me – understand that the pain I’m suffering is more than just physical. I had to surrender my dignity as well. In some ways, this spanking is more brutal than a hundred lashes – precisely because I’ll still be alive at the end of it.

As astonishing as it sounds, I’m actually filled with respect for Captain Aelon at this moment. Suddenly, I don’t regret testing him. It’s my fault – I should have known something like this would happen. He’s not a man to be underestimated.

Captain Aelonwantsto humiliate me in front of both my crew, and his. Itryto hate him for it – but Iunia spelled Aelon’s reasoning out to me so reasonably that any hatred would be a pretense.

As the fourth sharp spank lands on my ass, I stop thinking rationality. I listen to the crack of flesh-on-flesh echo across the mess hall, and I just let my angerflow.

It’s all directed at Captain Aelon. It’s a foolish emotion, anger – but if I can use it to get me through this punishment without breaking down and sobbing, I’ll cling to it.

My cheeks are burning red from shame. No matter how proud I should be that I stood up for my crew, it still resulted in me getting a humiliating spanking in front of this crowd of men.

It’s shameful, and I try to shift in Vinicus’s lap, but he holds me down so tightly I might as well be a toy. It’s just too easy for the beast-like alien to keep me pinned down. He must weigh at least 600 pounds – all of it pure muscle - and so, compared to him, my struggles are as futile as those of an insect.

Every time I try to shift my weight, he just presses down a little more firmly; showing me who’s boss without having to utter a word.

And the worst part? Despite the pain, and the humiliation, and the sense of powerlessness…

…I’m notentirelyhating this experience.

I trynotto let myself feel it, but I can’t stop. My body is reacting to the power and presence of this dominant, remorseless warrior. I hate myself for my body’s treacherous reaction, and I desperately try to force myselfnotto think of how strong and powerful Vinicus is…

…how small and helpless I am…

…but I can’t.

I feel like a toy – knowing that Vinicus could do anything he wanted to me. So could Captain Aelon, or any of the hundred men in this room. Any of them could take me – orallof them could.

I shudder at that though.

After ten spanks – ten cracks of Vinicus’ huge, heavy palm on my cheeks – I suddenly can’t hold back anymore.

Tears spring in my eyes. This hasn’t been a light, gentle spanking. This is full-on discipline. Despite the ways in which my body is betraying me, Vinicus doesn’twantme to enjoy this – not one bit.

Heat is welling up across my ass. It’s like my cheeks are on fire.