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Iwillfocus. Iwillsurvive.

"Nothing I can do to make you respect me,” Hadrian growls. “Is that so?” Then he scoffs. “I don'tneedthe respect of a criminal. You won't respect me? Fine. But youwillfear me."

I know it's coming. I know it's coming – yet nothing I can do prepares me for the sudden pain that fills my left ass cheek as the second crack of whip echoes across the room.

This time I can't hold back the cry of pain. Tears flood my eyes…

…but to my shock, somethingelseis happening to me.

My nipples are suddenly rock-fucking-hard. The waves of painful heat emanating from my ass are inflaming something dark and passionate between my legs. I can hear Hadrian panting, reacting to my obvious arousal.

Gods – apparently there’ssomethingabout being punished by these assholes that gets me more turned on than anything else I’ve ever experienced.

It’s shameful – but I can't change what I like. Sometimes, I wish I could – but all I can do is accept my dark desire for submission and punishment at the hands of these brutal warriors.

"Hadrian. Step back. You're nearly lost already,” Kitos warns. “It’s my turn."

"No! I will take three more."

A sudden, devilish urge overcomes me.

"Oh,” I mock, through gritted teeth, “is big, bad Hadrian unable to control himself?"

Despite my pain, I use my most mewling, slutty voice. Aurelians can’t stand brattiness in human females. It's an affront to their noble, supposedly controlled demeanor. Hadrian was already insulted that Kitos vocalized the thought instead of telepathing it – and now the Aurelian is going to bereallypissed.

I can use that anger against him – to get what I want.

I don't want the cool, cold, reserved Kitos punishing me. I want Hadrian to do it – knowing he’s on the brink of losing control. He wants to make me suffer…

…then he’ll want to take me hard.

"Step back, Hadrian." The low voice of Daccia is a rumble that I feel more than hear. This time, Hadrian does step back.

There's the snap of a finger – I’m not sure whose – and suddenly the wall in front of me shimmers; turning from plain steel to become a mirror.

Gods… When I see myself, I'm lost.

My reflection shows me bent over, with wet eyes. Behind me are stand the three alien warriors. Daccia extends his hand and takes the whip from Hadrian. His body is tense, every muscle flexed.

I can't keep my eyes from him. I watch Daccia in the mirror as he walks slowly towards me, taking long strides with his huge legs. He stands behind me and takes a huge breath.

I know he's tasting my scent. Iknowhe can detect the arousal I feel at being humiliated and punished by these massive men.

I bite my lip. I don't know if I can handle another eighteen strikes with that whip.

Daccia gently reaches out and rubs his huge palm across my scorching ass. Somehow, I feel instant relief. His touch is loving. He’s caressing me.

"I don't want to hurt you, Allie,” Daccia murmurs. “I don't knowwhyyou did what you did. I only know that every animal wants to be free – human or otherwise.”

His face hardens in the mirror.

“But you put us all at risk when you sabotaged our ship. Your little weapon could have gone off halfway through the Orb-Shift – and then we'd all be trapped in that in-between place.”

Daccia grits his teeth.

“You need to learn – so nowI'mgoing to punish you."

This wasn’t part of the plan.