Like most of his people, Faris had experienced a limited exposure to sex. He knew he was naïve. He’d been raised to believe the act was strictly for procreation—taught the fertility rituals and encouraged to find a mate once he’d reached the age of maturity.
He’d tried to find a wife, but there had always been something holding him back from making that commitment. Nothing more than a general sense of unease, but one he’d been unable to lose. He was attracted to women, but there had always been something missing, some quality none of his potential mates possessed.
He’d become disconnected, drifting through life until he’d found a renewed sense of purpose as the ambassador’s prime. God, his family had been so proud. The abrupt change in their social status was nearly unheard of. For Faris it was a way out, a chance at a bigger life.
In his time here, his understanding of this sector of the galaxy had exploded, much of it under Ulric’s guidance. Until the actions of the past few days and the attack, he thought everything had been worth it.
How the hell had he ended up in this room? He should be in the brig. Or dead.
“Faris, come here.” Stella didn’t bother to look at him or check to see if he would obey.
Annoyance at his inability to resist the woman burned—but his curiosity flared brighter. Ignoring the uncomfortable pain his cock caused him as he moved, Faris approached her side. The sight before him had his mouth run dry.
The bench Ulric was kneeling on really did put his naked ass high at the right angle for anyone to see it perfectly. The skin had lost its pale sheen and was now tinged with pink and red. There were no welts, but he had no doubt they would rise if more abuse was administered to his flesh. Faris flexed his hand, his fingers suddenly tingling from the idea of adding his own smacks to Ulric’s ass.
“Yes, you like what you see.” There was a smile in Stella’s voice as she spoke. “I told you he was beautiful. But he is so much more than what you’ve come to see.”
Looking up to catch her gaze, Faris cocked his head to the side and did his best to ignore the strange feelings pulling at him. “What will you do now?”
“Me?” Stella cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, I plan to do nothing to him personally. You’ll be taking my place.”
Ulric moaned and squirmed on the bench. Faris felt his cock swell and his balls tighten. “What?”
“Ulric brought you here for a reason. He refuses to tell me what it is, so I am left with no choice but to discover it on my own. You will be my instrument. You will learn what he needs and what it means to be a part of his life.” Turning to face him, Stella ran a nail down his clothed chest. “If you feel you are able to handle it, that is.”
Can I? This was beyond his experience and understanding. He still wasn’t sure why Ulric had chosen him to be here, especially after how badly he’d fucked up. While they had grown close, he didn’t hold the same power the ambassador did, nor was he able to sway anyone in the negotiations. He may be the prime, but his influence was limited.
Or was it?
Before he let reason win out, Faris nodded. “Let me.”
No smile crossed her lips, but he could tell she was pleased. “There are straps on the floor. I want you to bind his legs to the bench. Tight.”
A nervous flutter infected his stomach as he moved close. He made a point not to look at Stella or to make eye contact with Ulric. If he could detach his reason and logic from the things around him, then he’d be able to do this.
The straps were neatly piled beneath the foot of the bench. Large metal loops were secured to the bottom of each. A quick look to the underside of the seat revealed two latches he could use to secure the straps to. The bench itself possessed a unique design.
There was a split down the center, providing each leg with its own place. It would be easy to secure Ulric, preventing his escape.
Faris held a breath, letting it out slowly before dropping to his knees and picking up the first strip of leather. He hesitated for a moment, unsure how to start. In the end it was the position of the buckle that dictated his actions. From the bend of his knee, down across the swell of Ulric’s calf, Faris carefully looped the restraint around the limb. Ulric never moved, though he could have easily pulled away at any point.
“Check his foot and make sure the skin doesn’t grow cold. Too tight and you will cut off circulation and damage the limb.”
Faris started at the sudden appearance of Stella behind him. He felt like a student again—and in a very real way, he was. Doing as she directed, he ran his hand over the exposed parts of the skin, checking the temperature and the color of the flesh. Ulric shivered, but for the first time since their arrival in the room, Faris recognized it as a reaction to pleasure.
“Very good.” Stella’s terse approval was reassuring. “Now the other.”
It took less time now that he knew what to do. The click of the loop into the latch was strangely satisfying.
“Now his hands. You’ll find more cord at the front.”
Hesitation held him in place. Binding Ulric’s hands meant coming face-to-face with his mentor. He wouldn’t be able to hide his feelings, his arousal at seeing Ulric tied up and defenseless.
Unsure of what he would see, or what his own expression would reveal, Faris rose slowly to his feet.
“You don’t have to,” Stella said, sounding bored. “You can choose to walk out the door at any time. Neither Ulric nor myself will do anything to stop you.”
Faris knew if he did, it would be the end of everything. While he’d continue to work with Ulric, their relationship would change, become something less than what it was. He didn’t know how, but Faris realized this was the worst thing that could happen to Ulric. Without words, the older man had expressed his need, something he wanted Faris to give him. He couldn’t let Ulric down. Not now.
Casting a glance to Stella, he moved to Ulric’s head. His mentor’s face was turned toward him, but his eyes were fixed on a point behind where Faris stood. He didn’t recognize the expression Ulric wore and couldn’t recall seeing that look of blank acquiescence before. If he’d been forced to put a label on it, he would have called it bliss.
Dropping to a squat, he located the bindings without looking. He couldn’t tear his gaze from Ulric’s face.
“Do you like this?” Faris asked without really needing the answer. “Do you enjoy having me tie you up?”
There was no response. Ulric’s body jerked when Stella paddled his ass with two hard spanks. “Answer him.”
Ulric’s gaze slid slowly to Faris’ face and his lips parted and a sigh escaped. “Yes.”
It was Faris’ turn to shiver. “Good. I’m…that’s good.”
Forced to turn his attention to his task, he shifted his gaze from Ulric to Stella. There was something about the woman, how she could command with nothing more than a lift of an eyebrow. She was an observer of humanity—someone who took the time to see what others did not, and applied her intelligence to the problems of her charge.
She was someone he could learn from. Like Ulric.
Leaning forward, Faris pressed his lips to the top of Ulric’s ear as he applied a final jerk to the restraint. “All done.”
Ulric’s hands were close enough to Faris’ thigh so his fingers could touch. The press of Ulric’s digits into the material of his pants shocked Faris. Standing abruptly, he moved far enough away to ensure Ulric couldn’t repeat the motion.
“What did he do?” Stella asked, her arms crossed beneath her considerable bosom.
“He…touched me.”
Stella shook her head as she sauntered a short distance away. “My boy likes to test his limits. He looks for ways to push past the rules. You didn’t tell him he couldn’t touch. You must be explicit with your words and unapologetic with your actions.”