Free Her Alien Commander by Ashe Barker

draped across the palms of both her hands.
    “Thank you. Very nicely done.” He took it from her. “And now, I want you to remove your wrap and lean over my desk.”
    Caria shook her head and covered her face in her hands. “I can’t. Please don’t. Please, sir, don’t…”
    He crouched in front of her and took both her hands in his. “If you can’t yet believe in me and trust me not to harm you, then believe in yourself. You survived a spanking earlier, and you survived that medical examination. You’ll survive this too, and you’ll learn from it. Next time you consider lying to me or concealing the truth, you’ll remember how you’re feeling right now. Won’t you? And you’ll be honest with me.”
    “I will. I promise I will, just—”
    “No, Caria. You earned a punishment and you shall have one. Let’s make it quick, shall we?”
    How quick? She didn’t dare to ask, and stumbled as she attempted to get to her feet. Phahlen caught her elbow and assisted her up. He tilted his head in the direction of the desk. No words were necessary.
    Caria started to lean over the desk, then remembered his instruction about the wrap. Less concerned with her nudity now, she removed it and looked around for a place to put it down. Phahlen held out his hand and she gave it to him. He moved aside to allow her to pass him.
    Caria stretched her body over the cool surface of the desk. Her breasts flattened against the unyielding top so she started to tuck her arms under her.
    “No. Stretch out to grip the opposite edge. Pull yourself up onto your toes, lift your bottom up for me, and tell me when you are ready.”
    Even fleeing from the Galeians as they played out their parody of a hunt had not scared her as much as this did. She had never felt more helpless, more vulnerable. More utterly alone. But she obeyed him. She had no choice.
    “I am ready, sir,” she murmured, her entire body rigid as she waited for the first stroke to land.
    Phahlen didn’t keep her waiting long. Caria screamed as pain exploded across her right buttock, the searing streak of pure flame snaking over her skin. She started to rise.
    “Stay there.”
    His voice stilled her, cold and clipped and quite terrifying. Caria grasped the edge of the table tighter and gritted her teeth. How much more could she take?
    The next stroke landed on her left cheek, and was followed swiftly by a third. Phahlen seemed to be placing the stripes one below the other, alternating between her right and left sides. The fourth scorched her left buttock again. Caria screamed with each one, though her cries were lessening. By the time he thrashed the backs of both her thighs in rapid succession she lay limp across his desk and whimpered her desperate apologies. The pain was excruciating, beyond anything she had imagined.
    “Enough. You may stand now.”
    What? Caria couldn’t believe it. He was done. Was he? She didn’t move, didn’t dare to.
    “Do you need me to help you up, little human?” His voice was softer now, kinder. More encouraging still, there was a thud as he dropped the awful strap onto the desk beside her.
    Caria opened her eyes, and sure enough the leather lay just a couple of feet from her nose, redundant now. She relaxed her deathly grip on the opposite edge of the desk and tried to gain leverage with her arms. Her entire body hurt, her bottom was aflame. The will to get to her feet seemed to be lacking.
    Strong hands took hold of her shoulders and raised her from the desk. Her legs gave way and he caught her, lifted her into his arms, and carried her across the room. He passed through another door and into his sleeping chamber. Caria had seen this part of his quarters earlier as she explored the rooms, but had not wished to remain in there. This room made her very nervous. Or it had. Now as he laid her on the huge circular bed, careful to position her on her side, she relished the seductive comfort it offered.
    “You did well. You may sleep