Two days after he'd made her perform for the leaders of Baristhan, Jack watched Renei dutifully clear the plates away from his place at the table. He leaned back in his chair to study her. She seemed to have grown more docile, but surely that was an act. The woman had spirit, and he felt like it would take more than a few fuckings—even public ones—to bring her to hand.
Today's choice of gown irritated him. It tied around her neck and was cut down to below her navel, which was nice, but the fabric stretching up to cover her breasts was too wide and thick for his liking.
Yesterday in the market he'd noticed a shopkeeper who plied an intriguing trade, and as he watched Renei stoop to gather a heavy bowl in her arms, he decided today was the day to do something he'd always wanted to do—mark a woman as his own.
"Woman," he growled, gratified by the way she froze at the word. "Give that to the servants and come sit before me."
Rigid with irritation—ah yes, there was the spirit she was trying to hide—she did as he asked.
"In discussions with our friends, the town leaders yesterday, it came to my attention that there is some question to my right of ownership. It would seem that many of the men have filed claims to purchase you from the town."
Confusion and more than a little fear came into her eyes. "Purchase me? But that's impossible, I belong to—" she caught herself and glared at him.
"Yes, you belong to me, but according to this town's custom, a woman within city limits who does not bear her master's mark is property of the town council, and available for purchase." He frowned and lowered his voice. "You may not like working with me, but I'm sure you would hate belonging to one of them."
Renee lifted her hand to her throat. "What sort of mark?"
"The law is very specific. The woman must be pierced and wear jewelry with the man's name inscribed on the metal."
"Pierced??" Her voice came out on a squeak.
"Yes, but I have three different choices for where the piercing must be. To allow for a man's individual taste, of course."
The color drained from her face
"I can choose to have you pierced with a bull ring in your nostrils, a smaller ring on your clit, or rings in each of your nipples."
"Oh god," Renei's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh please, no...no that's...that's AWFUL."
He grabbed her from her chair and pulled her into his lap, clapping one hand over her mouth. He whispered, "Do you want to jeopardize our mission? Keep your voice down, woman. It's either pierce something for me, or pierce something for one of them." He removed his hand.
"I still have some limits, and that's one of them. The mission is off."
"No it's not."
"Yes it is!" she hissed. "I am a high-ranking scientist in the Air & Space—"
He shut her up by drifting his fingertips across one breast. "You're a slut, and you're MY slut, and you're going to do it because you like being my slut."
Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out. Jack's heart kicked up in his chest...he was winning, by god, he was winning.
At last, she nodded.
Still whispering, Jack said, "I'll let you choose. It's your body, and I wouldn't presume to make you do one over the other."
Stunned, Renei looked him in the eyes. "You're letting me choose?"
"Don't ask me, woman," he said gruffly, "choose or I'll change my mind."
"I suppose...if I must...the nose ring is ugly, and the clit ring is dangerous for infection. I'll choose the nipple rings."
Jack nodded solemnly, but inside he was pumping his fist in triumph. He'd known she would hate the other two choices—she'd played right into his hand. Speaking louder for the benefit of any spies, he said, "Since my tastes run toward pierced nipples, that's what we'll do. Come," he stood and took her by the arm. "We go at once."
When they broke out into the street, Renei clung to his arm as they crossed the busy thoroughfare and made their way down to the market. They had to walk slower than Jack would have liked, to accommodate her hobbling sandles.
He spotted the red door he'd remembered and stopped outside. He knocked and a large, muscular man opened the door. "Can I help you?"
"I need to mark my, lianir," Jack said simply.
"Come right inside," the man answered and moved away from the door opening.
The dimly lit shop was adorned with a variety of paintings and display cases, the types of jewelry a customer could purchase. At the back of the shop, a dark leather contraption gave him an idea of how the shopkeeper plied his trade. Renee saw it too—he watched her curl a protective arm in front of her breasts.
To both of their surprise, a small figured woman came out of a back room bearing a jewel encrusted chalice. She handed it to Renee and bid her drink. Jack noticed the rings protruding through the woman's thin gown and grinned. If Renee needed any "proof," there it was.
The shopkeeper explained that it was wine, and Renee obliged. As she downed the glass and asked for more, the girl's eyes rose and she looked to her master for permission. The man waved his hand and the girl brought Renee a second glass. She downed that just as quickly, and asked for just one more glass. This time the man hesitated and took Jack aside.
"We have drugs in that wine to make the experience...less painful for your lianir," the man said. "Three glasses is the maximum dose I can allow."
Guilt-ridden for his trick, Jack gave Renee a reassuring smile and said "She can have one more, but that is all." He'd sleep easier at night if he could make the entire thing pain-free for her.
