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?"
