What did I expect from an alien? – #wipitup

Welcome to Wipitup. Close to publication, Chosen by the Governor is due out at the end of this week.

Freya has been sentenced to life on a distant penal colony. Having attracted the attention of the Governor, she finds out that Marco wants her as his jenjin – a concubine.  Except, there’s a catch…

***

“And sleep in your bed every night, making love and…” Something about the expression on his face brought her to an abrupt halt. “What?”

“My bed? No, you’ll sleep in the jenjin quarters.”

Her fingers stumbled over a fastening. “I won’t sleep with you?”

“Only the jenjin live in the Volta.”

Her bubble of happiness popped. “Volta. What’s that?”

He brushed the creases out of his jacket, and spoke as if everything he was saying was ordinary. “A pleasure palace. It’s designed to give the best environment for sex. Amazing rooms with special furniture, sex toys, and bathing facilities. You’ll be kept ready for me, prepared for my visits—”

“Visits!” She covered her mouth with her hand.

“You don’t understand, I’m proposing a great honor for you. The governor’s jenjin will be well taken care of. The Volta selects the best females from the prisoner population for the soldiers, but I get to choose. Look down there, Freya. Look at it. The heat, the baking sunshine, the measly food, and long hours of work. It’s not supposed to be fun. It’s a prison. Up here, it is luxury in comparison. The Volta is oversubscribed with applicants. It’s considered a reward, a bonus to live in the Volta, learning how to please men and make them happy. Naturally, it will require you to adapt and there might be occasions when you are disciplined.”

Learning? Discipline? What kind of sex was she expected to perform for him? Where was the passion he’d just shown her? “You don’t get it, Marco. I want love, companionship… you. Not just when you feel like it. I want to live with you.” She brushed aside an emotional tear with the back of her hand.

“That isn’t how things work here. Love is something that we Vendu don’t consider valuable; quite the contrary, it’s a hindrance. It ties people to one place and we are a mobile race of warriors. If a man chooses a woman to be his mate, to rear his offspring, he will support her and the children, but love isn’t a requirement. It’s not unusual for Vendu men to have several sexual partners through their lifetime.”

He didn’t get it. Her heart fragmented into little bits. She’d built him up to be something special and it was a false dream. “That isn’t how I want it,” she said bitterly. “I can’t be your jenjin. I’d rather take my chances down there.”

Marco frowned, shaking his head. “I can’t have you there. You must stay.”

“No. I’m putting my feelings first. I loved what you did to me. Yes, it was fucking, but I really thought we had a connection and that we could make something of it. But you don’t get it, so fine. I’ll go. What did I expect from an alien.” She strode toward the door.

“Come back,” he barked. “I haven’t dismissed you.”

She pivoted on her heel and crossed her arms. “Or what? You’ll spank me? Go ahead. See where that gets you. I’m not going to change my mind.”

He stood across the room, his eyes stared right into hers and for a few seconds, she believe he might just do it, spank her again, but then he slapped his hands against his sides. “I won’t force you. Go. I’ll have someone take you back down. I’m sorry, Freya. I’m sorry you don’t understand how important you’ve become to me. The Volta isn’t a bad place and my wish to be with you is founded upon honorable intentions. I would look after you. Isn’t that what a good man should do with his woman?”

She couldn’t say no, because what he said was true. However, she wasn’t entirely convinced he was the right man. That was the difference. “I’ll go.”

“If you change your mind—”

“I know where to find you. I’ll look up, and here you’ll be.”

***