Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
I was glad there was no yellow goo on mine—it must be a topping that was sacred only to the first disk on the pile, I speculated. But I was well content to have the second disk without it. I rolled mine up as well, copying little one’s actions, and took a tentative bite.
The pancake had a soft, pillowy texture that shredded easily between my teeth and seemed almost to melt on my tongue. The shock-a-lot ships were more intensely sweet with an appealing hint of bitterness that I found I liked quite a lot.
“Well?” Little one looked at me anxiously as I swallowed.
“These are quite good,” I admitted, rather grudgingly. “Not nearly as nutritious as the nutritional gel cubes, but very tasty.”
“They’re perfect,” little one said dreamily, popping the last bite of the dripping cylinder into her mouth and licking her lush lips with her pink tongue.
“And this is the kind of food that will help you regain your curves?” I asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice and not quite managing. I was worried about my previously plump little pet—I didn’t like the way she had been melting away before my eyes.
“Absolutely.” Little one nodded firmly and picked up another disk from the stack to roll into a cylinder. “This kind of food will definitely bring back my curves.” She sighed. “Although I’ve really kind of enjoyed being thin for the first time in my life. I just wish everyone back home could see how good I look.”
“I’m starting to be able to see your skeleton beneath your skin,” I said, frowning. “If the ones you left back on your home planet could see you, they would probably think I’ve been starving you!”
She looked at me with wide eyes.
“No, they wouldn’t. They’d say, ‘Elli—you finally lost weight!’”
“You really can’t tell me your people expect females to be nothing but skin and bones?” I said, raising my eyebrows in disbelief.
Little one shook her head.
“Oh, you don’t understand.” She sighed. “But I know you like me curvy, so I’m willing to make the sacrifice and gain some weight.” She cocked her head at me hopefully. “As long as I can keep using the Matter Synthesizer?”
“You may, as long as you promise only to use it when I’m here to supervise and make certain you’re in no danger,” I said firmly. “I won’t compromise on that, little one,” I added, when she started to protest. “I have no idea how a being from such a primitive world has a brain complex enough to interface with the Matter Synthesizer, but I’m through taking any kind of risks with you. Do you understand?”
My voice had dropped to a growl and little one got a chastened look on her pretty face.
“Yes, Master,” she murmured and took another nibble of her pancake. “And thank you for letting me try in the first place.”
I shook my head.
“I really don’t know why I did. You’re much too persuasive for your own good, little one.”
She gave me a saucy little smile.
“Does that mean you think I’m a ‘naughty’ pet who needs more training?”
I felt my cock stir in my sleep trousers, getting hard at the way she was looking at me. But I would not be deterred from what needed to happen.
“Maybe later,” I said shortly. “For now, finish your food and then we’ll talk about your punishment.”
“My…er…punishment? I mean, does it have to be today?” Little one had gone pale.
“Wouldn’t you rather get it over with?” I asked reasonably. “So we can go back to our usual training routine?”
“I guess so,” she whispered, but I noticed she hadn’t eaten any more of the pancake cylinder in her hand.
I felt a surge of sympathy for her—I well remembered what it was like to be punished by my own father when I was a boy. But she could not be allowed to risk herself again, the way she had on O’nagga Nine.
“All right,” little one said, her voice sounding firmer and more certain.
I saw that her lovely face had hardened into a mask of determination. “How about we get it over now?” she asked, lifting her chin defiantly.
I frowned.
“Don’t you want to finish your food?”
“I’ve lost my appetite.” She put down the half-eaten cylinder, which promptly unrolled on the golden plate. “I’d rather get it over with—like you said.”
“Well…” I hesitated but I knew as well as she did that this had to happen before we could get back to any semblance of normality. “All right,” I said at last. “I’m going into the living area. Come join me when you’re ready.”
Then I rose and left her sitting there, probably wondering what was going to become of her.
FORTY
ELLI
What’s going to happen to me? What is Sir going to do? Will it hurt much? Will it be a physical punishment or something mental—he promised he wouldn’t use his Mind Powers on me, though. So what can it be?