First I want to thank all of you who are following along with my story. The number of you who have decided to subscribe to my story, have marked it as a favorite and who've decided to follow/favorite me warms my heart beyond words. I am flattered beyond belief that there are so many of you that are willing to stop your day just to escape into the world that I have created. Each and every one of you are amazing and my gratitude towards you is limitless. For those who are quietly reading along, again I appreciate your taking the time to read my creation. The response has been overwhelming with your reviews. It honestly brightens my world when you leave a comment letting me know how I'm doing, what's working and what's not. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Disclaimer: This is my first, true 'lemon' chapter. It has adult sexual content in it. You have been warned...but if you're anything like me then such a warning is only more reason to keep reading.
Enjoy and let me know what you think!
The quiet surrounded her as Bulma dreamily lay under the covers. A light hum vibrated from her as she recalled the warmth that had encircled her only hours ago. It felt like it had been ages since she was pleasantly pressed along a strong muscular body. One she had fretted over for half the week as she unraveled at the seams herself.
The downward slide into madness was horrifying. If she thought recovering from the guilt of accidentally killing a member of the ship was bad, watching her charge cling to the elusive tendrils of life blew her previous problem out of the water. Sitting on the floor, learning that the machine she was resting against was called a regeneration tank, she stared dumbly into nothingness as her thoughts wandered blindly into the deepest recesses of herself. She couldn't help but replay the turn of events that placed her in the position of guarding the man that confused her with his actions every time she tried to get close.
The attack on her home. The immediate torture at Hearken's ruthless hands. Amisty guiding her through the trauma. More torture, each time laden with more questions. Zarbon trying to kill her. Vegeta stepping in to save her from him and her nightmares. Vegeta's sudden absence, then his…interrogation. Her mind shuttered at that thought. Then he, turning around immediately afterwards, taking her under his wing even if driven by his own benefit. Why had her life become this screwed up? At least that's what she kept asking herself as the hours of her vigil dragged on.
At the time, she didn't understand why she cared about the figure floating in the misty blue liquid. The one that would inch closer to her out of dangerous curiosity only to either withdraw suddenly or lash out with the reminiscence of the cornered coyote that she accidentally stumbled upon in her garage one muggy summer evening. The few days she had with him slinking by her side as she dejectedly put herself, and the bot, back together with his reserved help allowed her time to forgive him of his past transgression against her. Mix that in with their hot and heavy bickering as their bodies reacted to each other's quips on a level neither one was familiar with and all they could do was combust into one another.
As she traipsed through her forced introspection she desperately hoped her dark angel wouldn't spread his wings to leave her just yet. An invisible string had wrapped itself around her heart and had tied her, unequivocally, to him. The pull she had in the room on their first meeting where, after her accidental expression of hopeful freedom, she craved to kneel at his side had turned into an enchanting whisper urging her to travel to the ends of the universe and back if he so wished it.
Watching him silently struggle for his want to live as she hopelessly wrestled with her want to leave had her questioning her plan of escape. A quiet wisp inside told her that he needed her. In that same silent admittance, she realized that she needed him too. Her little diversions for planned departure that she stole time to work on when Vegeta abandoned her to continue to become his legendary super saiyan sat hidden and mostly finished. Her unexplainable resilience to stay by his side made her question if her inventions were going to stay that way or not.
And the kiss…
A smile played across her lips as she continued to stay buried under the covers. The last time she felt as relaxed as she did when she woke up to his fingers delicately winding through her hair was after she and her girlfriends spent the day at the beach. The salt water that hung in the air was heavenly as the spray of the ocean caressed her face. The mist from the sea danced in the wind as the sound of the surging waves sang to her in their constant roar. She remembered laying on her beach towel in the sand as the sun's rays kissed her skin. Her friends had tried to convince her to join them in the tantalizing surf but she waved them off laughing. Content to be away from the chaos of her lab to enjoy a rare, eluding slice of heaven, she had welcomed their absence. The same contentment that poured into her as she dozed in the sun filled her with each caress. When she finally decided to open her eyes, hoping that Vegeta was indeed awake and well, her world came to a halt. Intense brown pools that harbored a calm fire smoldering behind them watched her as she held his gaze. No, she corrected in that moment, I would go to the end of time for you. The thought repeated itself as his lips brushed against hers. She was hungry for the affection, starving for it after too much time had passed between leaving her world and crashing into his. She pressed herself against him as she begged for more, her unspoken admittance of fear over losing him the driving force. She felt his response as their mouths danced in ecstasy.
But instead of taking her when she was at her most vulnerable he instead gave her the gift of comfort she had tried to give him in his unconscious state. She had awakened at some point during their slumber, the bedside lamp still washing the room in its warm glow. She snuggled in closer as he slept on his uninjured side. His breathing was as rhythmic and even as it was while he recovered but his face was worlds apart from his coma-like slumber. Instead of skin slack with pale sickness, he had a peaceful look in contrast to his normally set face as it appeared to rekindle the dashingly handsome color once again. She buried her head in his chest as he shifted, draping an arm around her as he pulled her in protectively. She drifted off to sleep again while the smell of sandalwood and man played on her senses.
Now, in her fight to stay floating in her bliss instead of waking up to her unforgiving existence, she felt the tug to be near him again. She reached out to feel for him. Her hand slid smoothly across the cool sheets. Confused, she picked up her head to search for her protector only to find the bed absent of his figure.
"So much for my prince charming." She sighed with partial annoyance. Couldn't anything remain peacefully untouched in this cold, cruel universe?
Finally giving into the need to wash the grimy feeling of stale despair off of her skin, she got out of bed and stretched stiff muscles that groaned their irritation at being unused for the past few days. As she stretched she caught a whiff of a hot meal topped with the rare scent of espresso that had warmed her up after the first night in the lab. Her stomach growled impatiently as it rudely reminded her that it hadn't been fed a decent meal in almost a week. She practically inhaled the food but she savored her coffee. As she silently thanked Vegeta for, yet again, seeing that she was taken care of she secretly hoped that this coffee treat wouldn't disappear anytime soon. She wasn't sure how readily available it was since she never came across it in the mess hall.
Entering the bathroom to get ready for her day, she found a clean black tank and skirt folded neatly next to the sink. The feeling of being taken care of warmed her on the inside as the hot water of the shower pinked her skin. She stood under the cascading droplets for a bit longer than was necessary as she tried to hold off the normalcy she was about to fall back into. She wondered how it would feel if she was able to actually go out on a date with him. Would he be the chivalry type of prince that opened doors for her? Probably not. She could see herself barreling through the entrance first as he followed, somewhere, behind. She giggled at the imagined scene. Intuitively she knew she wouldn't get flowers or cards. Instead she would receive thoughtful offerings. Ones that whispered the encrypted language that only they could share. Similar to her bot, the coffee, the breakfast and her clothes. Subtle to others yet obvious to her.
She unwillingly turned off the water and dried off. Getting dressed, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her expression looked different. Lines of maturity had started to set in as her stresses rested in the corners of her eyes. She felt like she looked older, but not in a bad way. She noticed that she held the air of a woman that was years beyond her time. A kind of quiet dignity that made her shoulders sit a little differently, her back a little straighter. Cheeks flushed with heat from the shower balanced glittering eyes that yearned to be near the one person that could make her lose this new composure with purposefully placed words to accomplish the single goal of getting under her skin.
Three saiyans were buzzing with conversation as one sat in deep contemplation listening. They were in the dining hall in their usual remote corner as they discussed the demonstration coming up in a little over a week. Although Vegeta sat with the aura of calm and cool composure, it was just a façade to the ball of turmoil that now resided in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't told her about the event figuring things would never get this far. He didn't expect to develop this foreign need to be around the woman. She had cunningly slipped into the hidden space that he reserved for the memory of his mother and father. Now the thought of Frieza gleefully stomping out the last thing in this universe left that could allow him the chance to feel happiness once again made him sick. But how was he going to get her to agree to it? How was he going to make it believable if he had to force her? Would he even be able to make himself force her?
"You know, just because the specification was the whip doesn't mean that you'll have to go to the extreme Frieza's expecting." Offered Kakarot. "I mean, we've all dabbled in it but you have more knowledge in the…sketchy…side of it compared to the rest of us."
Vegeta looked at the finger Kakarot was pointing in his direction. His silence was his only response, already regretting putting his guard down and coming to his three comrades for – that awful word he hated to utter – help.
"He has a point," Nappa chimed in. "We're given the equipment without regard to the comfort of the slaves we're using. But you can change all of that. You're better than any of us when it comes to reading a person's responses. I've yet to see anyone else on this ship play the mental games with the locals like you do when we're out on assignment."
Raditz sighed as he added his opinion to Kakarot's and Nappa's suggestions. "I'd hate to say it, Vegeta, but they have a point. It's probably the only way to take the challenge and shove it back into Frieza's face. But are you willing to risk it with her? A display like this in front of the entire ship might be too much for her to take. She'll be vulnerable and you're going to have to help her through the fallout only to be forced to leave the next day. Do you think she can handle this?"
Vegeta sat stoic as his internal conflict raged on. They had a compelling argument and were looking out for his and the woman's best interests. But she would be forced into vulnerability in front of the entire ship in the same manner that he would be forced into vulnerability in front of her. Putting them both in that position didn't sit well with him. He wasn't sure if they would have enough time to recover with each other before he was ripped away from her. Leaving her in such a fragile state might be their undoing altogether. If he refused to go through with it, though, she would die as his punishment. If he went through with it and they failed, she would still meet her end. He rubbed his face with his hands in frustration.
As he dropped his elbows heavily on the table, a glint of blue caught the corner of his eye. He watched his charge wind through the tables with overloaded trays in hand as she made a direct path for their nook before tending to anyone else. Drawing near, she set the trays down in front of all four of them. She dazzled the group with a smile earning her a toothy grin in return from Kakarot and Nappa. Seeing the way she had won over the two stubborn men made the apprehensive pieces shift. When she turned that brilliant beam on him, he settled to the only answer he didn't want to have to admit to. He was going to go through with it and he was going to drag her along whether she liked it or not. The look she offered as her eyes scanned his face had him itching to reach out to her and sit her in his lap. She waited expectantly to be dismissed, something she'd never done previously, before continuing with looking after the mess hall.
"When you're finished you are to report back here to us. We have some things we need to work on with your servitude and the empty hall will be a perfect starting ground." Vegeta voice was emotionless as he casually dismissed her.
He watched confusion slide across her face at his cold command. A frown etched between her brows as she bowed and left to finish her chore. He waited until she was well out of earshot before he turned back to the other three.
"She's going to have to handle this." Vegeta stated, finally answering Raditz's question. "At this point, I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice. I just hope that Frieza doesn't decide to kill us both in front of everyone once it's finished."
The hall was now empty except for the saiyans and the girls cleaning up from repulsive men that had filled it with dangerous activity. Bulma finished wiping off the last of the tables as she snuck another glance at the four men in the far corner. All of them were engrossed in a conversation that barely floated past their impenetrable shield. The rigid tenseness that settled on Vegeta's shoulders had her worried. He was so warm and inviting last night. His offerings of care had solidified the glow she felt whenever she thought of him. But now he was different. She worried over why he spoke to her so coolly, as if she was just another 'thing' on the ship. When he looked her over as she tried to flash him her biggest, sultriest, smile all he returned were orders reminding her that she was still regarded as property – his property.
Walking back to the kitchen she took off her apron and threw it dejectedly in the laundry bin. She leaned on the nearest counter as she rested her face in her hands with apprehension. The change in Vegeta's attitude had all of her senses on alert. The hushed conversation between Raditz, Nappa, Kakarot and him felt out of place. Something was wrong and it had to do with her. She couldn't fathom what she mistake she made to earn a refresher lesson in being a slave. Protocol had been loose between them all. Now she was at a loss over the sudden change.
"Hey," A voice she would recognize anywhere softly broke through her thoughts. Peering between her fingers, she saw Amisty looking at her in earnest. "Is everything okay?"
"Why do you care?" Bulma snapped with narrowed eyes.
An uncomfortable silence hung between the two of them. Amisty shifted, averting her gaze first.
"Bulma," she started, "I know you don't understand but I hope someday soon you will. I did what I had to…for…for you. And for us."
Bulma straightened as icy tendrils climbed up her spine, settling at the base of her neck. Her narrowed eyes turned deadly at the loaded words. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Amisty shifted her weight again as she struggled to avoid Bulma's hateful glare.
"I can't tell you," she admitted, "But I wanted to let you know that I still care about you. I'm still looking out for you. Things got complicated and…being at Frieza's side all day makes you privy to information that others don't know about. It would have killed me to see you up there. I couldn't help myself after everything was finished."
Bulma allowed the silence to grow uncomfortably between them.
"I don't need your help anymore." Bulma stated flatly. "I have others to look after me now so you don't have to waste your time and energy with me."
An odd look crossed Amisty's face as she eyed Bulma's stained cuffs. She finally allowed herself to get captured in Bulma's glare as she returned one of her own. "In case something should happen with them, I'll always be there for you Bulma. One day they might not be. It is a cold and unforgiving existence that they walk through. As long as we're careful we won't be dragged down with them. The only comfort anyone has on this ship is that Frieza doesn't care about anyone on it except for himself. You need to put yourself first, before them. There's no future with them outside of what you already have now. Freedom is a luxury none of us have. It would be best if you remember that."
Amisty's words settled heavily on Bulma as she turned and walked away.
Now at a complete loss, Bulma slammed her fists on the counter. She shook her head in confusion as her thoughts tried to make sense out of Amisty's ominous message. Giving up, she headed out to the dining area.
She slowly approached the group with eyes cast downward and ears alert. Even as she got close there was no indication to their topic of discussion. She stopped in front of Vegeta and waited for him to acknowledge her. Since he already made it clear he wanted a proper slave right now she slipped back into the role Master Hearken had tried to beat into her countless times before. She noticed the flick of Vegeta's wrist first. He was indicating for her to kneel next to him with an outstretched, open palm. With a sigh she didn't try to stifle she obeyed the wordless command. As she folded her legs under her to kneel against the hard tile, she felt a hand slide along her shoulders. She scooted closer to him as his caress moved to her neck. He started messaging the tight cords, silently reminding her of last night. Feeling the connection she thought was lost, she rested her head against his thigh as the barely audible conversation above her continued.
There were times when her father's cat, Scratch, would wind around her legs as she lazily watched the television. He would bump his head into her shins as he demanded attention. Finally giving in to his persistence she would pick him up and proceed to pet the fuzz ball. She always wondered what would persuade the black ball of fluff to start making the happy racket deep in his chest. Now, kneeling on the floor with the same contentment as Scratch would find nestled on her lap, she understood. If she had the ability to purr, she would be doing it under Vegeta's touch.
The petting stopped. Looking up to see why, she was met with a face drawn in conflict. One that looked like it was struggling between want and obligation.
"Go get us some drinks." The words were said with a gentle command.
"Yes sir," was her automatic response as she stiffly picked herself up from the floor. The grace she had once pretended to possess had fallen to the wayside the past few weeks. Her brain remembered the actions but her limbs didn't retain the same finesse.
She returned with four waters on a tray, setting them down in front of each member at the table. Quickly she returned the tray and came back to the group. The unspoken signal was extended once again. No sigh escaped her this time as she settled back into position next to Vegeta.
The commands and errands continued as the group spoke in hushed conversations. The men took turns asking her to retrieve snacks, refill drinks and get something for them from their rooms. Each time she was able to get up and down with a little more ease. Each time she was rewarded by Vegeta's subtle attentions. He didn't make her feel like she was being ignored even though they didn't invite her to join the conversation.
Soon the discussion died. Raditz, Nappa and Kakarot excused themselves as they left Vegeta and Bulma alone. He sat thoughtfully, continuing to message her neck as she leaned on him.
"Come, we have things we need to talk about." He said as he finally broke the moment.
He watched as Bulma, wide eyed in disbelief, walked directly to the glass separating them from the vast reaches of space. She missed the smile on his face as he observed the wonderment dancing across hers. A creature that always had a remark for everything for once had nothing to say. Her fingers were splayed against the glass as she pressed herself along the barrier straining to get as close as possible to the glittering gem just beyond the transparent wall.
The brilliant blue glow of young stars traced the spiral of the galaxy they were passing. Its arms swept outward as swirling tendrils encased clouds reminiscent of a spring fog. Specs of light dotted outside of and around the spiral becoming closer in proximity as their glow intensified near its center. Deep maroon puffs of clouds littered the area around the middle while dispersing into the black void where light couldn't quite reach. The sheer size of a galaxy that harbored hundreds of planets was humbling to her. It clearly reflected in her eyes. He never had the experience of showing someone the beauty of a universe that could create so much havoc. Seeing her try to process it, try to wrap her mind around the sheer awe of it, drew him to her like a magnet.
He stepped next to her with arms crossed over his chest. He felt her inch towards him, leaning her cheek against his shoulder.
Here was the only place on the entire ship that one could remember what it felt to be normal; to entertain the thought of freedom. That was one of the key reasons it was always empty. Most hated the reminder. He had brought her to his favorite place to reflect for several reasons. It would be a good place to talk about the coming scene that was required of both of them. Rarely frequented by anyone else helped to make it an ideal location for uninterrupted conversations. But more pressing was the unexplainable want to share it with her. To have the opportunity to watch as her eyes opened to the worlds that he took for granted. Something inside of him was moved with her naïve reaction to the universe she hadn't had the privilege to see before.
"It's so beautiful." She breathed as she recovered from taking in the spectacle before her.
"Yes it is," He agreed, although not entirely commenting about the galaxy.
They stood like that as the ship quietly slipped by. It appeared to move past them with a hesitant slide as their vessel traveled at a speed which light couldn't even catch. Once it moved out of sight Vegeta withdrew from her as he distanced himself with more than just steps. He didn't want to have this conversation but he didn't have a choice. Choices were taken away from him when he was a child. Only silent obligation remained.
Bulma noticed more than his retreat next to her. She looked at him with brows knitted in worry as he turned to gaze out into the now empty blackness of space. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his thoughts one last time as he hoped the plan he and the others decided on would work.
"There is more required of you than our arrangement." His voice was matter of fact as he clenched his jaw against the admission.
He heard her shift uncomfortably. Turning his head slightly to gauge her reaction from the corner of his eye, he saw her face set in a deep frown as she waited for him to continue.
"I will be leaving for an assignment in roughly a week and a half." He explained. "I'm not sure how long my absence will last. It was part of my agreement with Frieza as a type of trade for you."
"So…" Bulma said as she tried to test the direction the conversation was heading, "So that's it? You brought me here to tell me you're leaving?"
There was something to her tone that seemed odd. It held the echo of a conclusion to an eluding internal struggle.
"No." Finally he turned to face her, intrigued by the undertone in her words.
He studied her with a strong urge to shift the conversation to see what was churning inside that tricky brain of hers.
"Well?" She asked impatiently, amusement from her hunger for answers tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Deciding to keep with the discussion at hand he turned to gaze beyond the glass once again.
"Frieza has arranged a demonstration between you and I in the arena for the entire ship to witness. He wants me to provide proof of your trust to solidify my ownership of you."
Her eyes were wide with shock as she tried to understand his words.
"So…to prove that I trust you…I have to let you kill me?" She clarified.
He paused, stunned with the conclusion she had arrived to. He couldn't help himself from erupting in laughter from her question. She seemed even more confused, and slightly offended, at his reaction.
"The arena is used for more than Frieza's attempt to demonstrate how he can kill his soldiers." He could understand why her thought process had taken her to that conclusion.
"Then what does he want us to do?"
He paused again as his fought to get the words out.
"He wants you to accept the bite of the whip by my hand." He despised the words the moment he heard himself say them. He could feel his hatred drip from each and every syllable.
Bulma stood, stunned disbelief radiating from her, as she digested his explanation.
"No." She said finally. "Hell no. Fuck no!"
He was taken aback by the venom in her voice. He was expecting despair. Instead he received raw fury.
"What is it with you people?" She continued ranting. "The whole lot of you! Kill this. Whip that. Listen or be punished. Walk in a straight line or die. Why? Why do all of you have the same blood thirsty need to screw everything up? Can't anything be left in peace? Just for a little bit before messing it all up again?"
Her arms were above her head as she threw them around in animated frustration. He watched her antics as she paced in agitation trying to process.
"Listen –" Vegeta was cut off before he had a chance to get a word in edgewise.
"No! You listen." A fire was lit under her. It flickered dangerously in her eyes as her voice grew in volume. "I'm not just some 'thing', some object to be owned. Not by you, not by Frieza, not by anyone. I am my own goddamned person that has a right to be treated with dignity and respect. I don't know where the hell you all get off on thinking that you're above everyone else just because you're stronger. Just because you have the biggest gun doesn't give you or him a right to treat others like shit! We have feelings, too. We have rights…and emotions...and…and…"
Vegeta put his hands on her shoulders to stop her from pacing. She tried to jerk away. Not able to break free from the steel grip she lashed out physically. Fists thudded against his chest as silent tears ran down her face. He didn't try to stop her. Unfazed by the blows, he allowed her to have her moment while he stood as immobile as a lighthouse in the hurricane of her emotions crashing into him. The same words she had yelled with anger had echoed in his thoughts countless times before. It was unnerving to hear her come to the same wall of frustration he had repeatedly smacked his head against long ago.
Her blaze subsiding, she leaned against his chest in defeat with hands still curled into fists resting against him. He stood still as her haughty demeanor fell.
"So that's it then?" She mumbled into his chest in misery. "This is what we have to do? We don't have any other options?"
"Unfortunately we don't," he felt as deflated as she sounded, "but I have a plan. How well do you trust me?"
Bulma knelt rigidly on the floor as her heart raced in her chest. She could hear her pulse thrumming in her ears in her attempt to stay calm. Her stomach felt like it was turning over every minute as nausea settled in her core. She waited as quietly as possible while rolling toward the edge of panic. The plush carpet felt like needles against her legs as every nerve in her body fired to life. Her eyes were transfixed on its deep scarlet color as she waited in the same spot she had waited for Zarbon. The only difference this time was agreeing to the torture she was about to endure.
The door opened quietly, just as it did once before. Her fingers dug into her bare thighs in an attempt to keep her trembling as unnoticeable as possible while he moved around the room. She had tried to mentally prepare herself for the yellow-tipped boots to cross her line of sight first. Mild confusion surfaced as bare feet surrounded by black fabric stood before her. Her eyes followed the legs loosely clothed in black upward as she looked at the towering man. Her brain stuttered to a halt as she drank in the god-like figure hovering over her.
Vegeta's chest was bare, with the exception of gauze still wrapped around his injury. Tantalizing muscles in perfect definition graced his frame. The black pants, something she'd never seen him in before, hung deliciously low on hips that displayed the deep V of discipline and strength. Its lines urged her hands to explore where its trail disappeared to the place her eyes could no longer see. His tail hung relaxed behind him as its tip lazily curled. The dim light in the room played across his features as dramatic highlights and shadows were created in the creases where muscles joined then parted. His face was relaxed, demeanor cool. Without warning she became caught in another tide of uncertainty. She saw what those muscles could do to her machines. She could only imagine how little effort it would take for him to tear her apart. Her trust in his plan started to falter as her apprehension in leaving unscathed took root.
"You may stand." His voice was firm but not harsh. She watched his relaxed manner slip into something different. It wasn't ridged or cruel. He appeared more expectant. His tone demanding but gentle in a way that didn't allow her the option to say no. She couldn't help but follow the subtle command.
As she stood, shaven and bare as requested, she felt more naked than ever. She was about to hand herself over to him knowing he would push her. Hurt her. At the time, she trusted the promise that she would endure the whip without skin being broken. Now it seemed impossibly stupid.
Eyes too keen for their own good studied her. She shifted uncomfortably under his intensity.
Vegeta held out his hand in silent question, asking her to place hers in his. To place her trust in both him and the agreement that he would have complete control with the assurance that he would not harm her beyond what was necessary. He would push her only as far as she was capable of. She would be forced to feel, endure. He had spoken of how the body reacts to pain. How it can relish in the burning feeling as it moved into something different, something sensual. Now she decided he was crazy.
She stared at it unable to move. Unable to think.
"Bulma," The sound of her name pulled her out of the inner recess she was falling into. It was the first time she'd heard her name roll from his lips. Hearing it wrapped in his confident demeanor sent a shiver down her spine as patiently unrelenting eyes waited. Her hand moved on its own accord as it tentatively floated away from her side and to the outstretched palm. His hand didn't reach out, didn't try to rush her to move faster than she was capable of. It stayed where he held it as she placed her hand smoothly into his. His fingers wrapped around hers. Warmth traveled up her arm and towards the icy ball of doubt that had formed. Ever so slowly it began to melt as Vegeta pulled her into him.
"Good girl." He murmured before taking her mouth with his. His lips were not searching. There was no prodding or urgency. He kissed her as if time moved on their schedule. Her skin, on edge as nerves searched for any indication to run, brushed up against his bare chest as he pulled her closer. Another shiver coursed through her. She could feel his heat warming her as he continued to enjoy the feel of her mouth against his.
He stepped away just as she was beginning to return his kiss leaving her feeling unsatisfied. She yearned for more. "Come," was his only word as she walked beside him with fingers intertwined with his. They stopped in front of the large ornate armoire that held the instruments used for pain. Vegeta opened one of the drawers near the bottom. An assortment of whips was carefully organized inside. She shrank into him as she recognized the familiar tools, each one reminiscent of Master Hearken's brutal hand.
He showed no reaction to her fear as he pulled out one that had several tendrils hanging from a neatly chorded handle. Closing the drawer, he unwound her fingers from his as he slipped the object into her hand. He closed her fingers around it and stepped back. She held it away from her as she would a poisonous snake about to turn and sink its fangs into her.
"I want you to look this over." He explained. "Get the feel of it. Examine it. Play with its weight in your hand. This is what I'm going to use on you but I want to you have an understanding of it before we begin. Fear is born in the unfamiliar so make yourself comfortable with it."
She carefully inched it closer as she did what was directed. She ran the strands, all nine of them, through her hand. They were made from a fine leather that felt surprisingly soft and pliable under her fingers. Each end had a tiny knot where leather fringe tailed off. The handle was sturdy with a weight that felt balanced and comfortable in her grip. The chords wrapped around it's base were craftily woven into a complex braid. It was made of the same leather as the ends but much more firm. She held the handle at waist level as the leathery fringe brushed against the floor. She swung it a few times to test the feel of moving it through the air. A quiet whoosh sounded as it followed the motion she casted it in. It didn't cut as sharply as she expected. After a few swings she handed it back to Vegeta as the nervous edge started to wane.
"When we're in the arena, words like stop and don't aren't going to be acceptable. This is a showcase to demonstrate my mastery over your wants. We need a word that you can say that will easily come to mind so I know you are getting too overwhelmed and you need a moment to gather yourself. It cannot raise suspicions. Do you have any that comes to mind?"
She couldn't think of anything that she could yell out amidst torture. She shook her head as nothing surfaced.
"Cramp," Vegeta said after some thought. "I think that will work best for us. Say it, see how it feels."
"Cramp," her whispered voice was barely audible in its uncertainty.
"Again, louder."
"Cramp." The word felt a little easier to get her mouth around as she said it with a touch more vigor.
He moved to her once again as his hands cupped her face. He was inches from hers as she relaxed.
"Remember to use that word when you feel like you can't take anymore. Don't abuse it, though. If I feel you are using it to get out of doing something you don't want to do there will be a consequence that you are not going to like. Its purpose is to let me know that you're not okay. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." She felt herself slipping into the role he was asking from her. Demanding her to step through it as he carefully lead her down a path that disappeared into the unknown.
She was rewarded with another kiss as he gently guided his lips over hers. This time she was ready as she returned the gentle movements with her own. She became both frustrated and aroused as his hands held her in place stopping her from taking any more than he was willing to give.
He led her to the diagonal cross along the back wall. Its familiarity made the hair on the back of her neck stand as her stomach dropped to her knees. He looked at her expectantly as he waited for her to step up to it. She eyed it nervously as the memory of her last encounter with it and him replayed in her mind. His patience was limitless as he watched her struggle with the memory. They were moving at her pace. It was reminiscent of her dad trying to acclimate one of his new pets to unfamiliar surroundings. Guided, not forced.
She wrestled with herself in that moment of indecision. She knew she wasn't ready to face death if she chose to stop now. A feeling of something more, something she was meant for, seemed to surround her. The whisper of home called to her as its memory cajoled her to return for something big. Something important. More than to see if she could help aid those that might still be alive as they fought back. Stepping onto the platform would take her one step closer to going home. It would buy her the time needed to finish setting up her devices and flee from this life. She had decided to continue full steam ahead when Vegeta had told her he was leaving. She couldn't bring herself to wait around for him to return even though the thought of running from him made her head spin. He didn't know how long he would be gone and the shadow of Zarbon felt like it was lurking in the background. Getting closer every day. If Frieza wanted her dead because she didn't perform correctly, she imagined he wouldn't be too offended if Zarbon tried to pick her off in Vegeta's absence. Leaving was the better alternative to waiting around for the inevitable.
Hanging in the balance of uncertainty she couldn't bring herself to move.
"What's your safe word?" The sound of his voice jarred her from her thoughts.
She struggled to pull the word away from the fear that had encased her.
"Cramp." The cross started to lose some of its viciousness. "My word is cramp."
Her feet started to move after his question helped to reaffirm their agreement. Going only as far as she could take. No more, no less.
She stepped onto the platform. Taking a deep breath she pressed herself against the smooth angular wood. Vegeta took her wrists and hooked each of her cuffs to the latches above. Silently he secured her ankles in place. Once set, he ran a finger between the cuffs and her skin to check them. A slight frown crossed his face. He surprised her by loosening the binding around her right wrist. He checked them again. Satisfied he stepped in front of her.
She hung helplessly before him. He stood with those searing dark eyes. No way to fight back. The ability to protect herself gone. Her freedom, her choices, stripped from her. Panic started to rise with a fervor she wasn't expecting. He was going to hurt her. He was going to torture her. He was going to rip her to shreds as he sunk his hands into her wounds.
"Eyes on me." The command was sharp. Its edge expertly sliced through her terror. The hateful person that made her writher in agony was no longer there. In his place stood the man she had been drawn to from the start. Her Vegeta. Not the stranger he had morphed into when he came back to the ship with hatred driving him to seek her out. His eyes swam with understanding as an eluding hint of guilt slid by.
Drawing her breath in slowly she calmed. She didn't realize she had started panicking until he pulled her from the drowning claws grasping at her thoughts. He expertly watched her as he judged every twitch, every breath and every nuance she unconsciously broadcasted to monitor how she was handling their first attempt at this. Knowing he would not allow her to get lost in her own fears helped her to relax a bit farther. Another chunk of doubt fell away.
Vegeta began to trail his hands over her scars the same way he did once before. Her skin felt the heat of his fingers before their contact as each caress awakened new nerves. He touched each and every one on her front as he studied her reactions. Her body warmed as she waited in anticipation for his fingers to glide over a new one.
"You are a mess." He murmured. It wasn't judgmental. There was no hint of pity or anger. He just stated it as a fact.
Threading his hand through her hair he held her firmly in place. No pain was felt as the reminder of his control shot from her scalp to the pool starting to form low in her belly. He took another long, drawn out kiss. This time it was more demanding as he pressed his mouth against hers. His tongue slipped between her lips as he coaxed her response. She strained against her bonds as she tried to get closer to him as she returned his kiss. Wanting to feel his body against hers. The combination of the restraints and his hold keeping her exactly where he wanted her started a smoldering fire.
"You're mine." He growled against her lips. "Mine to touch. Mine to enjoy. Mine to hurt." His words sent a thrill racing down her center as it settled between her legs. Another piece of resistance crumbled away.
Hands now messaged her breasts in slow, methodical circles. His face stayed in front of hers as his eyes filled her vision. He breathed in as she breathed out, the exchange more intimate than the act of sex. Calloused fingers brushed against her nipples as his strokes moved to their center. He thumbed them as a low sigh escaped from her. Eyes smiling, he pinched them lightly as they hardened. The sensation traveled to her lower half.
His eyes disappeared as warm wetness encircled where fingers had been. His hands slid around her hips as he gripped her firmly, stopping her from pushing into him. She felt her chest rumble with a barely audible moan at the flurry of sensations pulsed through her. The contrast of being helpless mixed with his sensual attentions started her gradual slide into full arousal. He played with one nipple as he nipped and sucked at the other to make sure that each received equal attention. A frustrated noise escaped her when he stopped. He ran the top of his hand between her open legs, smiling as it slid easily along her slit. Heat spread from her chest to her face as she flushed in embarrassment. He turned his hand over trapping her eyes in his. He watched her mouth part as he gently rubbed his fingers over the hardening nub hidden in her folds. She gasped as the feeling jolted inside her. She involuntarily tried to rock into his hand as he circled his fingers lazily around it, one hand keeping her in place while the other teased.
Something inside of her had awakened. The fire ignited as he grazed her clit. Amusement lit his eyes as she moaned. He stepped away from her as he picked up the whip from the floor.
"What's your safe word?" He asked again.
"Cramp." She replied without hesitation, voice thick with arousal.
He eyed her for a moment as he raised the leathery tendrils. He brushed them along her front as he tested her reaction. The soft material was similar to the velvet touch of his hands. She closed her eyes as he warmed her skin up with gentle passes. None of them biting. No hint of pain.
Lost in feeling, she jumped when she felt the whip caress her back.
"Easy," Vegeta's voice purred behind her.
He painted her with gentle passes as he brushed it across her back. Deciding she was in no danger she let out a long breath as she enjoyed the sensation. It felt like fingers were softly grazing her skin. His body was suddenly pressed against her as he moved into her again. His arms circled around as he resumed his attentions to her breasts. She leaned her head against his shoulder as she melted into him. Feeling his hands against her as the warmth of his body mixed with hers was heavenly. His head bent to nip at the throat unconsciously being offered. She sank into him further as he licked and sucked the place where the base of her jaw met her neck and ear. A hand slid down her stomach as it rested between her legs. Fingers trailed in her wetness as they pinched her clit. A breathy squeak sounded from her as the feeling started to coil low in her center. There was no resistance against him now. She was a seething ball of nerves that hungrily begged for his touch.
He withdrew from her again as the feel of the whip swept across her again. This time it felt a bit harder, but nothing that registered as painful. She wasn't sure what she had agreed to earlier. Now she understood that there was a piece of her that had lain dormant for years as it reveled in the lick of the whip. Each stroke sent her need escalating. She wanted his hands on her as he drove into her. Instead she was only allowed to accept what he allowed. The thought drove her higher.
It took her a moment to have enough clarity to realize the gentle passes had stopped. A tinge of worry shot through her as she tried to crane her neck to look for him. He was waiting for that moment as a mild sting ran up her other side. She gasped in shock as she tried to move away from it. Instead she was greeted with a caressing pass that met her escape. The sensation was repeated as she was lulled back into arousal. Another shock made her quiver as it was followed up by gentleness. Every time a blow bit into her, it jolted the coil inside her as it wound tighter. He worked her over by laying calculated marks along her back. Some kissed her shoulders. Others landed on her buttocks and thighs. They were getting more intense but the pain didn't feel unbearable. Instead it made her want him more, made her want to beg him for release. A sting would send her on her toes as it pushed her further. She was riding the sweeps as one would ride the tide. No control. Only acceptance.
She wasn't sure when he stopped. Her skin burned hungrily as she felt his hands rub over the marks he had laid. The sizzle turned to a different kind of heat as her pulse strained in her ears. Breathing in short puffs, she moaned with the sensation. His lips were on her ear as she felt his erection pressing against her thigh. She wanted to feel him inside of her, to thrust into her deeply as she withered against his shaft. She wiggled her butt against him as she silently begged for him to do just that. A deep laugh was his response.
"As much as I would love to sink myself into you," he breathed into her ear, "Tonight is not for that. Maybe, just maybe, if you're a good girl then next time I'll give you what you want. Tonight I'm giving you what you need."
She groaned in frustration.
Again she felt his hand slip under her as he caressed her now swollen clit. She felt something soft wrap around her hips keeping her still against the cross as his other hand rubbed her backside. Tail she sluggishly thought, paying no mind to the odd sensation. Fingers rubbed along her clit as one pressed through her folds from behind. It entered her smoothly as it slowly slid in then out. The coil wound tighter. Another one joined as his mouth sucked on her neck. Her eyes were closed as she tried to wither in ecstasy. The feeling of needles where his chest rubbed against her back made her insides clench as he drove her forward. She couldn't keep up with the assault at every angle. She couldn't think, the mix of sensations too much for her to process. She felt something inside of her growing as she leaned towards it. She was right on the edge, panting out her need. Somewhere a voice was asking for more. It rang with the word please, needing more as she begged for it. His laugh echoed in her head as she felt a sharp pinch on her clit. The spool coiled around her snapped as she let go. The wave crashing into her felt like it was going to split her apart. She strained against the restraints, against him, as it slammed into her. It moved through her as she shuddered and withered, bucking against him. He pinched again as another one rolled over her. She could hear her voice echoing off of the walls, lost in feeling as her head rolled from side to side. He stayed with her, holding her for the entire ride as the surges started to subside.
He wrapped an arm around her as she gasped for breath. Her heart thudded against her chest as the cool air caressed her dampened skin. He withdrew his fingers, the motion sending aftershocks shuddering through her. Grateful for his strength, he held her as he released the clasps holding her to the cross. She was in a fog as he laid her face down on the bed in the room. Drifting on sleepy clouds, her brain fired to life as hands covered in cold lotion rubbed her back and thighs. What felt wonderful against moments ago her now forced her jaw to clench as air hissed between her teeth.
"I know this is uncomfortable," he explained, "but this will help to keep the redness and swelling down. You shouldn't bruise, either."
He quickly finished rubbing in the salve, drawing a blanket over her. He crawled underneath, carefully shifting her to him as he placed her head on his arm as a make-shift pillow.
"What about you?" She asked sleepily.
She felt his chuckle. "Don't worry about me. I'll make sure I'm taken care of soon enough. This was for you. The gods only know how long it's been since you've felt nothing but pain while being strung up."
She hummed happily at the comment as comfort settled over her. She forgot what it felt like to be taken care of. She felt something soft and light brush against her leg. Confused at first, she realized what it was.
"Can I see it?" She asked. The idea seemed too tantalizing to resist.
"See what?" Drowsiness thick in his voice.
She hesitated.
"Your tail. Can…may I see it?"
She felt the soft fur move up her leg, settling against her hip. Shifting to her side, she uncovered herself as she looked at it resting against her. Tentatively she reached out so her fingertips could brush against it. The fur felt luxuriously soft. She awkwardly pet it with uncertainty.
"It's not going to bite you, you know." She looked over her shoulder. She was met with his watchful gaze.
Giggling at his comment she carefully picked it up. Sitting up to examine it, she held it in her hands as if tending to an injured bird. Vegeta moved to rest his head on his fist as he lay on his side, intrigued by her curiosity. She ran her fingers against the hair's growth. She felt it quiver in her hand as a growl of pleasure was released beside her. She stilled her attentions as she turned to him with raised eyebrows. She looked at him intently as she repeated the motion, this time being the one to study him. His eyes half closed as the sound repeated. She giggled again with the thought of making him purr.
Smoothing it back down, she felt between the airy cushion of the pelt to pinch the firm chord underneath. She wiggled her fingers against it as she felt the vertebrae inside where bone resided under the skin. She pinched a bit harder. The extremity ripped from her grip as a growl of warning replaced the vibrations of pleasure.
"Sorry," She grinned sheepishly. He eyed her ominously as he rested the tail back into her hand. She watched as it snaked over her palm and wound around her wrist.
"So it's not like a cat's." She mumbled to herself.
"Like a what?" His brows arched in question.
"A cat." She explained. "It's a small, furry, four legged animal from my home. Your tail feels similar, even down to the bone structure. They use it for balance as well as communication. Certain ways they hold it lets their kind know what mood they are in. It just waves around, though. They can't grip like yours can."
Vegeta lay back with arms folded under head. His unwound his tail from her, resting it between them.
"Our legend of the Super Saiyan centers around our tails," he explained, "It is more than just an extremity. There's a great power that links us to our ape ancestors through it. Our roots are awakened under a full moon as the call of our ancestors pulses through our veins. When conditions are right we transform into towering creatures that are capable of ripping a planet apart. Without our tails we can't transform. Losing it is the ultimate disgrace to our heritage."
"You're telling me that you transform into a giant monkey when there's a full moon?" Bulma looked at him in disbelief.
"No," a wolfish grin settled on his face. "I can turn into the ape any time I choose. We are taught during childhood how to create a glowing sphere that has the same makeup as a moon needed to transform. We learn to control our primal selves so we can use its form effectively in our conquests."
Bulma looked at her hands in thought as she mulled over his story. The indirect admission to destroying a planet where people lived, where they called home, didn't sit well with her. He must have felt her sudden apprehension because a hand grazed lightly against her back. The shock of his touch sizzled as the pain slid into a different kind of burn.
"Did Earth have wars?" He asked.
The question caught her off guard. "Yeah. We've had our history of them."
"What did your ancestors fight over?" His tone contrasted the sparks he created as he caressed her back.
"Land," thinking was becoming harder. "Riches, power, resources. Sometimes ego."
"What did they use to kill one another?" Another stroke as her nerves reawakened.
"Guns, bombs. Some were really bad…we destroyed some places to the point where people couldn't come home to because of radiation." She could sense the direction he was going in.
"We were no different. Instead of killing our own planet as we tried to kill each other, though, we banded together to do what you've described to others so we could flourish. We weren't the first and we wouldn't be the last. It used to be an honor to be a soldier of the guard. Our people took great pride dying in battle. It was something to be held as sacred, sacrificing oneself for the future of our people."
"I see." It seemed only fitting that a planet full of giant ape creatures would need to spread out into space instead of fighting over an insufficient planet. It made sense.
"What changed?" She asked. She wanted to hear it from him.
His hand stilled.
"Frieza." His voice chilled. "He killed everyone, then destroyed our planet for good measure. Just because he could. I was taken as a young cub and raised under his regime. I've been forced to conquer planets with the only remaining three saiyans. There's no need for the destruction we've caused. Still cause. This wasn't our way. We're not meant to be forced into becoming thoughtless killers. Because of our capabilities we don't have any other choice. That's why I need to become a super saiyan. Only those with strength and power beyond the limits of our bodies can become one. The legend says that the only way to harness and control such power is in our transformed state."
Bulma snuggled next to him as she listened to his story. Her heart broke for the child forced into a different type of slavery than she was in. No mother or father to love or to be loved by. She understood, now, why he acted so odd around her. Not used to feeling affection, not comfortable with returning it the way the men of her planet did. Being forced to kill or be killed.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. That you've had to endure such terrible experiences after your parents and home were taken away." Sorrow for him filled her voice.
"Don't pity me." He snapped. He winced as he rolled away from her, now lying on his injured side.
"It's not pity, Vegeta." She moved closer to him, slipping an arm under his as she tried to hold him from behind. "It's just the opposite. It's not your fault. None of it is your fault if you're doing it by force just to survive. I can't imagine what you've had to go through…and for so many years. I just feel bad that you've dealt with so much tragedy. You were never allowed to be just a kid."
Silence was his only response.
"Vegeta, I'm not trying to make excuses for what you've done, but what you've had to do to survive is understandable. Even the soldiers in our wars have been forced to kill because their government said so. It's okay to forgive yourself for something you can't control."
The air around them grew cold as he rejected her words. She could almost hear the voice in his head calling her a liar. She scooted away from him as she gave him some space. Pulling the blanket around her against the chill radiating from him she tried to close her eyes without seeing a terrified child lost in space with no one to love.