He chuckles. “We age well on Venkoria. We live longer than I’ve heard humans used to live. Now, it’s time for you to eat. Then I will punish you again for your insolence. If you speak to me in that condescending tone, I will discipline you. It would seem you’re intent on pushing my buttons to learn your boundaries, and that’s fine. I will happily correct your naughty behavior until you decide it’s in your best interest to behave.”
I pout, though I’m not sure what he considers bad behavior. It’s possible he will spank me again for pushing out my bottom lip.
Instead, he says nothing and taps my mouth with the nipple.
As much as I don’t dislike the contents of these bottles, I’m growing tired of the formula. I hope he doesn’t intend for me to get my nourishment from a bottle forever.
Now isn’t a good time to be defiant, though, so I accept the nipple and start sucking.
Yozef is pleased. He smiles as he feeds me, rocking me in his arms. He holds my hand against my tummy and rubs my knuckles.
“You really are precious, Little pet. I realize it will take some time for us to come to an understanding, but I’m looking forward to having you as my companion. Purchasing you is the best decision I’ve ever made.”
I wince when he mentions the fact that he bought me. I’m owned. I’m not free. I’m not even free to leave this apartment. It’s not as though I’ve been rescued from a dying space station, and now I can explore this new planet. I doubt I have permission to do much of anything. I expect Yozef will have a million rules that will infuriate me to no end.
For now, I’m basking in the glow that surrounds my Daddy. He may have purchased me, but he also likes me. I think he would even if I hadn’t been injected with some stupid pheromone-altering drug.
I’m suddenly exhausted. It’s been a long time since I slept well. Every time I start to doze, Daddy jiggles the nipple. “Finish your bottle, Little pet, then you can sleep.”
When the bottle is empty, Daddy pops the pacifier back in my mouth, but he doesn’t fasten it around my head.
I continue sucking, not wanting to spit it out yet. I tell myself I will soon, but I’m enjoying the soothing properties. Darn him.
He rises from the chair and carries me toward a hallway. I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, but I want to see mysurroundings. He enters another room that has a giant bed in the middle. I assume this is his room.
There’s also a smaller bed. I cringe when I recognize it as a sort of crib, like the kind babies sleep in. I’m the Baby.
It’s not much different from the cage I spent several days in, except it has a mattress on the bottom and blankets.
Daddy lowers me gently onto my back. He then moves my arms so they extend next to my head, my elbows bent. Lastly, he guides my knees open wide. I’m used to this sensation because the diapers I’ve been wearing are so thick I can’t bring my thighs together.
He pats my tummy. “I want you to get used to sleeping in this position, Little pet. It will help you feel open and vulnerable. Keep your hands away from your body and your knees open, so your pussy is always parted, and you learn to leave your nipples alone.”
My heart races. He says all of that so calmly, even though the command is shocking.
He smooths my hair away from my face. It’s a wild mess around me. I usually braid it, but nothing has been done to it since Daddy combed out the tangles.
“I’m going to lower the top of your crib to remind you to stay in this position, Little pet. As I said, part of the reason I asked the guards to prevent you from sitting up was to keep you from hitting your head. That is still true. You are not going to be stable for several days. I don’t want you sitting without help. When I’m sure you can support your head, I’ll allow you more mobility, but until then, you may not take risks. Eventually, I’ll let you crawl, but if you complain about my rule, it will only cause me to push that date further.”
I sniffle and nod, sucking frantically on my pacifier.
Daddy covers me with a blanket, bends over, and kisses my forehead. When he straightens to his full height, he slides oneside of the crib up and lowers it over the top of me. He mechanically adjusts it until it’s only a few inches from my face, even closer than the cage in the warehouse.
My slight panic makes me whimper, but Daddy reaches through the slats above me and rubs my tummy. “Shhh. You’re safe. The crib is locked now. No one but me can open it. Nothing will ever happen to you when you’re in your crib.”
He mistakes my terror for concern for my safety when what I’m really feeling is claustrophobia.
“Close your eyes, Little pet. Sleep now.”
I’m surprised by how easily I’m able to block out my confinement and let slumber pull me under.
NINE
When I wake up, Daddy is leaning over me. The top of the crib is gone. So is my blanket. He’s opening my diaper.
I cringe as I realize it’s full—and not just with pee.
Squeezing my eyes closed, I turn my head away while he cleans me up and spreads some kind of ointment on me. He doesn’t replace my diaper, which leaves me hopeful. Is he ever going to let me use a bathroom?
