might benefit from a period of recuperation before her first pregnancy. Three of her menstrual cycles should be ample, and will allow her an opportunity to adjust to her new situation. I leave that to your discretion, of course. Meanwhile I can issue advice on nutritional supplements to deal with the recent weight loss.” He turned to Caria who had shifted to lie on her side, but had not yet made any move to put her wrap back on.
“Do you have any questions for me, Caria?”
She pushed herself up onto one elbow, her forehead creased in a frown. “Did you… did you say I can have children?”
The doctor offered her a tight smile. “Yes, you can now.”
“But…”
“Do you have reason to doubt my prognosis?”
She shook her head. “No. No, sir, none at all.”
Phahlen watched the exchange with interest, his eyes narrowed. He picked up the wrap from the sofa and handed it to his little human.
“Okay, you can get dressed, Caria. We’re done here.”
Chapter Four
Caria sat in silence, her legs tucked beneath her on the sofa. She hugged the wrap tight around her body and drew in several deep breaths as she fought to process what had just happened to her.
The examination has been horrible, intimate, and humiliating, although neither the doctor nor Phahlen had done anything to make the experience worse for her. Quite the reverse in fact. She appreciated Phahlen’s actions to help calm her, and he had succeeded admirably. She couldn’t quite reconcile herself to the intrusion, the flagrant breach of her privacy, but he’d made it bearable. She was inordinately pleased that the only man to really touch her had been Phahlen, and she knew she owed that to him, to his unexpected empathy for her situation, and his position of authority on this ship.
Then had come the really incredible part. She had been scared rigid as she lay there, helpless, and convinced that with all their sophisticated diagnostic wizardry they were sure to discover her secret. Once they knew the truth, her unsuitability for their breeding project would be obvious, and the consequences for her would be disastrous. At best, she would be extradited to Earth to face imprisonment. At worst, Phahlen could hand her back to the Galeians. She had never for a moment imagined that they would simply cure her. The whole affair had been so casual, so relaxed. And now, a problem that had plagued her for years was gone, eradicated by a few seconds’ treatment and the application of some very advanced technology.
Caria had longed for children of her own, and disappointment after disappointment had all but crushed her over the last couple of years. Now it seemed she was to have what she desired, but at what price? Her freedom? Never to return to her home world unless she was prepared to leave her children behind? To become the property of this arrogant, stern male who now regarded her from his work station across the room?
“Come here and stand before me, Caria.”
His command was unexpected, and his tone suggested he was not best pleased with her. Caria knew why. She had concealed her condition, even knowing the significance of the matter. She had realised he would not leave her deception unremarked, but had thought he might allow her more time to recuperate from her earlier ordeals—including the spanking he had already administered. Reluctantly,she got to her feet and made her way across the room.
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers on the desk in front of him as he raked her with his assessing gaze. Caria’s knees weakened and she was not entirely certain it was onlyfear that caused that reaction.
“Sir, I—”
“Silence, unless I ask you a direct question.” His brow furrowed and Caria squirmed under his intense scrutiny. She fought the urge to speak again, to explain her fears and plead with him for leniency.
At last Phahlen broke the silence. “Omission of a material fact is every bit as dishonest as an outright
“Do you have any questions for me, Caria?”
She pushed herself up onto one elbow, her forehead creased in a frown. “Did you… did you say I can have children?”
The doctor offered her a tight smile. “Yes, you can now.”
“But…”
“Do you have reason to doubt my prognosis?”
She shook her head. “No. No, sir, none at all.”
Phahlen watched the exchange with interest, his eyes narrowed. He picked up the wrap from the sofa and handed it to his little human.
“Okay, you can get dressed, Caria. We’re done here.”
Chapter Four
Caria sat in silence, her legs tucked beneath her on the sofa. She hugged the wrap tight around her body and drew in several deep breaths as she fought to process what had just happened to her.
The examination has been horrible, intimate, and humiliating, although neither the doctor nor Phahlen had done anything to make the experience worse for her. Quite the reverse in fact. She appreciated Phahlen’s actions to help calm her, and he had succeeded admirably. She couldn’t quite reconcile herself to the intrusion, the flagrant breach of her privacy, but he’d made it bearable. She was inordinately pleased that the only man to really touch her had been Phahlen, and she knew she owed that to him, to his unexpected empathy for her situation, and his position of authority on this ship.
Then had come the really incredible part. She had been scared rigid as she lay there, helpless, and convinced that with all their sophisticated diagnostic wizardry they were sure to discover her secret. Once they knew the truth, her unsuitability for their breeding project would be obvious, and the consequences for her would be disastrous. At best, she would be extradited to Earth to face imprisonment. At worst, Phahlen could hand her back to the Galeians. She had never for a moment imagined that they would simply cure her. The whole affair had been so casual, so relaxed. And now, a problem that had plagued her for years was gone, eradicated by a few seconds’ treatment and the application of some very advanced technology.
Caria had longed for children of her own, and disappointment after disappointment had all but crushed her over the last couple of years. Now it seemed she was to have what she desired, but at what price? Her freedom? Never to return to her home world unless she was prepared to leave her children behind? To become the property of this arrogant, stern male who now regarded her from his work station across the room?
“Come here and stand before me, Caria.”
His command was unexpected, and his tone suggested he was not best pleased with her. Caria knew why. She had concealed her condition, even knowing the significance of the matter. She had realised he would not leave her deception unremarked, but had thought he might allow her more time to recuperate from her earlier ordeals—including the spanking he had already administered. Reluctantly,she got to her feet and made her way across the room.
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers on the desk in front of him as he raked her with his assessing gaze. Caria’s knees weakened and she was not entirely certain it was onlyfear that caused that reaction.
“Sir, I—”
“Silence, unless I ask you a direct question.” His brow furrowed and Caria squirmed under his intense scrutiny. She fought the urge to speak again, to explain her fears and plead with him for leniency.
At last Phahlen broke the silence. “Omission of a material fact is every bit as dishonest as an outright
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