“What is it going to take to teach you to behave in a manner fitting an ensign on an Authority vessel?”
“I have no idea,” she replied, hissing the words through gritted teeth. “Until you came on board, nobody had a problem with me. I did what I wanted to do, I saved asses when they needed saving, and it was fine. You’re the only one who cares.”
That last sentence was true in more ways than she might imagine. Jerri had thrown it at him as if it were a sign that there was something dysfunctional with him for caring. Did she know how sad and wrong that was? Atlas was perhaps the only one who cared about her behavior enough to bother to try to modify it. It was an absolute disgrace that Tessil had served on the Audacity for so long without running into some good ship’s discipline. It was clear she’d been given free rein, not because she was a singular talent, but because she was not part of standard operations and therefore did not inconvenience anybody on a daily basis. Her needs had been entirely overlooked as far as Atlas could tell, and the result was a misfit who behaved ever more outrageously.
He was more determined than ever to ensure that she was spanked thoroughly. As much as he wanted to praise her, give her some positive feedback for her flight, she’d get that from everybody else. He needed to be the one she looked to when she knew she wasn’t meeting standards, or her potential. He needed to be the one who could make her cry when she needed to be made to cry.
Atlas set about turning Jerri’s rear bright red with swift but lighter slaps than before. There was no point talking to her anymore. Actions would speak more loudly than any words could.
She continued to cry during the second phase of the punishment, out of frustration and pain and probably embarrassment. He knew she had expected to be received in triumph, and deserved some praise. But she needed this more. And she was going to get what she needed from him. Not what she thought she wanted. And not what he wanted.
This wasn’t about sex. This was about discipline. As much as it hurt her to receive it, it was killing him to give it. He’d much rather have availed himself of her pussy, but he wasn’t going to let his attraction to her get in the way of his primary functions. Today, that meant spanking her to tears and putting her to bed.
Leaning down, he tossed back her bedsheets. She was a hot and curvy weight in his arms as he picked her up and lowered his leg. He held her briefly, probably too briefly, the counselor’s warnings about aftercare ringing in his ears.
She curled up facing away from him, still sobbing to herself. He stayed silent. Words made things worse with this one. They gave her something to argue against. Sometimes, the aftercare had to come later. When the brat could handle her temper enough to avoid getting herself into even worse trouble.
“Sleep well,” he murmured, pulling the covers back over her curvy crying form. He then turned the lights out, and left the room.
Chapter Five
“How are the repairs to the ship coming, Commander?” Captain Janus had assigned Atlas the task of cleaning up after Tessil’s mess. It was appropriate, Atlas figured. Over the past few days his job seemed to comprise more and more dealing with the messes she made.
“We are at eighty-seven percent.”
“Good. And how is the project to restore ship’s discipline?”
“Well in hand,” he said, though he said it with less certainty than he gave the previous percentage. He’d left Jerri Tessil in her quarters last night after one of the sternest spankings of her life. He had planned to check in with her in the morning, but the captain’s summons had come in and there was no time. “There is one person of interest I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Oh?” Janus quirked a brow at him.
“Her name is Ensign Jerri Tessil.”
“Tessil…” The captain looked around as if in thought. “I don’t believe I know her.”
“Very possibly not. But you should. She’s the pilot who brought us through the asteroid storm last night. She’s the reason we’re in one piece.”
Atlas just barely kept the judgment out of his voice, and managed to refrain from making additional comments like. She’s Audacity’s most neglected ensign. Captain Janus should know precisely who Ensign Tessil was.
Janus brightened. “Interesting! I reviewed the ship’s path through that period. I’ve never seen a ship weighing five hundred and twenty seven thousand tons move that way before. It was quite astounding. I’m ashamed to have missed it while sleeping.”
“Her piloting skills are not the only notable facets of her person…”