Текст книги "Milked for the Holidays"

Автор книги: Vivian Murdoch

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

CHAPTER 13

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JESSICA

I look over at the other women, noting the varying looks of horror and despair as they peek through the bars. Why are they separated away from us? Off to the side, my new friend huddles into a corner, making herself as small as possible.

She looks just as miserable as I feel. Glancing up to the front of the vehicle, I watch as Vrokjan and the other Rancher talk to each other. I can’t hear them, but their mouths move as they go back and forth in an animated fashion.

Large smiles split their faces as they turn to each other. It’s obvious they’re happy. Just like it should be obvious that we’re miserable. Not that they care.

No, I chide myself. I can’t lump my Rancher in with the rest of them. Although I have no say in what happens to my body, he, at least, seems to care for my comfort. Reaching behind me, I rub the tender spot with my hoven glove.

Kind as he may be, it still doesn’t negate the fact that I’m forced to be a fucking cow. Bringing my glove up to my lips, I tug at it with my teeth. It doesn’t budge. Through the bars, the other women watch me with rapt attention.

I struggle with the glove, trying everything I can think of. Nothing works. In frustration, I curl my fingers around the rod and slam my fist into the hay. From the front of the vehicle, neither Rancher makes any movement indicating they either see or hear what’s happening.

“Moo.” I let the infernal sound pass through my lips at a low volume, keeping my eyes on the Ranchers. Nothing. “Moo,” I say again, a bit louder. Still nothing. Once more, I make the noise, this time much louder.

The vehicle stops with an abrupt halt. We sway from side to side, unable to find purchase with our hooves. Vrokjan is the first to come to the back, followed closely by the other Rancher.

He peers inside, checking over the other women before leveling his gaze at me. I do my best to put on a pitiful face for him, as if I’m in extreme distress. Tugging on my leash, he brings me outside and shuts the doors behind him.

The others huddle forward, watching the interaction. My arms and legs ache as I force myself to follow. All I want to do is curl up in the hay like my friend and sleep, but I can’t until I know the parameters of this new jail.

Tugging me over toward the grass, he hunches down so we’re face to face. “You can speak. What’s wrong?”

Truthfully, I hadn’t planned on coming up with an excuse. I just wanted to see how loud I could be before they heard me. Now that I know I can speak softly and not get caught, I have all the information I need.

“Well?”

I blink up at him, wracking my brain for something believable that won’t cause him to do anything else to me. “I have to pee.” The words blurt out from my lips before I can stop them.

Vrokjan looks over at the other Rancher and jerks his head toward the vehicle. With a nod, he heads over and opens it up.

“Anyone here need to relieve themselves?” No one answers with words, but a smattering of moos reaches my ears.

After a bit of shuffling, he drags my friend out, her pale cheeks turning a bright crimson. I want to go over to her, to tell her it will be okay. More than that, I want to apologize for my part in her discomfort.

If only I’d kept my mouth shut until we got to his house. He made it very clear we could talk there or in the pasture away from the other Ranchers. I just wanted to check in on her and make sure she was okay.

Dark rings stand out against her white cheeks, making it look as if she’s been punched in the eyes. Unable to help myself, I reach out, pawing at her gently. Though she doesn’t wince at my touch, it’s not as if I’m able to be thorough in my examination. Not with these fucking gloves.

Thankfully, they don’t appear to be bruises, and she doesn’t seem to be in any physical distress. Being out here in the sun, the marks are paler, not as stark against her skin. My breath comes out in a relieved whoosh as I’m able to convince myself she’s not injured.

The other Rancher pulls her back and glares down at me for a moment before hunching down. “Are you trying to insinuate something, cow?”

Vrokjan stands between us, his massive frame blocking me from his ire. “I know you’re possessive of your Highland, but you will not threaten my heifer. If we’re going to live together, you will need to respect my property, as I will respect yours.”

Sliding around my Rancher’s leg, I shoot the other woman a bright smile. We’re going to be in the same house! When she returns it, the two Ranchers shift a bit.

I cower as I look up at Vrokjan, worried I’ve somehow angered him or done something wrong. But instead of a fierce frown, both Ranchers smile at us, their faces transforming into something kinder, almost gentle.

“Seems as if our little cows know each other,” Vrokjan chuckles. “At least they're friendly. That will certainly make things easier.”

The other Rancher runs his hand over my friend’s head and offers me a slight smirk. “My apologies for snapping at your cow.” He then turns to me. “How do you two know each other?”

Before answering, I look up at Vrokjan, making sure it’s okay to speak.

“When you’re in either of our presence, as long as no other cows are able to hear, you may speak.”

I wet my lips, thrilled to be able to use words and hear my friend for the first time. “We met each other on the ship. She was kind and offered me comfort. I didn’t feel so alone.”

The other cow shuffles a bit and looks up at her Rancher. At his nod, she also speaks. “Fiona,” she whispers, a Scottish lilt making her voice sound musical. “And I’m glad to have a friend.”

The Ranchers grin, the smiles so large it makes their eyes crinkle. Of course, they’d be happy about this. I, on the other hand, feel ill knowing the only comfort I’ll have is with a stranger who’s in the same boat as I am.

“Now then,” Vrokjan interjects. “You said you have to pee.”

Without any preamble, he takes me a little further away from the road, into some taller grass. Glancing back at the vehicle, I watch the other woman as they crane their necks, desperate to see what’s happening. I don’t blame them.

If I were in the same position, I’d want to know too. I can’t prepare if I don’t know what’s coming. Heat infuses my cheeks as I look away. Just because I’d do the same doesn’t mean I enjoy being a spectacle.

Off to the side, Fiona’s Rancher does the same, leading her a bit away from me. At least we don’t have to watch each other go to the bathroom. That would somehow make it all the more mortifying.

Vrokjan hunches down next to me and holds up my tail, putting pressure on the inside of my asshole. A soft whine claws at my throat as I pull forward, desperate to get away from the sensation. All it does is make it worse.

“Come now,” he murmurs, stroking my breastbone. “You said you needed to relieve yourself.”

I look around, still dismayed that others are watching. After a moment or two, he gives me a stern look. “This is your life now, Jessica. You might as well get used to it. Now pee so we can get back on our way.”

Biting down on my lower lip, I do my best to force it out, not wanting to drag out this humiliation much longer. But of course, nothing happens. Again, my body betrays me.

“You didn’t lie to me, did you?” he growls. “Because I’ve been trying to be lenient with you, give you time to acclimate to this new world. But I will not tolerate lying.”

Coming up behind me, he slides his fingers over my pussy, teasing the delicate skin for a moment. The soft moan is soon transformed into a sharp yelp as he smacks me hard. The sting and burn ricochet through my brain, short-circuiting it for a moment.

“Do you really need to pee?”

“No,” I mumble, misery lancing through me.

“Then what were you doing? Why did you seek to gain my attention?”

I blink up at him, not sure what to say. If I tell him the truth, I’ll be punished. If I lie and he finds out, I’ll be punished. Either way, it’s a no-win situation.

His face softens as he brushes hair out of my eyes. “I can’t read your thoughts, but it’s clear you’re facing a dilemma. Allow me to assist. Even if I don’t like the truth. Even if it means I punish you. Lying to me will get you an even bigger punishment. Know this. Learn this.”

“I was trying to see how loud I had to be for you to hear me,” I blurt out. “I wasn’t sure if soft sounds were audible.”

He stands up, his expression thoughtful. “Were you wishing to talk to the other cows without us hearing?”

My face crumples. Of course, he’d figure it out. Am I really so transparent?

With a soft chuckle, he picks up the lead and tugs me forward. “Antroli. Did your cow relieve herself?” Fiona ducks her head, red staining her cheeks.

“No. She didn’t want your cow out here alone. I have a feeling these two will be trouble.” However, as he says it, there’s no anger in his voice or face.

If anything, he seems amused, as if we’re just two wayward children getting into scrapes. It sends a frisson of irritation down my spine to know they consider us so inconsequential. I don’t know anything about Fiona yet, but I sure as hell am not even close to being childlike.

I’m an accomplished career woman whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And just like that, as if my mind slams its way back into the past, I remember my mother. I remember why I was in that house in the first place.

Tears dot my eyes as I shuffle behind Vrokjan. How could I forget? How could I ever let her memory drift away like that? Guilt slams into me as he lowers the ramp so Fiona and I can go back in.

Climbing in after us, he looks at the other women, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m sure by now you’ve been informed of the rules concerning speaking and mooing. I will not go over them again. But I do wish to clarify that you may speak with each other as long as another Rancher cannot hear you. Though we are more lax than other Ranchers, we will not budge on this. Jessica has already demonstrated the volume at which we will hear you.”

Both Ranchers close the back of the vehicle and walk to the front. Stunned, we all look at each other with one question burning in all of our minds. Did he just give us permission to talk to each other?

I wait until the low hum of their engines starts again before sliding my glance over at Fiona. She huddles over in the corner of our stall, making herself as small as possible. Somehow, she’s able to fold up her long legs in a way that turns her into this tiny thing.

As much as I would like to join her, I find nothing is comfortable. The grace she has manages to elude me. Crawling next to her, I try sitting like normal. But that makes the tail sit weird, putting pressure on the plug.

Reaching between my thighs, I pull it forward, and that works somewhat. I don’t like knowing I’ll be getting arousal on it. What if it’s not easy to clean? I don’t want to have some wet, sticky thing between my thighs all day.

With a huff, I lie on my side. It’s the most comfortable so far. Maybe at the Ranch House there will be somewhere else besides just piles of hay. Probably not. They’ve done everything in their power to turn us into cows, so why would they give us a bed?

Moments go by like hours, but soon Fiona slides her arm out to me, a slight smile on her face. I wrap my arm around hers and hold on, peace settling in my chest at that small bit of contact. All around us, the women stay silent even though we’re allowed to speak.

But honestly, what is there to say? Sorry things suck so bad? It’s not like we can really plan a revolution or anything. At least I can’t. My body shakes as fatigue settles back into my limbs.

Whatever Nagán gave me in the milking barn is quickly evaporating, leaving me a quivery, weak mess. How can I fight these beings when I can’t even seem to hold my head up? With a soft sigh, I nestle my head against a small pile of hay and allow my eyes to drift closed.

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CHAPTER 14

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VROKJAN

I look in the mirror as I drive forward, a frown tilting down my lips. Even though I’ve given all the cows permission to speak with each other, their mouths refuse to move. With a sigh, I glance over at Antroli, watching as his gaze keeps going back to his Highland.

The sentiment is the same. The sooner we can get them into the Ranch House, the better I’ll feel. Besides, I have enough Ranch Hands that the other cows will be settled in without our assistance.

Gritting my teeth, I adjust the speed on the Earth-like vehicle, but not so much as to cause the cows concern or discomfort. If only we could use our hovercrafts, but the government felt taking on the visage of an Earth cowboy truck would keep the cows where their minds need to be. And so, just like the Ranchers on their planet, we haul them behind us in a cab, looking quite foolish.

But that’s my opinion. One I dare not utter. Our government is kind, but I don’t need to chance whispers of sedition. Especially so with me being in such a prominent position. My milk is one of the most traded commodities, and that’s mostly at the grace of our leaders.

Once they taste Jessica’s milk, however, it should solidify my place as the Rancher to purchase from. My cock swells, making me squirm in my seat. With my uniform on, it’s hard to arrange things to make it more comfortable.

Antroli smirks as he reaches down to shift his own swollen cock. These cows have woven a spell on us both. It’s a delicious spell at that. Again, I look over into the mirror, my throat constricting as I look at Jessica’s face.

Adjusting things so the camera zeros in on her, I note the pained expression pinching around her eyes. Off to the side, Fiona strokes her thigh with her hoof, doing her best to give my cow comfort. It should be me instead.

Unfortunately, to show this much familiarity around the other cows will only cause her more heartache in the end. She’s already separated out, a heifer above the others, and it’s sure to cause some bit of jealousy.

If I go back there and tend to her, it might solidify those ugly feelings in their hearts. I need them to see her as one of them. Yes, she’s elevated, but she will go through the same discomforts they will.

My lips thin as I turn onto the path leading toward home. Will they bully her when I put her out to pasture? Will they cause her harm? Once our girls are settled, Antroli and I will have to meet with the other Ranch Hands and instruct them on what to watch out for.

It will not differ from when I took other cows, but for some reason, Jessica has burrowed her way into my heart like none other. Some part of me must have known that. Why else would I take precautions with her but not care as much about the others?

Gripping the steering wheel, I let my mind drift to another matter entirely. Cows are not allowed to have meat. They must all consume the same nutrients found in our feed and local plants. However, if Nagán says it’s necessary, then who am I to question it?

The main issue is how I’m going to give it to her. In the past, the pet cow joined us at the table, eating next to us out of her trough. The others will know if I’m giving her something different.

With a soft grunt, I pull my communicator out of my pocket and set it on the dash. After a few presses, my brother’s face fills the screen.

“Break her already?” he teases, his eyes darting away to look at whatever he’s working on.

“Funny. But no. We’re not even home yet. I wanted to discuss the protein issue with you.”

Off to the side, Antroli gives me an odd look, but stays silent.

“What’s the issue? Give her some meat tonight. If she’s still weak tomorrow, give her some more. I fail to see how that’s difficult. As I remember, you could down several ounces of protein in a matter of minutes. I’m sure you have enough to share.”

This time, Antroli’s eyes grow wide. Thankfully, I know he’s not one to spread my business around to others, potentially causing trouble. However, it’s not him I’m worried about. Though I trust my workers with my life, I don’t want anything putting Jessica in danger.

“That’s not the problem, asshole. I don’t want to keep her locked up in my room and sneak pieces of meat over to her. This shouldn’t be some clandestine affair since you, a Medical Rancher, have signed off on it. But I’m worried others won’t understand and might cause problems.”

With a sigh, he rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “I see your point. It’s not that hard here. At the medical centers, one questions anything or involves the government needlessly. Give me some time. I’ll gather up some supplies and bring them to you in time for dinner.”

Again, I look over at Jessica, my heart pounding in my chest. “You might need to make it sooner. She doesn’t look too good.”

Nagán’s lips thin as he gives me his full attention. “She’s already had a protein injection. It should have lasted until you got her home and settled.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not the professional here. But the protein did seem to help.”

“Hmmm. Let me mull over that while I grab what I need. I’ll meet you at home soon enough. If I take an emergency ship, I can make faster time.”

With a nod, I shut down the communicator and stuff it back into my pocket. Antroli swivels in his seat, looking at the cows behind us. His brows furrow as he turns back to me.

“What do you think is wrong with her?”

“The theory is her body is just burning through so much energy to produce the amount of milk she has. Her body has taken to the serum in a way we haven’t seen before. You saw how big her breasts were? They’re at least double what she had when we took her.”

He gives a low whistle. “Makes sense. You don’t think Fiona is like that, do you?”

“No. She walked on her own accord. I had to carry Jessica.”

He silently mulls over my words, but the relief coming off of him is nearly palpable in the air. The irrational part wants to slug him, but it’s not his fault my cow is having issues and his isn’t. I can only hope my brother has a good plan.

The Ranch House looms off in the distance, and I let out a sigh of relief. Almost home. Instead of heading straight to the house, however, I have to stop and let the other cows out.

I pull up to the barn and tap the horn, alerting the other Ranch Hands we’re home. In the back, the cows shuffle about, their faces pressed against the bars as they look out onto the field. Pride swells in my chest as I look over the bit of land I own, passed down to me from my father and the Ranchers before him.

Beautiful blue waves of Ovibrosia sway back and forth in the breeze, soft and welcoming. It’s not so tall that it needs to be harvested yet, but should be tasty enough for the cows to enjoy. I hop out of the driver's seat and make my way back to the rear.

Squinting, I look up at the two suns hanging congruently with one of our three moons. Luckily, they’re waning, so the ground won’t be too hot for them. If so, they’ll have constant access to the barn just in case they need it.

I open the back and slide a ramp out on the right side, motioning for the cows to come out. Behind me, the Ranch Hands stand guard, waiting to assist as needed. For several moments, no one moves.

Though I don’t want to be rough with this stock, I will if they won’t cooperate. However, after a few moments, one of them takes a tentative step forward. With a smile, I grab onto her lead and help her down, passing her off to one of the workers.

One by one, they exit, leaving just Jessica and Fiona in the back. “You might as well get out too. You’ll need to see where you’ll be when not servicing us or the house.”

Grabbing the ramp, I slide it over, keeping my eyes locked on Jessica. She looks a bit paler than earlier, but seems to move on her own accord. Maybe I was just being overprotective?

But as she moves, I notice the effort, the slight tremor in her body. She’s still not nearly as strong as she needs to be. Off to the side, the other cows wait on all fours, their movements firm, never swaying.

Even Fiona shows no signs of struggle or difficulty. I would rather not have to carry Jessica if I don’t have to. Her body needs to learn to adapt, and it won’t if I coddle her. Still, the need to pull her into my arms beats at me until I worry I’ll go crazy.

Though her movements are small and tentative, she eventually makes it down to the ground. I wind her lead in my hand, keeping the leash taut between us. Antroli grabs onto Fiona’s as we join the others.

The main issue I’m having right now is being a solid, steady force for Jessica as she navigates her new normal, but also having to be the Rancher in charge. Pain lances through my heart as I hand her over to Antroli, trusting him to alert me if there are any difficulties. As much as it hurts to leave her, I make my way to the head of the group.

“The barns are open to free use during the day. On Icora, the days become blistering hot, and the nights are cold. Every morning after being milked, you will be rubbed down with a cream to protect you from the elements. Your bodies will acclimate to many things, but not the suns.”

The cows shuffle behind me, giving each other looks as we head into the structure.

“These stalls are where you sleep. They fit up to four cows. We will not be doing room assignments, so it will be up to you to figure out who is sleeping with whom. If there are any issues such as bullying or cliques, my Ranch Hands will ferret it out and mete out punishments as needed.”

I stop and look at all of them individually, even my own pet. “No cow is above the other. Take that to heart. Though I am a kind Rancher, I will not hesitate to nip signs of aggression at the first instance. Do not test me on this. If you prove to be a difficult cow and not easily curbed, I know of several Ranchers who have no issues providing pain as their motivation. I will sell you to them in a heartbeat.”

A shudder goes through the herd as they all shuffle closer together. Smiling, I take them past the stalls to a row of milking machines.

“You will be milked every twelve hours. Our Ranch Hands are skilled in this department. Sexual gratification by one of them is not a guarantee. There are tasks at this farm that don’t include fucking you. You will, however, find relief by either their hand or a machine. Sexually satisfied cows are happy cows. Happy cows produce sweet, sweet milk for me.”

Again they shift about, but this time it’s more like there’s a sense of discomfort. Pink dots their cheeks as they rub their thighs together. No doubt they’re looking forward to tonight’s milking.

Leading them out into the pasture, I hunch down and run my fingers through the Ovibrosia. I lift my hand and make a come-hither motion with two fingers. In the back, I note the light flush to my cow’s face and smile.

Soon I’ll see to her pleasure, but for now, I have to take on the role as Master Rancher. It’s so difficult to do when the only thing on my brain right now is tucking her away in my room so I can work on stretching her out. Clearing my throat, I pluck a blue stem topped with pale, fluffy bits on the top and hold it in front of the cows.

“As a cow, you will no longer eat any meat.” Their heads whip around as they look at each other.

Soft, distressed moos litter the air as their eyes widen and nostrils flair. It’s to be expected. For most cows, this will be the hardest part for them to come to terms with. You’d think it would be the milking and the constant sexual need, but no.

Granted, as someone who devours meat for nearly every meal, I can relate. Holding up my hand, I wait for them to quiet down before continuing.

“Meat changes the flavor of your milk. For us to have the best quality, strict veganism is to be observed. If your concern is about your nutrient intake, this plant, Ovibrosia, has been created to meet all essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.”

I wave my hand over to the side, showing them the cows who chose to stay with us. “Some of our cows have been here for years, and as you can see, they’re still plump, healthy, and happy. The hardest part will be the yearning for meat, but that will pass.”

Standing, I brush my hands on my pants. “Ovibrosia is also supplemented with other fruits and vegetables grown on the farm. So don’t think this is all you’ll eat. Think of Ovibrosia as more of a snack than anything else. If you get hungry during the day, you can come out here and snack until your heart’s content. For water, there will be a fresh stream in the trough over by the entrance. Any questions?”

Again, they look at each other, uncertainty dancing in their eyes. Eventually, a slim cow with brown hair and green eyes raises her hoof.

“I am giving you permission to speak.”

“What about the bathroom? I’m unable to clean with these hooves on.” Her voice is soft, with a slight European accent, but I’m not acquainted enough with Earth to know exactly where she’s from.

“Excellent question. Every morning, before milking, you will be brought to a room to do your business. The plugs will be removed so you can evacuate your bowels. After you’re cleaned off and done with morning or nightly inspections, it will be reinserted so you can go about your day. At other times, if you have need, approach any Ranch Hand, and they will assist you. During the evening, hooves are removed, so you can take care of any business you might have. However, tails are to be promptly put back in. If you are found without your tail, the punishment will be severe.”

Again, their cheeks turn pink. I get it, though, but it’s a humiliation they will have to endure. It keeps them in their place. Docile cows are less likely to hurt themselves trying to fight us.

Looking out over the herd, I wait for any more questions, but no other hooves rise in the air. “One last thing before I go. I want to reiterate that you are allowed to speak to each other as long as it’s not in earshot of a Rancher or an Icorian. The moment you see anyone from this planet, you are to remain silent and moo unless permitted to speak.”

They lower their heads, walking after the Ranch Hands as they tug them away, leading them to the barn. Jessica watches me, her eyes glassy and face pink. Even though I can’t touch her yet, I’m sure she’s soaking wet from what I’ve been saying.

She might deny it, but my little cow seems to like the humiliating things I do and say to her. Unfortunately, she sways a bit as I get closer. Sexual pleasure can wait. Right now, I need to get her up to the house so Nagán can tell us his solution.

Besides, I have a gift for her, and I can’t wait to see her reaction. A soft smile crosses my face as I look down at my cow. Though she struggles a little, she still plods forward, her stubbornness the only thing keeping her upright.

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