AN: and so we reach the end of chapter 3's rewrite. Those of you who never read the original will now know why the chapter has this title (Other than what happened to Tera.)

Enjoy. I'll try to get the updates for chapter 4 out next week.

Chapter 3.5: A Hard Nut to Crack?

Mutual nakedness assured, they gazed awkwardly at each other for a moment. A deafening silence pervaded the room. It was not the lack of ability to hear sounds, but the lack of all sound that caused the emptiness. Neither of them could determine how to make the next move. John was the master. He was supposed to be in charge. However, his knowledge of such things was limited to text books and a few laughable attempts at socializing with the so-called fairer sex.

He partnered with others for sex on a few occasions, but never for anything lasting or even particularly instructive. He spent most of his time locked away in study and knew little beyond text book examples of what to do to perform such carnal duties.

Kara bit her bottom lip. She sighed deeply as she stood naked before the man who owned her service for the next half-year. She said nothing, but did casually observe his overall physique. He was of a medium build, a stocky man of slightly above average height and tolerable musculature. He was not a warrior but he was in reasonable shape. Her critical eyes did discern that a few sit-ups might not hurt, however.

John tried to fathom what he was seeing. Several millennia of interbreeding with Demi-Humans more or less made most of the creatures physically appealing. He'd spent time with a scant handful of naked females in his time. However, none of them bore the strange hybridization of raw strength and feminine grace that Kara offered.

Each moment that passed made it even more difficult for the man to remember that she was nothing more than a well-trained animal. She looked intensely human, a prime physical specimen of womanhood.

He took a deep breath. He could pretend for a while that she was actually a human being. Despite the ridiculous nature of the thought, it might help with the intricate details of the deed. She was quite a lovely creature. Had he not known better, he would mistake her for a human anyway.

John remained uncertain what to do, but since she currently looked to him for direction, he decided to issue a directive. "Turn around."

Kara blinked slowly then narrowed her eyes slightly. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck start to rise a little when he commanded her in such a domineering tone of voice, but after a brief moment she calmed herself and did as directed. John stepped in closer and allowed himself to place his hands on her hips.

The strange tension of the moment continued for a moment as he clumsily moved his hands around in an attempt to decide how he should touch her. Kara's frustration began to build within her as time marched awkwardly onward. This wasn't a taming. This wasn't anything but uncomfortable.

While not the most socially competent individual, John could read the mood in a room if given enough time. At a loss for what to do with a creature of such inhuman physical perfection, John have up and asked, "How do you want it?"

He' given up on trying to figure out her feminine mystery. For all he knew her body was some strange and beautiful puzzle. She was like the cubes he'd seen for sale in a trendy hobby shop back at the mall. Despite his earnest attempts to pretend his belief in her humanity, she was not him. If she'd been human he would have acted with greater confidence, surely. As things stood, he did not wish to accidentally injure himself or his alpha. They had work in the morning, after all.

Kara flushed lightly, but conquered her wayward emotions quickly. It would not be seemly for her master to notice such things. "You may massage my breasts if you like."

John noted her decision and readily complied. In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. His hands moved up to her chest. He bit his lower lip and considered what else to do. Experimentally, he slipped his hands lightly along the supple curvature of her breasts. He noted the pliant elasticity and the soft moan elicited by his casual touch.

A thought occurred to him. If a light touch caused her to moan in such a manner, then perhaps something more aggressive was in order. John gripped her beautiful mounds firmly in his hands, then began to slow knead like a baker rolling dough. She moaned softly, at first but then ever louder as his strong casual hand movements took complete control of her breasts.

She seemed to enjoy the simple interaction more than a little. Perhaps this was all she would need of him? John leaned against her back so that he could look down at his handiwork. He thought that it would be good to note his movements for the future.

The sudden sensation of his naked chest against her back cause Kara to gasp gently. Was he really this gentle and loving? No one ever held her so intimately before. Previous taming events were simple affairs that ended after a few moments.

Typically, after taming her partner would mutter things about dolls, or robots, and then move on to the rest of the harem. Unable to fathom the odd sensation welling up within her, she instinctively leaned back into him. Her jet black hair fell over his shoulder as her cheek pressed softly against his.

All of her life she'd been nothing but a soldier. She experienced taming before. Never did even one master or partner ask her how she desired to be tamed. They did what they wanted and she thought that to be the way of things.

Her master blinked at her actions then mentally filed them away under things she enjoyed. It did make sense that she would respond well to being petted.

Kara moaned softly and began to grind her pert ass against his rapidly hardening erection. John suspected that she truly enjoyed being petted in such a fashion, but if he was to properly understand her maintenance needs, he would have to question her. Tame animals might be startled by wild noises, however. Determined to seek answers, he whispered gently into her ear, "Do you like that?"

Her loud gasp and sudden wiggle were the only answer given. John was mildly perturbed at her lack of proper vocalization, but he opted to consider it as a tentative, 'yes'. He pressed forward, by softly whispering, "What else do you want me to do?"

The girl bit her lip for a moment hardly daring to believe that she could be allowed to ask for such things. Maybe he wanted to reward her for doing a good job? Possibly.

She moaned softly once more before sweetly whispering, "Kiss me master."

John saw no issue with her request at the moment. He kissed her softly on the side of the neck. Her motions caused him to inadvertently nuzzle her cheek, and she mistook it as his attempt to be sweet to her. A sensation of gentle warmth began to spread throughout her body as his lips softly caressed her neck and then moved down to her shoulders. All the while, he continued to strongly massage her supple breasts with strong, confident, movements. His hands, at least, found a job that they could easily perform.

A short time passed before John kissed her softly on the ear and whispered, "Do you want more?"

Kara flushed deeply, no longer concerned with avoiding behavior inappropriate for a soldier. She wriggled her body against his and said, "Master... I need you to tame me."

Taming, was it really just normal sex? He'd studied the phenomenon, but it remained a mystery. Uncertain once more, he whispered into her ear, "How should I do that?"

Her hormonally excited body mistook his tone for one of interest in her desires. Her inner flames of passion began burning with a white hot need for him to take control of her in ways that she never realized before. This was different than any time before. The others only did as they wished, while acting the part of her commander. John, however, was clearly in charge yet let her make decisions.

Command, the power to exert authority. His will was her law, but he granted her license to be the bearer of his will. Such a thing was quite... arousing.

In a strangely shy tone, she whispered back, "I... like it in the ass."

John blinked. Suddenly, he wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew, so to speak. As his alpha wiggled her rear against him enticingly, however, he found that he could not deny that such an activity did seem to have merit.

She was the expert. If taming her meant anal intercourse then so be it. As her master he held a duty to fulfill her needs. Everything in its place, everything played its part.

Kara gasped softly as she felt his erection pressing between the firm, but pliant, cleavage of her luscious ass. Like a hot dog, seeking the proper bun to stuff, his manhood slipped between the sensual curvature of her feminine backside.

She closed her eyes and suckled her bottom lip for a moment. The sensation of her master sliding between her ass cheeks, of teasing her rear, it was bliss.

"Lean forward, and prepare yourself," John said simply.

Kara's eyes widened when she heard his words. Her mind wanted to reject his commanding tone, but her body already began to follow orders. She pressed her hands against the nearby wall, and lifted her ass toward him. She arched her back slightly then look over her shoulder at him. She offered him a curious look, a strange creation that mixed consternation, arousal, and hope into a single expression.

He gripped her ass cheeks tightly in both hands and spread her apart without preamble. Kara gasped softly then bit her lower lip. The sensation of his thumbs lightly caressing the sensitive underside of her cheeks caused her breathing to intensity. She looked down to see his manhood resting lightly between the cleavage of her ass, then looked away immediately. Her face, now bright red, felt as though it had caught fire. Was it shame? Arousal? She could not tell, but looking at such a sight caused her entire body to tremble with a strange sense of anticipation.

She closed her eyes and bit down on her lip the moment that she felt him move. Soon, constant pressure pressed against her puckered anus. His thumbs came into play a moment later as he casually spread her ass further open. With a grunt, he pressed in once more. After some time, and what felt like an earnest effort to perform passed, he stopped.

Kara frowned cutely then started to look back at him a few seconds later. Nothing seemed to happen after he'd stopped. Before she could finish moving her head, she felt him shove a single finger into her rear. She gasped loudly and clutched at the wall. Her ass tightened reflexively, and clenched around the invader. Soon, another finger joined the invasion party.

She panted heavily as her master stroked her ass with two fingers. After a brief few minutes of what she thought to be foreplay, he frowned in annoyance then slapped her on the ass.

Kara yelped loudly, but immediately thrust back against him. The sensation was demeaning, but quite arousing at the same time.

He spread her open slightly with his fingers, and slapped her on the ass a few more times. She moaned, and panted as he did his dirty work. The noises that she made, caused her not to hear her master's grumbling.

Finally after a few minutes of trying to figure out the beautiful puzzle that was her ass, she heard her master remark. "It's just not going to fit..."

She blinked and looked back at him. She noted the strangely serious expression he wore.

"Kara. I will need to get some lubricant," he said in a casual tone.

The girl flushed and tried her best, but she could not suppress her giggle. Her surprise was genuine when she heard a soft nervous laugh from her master.

Her giggle turned into an outright laugh when he sighed and said, "A hard ass Steel Valkyrie, go figure." He was so sweet for trying.