Cassandra: Here She Rules: Book One

by Kat Brewer

“Now, Cassandra, that of these remaining slaves would you desire?” The Queen’s eyes lingered on Aidan’s bottom as he passed, bowing to her.

  “More?” Cassie swallowed back an emotion she couldn’t name. “No, I think this should do for now. Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness.”

  “You have earned this and more by your service to me this morning. I hope you will accept my commission and continue in my service. I do not offer this lightly, nor would I normally offer such positions to someone I know so little about. With you, it is different. You are special, I think.” Cassie suddenly knew that she would take the job, and she would do whatever she could to fully appreciate these circumstances until she either woke up or went home.

  “My Lady, I accept your offer, and I hope I can live up to your expectations.” Cassie then bowed to her newly accepted liege.

  The Queen clapped her hands with glee and pulled Cassie in for a fierce hug.

  “I am indeed very pleased!” Nera dropped a kiss on each of Cassie’s cheeks and then released her. “Now, go and rest. Explore your apartment, and settle your household. If there is anything you require, send a slave to my housekeeper, and it shall be acquired for you. Choose a man amongst these lovelies to serve as first in your household.” Nera linked arms with Cassie, walking her to the doors. “Get yourself some rest. For tonight, we feast to celebrate your arrival and your new office as my Commander.” The slaves trailed behind the women to the great doors.

  “Yes, Your Highness, and thank you again,” Cassie said with a bow, and then turned in the direction of her rooms, trailed obediently by her newly acquired household of slaves.

  Cassie strode down the long passage to her quarters. Once inside, she took a moment to have a good look around her new surroundings.

  The main chamber contained a sitting area filled with couches and floor cushions. The pillows on the couches were vibrantly hued and overfilled with down feathers. There were several doors at the back of the room that she opened, one by one, to discover a dormitory-style bedchamber with ten beds built into the walls and a rudimentary workout room.

  The final door opened to reveal the most divine bathing chamber she had ever seen. A huge sunken tub dominated the room; it was tiled in pink-hued marble, and she found herself curious about how the plumbing system worked.

  Cushions were also strewn around the tub surrounding the area, and a long bench sat just inside the door. A rock formation flanked the tub, and Cassie could see a pull-chain that she assumed released water over anyone standing within the alcove.

  Leaving the bathing room, she opened the last door on the back wall to discover a food prep and kitchen area. She ended her self-guided tour there and turned back to the main room to find that the men were all kneeling near the front door of her suite with their heads bowed.

  She sighed deeply, knowing this would take some getting used to on her part. Cassie walked over to where they knelt, patiently awaiting their Lady’s direction.

  “Mika, the Queen has praised your many skills.” He glanced up through his lashes at her. “I will place you in charge of my household for the time being. The rest of you will look to Mika for direction.” A smile lit Mika’s face as the others nodded their assent. “For now, make yourselves at home. I am going to bathe and sleep.”

  “Mistress, may I see that food is prepared for you? I myself will see to preparing your bath.” At Mika’s words, Cassie realized that she hadn’t eaten in God only knew how long.

  “Yes. Thank you, Mika. I am hungry.”

  As she walked to her bed chamber, the men dispersed quickly and began their work of seeing to her comfort.

  Cassie smiled and stopped before entering her bedroom, realizing she wouldn’t know where to look for clothes or towels. So, she changed course and headed towards the bathing room where Mika had gone, preparing her bath and laying out soaps, towels, and other bathing necessities.

  She sent him out when the water was ready. She needed some alone-time to collect herself, and she pointedly ignored his distressed look at having been excused.

  Later, after having bathed and eaten, Cassie drifted off to sleep to the sounds of her slaves’ quiet conversation as they got to know one another.

  Chapter Three

  It was hours later when Cassie awoke slowly, drowsy and heavy-limbed from a deep sleep. As she drifted upwards through layers of consciousness, she felt almost certain she would open her eyes to find herself in a hospital room.

  Much to her surprise, however, she was in the same beautifully appointed bedchamber as before. Light from the late afternoon sun came in through the sheer curtains on the window, and she could hear the men talking softly through the open door.

  Her mind replayed the events of the day. She had been so certain that everything that had happened to her would turn out to be a dream or a hallucination that was the result of a car accident, head trauma, or something else along those lines. Yet, here she still was. Surely, this was a delusion. A delusion filled with delicious men...

  Fleeting thoughts of her neat, suburban, ranch-style house and her accounting job ran through her mind. If this was real...If she really had fallen through some trans-dimensional rift, then what would happen to her life in Atlanta? To her job and her home?

  Cassandra had no family left to worry over; her parents and husband were all dead. Her parents had died while she was still in college, and her husband had died in a car accident two years earlier. Her only remaining relatives were cousins, and she wasn’t close to any of them. A pang went through her when she thought of her two close friends, and what they must be going through due to her unexplained and very sudden disappearance.

  With a sigh, Cassie stretched out fully on the soft mattress. Flexing her legs, she felt the need for physical activity to mitigate her stress, but that didn’t seem to be a likely possibility as she had a feast to attend before long. Feeling restless, she pushed herself up off the bed and walked silently into the main room.

  In the living area, her men reclined on the sofas and cushions that were scattered about, and she sighed in pleasure at the picture they presented. Each was wearing the same very brief loin covering that Mika had worn since the first time she had seen him.

  Her fingers itched to touch the perfect flesh on display, and it was slowly penetrating her consciousness that she could touch them...anytime, anywhere, and as often as she chose. And they would welcome it.

  That little voice in her head screamed that this was wrong, but, once again, she squelched it and silently approached them.

  They became aware of her presence, and almost as one, the men jumped to their feet and bowed.

  “Had you a good sleep, Mistress?” they asked in nearly perfect unison.

  Cassie smiled and glided over to a plump sofa, sinking into the down-filled cushions.

  “Very good, thank you,” she said while indicating the cushions on the floor. “Come and sit with me.” Immediately, they assumed positions around her on the floor, and four bright sets of eyes watched her expectantly.

  “Mika, come here.” She patted the space beside her. He beamed at being singled out first as he sat down and turned towards her, ready for anything she might request.

  Earlier, when they had been before the Queen, and his Lady had chosen the others, Mika had been ashamed of the jealousy he had felt with each new selection. Then, however, she had placed him in charge of her household, and he was overjoyed to have received such a significant sign of favor.

  Now, she had called him to her first, and he trembled in equal parts anticipation and triumph. Much to Mika’s relief, his fellow slaves were pleasant and amiable. There would be no dissension in her household, nor any struggles for dominance amongst the small group.

  Cassie lifted her hand and pulled the tie from his silky black hair, letting it tumble down, gleaming in the late afternoon light. Burying her hands in the silken mass, she let her fingers massage his scalp lightly as his eyes slammed shut with bliss at his Lady’s to
uch.

  Mika moaned in pleasure and delight. His former Mistress had never touched him with tenderness like this.

  Cassie watched the pleasure on his face and felt herself becoming more than a little aroused by his response. Her hands left his hair and slowly roamed down his throat to his chest. He inhaled sharply, opening glowing golden eyes, as Cassie leaned forward to kiss him.

  He responded eagerly, his tongue dueling artfully with hers, his breath escaping in a sob as she pulled her mouth from his.

  “You are so good for my ego,” she said as she pressed a kiss to his forehead.

  “Yes, Mistress. I will be good for anything you desire.” His drugged voice and hot eyes caused a tremor in her belly, and she smiled at his misunderstanding of her meaning.

  Cassie’s eyes moved over the rest of her men who sat patiently, watching with good-natured envy. She had always been a one-man woman and was now totally of her depth. She was also unwilling to let them see her uncertainty or think her weak, and she definitely didn’t want to show favoritism.

  “Arn, come here.” She motioned for him to kneel in front of her, and he did so quickly. She loosened his blond hair and ran her hands through it as she pulled him in for a kiss.

  She plundered his mouth, and he responded as eagerly as Mika had. He was so sweet that she didn’t even think to stop kissing him until she felt Mika shift beside her. It was only then that she broke the kiss. Arn’s eyes were closed, and he wore an expression of delight at his Mistress’s attention. His arousal was very evident, and she grinned before kissing him on the forehead, motioning for him to return to his seat as she called Kai to her.

  Kai moved quickly knowing that she meant to taste him, and he was eager for her touch. He knelt before her the moment Arn vacated the position and adored her with his warm chocolate-colored gaze. Cassie played with his hair as she had done with the others, then leaned down to run her tongue along his strong jaw line. When she sucked his full lower lip between her teeth, Kai growled deep in his chest, his mouth opened to her questing lips and tongue.

  Cassie’s insides throbbed and tingled with the force of the lust they instilled within her, and she tried to fight it down. She didn’t want to lose control. She knew she had to stay in full possession of them and of herself.

  But, oh how delicious they truly were.

  She moved back from Kai and motioned for Aidan, who quickly replaced the latest of his brethren in front of their Lady.

  “Come. Kiss me, Aidan,” she commanded, a little shocked by how quickly she was taking to the role of Dominant Female.

  She ran her hands through his fiery hair, enjoying the way his emerald eyes darkened at her touch. She took his face in her hands and kissed him passionately. The man had an amazing technique. His tongue was truly gifted as it tangled with hers, and it was all she could do to not take him there in full view of the others.

  Running her hands down his chest and around to the muscles of his back, she reveled in the lust simmering in her belly before she pulled away and motioned him back, enjoying the flexing of his well-rounded buttocks as he moved.

  “I am very happy to have each one of you in my household,” she said as four handsome faces smiled at her with adoration.

  She turned to Mika, who was still sitting next to her, and gave in to the lust singing through her blood by making their kiss deep and long. She caressed his face, and then she allowed her hand to settle into his lap, softly stroking the hardness between his legs. She played with him like this for a number of minutes before easing away to the sound of his labored breathing.

  She nearly jumped from the couch as she tried to cool her own arousal. It was too much at once. They were so eager and gorgeous and so very hers that it was hard to not finish what she had just started.

  “I need to dress for the banquet!” she said in a desperate attempt to alter the mood. They all jumped up and moved quickly towards her bedchamber. She followed them at a slower pace, fighting for control.

  It amazed her how quickly all of this seemed to come to her, the control of these men. The part of her conscience that protested seemed to be becoming easier and easier to ignore the longer that she was with them.

  She wondered if she had always had this dominance inside her and it was their natural submissiveness that brought it out.

  Each man seemed so happy, there was no fear or anger or resentment that you would expect from someone being enslaved. Nor did any of them express a desire for freedom. Cassie struggled to understand it until finally she shoved those thoughts into the same internal closet where she had placed her conscience.

  They brought her another short, scarlet, Grecian-style tunic. This one was trimmed in gold, and a lightweight silken cape hung from the back of her shoulders all the way down to the floor.

  Mika informed her that only women of the highest status were allowed to wear scarlet uniforms.

  He and Kai worked on her hair with hot irons to produce a riot of curls that they artfully arranged by pulling it back from her face with diamond-studded combs.

  She was amazed at how good she looked. She admired the arrangement of her hair, and said as much to them. Mika told her that pleasure slaves were well-trained in how to serve all of their Mistress’s needs as they both blushed happily at her praise.

  They laced gilded sandals up her calves, and touched her pulse points with an intoxicating blend of jasmine and rose.

  Cassie had never felt so pampered in all her life.

  She sent them to get ready, and made her way through the living room towards the balcony. She looked out into the beautiful gardens that lay spread out before her.

  She hadn’t been waiting long when they reappeared. Each one of them was clad in brief black loin coverings that resembled very short kilts.

  When Mika neared her, she reached down and lifted the garment to find no underwear at all, and she grinned at his perplexed look.

  “Well, are we ready?” They smiled and nodded, falling in step behind her as she moved to the door.

  Cassie took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. With what she hoped was a regal tilt of her head, she strode out of her apartments and down the cavernous passageway towards the Banqueting Hall, flanked by her slaves.

  When she neared the doors, she felt a flare of panic.

  What the Hell is wrong with me? I have been acting out some extreme Femdom fantasy...This isn't me. My God! Did I really do all of that with men who were essentially strangers to me while the others looked on? Am I seriously contemplating doing even more?

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself before she entered the Banqueting Hall. She chanted inwardly until the doors swung open:

  This can’t be real. This can’t be real. This can’t be real.

  The hall was large. Filled with tables and chairs, and a large group of very curious women and slaves who had been watching her progression into the room. Noblewomen covered in glittering gemstones and jewel-bright clothing sat at tables that were arranged in the shape of a large horseshoe with the Queen seated at the head.

  Cassie was surrounded by nobles and high-ranking warriors as she made her way through the crowd. The warriors around the Queen were clad in garments similar to Cassie’s, but theirs were white with gold trim in deference to their rank. There were two women in black leather seated behind the Queen.

  They all rose from their seats to bow to Cassie as she approached, and Cassie bowed in return as she continued towards the Queen, who had gestured to the chair beside her.

  As Commander, she would sit at the right hand of the Queen.

  Beautiful slaves, both male and female, glided about the room as they served the wants and needs of the guests with graceful competency. The tables were piled high with foods that smelled so good Cassie’s stomach started to growl in anticipation.

  A hush had fallen over the assembly when she entered, and now the room was filled with the muted whisperings of many voices.

  Nera rose and banged a
jeweled staff on the floor, calling for silence.

  “Tonight, we welcome the Lady Cassandra to our world and into our hearts. She has accepted my appointments to the posts of Leader of my Private Guard as well as that of the Commander of the Erlan Army. Her word is second only to mine from this moment forward. Hail Lady Cassandra, Defender of Erla!” A deafening roar sounded throughout the room as the warriors stood and shouted their approval.

  The Ladies of the court clapped, and the slaves made their obeisance.

  After kneeling before the Queen and being bid to rise, Cassie took her seat next to Nera. Accepting a cut crystal goblet filled with pink liquid, she sniffed it cautiously and was delighted to find it smelled like fresh strawberries.

  The beverage was called Jul, the Queen explained. It tasted as good as it smelled, and it went down so smoothly that Cassie was certain it was not alcoholic. It lacked the taste and burn of liquor.

  She had downed two glasses before she realized how wrong she was. A delicious feeling of languor came over her, and she was suddenly very happy. She felt so happy in fact that a giggle escaped her, causing the Queen to look at her closely.

  “Have a care with the Jul, Cassandra. It is quite potent, and the effects are...well...Let me just say that it will heighten all of your senses.” She grinned wickedly and winked at Cassie, who raised one eyebrow questioningly.

  In the next moment, Mika appeared at her elbow with a plate of food.

  She was seized by a sudden heat and a desire to have him now, on the table in front of her and before all of these people. Her body throbbed with need, and she squirmed in her seat as a look of comprehension covered her face.

  “Ohh, I get it now,” Cassie said thickly, and the Queen laughed out loud.

  “Perhaps, you should eat something before you ravish every slave in the room,” Nera said with a grin on her face.

  “I think you’re right,” Cassie replied, squeezing her thighs together to ease the throbbing.

  Cassie found the food was delicious. The flavors were intense and savory, and she couldn’t remember ever having enjoying a meal quite so much. Apparently, the Jul had heightened more than just her sexual appetite.