by Vivian Wood
I felt her gaze on the back of my neck as I made my way out of the room. She was angry, but I’d deal with that later. For now, I just needed to get some air. Get away from the cloying presence of my mother.
My thoughts were everywhere, scattered and leaving me wondering about what my purpose was in this fucking charade of the competition. It was obvious who I wanted to pick, though my mother seemed hell-bent on preventing it from happening. But we both knew the choice would be mine in the end, no matter how hard she tried to convince me otherwise.
I walked down the dimly lit hallway, not knowing where I was going. I just wandered the halls of the castle until my thoughts simmered down to a quiet rage. But at least it was the kind of emotion I knew how to control, and I was grateful that I’d managed to keep a lid on the situation.
I heard noises coming from ahead of me. Whimpers and whispers that were suddenly interrupted by a muffled cry.
All my senses were on high alert as I rounded the corner and came across a situation that made my blood boil.
A woman was standing against the wall, with a male figure looming over her. He had his palm pressed against her mouth, effectively muffling her cries for help. She was struggling against him, but he paid it no mind, his strong hands making sure she couldn’t move an inch.
Rage overwrote any other emotion I was feeling, and then the unthinkable happened. A ray of moonlight through the window illuminated the woman’s form. She was standing with her back to me and her hair glinted red in the darkness.
Amber!
“Hey!” I shouted, and the male figure froze as I strode closer. “Get your fucking hands off her!”
In a flash, the male figure disentangled himself from the woman. I was too far away to stop him, and before I could run after the guy, Amber collapsed against the wall. I reached her just in time to stop her fall, my arms cradling her body against mine, holding her up.
It took me a second to calm down and realize the woman in my arms wasn’t Amber at all. It was Eva, the Dutch beauty whom I’d chosen to be part of the competition solely because of her resemblance to my favorite girl. In the darkness, I’d mistaken her for my woman due to her flame-red hair.
Now, she was barely conscious, her eyes fluttering open and closed so fast I wasn’t sure whether she could see or hear me at all.
“Eva,” I said gently. “Open your eyes. You’re safe now. I’m going to make sure nobody hurts you anymore. You’re going to be okay.”
I looked after her assailant, knowing I had two choices.
I could run after the bastard, but that meant leaving Eva alone and vulnerable, and I couldn’t imagine what would happen in her shaky state. I held her closer, her scent assaulting my nostrils in a mixture of vanilla and citruses. It was sharp and sweet and completely intoxicating.
Once again, her lashes fluttered open, putting me face-to-face with the most beautiful hazel eyes. Those eyes that were a mix between brown and green and speckled with flecks that glittered in the darkness. She was exquisite… And I was getting lost in her beauty when I should have been proving to her how much better I was than the man who’d assaulted her. But for one second, one sick, twisted second, I actually understood why they stranger had cornered her. She was unmistakably beautiful, awakening an urge deep within me that I was desperate to quiet, but failed miserably in doing so.
“Help me,” she whispered, her voice sweet, gentle and heavily accented. “Don’t let him touch me anymore.”
My hands formed fists in the fabric of her dress and I helped her to her feet.
“I won’t,” I promised her. “No one is going to hurt you. Let me help you back to the dining room.”
She looked up into my eyes, and when she did, something passed between us, a promise of something we could have together, an electric current awakening right under my skin. I was so desperate to have more of it, to pursue this strange electricity tying me to her, but I stopped myself in my tracks, my thoughts going back to Amber.
It could have so easily been her.
As I helped Eva back to the dining room, my thoughts were dominated with images of Amber being hurt like this. Cornered like an animal, forced into submission by a taller, stronger man who could make her do anything he wanted.
Eva and I reached the dining room, and as soon as we walked into it, the quiet murmur of the conversation escalated into loud exclamations, shocked gasps and questions fired at us as the women surrounded us.
“What happened?” Freya cried out as she helped Eva to a chair. “What on earth happened?”
And then my mother was there, and I felt the rage from before returning.
“Leave her alone,” I roared at the Queen, who had already started fussing around Eva. “Just let her fucking breathe, she’s had the scare of her life.”
My mother gave me a surprised look and I was disgusted with myself when I realized she was afraid of me. I didn’t want her fear. I just wanted some respect from the woman who was supposed to want the best for me.
I scanned the crowd of girls, my eyes settling on Amber’s petite form and drinking in her curves. Thank fuck she was safe. I didn’t know what I’d do if something had happened to her.
I shifted my attention back to Eva as Chloe, one of the younger girls, rushed over with a glass of water, offering it to her friend. Eva took long, thirsty gulps of the cool liquid, and I was relieved to find the color returning to her face.
My mother approached me again, firing off questions.
“What happened? Where did you find her? Did she wander off with someone? Did she faint?”
“What happened?” I repeated. “She was fucking assaulted, that’s what happened.”
“Olivier!” My mother gasped as she turned to face me, her expression scandalized. “Well, that’s just impossible. Who in their right mind would try to hurt one of the women? No, I refuse to believe that happened.”
“You refused to believe it?” I stood in front of her, towering over her small but regal form, and she flinched as if I’d struck her. “It happened, right under your nose, too. I suggest you keep a better eye on your royal subjects around the girls, because I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt them.”
“Olivier, calm down,” she begged me, but my rage knew no bounds and as we faced off, she seemed to sense my animosity, taking a careful step back. “It was an accident, I’m sure. Nobody would dare to touch the girls, especially with the both of us so close by.”
“I saw it with my own eyes,” I got out through gritted teeth, fully aware that we now had the attention of every woman in the room, even Eva, who was still struggling to catch her breath. “I saw a man covering her mouth and feeling her up.”
The Queen chuckled nervously, waving her hand in the air. “Nonsense, Olivier. Now please don’t cause a panic. I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding.”
All I felt was anger. A red mist descended over my vision and I seethed at my mother.
“Believe what you want,” I growled at her. “Your attempts to cover up the truth won’t hide what really happened.”
I walked over to the girl, pressing my fingers to her wrist and feeling her pulse. Her eyes found mine, and I felt it again – the current between us, the thought that we could have something special, if only I hadn’t fallen for a woman that looked so much like her.
“Are you feeling alright?” I asked her, my voice rough with barely held-back anger. “Is there anything I can do?”
“N-No,” she stuttered. “I just want to get back to my room.”
“Of course,” I said, removing my hand from hers. Her pulse was starting to slow down to a normal rate. “Eva, did you see who attacked you?”
She shook her head and I cursed inwardly. “No. It was a man… someone taller, with dark hair. But he was hidden in the shadows… I couldn’t make out his face.”
“Do you think you’d recognize him if you saw him again?” I asked gently, and she raised those pretty eyes to mine.
“Maybe,”
she whispered.
I nodded, getting up and shooting Freya a look. The ice blonde was still standing next to Eva, her eyes filled with compassion I wouldn’t have credited her with.
“Can you get Eva back to her room?” I asked, and she responded with a quick nod. “Make sure she’s settled in and okay.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” she said, curtsying and helping Eva to her feet. The other girls watched in a trance while the two girls walked out of the room.
I turned back to my mother and said, “Let’s cut this dinner short. I’m going to try and find the bastard who did this.”
Even though I knew there wasn’t much hope of recognizing the man whom I’d only seen in the shadows, I wanted to get to the bottom of it all. I would find the sick bastard who’d tried to hurt Eva if it was the last thing I did.
“Olivier, don’t be silly,” my mother laughed. “We have to carry on with dinner, of course. We’re only on the second course.”
“Are you serious?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “We can’t keep going after what happened. I think everyone’s too shaken up, and I need to get to the bottom of this.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she waved her hand dismissively. “Just a spoiled girl making a big deal about something slightly unfortunate.”
I glared at her, fighting the urge to drive my fist through the wall.
“Mother,” I said icily. “The dinner is over.”
She pouted and opened her mouth to speak again but I’d had enough.
“Everyone out.”
My voice came out in the lowest of growls, and my mother had the good sense to take a step back at the sound of pure fury flowing out of my mouth.
“Olivier, please…” she laughed nervously, looking around at the women gathered around us.
“Out. Fucking. NOW!” My voice was booming in the now deathly quiet room, and a second later, sounds of shuffling and terrified whispers filled the room. One by one, the girls left the dining hall, with my mother one of the first disappearing while muttering something to herself.
With only a few girls left, my gaze fixated on Amber. Her hair was let down, long and silky as opposed to Eva’s bouncy curls. Only a few moments ago, I thought it was her who was in trouble. And what was stopping someone from hurting her? Just like all the other girls, she was easy fucking prey.
She walked up hurriedly, her eyes never meeting mine as she attempted to walk out of the room. Her friend Zara rushed out a second before her, but when Amber tried to walk out, I stepped in her way, making her brush against me.
“No,” I growled, making her stop in her tracks, her body shivering as she stood her ground.
She didn’t say a word, blinking fast as she stared at the floor and my palm came to rest on her elbow.
“No,” I said again. “Not you. You’re fucking staying.”
Chapter Ten
Olivier
I could see how nervous she was, the pupils of her eyes dilated so much the blackness swallowed up the gold of her irises. I kept my hand on her arm, our eyes connected in a silent battle as the room emptied.
We were alone, and I could tell just how much that scared her. Yet she wouldn’t look away, almost tempting me to do something, to lash out, to lose control.
I wouldn’t. I would never hurt her, and I prided myself on being able to keep my feelings in check even when my heart and mind were raging.
“Amber,” I let out in a low growl.
“Your Highness,” she whispered, her eyes still on mine, those long lashes fluttering coquettishly. But I could sense the fear beneath, the foreboding feeling of awareness, the anticipation of the slap before it even came.
When I reached out to stroke her cheek, she flinched. And I fucking loved it. The feeling of power I exerted over her made me feel drunk with the need to do more to her. To expose her to the very limits of my control, to show her all the things I could do with her body.
I ran my fingertips along her jawline, and she cast her gaze downward, too frightened to look into my eyes. My fingers reached her chin and I pushed it up until her gaze connected with mine yet again.
“Don’t look away from me,” I growled at her, and she let out a little mewl like a helpless kitten at my mercy. “I want your eyes on me, Amber. Don’t you dare look away.”
She obeyed, keeping her eyes trained on me though the fear she felt was ever-present, covering her skin in goose bumps and making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. I felt it all as I brushed my fingers against her creamy complexion, getting my fill of the flame-haired beauty. I remembered Eva again, wondering how I could have possibly mistaken her for my Amber. They were alike in some ways, but so vastly different in others. And even though I’d felt a spark with Eva, it was nothing compared to the fire burning between Amber and me.
“Are you scared?” I asked her, my voice gentle as I twisted her hair around my fingers. “Are you scared of me, chérie?”
“N-No,” she stuttered, keeping her eyes trained on me. I inspected the strands of bronze and gold wrapped around my fingers, interwoven with shades of copper that made me think of the setting sun.
“Are you lying to me, Amber?” I growled next, and I watched her flinch when I tugged on the long strands of her silky hair. “I know when you’re lying to me, and I don’t fucking like it. So be honest.”
“I am,” she breathed. My eyes connected with hers yet again. Those golden eyes burned with unspoken fire and drive. “I’m not scared, I’m not afraid of you.”
“Why not?” I asked, my voice brimming with emotion.
I wanted her to answer, but she didn’t say a word, her eyes locking with mine and defying the urge deep within to speak out.
Do I want her to be afraid?
The question popped into my mind, and I mulled over it as I drank in Amber’s exquisite features. There was something about fear, about the scent of it, mixing with the smell of her own arousal when she was near me. Even though she claimed she wasn’t scared of me, I knew one thing for certain.
“You should be,” I told her before tugging on her hair hard enough to send her flying to her knees.
She landed on the floor before me in a heap, whimpering when I dragged her closer to me. She’d have bruised knees the next day, but I wasn’t sorry. She was so damn pliable, so obedient, I could do whatever the fuck I wanted with her needy little body, and she would accept it.
“Look up at me,” I ordered, and her eyes found mine again. Still, she wouldn’t admit to being afraid, though I saw the hesitation, the fear lurking in her golden eyes. There was a shadow of doubt there, wondering whether I’d cross that line. Hurt her. Hit her. Make her pay for my mother’s wrongdoings.
“I don’t want you to suffer,” I told her. “Not in the way you might think.”
“But you do want me to hurt,” she bit out, and I grinned down at her kneeling form, letting my thumb wander over her lips, ghosting over the tender skin and making her mouth pop open as I forced the tip between her lips.
“Only a little bit,” I told her in a low growl. “Most of all, I want you to obey. Can you do that for me, Amber? Can you be a good girl for me and do as you’re told?”
“Yes,” she whispered, and I pushed my thumb deeper into her throat, making her choke on it.
“Yes, what?” I reminded her, withdrawing my finger so she could answer.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Her obedience, those words and those bright golden eyes made my cock swell in my pants, throbbing with the need to replace the finger I’d forced into her mouth. There was an underlying darkness that wanted to prevail in our interaction, a deep need to surprise her and take away her innocence, a need that had to be sated. Yet I denied myself the pleasure, knowing the moment wasn’t right. I exerted control over her, but more than that, I exerted control over myself. I wouldn’t let myself slip. I wouldn’t let myself break.
But Amber would… and damn, she could break so beautifully. After all, I’d witnessed it be
fore. The way she let her orgasm take over was enticing, lovely, fucking enchanting. And I couldn’t get enough.
“Take your dress off,” I ordered.
She was on her feet in seconds, tottering in her high heels. She turned around, exposing her back for me to undo the zipper. I pulled it down, exposing her gorgeous, toned back. I let my fingers wander when I undid the zipper, and I loved every little breath that escaped her lips as I unveiled her body.
She reached for the straps of her dress, sliding them over her shoulders with her back still turned to me. She wasn’t wearing a bra, just black panties that exposed the sexy curve of her ass. They were a mesh fabric, and I could see the lines of her body beneath it. It only made my cock twitch harder.
“Fucking beautiful,” I growled into her ear as she let the dress fall, pooling in an intense blue heap at her feet.
She stepped out and reached down to undo her heels, but I stopped her with a firm hand on her wrist. She raised her questioning eyes to mine, and I groaned, “Keep them on. You’ll be holding onto them later.”
Amber shivered at the thought, but before she had a chance to reply, I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her up. She yelped as I sat her down on the dining table, sweeping everything that was left on it off with my free hand. The sound of cutlery hitting the floor and glass breaking filled the air, the silence between us ending with a clash. She gasped as I put her ass on the cold wood, whispering my name when I laid her on her back.
Her tits were exposed to me now, sweet mounds topped with the most beautiful dark pink nipples. They were enticing, tempting me to put my mouth on them, to taste their sweetness. Her pussy was covered by the panties, but I could fucking smell how aroused she was. I wanted to taste her. Every inch of her, every fucking drop of juice from her cunt, every bit of cream she’d leave on the tip of my cock once I was done with her.
I let my hands linger over her hips, touching the fabric of her panties and making her let out the sweetest little noises that only served to make my cock swell more in my pants.