But in every encounter, even the most exotic, she’d known in her heart that her Shareem would never hurt her. They gave her pleasure and demanded nothing in return. She trusted them.
This Shareem, the one who’d been broken and ruined, was different. How brave was she, really?
But she knew she’d never have another chance to be with him. Some women saved for years to gain admittance to his palace of pleasure. If she walked away from this chance, she’d never forgive herself.
Her heart raced. “All right. I’ll do it.”
“Go close the doors.”
Shakily Judith crossed the room and pulled the storm door over the faded red awnings. She’d installed no windows because insulating glass was too expensive and the Bor Nargan sun too intense to let pour through non-insulated windows. Once she closed the door, they were shut into a cool, dim cave.
When she turned back she saw that Calder had risen from his seat and moved to the bar, though she’d never heard him cross the room.
“Are you going to show me what you do in your pleasure palace?” she asked, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.
“No, you have limited space here. But I will show you the heart of it.” He flicked a switch behind the bar and plunged them into darkness.
Judith froze. She couldn’t hear him or see him, and the sensation unnerved her.
She jumped when his strong hand came down on her shoulder. She could see only a huge shadow and the faint glitter of his eyes, but she could feel the warm bulk of him, smell the scent of leather and Shareem.
He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and put his mouth against her ear. “What do you truly wish, Judith? Deep down in your heart?”
Her heart right now was flip-flopping, and she had no idea.
“You’ll tell me,” he said. “Before we are finished, in this space of time, you will tell me what you truly want.”
“But I don’t know what I want.” Except for you to keep touching me.
“You will learn. We will learn together.”
His hand tightened on her neck then she felt a cool leather strap encircling her throat. His eyes burned in the darkness, and she had the strangest sense he could read her thoughts, even those she hid from herself.
What don’t you want me to see, Judith? It was Calder’s voice, but not harsh and broken as when it came through his throat.
“I—”
Her words were cut off as Calder swept her legs out from under her. She landed on her back on the hard floor and he crouched over her, one knee ruthlessly pinning her.
Judith tried to squirm away and couldn’t. As Calder’s large hands ripped her shirt open from neck to navel, she started to scream…
* * * * *
Brianne lay her head in her hands, elbows on the clear glass top of her desk. She wore a body-skimming silk dress, having thrown off her more formal clothes when she came home from the interviews. She couldn’t stand to be dressed as a responsible member of the ruling family right now.
The silk felt good against her skin, nothing hampering her. This was Brianne as herself, nothing more.
The deed was done, the engagement over. She’d told Dranis the night before that she could not continue with the bargain of marrying him. He’d taken it badly.
Badly was an understatement. He’d started by jumping up from the table where they’d been eating dinner and throwing his glass of wine across the room. Brianne had stared in shock, never having seen Dranis show any kind of emotion before.
He’d started raving about suing her and her family for breach of promise, then he’d sneered that she’d turned into a Shareem whore.
Brianne had frozen in place, wondering how he’d found out about her train rides with Aiden and Ky. But as he’d rampaged on she realized he was only talking about her seeing Aiden in the coffee bar.
What happened there, Brianne? he’d snarled. Did you let the animal touch you? Is that why you released him from jail, because you like animals?
Dranis’s face had been purple, his eyes bulging, and she’d thought he’d get violent. Her guards had registered her distress on her body monitors and rushed in to see what was going on.
The bodyguards had to escort Dranis from the room, from her apartments and from the compound. Then had come the official announcement, the statement read in the formal enclosed garden on the other side of the compound. The hundreds of cameras in her face, the reporters eager to be first with the story.
She’d read her statement—which her grandmother’s staff had vetted, making at least a hundred changes before they’d let her say anything—and refused to answer any questions.
Dranis m’Aren and I were not a compatible fit for lifemates, and I made the decision to let him pursue his own interests.
The inevitable questions were screamed at her. Did you have a fight? Did your grandmother tell you to break up? Did it have anything to do with the Shareem arrested for molesting you?
She’d turned and walked back to the safety of the compound as though she didn’t hear the questions.
It had everything to do with the Shareem, but not in the way the reporters thought. Aiden and Ky had opened her eyes, not only to her sexual feelings but to how narrow her life was in truth.
Brianne d’Aroth gave to charities and helped the downtrodden, but she did so from a safe distance, from inside her guarded compound. She didn’t know the people she helped or even if she truly helped them.
She’d known in the back of her mind that Shareem existed and were treated as less than human, but she’d never bothered to investigate what their lives were really like. They were basically slaves, genetically bred to want nothing more than to give a woman the best sex possible. If their lives were empty besides that, they shouldn’t care. Their ability to feel deep emotion had been taken from them, in order to keep them under control.
But they did care, and they did hurt, and they resented that they were treated like crap. Powerful Brianne d’Aroth hadn’t done a thing about it, but that would change, starting now.
She’d never known it was possible to feel affection for Shareem, to wonder what they did when they weren’t with her, to want to make their lives better. She’d seen that Ky cared for Aiden and knew that Aiden, for all his carefree attitude, cared for Ky. Brianne wanted to make sure they could enjoy their deepening friendship in peace.
The door to her inner apartment slid open. “I said I don’t want any visitors,” she snapped without looking up.
“I convinced them to let me in.”
Brianne raised her head with a gasp. Ky leaned against the doorframe, his long body taut, his blue eyes giving her a measuring stare.
She stood up. “No one told me you were here.”
“I asked them not to.”
She couldn’t imagine her curt head guard Harbourgh taking orders from a Shareem. Then again, if Harbourgh thought Ky’s request was in Brianne’s best interest, he’d let him in. Harbourgh had his own ideas.
“What do you want?”
Ky walked across the room, his stride slow, never moving his gaze from her. He halted next to her and twined strong fingers through her hair, forcing her to look up at him.
His face was granite hard, no softening for her. She realized she was looking at the level three, the male Dom, the real Ky. He leaned down and spoke into her ear, voice hard.
“A master always punishes his sub when she’s done something bad.”
Chapter Eight
New Sensations
Brianne’s eyes widened. “Something bad?”
Ky’s strong fingers loosened her hair from the tight coiffure she hadn’t combed out yet. Locks of brown hair fell to her shoulders and slithered down her back.
“Did you ask me before you broke off your engagement?” Ky said. “Did I give you my permission?”
She looked at him in confusion. “What? That had nothing to do with you.”
“Don’t lie to your master. Spankings are hardest for lies.”
>
Warmth pooled at the base of Brianne’s spine. “I’m not lying. I would have broken it off with Dranis even if I hadn’t met you…”
She faltered. Would she really have done so? Or would she have continued lying to herself, saying that marrying him was best for herself and her house?
Ky drew one finger down her cheek. “The reporters made the connection between Shareem and your decision. I made the connection. I’m betting Dimwit m’Aren made the connection.” He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “Why did you break it off, Brianne?”
Her throat squeezed, dry. “I had to. It wasn’t fair to him.”
Ky’s fingers closed around her chin. “Why did you break it off, Brianne?”
“I told you. I could no longer go through with it. I couldn’t let him marry me.”
“You’re lying again. You didn’t break it off for him. You did it for your own selfish needs.”
Her anger flared. “Very well, I loathe him. I’ve always loathed him but I didn’t realize it. He’s petty, narrow-minded and selfish. He calls you an animal and is disgusted by you when you are ten times the man he is.”
“I’m not a man.” Ky withdrew his touch but did not step away. “Neither is Aiden. You’re throwing away everything you have for Shareem grown in a vat, who don’t care about you one way or another.”
“Do you think that matters?” She glared up at him. “Do you believe I broke off my engagement so I could tell you ‘I’ve fallen in love with you, let’s shack up’?”
“That would have been even stupider.”
She tried to ignore the sting his words caused. “Whether you or Aiden speak to me again doesn’t matter. I’m surrounded by people who were willing to kill Aiden for even looking at me, and you for trying to help him. I have the power to try to change that and I will use it. And I can’t have a husband who curls his lip at Shareem and undermines my work behind my back.”
She ran out of breath. Ky watched her, eyes still, the power of him making her want to back up a step. She held her ground.
“So you’re not doing this for me,” he said. “But for all Shareem.”
“Yes. Talan d’Urvey does what she can, but she hasn’t got the power base that I do. I’m in the ruling family. She has the wealth, she understands Shareem, and I have the power. Think of what we can do together.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “You plan to turn the Ministry of Non-Human Life Forms upside down? To give Shareem the same rights as other Bor Nargans?”
She nodded. “Is that so bad?”
“Very admirable. If you can do it.” He moved to her again, fingers in her now-loose hair. “But you’re still lying.”
“About what?”
“Your motives. You are still lying to me, and you’re lying to yourself. But if you want to save Shareem, sweetheart, let me show you what Shareem really are.”
Her heart thudded. “I know what you are. I was with you and Aiden on the train.”
He traced her cheek, his fingers light, but she could tell his gentleness was forced. “I was being nice to you because Aiden was there. He likes it when I’m nice.”
“Where is Aiden?” she asked nervously. “I thought you were a team.”
“I like to work alone on occasion. Like this one.”
“You came here to berate me.”
“No.” His fingers moved over her eyelids, down her cheek, traced her lips. “I came here to teach you about Shareem. About level threes. Do you know the ancient saying, In for a penny, in for a pound?”
“I’ve heard it. I’m not certain what it really means.”
“Your adoring fans likely believe that you had an affair with a Shareem. So why not have one all the way? We gave you a taste, now really sink your teeth in.”
She swallowed. “Why do you want me to?”
“To show you what you’re trying to save.” He tilted her face up to him with strong fingers. “Halfhearted efforts will only make it worse for us. You need to know everything about us. You have to truly want to free us or walk away.”
“Why would you try to change my mind? Don’t you want to be free?”
His smile was feral. “I do, darling. But I want your efforts to be sincere. Are you willing to be my sub, Brianne? Are you willing to find out if this is really what you want?”
“To let you be—my master?”
“You know a little about it, do you?”
“I’ve been reading.”
“You’re precious, Brianne.”
She gave him a hard look. “I am a determined woman. You won’t break me that easily.”
His voice softened a notch. “I don’t want to break you, love. I want to educate you. Are you willing to let me teach you?”
He needed her permission to begin. Shareem were powerful, but their lady had to say they wanted it or they couldn’t touch her.
Well, Ky was certainly touching her. But he wouldn’t go forward without her permission, and they both knew it.
She wet her lips and met his gaze, her quim warming and squeezing. “I’m willing,” she whispered. “What do you want me to do. Strip?”
Her heart raced as she said the word. The irises in Ky’s eyes widened and his fingers warmed. She knew he was aroused—a Shareem’s body temperature rose and his pulse doubled when sexually excited.
To her surprise, he chuckled. “No, I don’t want you to strip. I want you to dress for me.”
* * * * *
Brianne’s confusion was adorable. She had no idea what Ky meant, little innocent. So he showed her.
What they’d done on the train had been playtime, a little taste to scare her and punish her for getting Aiden arrested. He believed now that it hadn’t been her fault—the wheels of her office turned even without her. He hadn’t gone full Dom on her because he’d sensed how inexperienced she was, but tonight would be a different story.
If she wanted to save all the Shareem on Bor Narga because she felt guilty, well then he’d let her know exactly who she was saving.
He didn’t believe she was sincere for one minute. She’d discover the reality of Shareem and recoil, just like all her kind did. She sat in her beautiful tower and worried about the downtrodden, but she’d never experienced what it was like out there in Pas City, underground.
Literally underground. The place he’d take her tonight existed ten stories below the streets, a secret playground collectively maintained by level three Shareem as a place to let loose.
Ky instructed Brianne to dress in robes that would conceal her identity and to leave her bodyguards behind. In answer to her startled questions, he assured her she’d be perfectly protected from predators by Ky himself.
“Maybe,” Brianne said, giving in. “But who protects me from you?”
“Tonight, I am your master. I take care of you, and you trust me to.”
“I see.”
He put his lips to her ear. “That’s what submissive means, love. Submitting yourself entirely to me.”
He nibbled her lobe and she squirmed. Ky just stopped himself turning the nibbles into sharper bites. His level three instincts made him want to be rough with her, but she was new to this.
For now…
“Will Aiden be coming with us?” she asked.
“No.”
“I see,” she said again, sounding disappointed.
Of course she’d be disappointed. Aiden had that come here, baby, let me make you feel good attitude, and every woman he touched melted in pleasure. Ky melted in pleasure as well, and that was forbidden.
Forbidden.
Ky had a sudden flash of a white room, of himself lying naked on the floor, screams coming from his mouth. Across the room a red-haired Shareem with beautiful eyes watched in anguish. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t know they were going to do this to us.
“Ky?”
Brianne touched his arm, concern on her face. Ky growled, pressing away the unwelcome vision. He’d thought the damn memories would fade, but no. They
were as clear today as they had been twenty years ago.
“We’re leaving.” He clamped his fingers around Brianne’s arm and dragged her from the room.
They left the compound by a hidden entrance to elude any reporters that might be sniffing around and faded into crowds heading to the train station. Ky couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than Shareem, but Brianne wore the robes and face veils of a middle-class widow. People stared but didn’t tumble to the fact that she was Brianne d’Aroth.
They took the train to the back streets of Pas City and a store with a discreet custom-design shop in the basement. The man who ran the shop was a genius, living to create exquisitely sexy clothes for women. His clientele ranged from working-class women who were not ashamed of being Shareem followers to upper-class ladies indulging in private fantasies.
The man’s eyes lit up when he beheld Brianne’s figure, full in the breasts and hips, curved at the waist. While he checked his workroom for the best material to use, Ky picked out a mask that would both hide Brianne’s face and not be out of place where he would to take her.
The black velvet mask spread out in a butterfly shape across her eyes and down her cheeks. Ky fastened it securely under her hair with computerized clips that sealed it in place.
When the dressmaker returned, he asked her to strip completely.
Ky smiled at Brianne’s sudden shyness, but the dressmaker only whipped out a scanner and ran it over Brianne’s naked body, clicking his tongue in approval at the measurements that turned out on his screen.
“Easy-peasy,” the man said. “I can outfit her right away and in something lovely. I’m sure you’ll both like it.”
When the couturier turned away and excitedly entered his back room, Brianne reached for her robes.
“Keep them off.” Ky hid a grin when her eyes widened. “Please your master. From now on, you will either wear what I choose for you or be naked for my pleasure.”
Brianne hesitated, the robes in her hands. He could see thoughts warring in her eyes, curiosity and excitement about what he’d ask her to do coming up against the fact that Brianne d’Aroth didn’t take orders.
He waited for her decision. Would she throw on the robes and run back to her comfy and safe apartments? Or give in to temptation and entrust herself to him?
Tales of the Shareem 04 - Aiden and Ty Page 9