She nodded and he immediately moved away. He waved his hand within her line of vision and she was once again free from her bonds, and even her gag was gone. The scarf simply disappeared. When she raised herself to a sitting position on the blanket-covered bench, her ass burned. How bizarre it was to be turned on after being spanked, yet that was exactly how she felt.
God, did she ever need to come.
After he helped her to her feet, his gaze drifted over her naked body. “Magnificent.” His voice was almost reverent, his eyes taking her in like he appreciated every part of her.
How could a man like this one be interested in her?
Men didn’t ask her out, but then she knew she projected a stay away from me vibe. She hadn’t wanted the complications of a relationship, not at this point in her life. Maybe after she dieted and got Lasik eye surgery so she was thin and didn’t wear glasses anymore. She’d never been inclined toward either of those options just to meet a man.
Did she hide behind her glasses and her weight? Was it the fear of rejection that made her close herself off to every man that might possibly show interest in her?
Karn continued to look at her as if he was drinking her in. “We will take a walk near the village.”
“You can’t be serious.” She looked down and then met his eyes again. “I’m naked. I’d freeze to death if you took me out there.” Not to mention she’d be even more mortified if people were around.
“I would never allow you beyond these walls without protection from the elements.” Karn scowled and she took a step back. “Beya,” he called out.
The woman appeared in her normal sparkly flash. “Yes, Your Majesty?” She wore an apron covered in flour, and a frown creased her wrinkly features.
Annie felt her body flush with heat—she was completely naked, wearing only the collar Karn had insisted on. She was probably red from head to toe.
Karn ignored Beya’s clear irritation. “Retrieve something suitable for Annie to wear outside.”
“Of course, Sire.” Poof and Beya was gone again.
“Can I take this off?” Annie looked at Karn as she touched the collar.
“No.” The word had a sharp edge to it. “You will never take it off.”
Annie felt taken aback. “Never?”
He narrowed his gaze and she chose not to say anything else about it. For now.
When Beya reappeared moments later, she held a stack of black clothing and bent to set them on the bench that Annie had just been tied to while being spanked.
Annie’s cheeks burned even hotter.
She straightened. “These should do, Sire.”
“Thank you.” Karn gave her a dismissive nod and she vanished.
Annie didn’t look at Karn as she went to the pile that included a pair of walking boots that looked to be a ten, the right size for her. As she looked through everything, it appeared that all of it would likely fit her perfectly.
She kept her back to Karn, as if him seeing her dress even mattered any longer. She pulled on black wool pants, a black sweater with a crew neck that allowed Karn’s red collar to show. She was glad to see there were also thick socks along with the boots, and she tugged everything on. The coat she put on last and she stuffed her gloves in her pocket. Everything was exactly her size, just like she’d thought.
When she turned, she was surprised to see that Karn was dressed, only he wore black leather pants, a long-sleeved black shirt, and boots, but no jacket.
She retrieved her glasses and pushed them up the bridge of her nose.
“Come.” He started in the direction of the entrance she had walked through when she came into the alcove.
She followed him out and they headed down a path that meandered between trees with blue feathery leaves and purple flowers with stems that had wicked-looking thorns. Above them the sky remained slate gray, the glass dome protecting the exotic garden from the cold.
They reached the far end of the wall. She wondered how they were going to get out of the garden when Karn pushed open a glass door that she hadn’t seen. It was utterly invisible to the naked eye.
The moment they stepped through the doorway, the roar of the sea and the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air. A raven’s caw caught her attention and she looked over her shoulder to see a blackbird perched on a bare-branched tree. She wondered if it was the same one she and Abra had seen this morning.
The wind whipped her long hair around her face and she gathered it and tied it back in a knot as she glanced back to the sea.
She cut her gaze to Karn to see him watching her again. Some kind of war was going on within him. She saw it in his eyes a moment before he shuttered his expression.
Her fingers began to feel like ice and she tugged the gloves out of her coat pocket and fumbled as she tried to put the first one on. Karn took the glove from her and grasped her hand. His touch was warm, and she wondered if it had anything to do with him being a weretiger.
He was surprisingly gentle with her as he pulled the glove over her cold fingers. He took the second glove for her other hand, and slid it on.
“Thank you.” She looked around and saw nothing but the sea and moors. “Where is the village?”
He gestured toward a slope. “My people live beyond the moors, over the rise and in a valley.”
She looked up at him. Damn, he was tall. “Are the people your subjects?”
His shoulder-length hair stirred around his face from the wind and he shook his head. “They are not subjects. They are free to come and go as they please, but if they stay, I can offer them protection.”
She walked beside him as they started up the rise. “Protection from what?”
“Creatures haunt the moors at night, beasts that no man can fight alone.” He frowned, and for a moment, she didn’t think he was going to go on. When he did, his voice was hard. “Even worse, a sorceress and her bakirs, a legion of psychics, terrorize the peoples of Tarok.” He spat the last few words.
A chill rolled through Annie, something beyond the cold she had already been feeling. “What does she do to your people?”
“I do not wish to speak of it now.” He sounded so adamant that she knew there was no point in pressing him.
She thought about creatures living in the moors and wondered where such things could hide.
“Why is each kingdom named after a suit in a deck of cards?” she asked.
“Each suit represents virtues.” He shrugged. “The Kingdom of Diamonds garners material and mental riches with the purpose of helping others.”
It was an interesting concept, and she wondered how well each kingdom fell within its virtues.
Thanks to years of living in San Francisco and walking up and down the city’s steep streets, she wasn’t the least bit out of breath when they reached the top of the rise.
Spread out below them in a generous valley, away from the moors, was a large village between the sea and a hulking mountain. The mostly white cottages were bright looking, when compared to Karn’s dark mansion and the moors. The homes were weathered by the sea and the wind, but well kept. The grass was yellow, and extended well beyond the cottages to a black-sand beach at the edge of the sea.
Fishermen with thigh-high boots waded into the water or stood on the sand as their lines swayed in the wind, and waves rolled onto the shore.
With her glasses, Annie had 20/20 vision and she could see everything so clearly. She wondered if Beya’s magic helped keep the glasses from getting smear marks on them or water spots from raindrops, or kept fog from misting the lenses.
In the village, she didn’t see a lot of people, but those who were out went about their business, likely not aware of their king watching them. She saw one man pushing a cart filled with firewood down the center street. Another man carried a rucksack over his shoulder as he walked in the opposite direction of the man with the firewood.
On another street, a man rode a horse-like creature. She looked up at Karn. “What kind
of animal does that man own?”
“They are called jul,” Karn said. “A jul cannot be owned. They offer their services to those they feel worthy, or to barter for food in the winter.”
Annie found it interesting that a beast could choose the individuals it served or assisted. “They must be incredibly intelligent.”
Karn gave a nod. “Quite.”
A woman pinned shirts and pants to a clothesline behind a cottage while a man helped her. The clothing waved and snapped in the sharp wind, their owners no doubt used to the winds here.
She looked beyond the village and saw dark fields that were probably green in the spring, the plants bearing vegetables in the summer and fall.
“Beya said you mine for diamonds.” She returned her gaze to Karn. “Where are the mines?”
Karn pointed toward the mountain rising up in the distance. “We have a wealth of precious stones and gold that we mine for Tarok.”
She glanced at the mountain that appeared dark in the distance. “Gold and gems for the entire country come from here?”
“All mining is done in the Kingdom of Diamonds.” Nothing prideful was in his tone, and she could tell it was simply a statement of fact, not a boast. “We supply riches to all the kingdoms.”
She thought about it. “Do you use money, or do you barter with the other kingdoms?”
“Other parts of our world use money as a form of payment. We have no need for it in Tarok.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Bartering is our way of life. Every kingdom, every person within each kingdom, has something to contribute.”
“It’s a good system.” Annie thought of how materialistic her own world was, how obsessed people were over money and objects.
Everything in the world she’d been taken from was so fast-paced and connected with smartphones, computers, the Internet, and social media. Here, life was clearly simple and basic.
She glanced at Karn. “You don’t have electronics, right?”
“I am not familiar with that word.” He frowned. “Explain.”
“It’s almost impossible to explain without a lengthy conversation.” She waved her hand, as if brushing away the topic. “It would be a topic to discuss with a glass of wine. Or three.”
“That can be arranged.” He acted as if he was trying not to appear amused. “My cellars are well stocked.”
“I bet they are.” A thought occurred to her. “How is it that we’re both speaking the same language?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “The Sorceress Kalina said that it is part of the magic that brought you to our world. You speak our language, yet you believe you are speaking your own.”
“That makes no sense.” Annie’s practical mind tried to work that over, then shifted to something else Karn had said.
“A sorceress lives here?” The idea of meeting an actual sorceress was intriguing. “A nice one, I hope.”
“Kalina has many powers and potions.” He looked away from Annie, his gaze resting on the village. “She is kind at heart, but it certainly would not be wise to cross her.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” The thought of pissing off someone who wielded powerful magic, much less potentially dangerous potions, was not a pleasant thought.
A fat drop of rain plopped on the tip of Annie’s nose, and was soon followed by more drops.
Karn tipped his face back, as if enjoying the icy feel of the water on his face. She shivered and lowered her head, burrowing deeper in her jacket and stuffing her gloved hands into the coat pockets.
“You are cold.” A frown was in his voice.
She glanced at him. “I’m fine,” she said right before it started to pour.
Karn raised his palm and golden light rose above their heads. Rain stopped falling on Annie’s head as a nearly invisible dome protected them from the rain. The shield shimmered with a trace of gold, the only way she could tell it was there.
The surprise at seeing another example of his magic was far less this time. How could she be accepting something as incredible as that so quickly?
Beya’s popping in and out of thin air probably had something to do with Annie’s ability to take more magic in stride.
“We will return to the mansion, where you will be warm.” He touched her elbow and guided her back to the hulking building.
“I’m used to it.” She tilted her head and glanced at the gold-laced dome that followed them overhead, and saw rain rolling over it as if it was a clear plastic umbrella. “It gets cold and wet in San Francisco, especially around the ocean and the bay.”
“Nevertheless, we will keep you comfortable in Diamonds.” His pressure on her elbow increased.
Instead of returning through the enclosed garden, he took her through the front doors. As they walked through the entrance, the golden dome above them vanished.
She looked down at her dry clothing and back to Karn. “Why didn’t you use that shield last night?”
“The rain does not bother weretigers.” Karn shook his shaggy mane. “At that time it did not occur to me that it would not be the same for you.”
He assisted her in taking off her coat. Beya appeared and took the coat from Karn. Did the woman read minds?
Annie wondered if he was going to make her strip and put on one of those skimpy outfits again. Maybe she’d get to stay in the sweater and pants. They were so comfortable.
“I have work to attend to in my study.” Karn gestured to the staircase. “Beya will escort you to your room and find you something suitable to wear in the mansion.”
So much for getting to stay in the shirt and pants.
“Thanks for taking me outside.” Annie met his gaze. “I enjoyed seeing at least part of your kingdom.”
He gave a low nod before turning and walking in the opposite direction of the staircase. She glanced at Beya. “He’s not too much for pleasantries.”
“I would say not.” Beya started toward the stairs. “Come with me.”
Annie followed her upstairs. Having to return to her room seemed somehow depressing.
Why wouldn’t it? She mentally shook her head. I’ve been abducted and will now be stuck in a room for God knows how long.
At least she’d have Abra for company.
When they reached the upstairs landing, sconces with flickering candles lined the walls and lit Beya and Annie’s way. A few doors down was the room Annie had slept in last night.
After Beya let Annie into the room, the woman closed the door behind them. Annie saw Abra’s eyes glittering in the darkness beneath the bed, and she couldn’t help a smile.
Beya walked to the wardrobe on the left wall, opposite of the doors that led to Karn’s chambers that were to their right.
The doors to the tall wardrobe opened when Beya used her magic, showing the row of colorful clothing. She went through the outfits that were mostly sheer or sparkly. Some were a combination. The small woman’s hand rested on something in royal blue.
She removed it from its hanger and handed it to Annie, who took it. “This you can wear while you are not with the king.” Beya turned back to the wardrobe and removed another outfit, this one glittery black, short, and would show a lot of Annie’s ass-ets.
“Thank you.” Annie managed not to groan as she grasped the second outfit and held it along with the blue one. The blue wasn’t too see-through, and it would make her feel at least a little more covered.
The black one was as bad as the red thing she’d worn this morning.
Beya stepped back. “Is there anything else you require, Mistress?”
Annie wanted to correct the woman and tell her not to stop calling her “Mistress,” but she didn’t think it would do any good. Annie shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“Very well. Call out my name if you need me.” And then Beya was gone.
Annie sighed as she looked at the dresses. She laid the black on the bed and held up the blue dress. “I really like the pants and sweater better,” she said to Abra as the cat slipped out fro
m beneath the bed.
Abra gave an emphatic “meow” as she headed toward the water dish that had been placed by the window seat.
“I’ll take that as an agreement,” Annie said as she started taking off her clothes.
CHAPTER EIGHT
AFTER ANNIE CHANGED HER CLOTHING, she looked for shoes but couldn’t find any in the wardrobe. She tried opening chests of drawers and the trunk, but everything was locked tight.
Was it possible to explore the mansion? She didn’t have anything else to do, so why not? It crossed her mind that she might be locked in the room and she tensed.
Relief loosened her tightened muscles when the door opened easily. It made no noise as it swung on its hinges.
She glanced over her shoulder at Abra, who watched with narrowed eyes.
“I’ll be back.” Annie grasped the door handle. “Don’t worry about me.”
She didn’t know if the cat was actually concerned, but Abra gave another “meow” that held a note of displeasure.
“Sorry, but I’ve got to do something. I can’t just sit in this room for the rest of the day.” Annie gave the cat one last look before she let herself out into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
Sconces lit the hallway, and Annie headed away from the staircase. The last thing she wanted to do was run into Karn. Of course, for all she knew, he could be in a room somewhere along this hallway.
She doubted it because this seemed more like a wing where bedrooms were located than a place where Karn would conduct business. Besides, when he’d said he was going to his study to attend to business, he’d gone to the left and the staircase was to the right.
It was a long hallway, and the flagstone was cool beneath her bare feet. The short, lightweight dress brushed her thighs as she walked. She was so used to long skirts that it felt strange, and kind of naughty, to be dressed like this.
Annie saw three doors beyond hers. Curious what was in the rooms, she knocked before opening each door to peek inside. The first two had been bedrooms with dustcovers over the furniture, hiding whatever lay beneath them.
The third room had fine swords, daggers, and lances displayed on its walls. It had a couple of leather packs in it that were similar to the backpacks she used to cart her books in while she was going to college.
Bound by Desire: King of Diamonds (Wonderland Book 3) Page 8