by Jenny Penn
As the Shardar pulled free of her hold, Jezie almost fell over before she caught herself. She knew that if she tried to dismount she’d hit the ground. Her legs were stiff and sore, her thighs tingling with a prickly sensation that warned her the muscles had fallen asleep. None of the Jaris seemed to be having a difficult time, and the Shardars certainly acted as if they were completely unaware of her condition. The second brother plucked her off the bike and all but shoved her into the arms of another man as he snapped orders at him.
“Take our wench to our room, Khan, and then wake the cook. The men need to eat.”
“Yes, sir.” Khan nodded and all but dropped Jezie on her feet before he started dragging her toward the house. “Come along, wench. Don’t be slowing me down. I’ve got duties to attend to.”
He barked that at her as he jerked her hard, making Jezie skip to keep up. He kept up the fast pace as he hustled her into a large foyer and up the stairs that cut to the right. They swooped around to a second-floor balcony that fed a third set of steps. By the time they reached the top of the fourth set, Jezie was completely out of breath, and thankfully, they were out of steps.
The house had narrowed as it rose until there was only one set of double doors leading off the small balcony that looked all the way down to the entrance. The doors were giant-sized and appeared to be made out of solid wood as Khan threw them open to reveal the bedroom Jezie had been expecting and the naked woman she hadn’t.
“Oh…uh…”Jezie’s eyes darted quickly from the sight of the woman spread out on the massive bed while she petted herself inappropriately, and she wished the floor would open up and consume her whole. “I’m sorry. I should probably wait…outside?”
“The Shardar said for you to stay here.” Khan latched onto her arm and jerked her back when Jezie made to dart back out the doors.
“But⎯”
“No buts, wench!” the man snapped. “You aren’t seeing anything you don’t have, and if you haven’t ever touched yourself the same way…then I just feel sorry for you.”
With that crude dismissal, the man stormed off, slamming the doors behind him. Jezie heard the distinct click of the lock, which left her nowhere to go but to turn back around and confront the woman, who had at least stopped touching herself, even if she was now licking her own fingers and watching Jezie as if taking measure of a rival.
This was not going to go well.
Chapter 4
Jaxon was in a rush to get everything taken care of so that he could get upstairs to the bedroom, but it seemed as if the troubles just didn’t stop. That was the problem with training so many young men, especially so many future alphas. They tended to clash and break out into fights. Then they had to be beaten down, not that Jaxon wasted energy on actually beating on anybody, but he still managed to scare the crap out of the ones awaiting discipline.
While Jaxon was busy, Kragen was off tending to the household staff and assuring that everybody who’d just made it back from the ride was taken care of. The tedious job of commanding such a large group of men ate up a lot of their time. While that was normally an annoyance Jaxon bore without much consideration, tonight his responsibilities felt more like a noose than ever before.
He wasn’t in a good mood, nor was he in the mood to tolerate anybody who was, especially not Khan, who was whistling his way across the yard to the dormitories. He lifted a surprised brow when he saw Jaxon coming up the path and came to a stop to holler out a greeting.
“Hey, man, haven’t you gone to bed yet?”
“Does it look like I have?” Jaxon shot back, snorting over the stupidity of that question.
“Jeez, aren’t you grumpy?” Khan muttered. “All I know is if I had a virgin and a whore waiting on me in bed⎯”
“A virgin and a whore?” Jaxon knew about the first but was lost on the last. “What the hell you talking about?”
“Ooohhh.” Khan drew out that word, his eyes rounding as he began breaking into a smile. “You forgot.”
“Forgot what?” Jaxon snapped, his temper rising as his patience began to wear thin, but neither emotion was anything compared to the stark terror that filled him as Khan answered with two simple words.
“Your birthday present to yourself...remember? Arianna?”
“Oh…shit!” Jaxon froze for an instant as the ramification of that hit him.
Arianna wasn’t actually a whore, but she was a very talented and sought-after fuck, nonetheless. She didn’t do anybody but alphas. Thankfully, Jaxon and Kragen met that criterion, which had made her more than willing to agree to a birthday orgy. Apparently, she’d started the partying early.
“Yeah, she was waiting naked and in bed for you, getting her engine revved up if you know what I mean.” Khan waggled his eyebrows suggestively, but Jaxon wasn’t paying him any mind.
He was too busy rushing up the path in a desperate bid now to get to Jezie before Arianna could scandalize her any further. This was bad. They were trying to make somewhat of a good impression on the girl, even if he and Kragen were intent on making sure she learned her place. Jaxon about crashed into his brother as he flew into the foyer.
“What the hell is wrong?” Kragen demanded to know, instantly sensing and feeding on Jaxon’s sense of panic.
“Arianna,” Jaxon gasped, shoving past Kragen to rush up the steps.
He heard his brother curse and began thundering up the stairs behind him. They reached the top landing at almost the same time and burst through the bedroom doors uncertain of what to expect. Still, Jaxon wasn’t prepared for the sight that greeted his eyes.
“Now see, if we put just a little bit of eyeliner at the edge of your eye, you get this smoky depth that helps make your eyes appear bigger.”
Jaxon came to a stumbling halt as he watched Arianna lean down and paint a little eyeliner on the edge of Jezie’s lids. For her part, Jezie sat there looking terrified before the dresser mirror, and he could imagine why. Arianna had done up Jezie’s hair and face, turning her from a sweet, blushing maid to a woman who looked ready to walk the streets looking for a date. It was almost laughable except that Jezie looked ready to cry.
“What is going on here?” Jaxon demanded to know, irritated for no other reason than that Jezie looked so distressed.
“Sir Shardar.” Arianna immediately leapt to attention, shedding her robe in one smooth move as she knelt down in perfect submission.
“Arianna.” Kragen growled over the woman’s name as he moved forward to swoop up both the woman’s robe in one hand and her arm in another. In the next second, he was walking both to the door. “I’m sorry, but there has been a change in plans.”
“What?” The woman frowned. “But⎯”
“We will assure that you are well compensated for your troubles, but for now”—Kragen shoved Arianna out of the door and dumped her robe into her arms as she gaped at him in amazement— “goodnight.”
With that, Kragen slammed the double doors closed on the woman and turned around to frown at Jezie.
“And you, go wash that stuff off your face.” Kragen pointed to the bathroom door as he issued that command.
Jezie jumped up, clearly all too eager to obey, at least that order. Neither brother said a word until the bathroom door closed behind her, and then they shared a smile. Jezie was turning out to be quite an entertaining mouse to play with. They had big plans for her.
* * * *
Jezie looked at her freshly washed face in the mirror and sighed. She felt normal again, or as normal as she could be given the circumstances. The truth was that her circumstances were absolutely insane. How she’d come to end up in this predicament she didn’t know.
What Jezie did know was that she didn’t want to go back into that bedroom. Beyond deciding to give Jezie a makeover, Arianna had also regaled her with stories and intimate details of just how the wolven liked to fuck their women. Worse, she’d made blatant advances on Jezie, making it clear that she thought Jezie was being brought in to help her p
ut on some kind of birthday show for the Shardars.
The whole idea was just horrifying.
That was exactly what she told herself, despite the fact that the quiver in her knees felt more like anxious rattle of nerves than any true fear of what came next. Whatever came next. She really couldn’t believe all of Arianna’s stories. They were too outlandish.
Assuring herself that was true, Jezie took a deep breath and dared to step bravely out of the bathroom to find that both brothers were now seated in the large side chairs that flanked the fireplace. Flames licked upward, crackling with glee, even as air conditioning blew down on her from overhead.
She had a feeling they’d started the fire to add to the mood they were clearly trying to create. That mood was a dangerous one, which was just how both brothers looked as the fire cast their rough-cut features into smoky shadows. They looked like kings of the dark, masters of the forbidden, and Jezie couldn’t help but shiver at that thought.
The warm sensation that tickled down her spine held not a hint of fear but something much more dangerous⎯an awareness that had her aching for things she could not explain. They were wanton, though, leaving her torn between a thrill and uncertainty.
“Come closer, wench.” One of the Shardars beckoned her.
In this light she couldn’t tell the two men apart but didn’t figure that it mattered. Obeying them did, though. Jezie knew that, despite Mariam’s advice, the best way to survive what came next would be obedience.
So she padded slowly forward, feeling the plush carpet give beneath her steps until she was standing between both brothers, close enough to each to feel the warmth of the fire mingle with their heady scents.
“What is your name, wench?”
That question caught Jezie off guard. They already knew her name, and she didn’t know if this was some kind of trick. Her hesitation, though, did not please them, and the second man barked at her, causing Jezie to jerk and answer him quickly.
“Speak up, wench! What is your name?”
“Jezie. Jezie DeBoz.”
“Hmm.” The man to her right considered that for a moment before slowly shaking his head at her. “Not anymore. From this day forward you are Jezie Jaris. Understand?”
She didn’t really, but Jezie nodded, knowing that was the correct answer. “Yes, Shardar.”
The use of his title drew a small smile from both men as the one to her left nodded.
“Very good, wench. Very good, indeed. You have the makings of a fine submissive.”
Jezie didn’t think she did but wasn’t going to argue the point. Not then.
“I am Kragen Jaris,” the man to her left continued on. “I am your master. At all times you will obey me, understand?”
“Yes, Shardar.”
“And I am Jaxon Jaris,” the man to her right said, echoing his brother. “I am also your master. At all times you will obey me, understand?”
“Yes, Shardar,” Jezie repeated.
“No other shall you obey.” Jaxon shot her a pointed look, and Jezie sensed that this rule was very important to him. “You are ours, our pet, and you will not heed any other master’s commands. Understand?”
“Yes, Shardar.” This time it was easy to give her agreement. This time his demands filled her with a sense of relief to know that she wasn’t to be passed around, servant to any man who came along.
“Very good.” Jaxon nodded, before gesturing to the room at large. “This is your new home. You will remain here at all times, waiting to serve us. Understood?”
“Yes, Shardar.” What little relief she’d felt seconds ago vanished with that decree for Jezie did not look forward to being confined inside. She was a creature of nature and preferred to spend her time out in it.
At least the room was well appointed. Jezie tried to comfort herself with that, but still the dark and oversized decorations felt more than a little oppressive to her. She could hope only that, when the sun rose, enough light entered the large bank of windows to allow a different sense to invade the space.
As if sensing her lack of enthusiasm for that last order, Kragen rose out of his chair to step up to her. He lifted her chin with his palm and studied her for long tense seconds. Jezie found herself trapped within his gaze again. He had the most magnificent gray eyes that darkened and swirled with streaks of lightning just as the stormy sky did. The dangerous comparison fit the warrior before her with his hard demands.
“We are to be your masters, and we will see to your needs. Your punishment for your crimes will be served by your personal service to us. Disobey and your punishments will multiply. Obey and you might find the leash around you loosened. Understand?”
She did. All too clearly. Unable to form words over the tightening in her throat, Jezie nodded slowly. The small gesture appeared to please the Shardar, and he released her to settle back into his seat.
“Good. Now strip.”
Strip?
Jezie’s eyes about bulged out of her head at the very idea. No man had ever seen her bare flesh. Just the idea sent a flush of heat through her that had her backing up a step. She couldn’t do it, couldn’t strip right here in front of the two men watching her with such intent interest. The very thought had her heart kicking over into a double beat as slowly her head began to shake.
Perhaps if they would smile, or offer her some small comfort, the fear holding her still would ease and pass, but the hard warriors’ eyes only narrowed in twin looks of displeasure.
“Strip, now!” Jaxon barked.
“I—”
* * * *
Kragen didn’t wait to hear whatever excuses the little innocent could come up with to keep her clothes on. There would be no arguing on this point. The woman’s body belonged to Jaxon and him. They intended to enjoy staring at it and touching it whenever the urge took them. What they would not tolerate is clothes in their way.
Nor would it be acceptable to let the woman think her opinions counted for very much once it came to the privacy of their chamber. Even if her status did elevate from slave to mate, Kragen would still not endure her refusals at any point when it came to his right to her body.
Intent on impressing that rule on her mind, Kragen rose out of the chair and snatched the little witch off her feet. She gave a shriek that pierced his ears. It ended only when the air got puffed out by her stomach settling into the hard ridge of his thigh as Kragen flopped back down in his seat.
Even with Jezie’s pathetic struggles, he had her arranged over his knees with her skirt up over her head in seconds. A grin spread across his face as he took in the long grandma undies that covered her from waist to the top of her thighs. It was a more appropriate garment for a woman who already had earned a grand to her title of mother than one who had yet to even lose her virginity.
Kragen knew the prudish garment belied a lustful spirit. He could already smell the want awakening inside of her. Fear might have stilled Jezie’s motions as he tested the resilience of her behind with his hand, but it did not explain the thickening scent of arousal coming from the beautiful maiden.
The little witch was anxious and aroused. He would ease both her nerves and her need without dragging the moment out. In the future, when her fear had been replaced by sensual knowledge, he would enjoy indulging in this discipline with Jezie for she had an ass made to be spanked. An ass he’d very much like to see glowing red right before he fucked it.
They were a long way from that day, and they’d never get there if they didn’t start somewhere. With that intention, he ripped the cotton undergarment out of his way. She gasped and jolted in his lap, instinctively rearing upward, but he held her down with a palm to her back. That didn’t stop Jezie from squirming, another punishable offense, but Kragen paid her little mind, fascinated instead by the plush cheek of her sweetly rounded rump. Nice and firm, her bottom would make the perfect cushion for when he had her on all fours.
A growl echoed from inside as the beast panted after that suggestion. The wild side of h
is nature had him pushing the limits of his control as well as the witch’s as he slid one finger down her crack. Pausing to press against her small, hidden entrance, the wolf lengthened his teeth with need at her tensed response. A virgin here as well. He was not shocked.
Both her channels would need to be stretched before she would be ready to take either him or Jaxon. After all, the Jaris prided themselves on having thicker, longer cocks than normal men. They could bring women to harder, more consuming orgasms. To a virgin like Jezie, they could also bring devastating pain.
Kragen would not allow that. The idea of his witch being hurt was intolerable. She would know nothing but pleasure at his hands, or he would cut them off. His devotion had already grown that deep. It was a secret that he would hold fast to, not wanting Jezie to realize the true power she held over him.
She was certainly ignorant of it now and braced for some kind of hard blow. Kragen could well read the thoughts racing through her head as she clenched her eyes closed and tensed her whole body. She was beyond embarrassed. She was afraid, no doubt thinking he intended to violate her now and leave her bloody and broken.
Those were the kind of fears covens held of his kind, and truthfully, the Jaris had never gone out of their way to dissuade the witches of their evilness. After all, their history spoke for itself. Despite the tragic events that had lead the spirit of the Dead Tree to curse them all, the Jaris hadn’t burnt down and destroyed her coven. They could have, but even back then, their fathers had known the cure to the curse lay within the witches’ hearts.
It lay within this witch’s heart.
Now it was time to teach her that she had nothing to fear. So, Kragen lifted his hand and brought it down over her pale cheeks in a soft slap that had Jezie gasping. A squeal escaped her lips as he landed a second blow more sharply against her left cheek. Almost instantly, she began to tremble as the scent of her desire thickened within the air.
Kragen smiled. This was going to be fun.