by Milly Taiden
“We have so few American women come here. You are truly a treasure worth a fortune.” His smile seemed predatory. He looked at her like she was an object, not a person.
Someone knocked on the door. The prince said a word and the door opened. It was a guard. When he saw her, his eyes widened. The man spoke and quickly left, closing the door.
“Miss Tomlin, you’re just in time,” the prince said.
She narrowed her eyes. “In time for what, may I ask?”
“For dinner.” He smiled and opened his arms wide again. “You will be my guest this evening. We have a fantastic show I’m sure you’ll like. Yes, I think you will like it very much.” His eyes flashed red again. It unnerved her even though she wasn’t sure what it was.
Her head shook side to side. “Oh, thank you. That is so kind of you, but I should be going. My boyfriend will be worried.” Her phone buzzed in her waist pack. She stared at it, not sure if she should pick it up. The prince gestured for her to go ahead. She dug it out and pushed the icon for text messaging.
“Who is it?” the prince asked, standing over her shoulder, deliberately reading her message.
“It’s my boyfriend wondering where I am.” She stepped away. “I really should—”
“Miss Tomlin,” he backed her against the desk and put a hand on the wooden top on each side of her, “you don’t want problems with our police. Any crime against the royal family is punishable by death. And you are trespassing on my property.”
Fuck. He was a bipolar psycho. Charming one second, threatening her life the next. That red glowed brighter and larger, then died back. She put on a smile to save her life. “On second thought, it would be nice to sample some of the best food your country offers. Let me text my boyfriend and he’ll be here shortly.”
“I haven’t invited him, Miss Tomlin,” Goddard said.
Oh, shit. This couldn’t be good. But what could she do? She swallowed hard. “Of course, you haven’t. How presumptuous of me.”
He stepped back. “Wonderful. Now send your friend a message telling him you’ll be fine. I will deliver you to your hotel safely.”
She picked up the phone from the desk where she’d dropped it and brought up the on-screen keyboard. There had to be some way to let Sheldon know she’d be okay or he would barge in and get himself shot. Or worse yet, get them both put in jail and cause an international incident. Just what she needed on her first trip into the field.
She typed, “Guess who I just met. Prince Goddard! He’s invited me for dinner and a show. Enjoy the tour. Don’t wait up.” Why, now that she needed to be clever with words, could she not think of one secret code or clue phrase? The spy business wasn’t for her. She needed to stick with her movies and fantasies.
“Very good,” he said after reading what she’d typed. “Send it and we’ll go.” She tapped the envelope icon, then the prince snatched the phone from her hands.
“Hey!” She tried to grab it back. “That’s mine. Give it back.”
Goddard tsked. “You Americans and your toys. Dinner is not the place for such distractions. After we finish, I’ll return your phone.” She had no choice. And she was hungry.
“Lead the way,” she said. He took her hand and opened the door for her. Every other step, another amazing piece of art dazzled her. His stash had to be worth billions. “Your collection of art is astounding. You must’ve spent a long time searching for everything here.”
He smiled. “It is quite impressive, isn’t it? Many items are from the castle and very old. But a majority I’ve found here and there in my life.” He flipped a hand in the air like it was nothing. Just a watercolor he found at a starving artist sidewalk sale. Whatever.
After a maze of hallways, they came to a set of doors that looked solid gold. Wasteful, but beautiful. He pulled them open with grand flourish and strutted into the room. This was not what she expected for a dining room.
The lighting was low, very low. How would they be able to see their food? As they walked, she realized the room was bigger than she’d thought. Others were in the room already. They sat on giant pillows leaning against the walls. In front of each person was a tray of fruit. And she noted they were all men who held an air of importance. Some had a scantily clad female draped over them. One had her hand down the pants of a guy in a military type uniform.
Her eyes snapped forward. She suddenly wasn’t hungry. What had she gotten herself into?
Chapter Nine
Kari’s mind swirled with ways to get out of the “dining” room and palace as quickly as possible. She felt like she was walking into a bizarre porn movie.
The prince led her to the back wall where more pillows were stacked and trays sat waiting with what looked like fruit. Goddard assisted her with the pillows.
“Are you comfortable, Miss Tomlin?” he asked. He had returned to his charming self. As long as she did what he wanted, he seemed happy.
“I am, thank you,” she replied. As soon as he sat, soft Arabian music played and more women came out of a side door, carrying pitchers. The prince’s wine glass was filled first and hers next. The liquid was dark. He leaned toward her.
“This is wine from the finest vineyards in France. It is superb. I hope you like it.” When the ladies filling glasses left, he raised his glass. Everyone followed suit. “Welcome, all, to tonight’s feast and show. I see some of you have started your entertainment early.” He smiled to his guests. Maybe she had misunderstood what was going on. The prince nodded toward the couple where the lady had her head bobbing in his lap. Then again, maybe she had understood this too well.
And Goddard called her phone a distraction? He needed to get his shit straight.
He continued. “We have a special guest tonight.” He looked at her. “An American female visiting my lovely country.” The word “American” turned their heads. Her heart suddenly tripled its rate. “A beautiful woman like you is a treat in itself. For tonight, you are my stunning princess.” His head bowed toward her. If he was trying to win her over, it was working. He turned back to the group and spoke foreign words. Everyone took a drink and so did she.
The wine was surprisingly very good. She wasn’t a drinker. Had never acquired the taste for it. Guess she’d never had the good stuff. Side doors opened and women poured out, carrying steaming food on platters.
Those eating sat against the walls in a semicircle. Well, since the walls had corners, it was more like a semi-square. That left the middle open for the ladies to serve or even dance, it was so big.
The prince was kind and gracious, explaining what each item they ate and drank was. He paid no attention to the nearly naked women or the other men with ladies attached to their body parts. When they were halfway finished eating, he gave a nod to someone on the other side of the room and the lights dimmed even more.
From the ceiling in the middle of their semi-square a blue spotlight shined down. Now that she was looking up, she noticed a rack of stage lights and spots. This must be for the entertainment. The sensuous and slick Arabian music got louder and beautiful women dressed in draping material and shiny jewelry appeared under the light. As the floor filled with gyrating bodies, more lights shined down.
The men were entranced. They watched without eating. One man discreetly raised a finger, the prince nodded and the woman selected was directed to the man. That couple left the room. A disgusting little man with food on his face and shirt pointed a greasy finger at some poor female. Without complaint, she went to him. He remained seated, but pushed her head to his lap. Kari turned away.
The females didn’t seem to object. In fact, they looked quite happy to be there. Except one young lady in the back. Kari only caught sight of her occasionally. The lady didn’t know the choreography well and kept looking at the door. The woman was too far away for Kari to see her face, so she couldn’t tell what was wrong, if anything. Could be that she was new and didn’t know the dance and felt out of place. Sorta like she felt at the moment, staring at sexy women
.
The prince didn’t look at the ladies either, but watched the men as they chose females. After a few minutes, the prince clapped his hands and the remaining women left. That’s when the familiarity of the show hit her. This was the prince’s harem, and this whole dinner was a ruse for men to get partners for the night. But a few men hadn’t chosen. Neither had the prince. A chill raced down her back. Did being his princess include her sleeping with him?
Panic seized her and she readied herself to bolt. That was not happening. He leaned over and whispered, “This is the part you and I will appreciate most.” He clapped his hands and the single spotlight appeared center stage again.
Doors opened in the dark, then a guy in painted-on leather pants and no shirt strolled into the light. His chest was slick, shiny with oil. His dark eyes drilled through her, sending shivers down her back. He came to a stop, feet shoulder-width apart. In his hand, he held a black strip of leather.
He skirted the circle of light showing those who watched his tight body and impressive hard-on. When he turned his back to her, she saw his ass cheeks were bare. Lines buried in his skin crisscrossed his entire backside. When he stood in front of her and the prince, the man swung his arm out, releasing the whip he held. It snapped in the air, startling her with a loud crack.
Other men came into the light. Some were dragged in with cuffs on wrists and ankles.
She asked, “Why are some restrained and not others?”
The prince didn’t take his eyes off the men. “It shows the level of play they enjoy.” She translated that to mean whips and chains were welcomed.
They filled the middle similarly to the females. And every one of them was to-die-for hot. The prince licked his lips. The panic in her quickly vanished once she realized she was not the prince’s dessert. The men were on the menu.
She let out a silent breath and watched the event before her. The other men were dressed in nothing but a small loincloth that in some cases did little to hide their willingness to participate. Oh my god. One was almost up to his bellybutton. How can they grow that long? He’d shove her uterus into her stomach.
Instead of dancing, the men stood on a turntable. The next man came into sight. She had never seen a chest so chiseled or abs so square. It was to the point that he looked . . . strange.
The table continued turning and men were taken out of the room.
“Where are they taking the guys?” she asked.
“Once chosen, they are taken to the guest’s room for preparation and quality time.”
She snorted. “Quality time” her ass.
The man coming into view was swaying slightly on his knees instead of standing. His head dipped forward, hands chained behind his back. Water dripped off the ends of his hair hanging in his face. He looked ready to fall over any second. Tingles spread throughout her body. That was strange. She’d never had that feeling before when seeing a man. She couldn’t even see all of him because he was slumped over. She leaned toward Goddard.
“What’s wrong with him?” she whispered. His head snapped up, and he locked eyes with her. Her breath stopped. This man was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen. There was something familiar about him. Beside her, the prince chuckled.
“I knew you’d like him. I’ve chosen this one for us tonight.” The prince’s eyes were consumed with red. He pointed and a couple guards grabbed the kneeling man and dragged him closer. He fought his captors. They stabbed him with a cattle prod. His jaw clenched; she jumped at seeing his pain.
“Stop that,” she yelled then slapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say it, but glad she had. No human should be treated that way whether they wanted the “punishment” or not. She had problems with BDSM that passed a certain pain threshold. How could people truly enjoy agony? She just didn’t understand.
The man was shoved to his knees in front of her forgotten tray of food. Air heaved in and out of his bedraggled body. The guard reached down, wrapped a fist in the man’s hair and yanked his head back.
Kari gasped.
Chapter Ten
Bryon knew he was no longer in the dank cell, but somewhere quiet and fragrant. He felt his body jerked around, but couldn’t control any part of himself. His eyes wouldn’t even open. The toxins in the water he drank were still too concentrated in his system. More needed to burn off before he could move of his own will.
His clothes were ripped off. Cold water and a scrub brush bit at his skin. He smelled floral and citrus scents. Soft hands rubbed warm oils over his chest, abs, legs, and under his balls.
He forced his eyes open to find himself on a concrete floor, a woman kneeling over him. She glanced at his open eyes but quickly looked away and continued rubbing oil on him. He tried to speak but wasn’t coordinated enough. He relaxed and closed his eyes. The hands on his beaten, aching muscles felt too good to ignore.
Next thing he knew, rough hands jerked him up. His legs barely held him standing and the men dragged, more than helped, him walk. A cold stick was jabbed into his side and a paralyzing shock constricted his muscles. His lungs froze and abs contracted, curling him into a partial ball.
When his body loosened, his strength was gone. They certainly knew how to handle a shifter. From the moment he drank the water, he’d been completely in their hands. Question was what were they going to do with him?
They entered a dark room with exotic music, and he was tossed to his knees. The smell of food made his stomach cramp. How many days had he gone without anything to eat? His wolf came to the forefront, ready to seize control. His arms tugged against the chains wrapping his wrists together behind him. ALFA policy and procedures strictly forbade shifting with humans around. But he wasn’t strong enough to hold back his other half.
Then another scent captured his attention. The most incredible scent he’d ever experienced. His wolf immediately knew what the smell meant. Bryon couldn’t think. Mate! Bryon didn’t understand. Mate? Here? In Cloustien?
His world was slowly spinning, although he wasn’t moving his body. There were several others in the room with him. He smelled them all and they were disgusting. Sex permeated the air. Seductive music played. He searched for that divine smell. Where did it come from? Then his ears picked up a voice. A soft voice that filled his heart with longing. What’s wrong with him?
The scent he longed for returned to him in full breaths. She was here, close to him. He could feel her presence, but he couldn’t move. He was so tired. Once again, rough hands grabbed his arms and dragged him forward. The cattle prod was again shoved into his side. He clenched his teeth together to fight the pain. Then it was gone.
He fell forward and hit his chin on the floor. But that pain was little compared to the wrench of his head being shoved back. Then there she was, right in front of him. Her eyes showed concern and compassion for him. Then widened to complete surprise. Did she know him? He’d never seen her before, and he’d been in the town for almost a year. He thought he would have seen her by now.
She was so beautiful, so perfect. Except she was sitting beside him. He had to get her away from that bastard before he hurt her. Suddenly, he was lifted from the ground and moved away from her. He struggled to get free, to get back to her. Then she was gone from his sight. Everything inside him died. He had to find her.
He was shuffled into another room and tossed onto something soft and welcoming. Cool, slick material rubbed against him. Unceremoniously, his loincloth was jerked off and he was kneeling again, but this time, his hands were chained straight up over his head. His knees sank into the same soft material he lay on.
Then the room was quiet. With one breath, he knew he was in the prince’s personal room. The stench filled his nose. He was finally able to lift his head and look around. He was chained to the ceiling in the middle of a huge bed overflowing with pillows. What the fuck was going on? What kind of weird shit was this asshole into?
Bryon shook his head trying to clear the fuzz, but it hung on. The door opened an
d her smell hit him. He breathed deeply. She was here. As well as that son of a bitch. Would that bastard ever go away?
The bed jostled. The prince was pulling the beautiful woman onto the bed. Seemed she was rather short or the bed high. Maybe both. The wolf in him growled. Nobody should touch their mate.
The prince looked at him and smiled. “Well, what is this? Sounds like we do have an animal inside, Mr. Day.” The wolf came closer to the surface. It wanted to be closer to their girl.
She looked at him then back at the prince. “His name is Day?”
“Yes,” the prince said. “Bryon Day, if my intelligence is correct. Isn’t he just scrumptious?” The prince reached over and ran his hand along Bryon’s crotch. There had been so little activity there for so long, he wasn’t sure there would be any response. Hopefully not to the prince’s touch, but hers . . .
“Here, my little schatzi.” The prince brought her hand up and placed it on Bryon’s chest. Her eyes locked with his. Controlled panic seeped from her pours, along with a hint of desire. Her hot touch crashed through him, zapping his nerve endings, sending his wolf into an ecstatic high. Something else was starting to go high also. The prince smiled. “Yes, that’s what we want.” Goddard moved back so the woman could kneel in front of him, only inches away.
He felt her heat, smelled her want growing. God, this was going to kill him. She pulled back, shaking her head.
“This isn’t right, Goddard. Can’t you see he’s in pain? Let him go. He can lie on the bed.”
He tugged on the chains, but his arm strength had yet to return. Yes, he’d lie on the bed with her. The prince forced her hand back onto his chest, pushing her close again. The touch was burned into his skin. His head dipped, his nose close to her hair. Sunshine and lemons. His most favorite smells as a child and now. Fresh, clean, uplifting. Warm.
She leaned against him, putting her mouth to his ear. “Play along,” she whispered then clamped her teeth on his earlobe. He growled from the slight pain. When she leaned back, her eyes begged him for something. What did that mean? She was playing, toying with him?