Slaves of Love

by Carew, Opal

  He stroked her hair. “That is not how it will be between you and Keern. He will not hurt you.”

  She wrapped her arms around herself. “This afternoon, he wanted to hurt me.”

  “But he didn’t. He won’t hurt you.” He stroked her cheek. “Trust me. I’ve known him a long time. He is an honorable man.”

  She nodded, appreciating his reassurance, but uncomfortable with his nudity.

  “Now, let Gheni and me show you how it should be between a man and a woman.”

  He smiled and returned to Gheni. He knelt beside her and drew her into a warm embrace, kissing her tenderly. She curled her fingers through his hair and pressed her breasts against his chest. He eased her back onto the bed and climbed over her, then stroked her between her legs.

  “You’re ready for me, my love.”

  “Oh, yes. I’m very ready. Make love to me, Jakmerah. Let me sing with the stars.”

  He eased his cock inside her. Slowly. Shena watched the woman’s face as her tender smile turned to one of pure bliss.

  “Oh, Jakmerah, that feels so wonderful.”

  He pushed in all the way, then eased back and pushed forward again. Gheni moved to meet him. He thrust forward, drew back, thrust forward, drew back.

  Gheni’s breaths came faster, and she made little moans and sighs. Their volume increased as he quickened his pace.

  * * * * *

  Keern breathed deeply, sucking in the warm night air. He’d taken a long walk to try to clear his head, but he still didn’t know what to do about Shena. He’d been walking for hours. Time for some sleep, if sleep would have him.

  He entered the palace and strode to his suite. As he entered the sitting room, he heard some disturbing sounds. Sounds of pleasure. Coming from Shena’s room.

  What the hell?

  He strode to the door and flung it open. Shock chilled him as his friend Jakmerah happily fucked Keern’s woman.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Jakmerah didn’t even look up. He just kept pumping into Shena until she screamed loudly. In abandon and release.

  Keern strode across the room, ready to drag Jakmerah off her.

  Jakmerah eased away from Shena and whispered something in her ear. She rolled away and drew the covers tightly around herself, her tawny hair cascading over the white sheets.

  Jakmerah stood up, naked, his cock still hard and glistening with Shena’s moisture.

  Keern’s stomach contracted. He couldn’t decide whether to slug Jakmerah, or to throw up and then slug him.

  “Keern, you gave Shena to me, remember?”

  Keern’s fists clenched. “No, I didn’t.”

  “You asked me to take her off your hands.”

  “Darg’ra, I said I wouldn’t decide until tomorrow.”

  “Does that mean you’ve decided you want her?”

  “I didn’t want you to have her.”

  He stared at Shena’s naked shoulder, barely showing beyond the white sheets. He had blown it. Jakmerah had relieved her of her virginity. Keern wished he had it to do over. He wanted to be her first one. In fact, he wanted to be her only one. Ever.

  But it was too late now.

  “Keern, do you want Shena?”

  “Yes,” he hissed. “I want her.”

  Jakmerah gestured across the room. “Then have her. She’s still yours.”

  Keern jerked around to see Shena sitting beside another woman in the corner of the room.

  “What the hell?” Relief washed through him.

  “We were instructing her on how to please a man.”

  Keern seethed. She seemed willing enough to learn from Jakmerah. Keern had a feeling that as soon as Jakmerah had finished demonstrating lovemaking with another woman, he would have given Shena direct experience.

  “She doesn’t require any further instruction, thanks.”

  Jakmerah inclined his head. “As you wish.”

  The woman sitting beside Shena gathered the clothing strewn on the floor and followed Jakmerah and the other woman from the room. Keern slammed the door behind them.

  “Did you enjoy that?” he demanded of Shena.

  “It was very instructive.” She kept her head down.

  He remembered the fear in her eyes earlier and hated himself for it. No matter what she had done in the past, no matter what her part in Will’s death, he did not want her to fear him. In fact, he wanted her to look at him like she had that first day he’d met her. With wide-eyed innocence and pure adoration. Maybe it had been only a lie, but he longed for it again because at that time, he had believed she could love him.

  He tucked his hand under her chin and tipped it upward.

  His heart compressed when he saw the red puffiness of her eyes. She’d been crying.

  “Did Jakmerah force you to witness that?” he asked gently.

  “No, not exactly. He wanted to help me.”

  Keern’s insides churned. Wanted to help her fit in here, where her role would be one of concubine, of pleasing her man. Some man other than Keern.

  If Keern left her here.

  “You don’t have to learn those things, Shena.”

  “Then what do I have to learn, Keern?”

  He scowled. At himself, not her. Because he didn’t know what to tell her. “Never mind that for now. It’s late. We both need to sleep.”

  He stripped off his shirt and tossed it onto a chair. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to touch you. We’ll just sleep.” He dropped his trousers onto the floor, then climbed into bed.

  “No, I don’t think we’re just going to sleep,” she said, her voice strong with determination.

  “What?”

  Shena tugged open her gown and let it drop to the floor. The sight of her glorious, firm, round breasts sent his pulse skyrocketing. Her nipples were already swollen and rigid. Watching Jakmerah and his woman had obviously excited her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Shena wanted Keern, and she wanted him now. Whatever happened tomorrow or the next day didn’t matter. She needed him, even if she could only have him for tonight.

  Gheni, Dania, and Jakmerah had provided her with some powerful tools, and she intended to use them.

  He watched, his bronze eyes intent, as she climbed onto the foot of the bed and prowled toward him. Slowly, she dragged the covers from his body, noting with satisfaction his fully aroused state. She tucked her fingers into his underwear and eased them down ... slowly ... revealing by inches his enormous cock. She locked gazes with him and licked her lips, slid his briefs down his long, lean thighs, and tossed them over the end of the bed.

  Leaning over him, she lowered her mouth to the base of his erection and licked the length of his rigid cock, swirling her tongue around the ridge of the swollen tip. He sucked in a quick breath, but remained motionless.

  A tiny, clear drop of liquid oozed from the opening, and she captured it on the tip of her tongue. She cupped his chin in one hand while she parted his lips with her fingers, then swept her tongue into his mouth to share his taste with him.

  Still he didn’t move, so she took his hands in hers and guided them to her breasts, planting his palms on her hard, sensitive nipples. She sucked in a breath at the exquisite feel of his hot hands cupping her breasts.

  She eased one of his hands downward and tucked it into the intimate folds between her legs, then dipped his finger into the thick moistness pooling there. Pulling his damp finger to her mouth, she dragged her tongue along its length as she had his cock, then drew his finger inside and sucked with a rapid pulsing rhythm, as Dania had shown her. His breathing accelerated, but he still refused to react. So she dipped his finger into her dampness again and used his finger to circle her nipples, glazing each one with her own moisture, then leaned toward him, offering an erect pink bud to taste. He flicked out his tongue and lapped across her slippery, puckered nub, and she gasped, totally unprepared for the intensity of the feeling. He smiled.

  “You’re acting like
the most experienced whore I’ve ever met.”

  She tried to stop the scowl from overtaking her features, but it settled for a moment.

  “Don’t worry,” he continued, “I appreciate your efforts. I just ...”

  No! He was pulling away from her. She had to think fast. She slid her hands over her breasts and squeezed her nipples, satisfied at the gleam in his eyes as he watched her. She grasped his cock with both hands and pumped several times, then closed her lips around him and drew him as far inside as she could. Repeating the rapid pulsing rhythm she’d used earlier on his finger, she sucked on him, almost fainting at the heady feeling of his rock-hard cock in her mouth. She cupped her hands around his sac and kneaded gently.

  “Oh, God, why are you doing this?” His head fell back and he moaned.

  She sucked and sucked until, suddenly, he stilled her head.

  “No, I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

  She felt hurt and rejected, but determined not to give up. She licked his nipple and sucked sharply, then laved him with her tongue. She repeated the same treatment on his other nipple.

  “Shena, I can’t take much more.”

  “Make love to me, Keern. I want you so badly.”

  His eyebrows drew together, and the serious look on his face confused her.

  “You aren’t giving me much choice, are you?” He rolled her over and eased her onto her back.

  He held her pinned to the bed, his hands roaming free over her body. His mouth captured one slick nipple, and he began his own torture of her, his gaze spearing hers, suckling with determined precision, drawing a ragged moan from her.

  “Is this what you wanted?” he murmured between nipples.

  All she could do in response was nod, her head lolling freely back and forth.

  He stroked from her shoulder, over her breasts, down to her slick folds, and slipped a finger inside.

  “You certainly feel ready.” His gaze locked with hers. “Is this really what you want, Shena?”

  She nodded.

  “You don’t have to do this. I’ll take you back to Tarun if you want. Still a virgin.”

  She shook her head. “I want you to make love to me.”

  He slid the tip of his penis into her slick opening.

  She resisted the urge to tense up. She stared into his eyes, knowing she loved him, knowing he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “You’re sure? You’re not afraid?”

  “Not of you.”

  He captured her lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth at the same time as he eased the head of his cock inside her in a slow, even motion. Her muscles contracted around him. The feel of his hardness nudging into her felt deliriously pleasurable.

  He stopped. “Are you doing alright?”

  She nodded, keeping her breathing as steady as she could. He leaned down and captured her lips, then surged forward. She jerked and cried out, the sound muffled by his mouth. He gently stroked the inside of her lips as he continued to push forward, slowly, until she held his complete length inside her. He kept his body perfectly still, kissing her tenderly, allowing her body to get used to his rock-hard cock buried deep inside her. Her eyes drifted closed. She relaxed and shifted a little. The feel of his rigid length stretching her inner flesh swept away thoughts of pain and made her insides melt.

  He deepened the kiss. A sweet, tender, passionate kiss that took her breath away.

  She felt him pull back, and her eyelids sprang open. Was he stopping?

  He smiled at her astonished expression and pushed deep within her again. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t intend to stop now.”

  He pushed in again, a little faster this time. Then again.

  “All right, Shena?”

  “Yes.”

  He thrust forward again.

  “Oh, God, yes.”

  She arched to meet him. He thrust again and again, driving into her at a steadily increasing pace until all she could feel was the rhythm of their bodies joining, the pulsing beat of their hearts, the impact of their bodies as he led her to the edge of the precipice and threw them both off. Her world spun out of control, and her mind exploded in a starburst of ecstasy.

  She clung to him in quiet desperation as she spiraled back to reality, realizing she hadn’t allowed a safety net. She had allowed herself no protection for her heart.

  Shena awoke cradled in Keern’s arms, her head pressed against his broad chest, his slow and steady heartbeat sounding in her ear.

  He nuzzled her temple, his breath sending tremors along her neck.

  “You’re awake,” he murmured.

  Sunlight streamed in the window, shimmering across the white sheets. Night was over. Fear quaked through her. Now that morning had arrived, what would Keern decide to do with her? He had said he’d take her back to Tarun if she wanted, but would he stay, too?

  Did he still hate her?

  “Keern, I didn’t tell my father you stole my virginity.”

  He stroked her back. “Yes, I figured that out.”

  She turned to face him. “How?”

  “One clue was your absolute terror of losing your virginity. You made me believe it was an act the first time, but last time I knew you weren’t acting. Another was when you told me your father whipped you. The third was that you said your father would punish you if you lost your virginity. There is no way I would believe you would tell your father anything to give him reason to punish you.”

  He smiled at her.

  “You really do believe me?”

  He kissed her lightly. “Yes, I really do believe you.”

  Breathing came more easily, but tears pushed at her eyes. He pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her close against his chest. He kissed the top of her head.

  “Keern, I’m so sorry about your brother.”

  “Thank you.” He eased back and stroked her hair from her face. “I realize now you had nothing to do with Will’s death. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing. Shena, I killed your father.”

  He stared at her, his tarnished-bronze eyes dark with regret.

  She nodded. “I know.”

  She knew any other daughter would have been grief-stricken when she’d found out about her father’s death, but all Shena had felt inside was a cold emptiness.

  “You had to avenge your brother and protect your family.”

  “Do you forgive me?”

  She stroked his cheek. “Yes, of course.”

  He tugged her close again, melting the coldness inside her.

  “You deserved better than him, Shena. You deserved love and tenderness. You deserved to be cherished.” He kissed her on the lips, tenderly. “If you will allow me, I’d like to make up for what you didn’t have as a child. I would like to spend the rest of my life showing you how wonderful you are. I’d like to spend day and night loving you.”

  She stroked his cheek as tears spilled from her eyes. “Oh, Keern.”

  He kissed her neck, then tantalized with a trail of kisses sweeping down her chest. “I’ll start right now.”

  He captured her nipple in his mouth, laving it with his tongue, loving it with tenderness. It jutted forward. He licked the hard tip, then sucked deeply. She cried out at the intense feeling.

  “Do you want me to make love to you, Shena?”

  “Yes.”

  She arched to him, showing how much she wanted him. Her hand slid down his chest, then curled around his cock. Her fingers stroked the tip, and he twitched in her hand.

  He rolled her onto her back and licked one nipple, then the other, then dragged his tongue down her belly to her clitoris, which he dabbed at mercilessly.

  She pumped his cock.

  He smiled. “Do you want me inside you?”

  “Yes. Definitely, yes.”

  He slid his cock to her opening and eased forward in one long, smooth stroke. Her muscles clenched, holding him in a tight, welcoming embrace.

  He stayed like that, buried deep inside,
staring into her eyes. He brushed her mouth gently with his own, then nudged her lips open to slide his tongue inside. The effect of his rigid cock filling her, his gentle tongue caressing the walls of her mouth, and his hard male body pressed the length of her gave her a feeling of deep serenity. He owned her, he had complete control of her, but he would never abuse her or his power over her.

  “Keern, there’s something you should know.”

  His face tensed. “What is it?” he asked softly.

  “I love you.”

  The tight line of his mouth broadened into a totally devastating smile. He pulled back and thrust into her, making her gasp.

  “Do you?”

  She nodded. “I have since that first day, when you protected me from the soldiers at the pool. You were so strong and powerful, yet so loving. I had never known that any man could have such capacity for love.”

  He drew out, then slowly spiraled forward, making her dizzy with swirling pleasure.