All For One [Nuworld 3] (24 page)

home.”

“Oh shit,” she said, using an inaccurate word for the plush setting inside the trailer.

“I was hoping you’d think more of it than that.” Roth laughed and tapped her nose.

“We’re here only to get you and now we must keep moving to our destination. Geli?

Are you in here?”

Ana turned as a timid-looking woman not much older than she, entered the room

from wooden doors that appeared to open to a bedroom. Her attire was simple with a

long, pale brown dress that fell straight to her ankles. She wore shoes that looked like

they might be made out of tree leaves. Her coarse black hair was cut short just below

her ears. Her creamy white skin wrapped around a bony frame. She looked

malnourished.

“Geli will be your personal servant. She will provide anything you wish. She has

instructions to transform you during our day’s journey.”

“Transform me?” She looked from Geli, who kept her gaze respectfully on the floor,

up to Roth’s handsome face.

“Sweet lady,” he said stroking her chin. “Your beauty would have you noticed in

any tribe the second you left this trailer. No one on this side of the mountains has

golden curls and smoky eyes like you have. I’ll do nothing about your eyes, I couldn’t

bear to change them. But we will turn the rest of you into a lady of Barringswood tribe.”

He gestured to her body and hair as he spoke. “We’ll dye your hair a soft red, I think,

and there are several outfits for you to try on in the bedroom. Geli will style your hair

after it’s dried. Tonight, you’ll be a new woman.”

Ana felt excited and scared all at once.

Roth ignored Geli’s presence and placed his fingers on her chin to lift her face to his.

“I doubt we can make you more beautiful than you are right now, though.”

Ana felt his breath when he whispered into her face and his kiss burned her lips.

She gasped from the sensations she felt and then whimpered when he withdrew.

“Get to work, Geli.” Roth glanced at the servant then squeezed Ana’s hand and was

out the door.

“Mistress, we’ll start with your hair, if you like.” Geli curtsied slightly and kept her

head down as she moved toward another room, indicating Ana should follow.

Ana was surprised to see a large kitchen, designed completely in a pale yellow

wood. She ran her fingers along the top of the table admiring the golden-looking

woodwork. The surface was as hard and smooth as marble.

“What kind of wood is this?” she asked when Geli gently pressed against her back,

silently requesting Ana bend over a large sink. Geli had undone Ana’s braids and then

brushed her hair liberally. She’d wrapped a large cloth around Ana’s shoulders. And

now she poured delightfully warm water over her hair and prepared to wash it.

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“It’s buffed Woo wood.” Geli’s fingers worked magic on Ana’s scalp. “It grows so

hard from the salt in the water that they have to use a special knife to carve it.”

“Salt in water? They put salt in the water and it makes the trees hard?” Ana tried to

turn to look at Geli, but the young girl held her head firmly with her fingers.

It sounded like Geli stifled a giggle and Ana strained her eyes to see her. The mousy

woman literally cowered from Ana’s sight and began to wrap and squeeze the excess

water from her hair.

“The salt’s already in the water, Mistress.” Geli’s hands again massaged Ana’s hair

as she got ready to apply the dye.

“Do you have a mirror, Geli?” Ana lost all thoughts of salt in water. She suddenly

realized what was happening. Her blonde curls were going away. Syra had come home

with a style from the River People. She was beautiful and wore her unique hairstyle

with pride. It didn’t bother her to change the color of her hair but she wanted to see her

natural color one last time.

Geli wheeled a full-length mirror into Ana’s view. She couldn’t believe the intricate

carving surrounding the glass and reached to run her finger along it. “This is

incredible,” she whispered.

“The Seergoon tribe is known for their wood carving. That has their mark. I’m sure

it’s from there.” Geli focused on her task and didn’t look at the mirror.

Ana watched while Geli applied dye to her hair. She used a brush of sorts with

coarse bristles that tickled her scalp. The dye brought out every curl and wave in her

waist-length hair. Once the woman covered every bit of her hair she wrapped the cloth

that had been around Ana’s shoulders over her hair, then twisted it until it was secure

on her head.

“While the color sets, I can show you the outfits the Master brought for you.” Geli

finished washing her hands then gestured for Ana to follow.

The outfits stunned Ana as Geli presented them one at a time. The first was a gold

pantsuit. She slipped the leggings on first, which felt like silk against her skin and

boldly showed off her firm flat stomach and long muscular legs. Geli pushed the full-

length mirror into the bedroom so Ana could see how she looked.

“I can’t believe how beautiful it is.” Ana ran her hands up and down her hips. “It

will be even more beautiful with the blouse that goes with it.”

Ana reached to take her Runner jacket off, but Geli’s voice and shocked expression

stopped her.

“Oh no, Mistress.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Ana wondered if there might be a certain way she

should handle her jacket.

“A Barringswood doesn’t dress or undress themselves.”

Ana laughed with relief and reached to pull the long silky shirt off the hook it hung

on then held it up to her in front of the mirror. “I’m not a Barringswood.”

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“But you will be soon.” Geli smiled, but her smile faded quickly when Ana spun on

her.

“What did you say?” Ana was sure she hadn’t heard correctly.

“Mistress, I meant no harm. The Master didn’t say it was a secret. He told us all

before you arrived that we were picking up his new bride.”

* * * * *

Several hours later, Ana stood admiring the warm red curls that fell loosely down

her back. She’d decided on a black outfit that appeared to be the most conservative. It

was a skin-tight dress made out of material so soft and light she felt almost nude. The

collar came up high around her neck but the dress was sleeveless, which accentuated

her firm breasts. The hemline hugged her hips and curved inward down her legs.

The dress ended at her shins and Geli had stripped off Ana’s boots and slipped

narrow, black, laced sandals on her feet. A black jacket made out of a see-through

material but dark enough that it allowed her some modesty, finished off the outfit. The

sleeves on the jacket were long and narrow but the rest of it hung loosely to the floor

like a cape.

“You’re stunning, Mistress.” Geli stood back admiring her work with approval.

“The Master will be most pleased.”

A high-pitched beep sounded outside, and Ana turned curiously to the window

then looked at Geli.

“We’ve stopped now. I’d guess we’ve arrived at the Seergoon tribe. If I may leave,

Mistress, I’ll bring you your food.”

“Why don’t I go with you?”

Geli’s hands went to her mouth in disbelief. “Go with me?” she whispered in

horror. “I’d be whipped for sure.” She backed away from Ana and hurried out the door

quickly as if she feared being seen leaving with Ana.

This was going to take getting accustomed to. She didn’t know how to act in front

of Geli and wasn’t sure how much the woman knew about her. She stared into the

mirror again and spun around allowing herself to indulge in a little vanity. She was

beautiful, even with long red curls.

Ana glanced out a long window after some time had passed and Geli hadn’t

returned. She was surprised to see it was dark outside and her thoughts suddenly went

to her family. There was no doubt they’d know she was missing by now. Her stomach

tied into knots and her heart swelled to her throat and began pounding furiously. They

would conduct an extensive search, and she knew eventually they’d come looking this

direction for her.

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The thought that her papa might attack the Tree People in order to find her never

crossed her mind—until now. Oh Crator, would he do such a thing? Damn straight he

would. What about Andru? Would he tell them where she went? She knew he would

eventually, but would it be sooner or later?

Her heart raced when it occurred to her that she’d put Roth into danger. Did he

realize the risks in agreeing to take her with him? Certainly he did. She couldn’t allow

blood to be shed just because of her adventure. She loved Roth and wanted to be with

him, but she wouldn’t let her papa attack these people because of her.

She thought about finding her glider, and getting her landlink so she could send a

massage to Andru, when Geli returned. Strange aromas filled the trailer as the young

woman silently took covered dishes off a large tray and arranged them on the table in

the main room.

Ana walked slowly to the doorway to watch, not sure what behavior was expected

of her. Some of her fear subsided and was replaced by excitement when she noticed

Geli setting the table for two. The servant finished her work without a word and then

left the trailer after quickly curtsying in Ana’s direction. Ana walked slowly over to

peek at the food on the dishes when the trailer door opened again.

“Ana, look at you. Are you possibly more beautiful than before?” Roth reached for

her hand and began kissing her fingers, licking and sucking each one tenderly before

pulling her to him. He found her lips and kissed her savagely.

She gasped with delight as his mouth ravished hers and she reached on tiptoe to

wrap her arms around his neck. His hands moved up and down her skin-tight dress

and she felt incredibly exposed and at his mercy. The sensations sent fire through her

and a created liquid heat between her legs.

“Oh, Roth,” she moaned when his lips began traveling down her neck.

He lifted his head and smiled into her eyes. “I want you too, sweet Ana, but we

better eat this food before we forget ourselves.”

He pulled out a chair for her then served her before sitting and serving himself.

Once again, she found the food to be absolutely delicious but didn’t ask for an