Vampire Enslavement (Lords of Bondage) (31 page)

“Your people did this to me. Gave me the blue rot. I’ve gone two years with no intimacy, but a woman can only last so long without the touch of a male. I hoped that using the tongue would spare the bulk of the damage, but I was wrong.”

Peter didn’t care if the blue rot destroyed human warriors. Those were his enemies. But the man she had chosen was a helpless slave. Not his enemy. It hadn’t set well with him to see the blue rot used for such purpose. Especially when it was preventable. The Roman woman had chosen to do this to the slave, knowing that it would kill him. And she had done it for ten minutes of pleasure. “You have no compassion for your people.”

“He was a slave,” she said while wrinkling her nose in distaste. “He wasn’t even Roman. I care for my people. I love my family. But I cannot afford compassion. It’s a weak emotion and the weak always die.”

“I care for my people too. I don’t like what I must do to some of them. But I chose to work with you because I need easy coin.”

She ran her hands down both bountiful breasts, touching the soft white skin that bulged from her low cut bodice before trailing her fingers atop the material of her filmy gown. Peter could see the hard points of her nipples through the fabric and the sight made him uncomfortable.

“Peter, if it distresses you that I must take a human male for sex, please reconsider my offer of an extended partnership. I cannot give the blue rot to a hybrid.”

“I don’t care who you fuck, Mistress.” He wasn’t into humans like some of his kind. Once he had enough wealth acquired, he was going to mate with a proper Asstrumnian noblewoman. Hell, after this, he could probably win the hand of a Southwestern princess. None would look down on him any longer because he lacked a noble title. He was no lord of Asstrumnia, but he would be treated as one when this was over. “Give a thousand humans blue rot for all I care. But I won’t be your whore.”

The woman pouted. “You will change your mind, Peter. I am a patient woman. I will be here waiting.” She wiggled her hips restlessly in her chair. She sighed in a laborious manner and it was obvious that she did so to push her breasts out of her ill-fitting gown. “I was consort to one of your kind once and it was a satisfying arrangement. I would like to have that again.” Her eyes lowered to his crotch. “I would like to have that with you. I would make you a rich man.”

“I don’t wish a permanent arrangement. I’m in this for the short-term.” The guilt ate at him and made him question everything. He hadn’t thought he had a conscience but now it wouldn’t leave him alone. He wasn’t sure why he felt anything at all for his blood hybrid companions. They looked down on him. Their leader made it clear every day that he wasn’t wanted. The feeling was mutual. He didn’t like being around them, either. He wanted to go home but he wasn’t going back a poor male. No, if he returned now, he would be shunned by his own people. Shunned and despised because he had allowed himself to be captured by the enemy. Used by the enemy. But wealth opened doors. It erased sins. It was what he needed to start a new life for himself. The salacious Roman woman, Mistress Agrippa, was going to help him achieve it.

Chapter 20

The next morning’s meeting with Modez went the same as the day before. For Cassia. But when Modez sent Cassia back to her room with only a cursory examination, Kiera knew she wouldn’t get the same treatment. Modez pointed to the bed and insisted that she sit on the edge. She did as instructed, holding the skirt of her saffron tunic tightly to her hips.

“You’ve been steering clear of the other males like you were told, right?” He lifted the hem of her tunic and shoved it to her hips. “Spread them.”

As she displayed herself to Modez, Kiera felt a blast of heat go straight to her core. Her entire body flushed and she felt feverish and lightheaded. She had looked everywhere for her bag of wormwort but hadn’t found it. She hoped it was misplaced. She knew it wasn’t. She had missed crucial doses of the herb and her heat cycle was starting up again. She had tried to slip outside to gather more of the herbs but the guards hadn’t allowed her to leave the villa.

She waited for Modez to touch her again in that area that burned. She felt the weight of his stare while he perused her most private areas. His eyes lit with carnal interest and his breathing quickened. It made her feel she was being prepared for one of the slave auctions, or possibly for his personal use, but he made no move to touch her.

He kneeled on the floor beside the low lying bed to get a closer view of the area of interest. “You’re pinker than usual. But no stains.”

Kiera blushed as he commented on the state of her female parts. She wondered if he realized the changing colors had to do with the heat cycle. At the peak of her cycle, the color would deepen to a deep purplish red. “Can I go now?”

“Not yet.” He quickly stood up and said, “I need to examine your breasts.”

Kiera looked at him in shock. “What possible reason could you have for that request?” She held her arms protectively over her chest. “You want to look at me to stir your lusts.” She knew that was what they did to the palace harlots before engaging them in sex.

“It’s nothing I haven’t already seen. I need to check for staining. Some males are known to fuck females there. Between the breasts.”

“You’re a pig.” His crude language shocked her so it took a while for his meaning to penetrate her sluggish brain. “You said you’ve seen me before. When?”

“That night you passed out on the floor. I undressed you. Seamus was so moved by the sight of your naked flesh that he bit you.” His eyes momentarily veered to the floor. “At least I never lost my control.”

“Of course you didn’t.” Kiera rolled her eyes. “But Seamus. I can hardly believe it of him.”

His visage hardened. “Don’t get any ideas. The bite didn’t take and in the end, he was glad for it.”

Seamus would not have enjoyed being saddled with a mongrel. It would have been a horrible mismatch. She didn’t need Modez to point that out to her. “And you are such a perfect male.” Sarcasm laced her tone. “Why are you not breeding an equally perfect female? Why are you unmated? Is something wrong with you?”

“No. I simply have better things to do than beget progeny.” His hands went to the ties at the front of her tunic. “You’re still wearing that wretched binding material. Get rid of it before I cleave it in half like I did last time.”

Kiera put up a hand to stop him. She sensed he was going for his knife. “I’ll remove it. Turn around. I don’t want you watching me.”

“I’m not sure what difference it makes since I’ve seen pretty much all of you by now.” He turned his back to her anyway and Kiera swiftly removed the shift. He turned around as she was pulling the tunic past her hips. His fingers went to the ties, unlacing her tunic and spreading the material apart to reveal her breasts. She felt self-conscious as his eyes focused on the area he had revealed. She knew she didn’t look like other female hybrids and some males would not appreciate her differences.

His eyes dilated. “You’re beautiful, like that painting in the prince’s room.”

She knew the one. It contained a bunch of naked human females fawning over a creature that was half man and half horse.

He cupped one of her round globes with his hand and her nipple tightened in response. “This feels familiar. You feel familiar.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Kiera felt trapped.
He knew.
She wondered what he intended to do about it.

“I think you have some idea.” His hands cupped both breasts while he closed his eyes. She knew he was analyzing the feel of her and making comparisons. “I had an interesting talk with Cabrian. He shared some theories regarding the identity of the woman who fed from me. Shocking theories.” He opened his eyes to stare into hers. “I told him how ridiculous I thought his notions. But now I wonder if he didn’t have it right.”

Both hands fondled her breasts while Kiera tried to think of a way to extricate herself from this situation. She knew exactly where he was going with this but she wasn’t going to confess. Suddenly, he picked her up and positioned her on his lap. She was forced to straddle him. His hands slid over her breasts and down her back, finally reaching the curve of her hips.

“This certainly feels familiar. It is a strange coincidence that the invisible woman has your exact shape.” He leaned forward and put his head between her breasts. He inhaled deeply. “Your scent is familiar. So sweet.”

She knew what he implied. There were few hybrid females who possessed her likeness and fewer still who possessed her unique scent. “It’s naught but a coincidence. Stranger things have happened.” She would deny her involvement. He suspected her of the crime, but he could do little to her without proof.

His hands rocked her hips and Kiera felt the hard ridge of male flesh and she could not resist grinding against it. She really needed it right now. Needed to feel him inside her. They were separated only by his thin linen trousers and she wanted to rip them straight off his body. She needed to put an end to this, but how?

“This examination has gone on too long,” she said weakly. Her heart was pounding and she was short of breath. Her clit was tingling and she needed to come. Her hips moved wildly upon him and she couldn’t stop.

He was aware of the changes within her and it made him grin. “Missing your wormwort?”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

His hands tightened on her hips, trapping her in place. “Lord Ross found a bag of it in your satchel. Don’t bother to deny it. It’s quite obvious you’re going into heat.”

“No.” If she said it often enough, maybe they would both believe it.

He ground himself against her. “Yes, Kiera. Fuck yes.”

She moaned as the sensations built within her. She needed to convince him to end this because she doubted her ability to do so. She curled her fingers around his arms while his hands locked on her waist. “Surely we are done here.”

“I’m not done and I think you know it.” His voice was low and husky. He continued to press her against his clothed cock. “You remind me of the invisible woman. Would you like to know what I would do to her if I caught her?”

“No. It’s not my concern.”

His laugh was low and sensuous. “I think you’re more interested than you claim.” He fingered the pulse at her throat and said, “I would encircle her with a slave collar similar to the one she forced on me. Then I’d do what one does to a blood slave.” He bared his fangs at her and pushed her hips roughly against his loins. “Her punishment would serve as a warning to others of what happens to those who steal blood.”

She was certain his trousers were damp from her juices. What must he think of her?

His eyes lowered to her bared breasts and his fangs elongated. He was aroused and would demand sex from her.
Let him have it. It’ll feel incredible
.

That kind of thinking would get her in trouble. He’d use her and turn her over to the prince. “I say we are done with this,” she said as she placed her hands upon his shoulders and lifted herself a few inches from his lap. “I need to get back to work and I’m sure you have places you need to be.”

“It can wait.” He grabbed her hand and pushed it inside his trousers to cover his cock. “Touch it. Like you did before.” His voice was practically a growl.

Her hand encircled him loosely but she refused to apply any pressure to her hold. “I’ve never pleasured you, my lord. You are mistaken.”

He laughed. “You aren’t very convincing with your innocent act. Very well. Continue to deny what you did to me. Soon I will have the means to prove your guilt.”

He flipped her over and suddenly he was on top of her. He pushed the hem of her tunic to her waist and his hard length of flesh rubbed against her entrance. He must have released his cock from the confines of his trousers because she felt his bare, velvety flesh. She opened her mouth to protest but his tongue slipped inside, enveloping her mouth and effectively silencing her. She tentatively touched his tongue with hers. His taste was fresh and enticing. Her breasts flattened against his chest and her hips arched toward him involuntarily, seeking that male part of him that could provide her body with release. She ached between her legs and the need was so painful that she wanted to scream in frustration. She wanted him. Needed him. But she couldn’t let him inside or he would have one more piece of evidence to use against her. Already he had noticed the similarities she shared with the invisible woman. The sex would feel the same as well. She couldn’t risk it.

She broke the kiss. “We cannot do this. You don’t have permission to lay with me.”

“Fuck Diermont’s permission,” he growled. “You owe me.” He lowered his head and licked one of her nipples until it reddened from the attention. She felt the scrape of fangs against the underside of her soft globe, yet he didn’t feed from her. He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes. “I want you.” He pressed his head against her chest and inhaled deeply. “You’re receptive. I scent it.”

Of course she was receptive. She was nearing her heat cycle.

He positioned himself over her again and pressed his hard ridge of male flesh against her. “I’m not going to let you take any more wormwort. Imagine how you will be in a few days. You are already dying for it, needy little mongrel. Your pussy is wet, hot, and all mine.”

He was right. She was becoming desperate in an embarrassing way. “We mustn’t.” Her words lacked conviction and he knew it.

“I plan to give you pleasure,” he said to tempt her into conceding.

The feel of him made Kiera moan. “I will complain to the prince if you take me.”

“Then I would have to report your poor conduct to Diermont. I have enough evidence to bring forth against you, but I am willing to overlook your transgressions in exchange for your compliance.” His tongue circled her nipple. “I want to be inside you.”

“I don’t lay with males unless it is during a mating test.”

He lifted his head and met her violet orbs with his silver ones. “We both know that’s not true. You’ve done it at other times. Inappropriate times.”

He knew everything.
“No. I haven’t.”