Vampire Enslavement (Lords of Bondage) (32 page)

“You like to play games but this time I’m in control. Give in.”

“No, Modez.” She tried to back away from him even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. His weight pushed her into the mattress and his erection communicated his need to her.

“Still the resistant female even when you’re entering a heat cycle,” he said with exasperation in his voice. “I told you what I would do to you when I caught you. Surrender to me and I’ll go gently.”

“So convenient to decide I’m the one who took your blood.” She had to throw him off somehow, but he was definitely onto her.
He has no proof, so relax
. “Real convenient when it gives you justification to have your way with me.”

He nipped her on the shoulder. “The odds of two hybrid females going into a heat cycle prematurely are rather astronomical.”

She could deny she was going into heat, but he wouldn’t believe her because her body was showing obvious signs. It would only get worse from here on out. “Not true, my lord. For all we know, dozens of females could be cycling early. Maybe something in the environment is triggering it. I don’t know. But I assure you I’m not the only one.” Kiera would say anything to dissuade him from the truth.

With one brow cocked, he asked, “Really? Is that your best defense?”

Time to step this up. “Has anyone ever seen me turn invisible? I think not. It’s rather embarrassing just how little I can do compared to other hybrids. You’ve said so yourself on numerous occasions. I believe you said I was pathetic.”

Keeping her pinned beneath his big body invigorated him. “Lord Ross believes you are dangerous. He thinks you are more capable than you initially appear. He’s searching your things right now. If he finds the key that unlocks the slave collar around my neck, nobody will believe you innocent.”

Kiera forced her expression to remain calm despite the panic she felt inside. The key was hidden among her possessions. She should have disposed of that key. If Lord Ross managed to find it before she could get to it, she’d be in a shit storm of trouble. “It wasn’t me.” She thought briefly of confessing but couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She knew he wanted sex but she didn’t think it would be enough to appease him or prevent him from punishing her. Blood hybrids were ruthless when dealing out vengeance. Torture and imprisonment came to mind.

“So you say.” He was humoring her now. The evidence was damning. “Regardless of the identity of my assailant, you are still entering into a heat cycle. That gives me certain rights.” His smile was playful. “I intend to claim them. We can do this privately or publically.”

She was screwed either way. He meant to have her and it would be so much easier to submit. But then she remembered the prince and what he tended to do with ruined females. “I’m not yet fertile so you cannot take me.” Her hips wouldn’t stay still so she tried to maintain some control over them. Wriggling around underneath him was sending mixed signals.

He shifted her hips over his and said, “You think not?”

Oh, yes—that hit the spot. It feels so good. Shit, was she in heat? “This conversation is premature. I’ll not lay with you unless Diermont himself orders it. I’m not fool enough to refuse a royal decree but you are just a lord. ”

“I already have his permission, but of course he wants to watch. Do you want an audience when I take you?”

“No. Please don’t.” Diermont sometimes graded the performances in the dungeon. That was the rumor, anyway.

“I thought to spare you that. I’m the only eligible Halloran to breed you since the prince is mated, so you will lay with me. I could inform the prince of your condition. He will make a spectacle of it. Is that what you want?”

“No. I don’t want to do this publically.” It was bad enough what Diermont did during mating tests. Having the prince overseeing every aspect of her breeding during her heat cycle would be a hundred times worse. “I’ll lay with you when I’m in heat. I give you my word. But we don’t start this until I’m in heat.”

Some of his tension eased when she relented, although he remained impatient. “Why not now? I’ve a mind to try you out and the delay aggravates me.” He pressed against her opening, teasing her with the tip of his member and eliciting a moan from Kiera. “You’re receptive. It’s senseless to wait when you are ready.”

She was tempted to let him. She didn’t doubt he would give her pleasure, but what would come afterwards? There were too many unknowns and it made her reluctant. “The rights that you speak of concern reproduction. You can only assert those rights when I’m fertile.”

“I’m not sure you’re capable of reproducing. I just want to fuck you.” He trailed kisses down her neck and his hand covered her breast. “I want to sink into a sheath that can envelop my entire cock and clamp down hard on it. I want to feel the kind of sensation that one feels with a human sheath. I want to see if it’s the same with a mongrel.”

“Not all mongrels are alike. Some are essentially the same as other hybrids.”

“But you are different. I already know this because I’ve felt you with my hand.” He bit into the side of her neck with his fangs, causing her to gasp. “I want inside you. It would be better for you to accept me now so you can accustom yourself to me. I cannot promise to be gentle during the heat. You know what it does to the male. And the female.”

She had heard accounts of the violence associated with the heat cycle. It should have frightened her, but instead she felt something akin to eager anticipation. “I know. I’m sure the great Lord Halloran will exercise control when the time comes. I’ll try to do the same, but I’ll not lay with you until the law says I must.” She kissed him quickly on the jaw. Her fangs lengthened in response to his proximity. She wanted to bite him. Wanted to feed. “This thing between us is a distraction. I don’t have the time to entertain you.”

He touched his lips to hers briefly before lifting his body from hers. “Soon you’ll beg for my touch.”

Kiera could tell he was frustrated that she had refused him, but at least he wasn’t angry. The spoiled lord wasn’t used to being denied. He had been so persuasive. She couldn’t believe she had promised to give herself to him during the heat.

“We’re done here. For now.” He laced her tunic. “Stop binding your breasts. It cannot be good for them.” He collected her shift, rolled it up, and stuck it in his pocket. “You’re more endowed than most hybrids but Diermont will not suspect your human heritage as long as your mound is shaven. You may want to take care of it.” He licked his lips and said, “I prefer it natural but you never know when Diermont may insist on examining you himself.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He tied the laces at the top of her tunic and ran his hands down her covered breasts. Her nipples hardened against the fabric. Without her shift, she felt naked.

“Let me escort you to your room.” He took her arm and led her to the room she shared with Cabrian.

When he was gone, Kiera didn’t return to her chamber. Snotti had summoned her. She knew better than to think anything good would come from the summons.

When she got to Snotti’s chamber, she was pleased to see Druscilla. She hadn’t seen her friend in days. They greeted each other warmly. Druscilla wasn’t snubbing her this time. She noticed her friend looked despondent and she assumed it had to do with her failed mating test. She hadn’t been attached to Adonis but a failed mating was a disappointing blow to a female who needed a mate.

“I need your assistance, Kiera.” Snotti pointed to a chair and gestured for her to sit there. “You no longer serve me but you are a member of APS. Cassia Maximus is a problem that must be dealt with. I must find a way to get rid of that female. It is imperative that we find a way to save Lord Ross.”

“Lord Ross will kill me if anything happens to his slave, so I’m afraid my hands are tied.” Such a pity. Snotti made her want to puke. “I cannot do anything to help you.”

“Assist me or I’ll give you to Modez. I’ve been donating blood to him but nobody has seen to his other needs.” Snotti examined her painted blood red fingernails. “And let me tell you, they are pressing. His shaft grows hard every time he drinks from me.” Snotti popped a juicy red berry into her mouth and chewed. “It cannot be good for him to walk around with such a stiff organ.”

Kiera had never encountered a stiffer male piece. He had made it clear that she would be the one to relieve him of his condition. “Has Lord Halloran asked for me?”

“No. But when I mention your name, he doesn’t say much in response.” She bit into another piece of fruit, this one tubular and mustard in color, before she resumed talking. “I don’t think he’s disgusted by you any longer. He may find you acceptable. Especially as there are no good substitutes. There is Druscilla, of course, but the poor thing is frightened of Modez. I cannot say I blame her.”

Druscilla blanched. “Lord Halloran is a worthy lord and any woman would be proud to be his mate, but you couldn’t pay me to be his bed servant. I’ve heard he doesn’t care for the woman’s feelings and lets his masculine needs run rampant.”

Snotti snorted. “He has such disdain for the ladies of court and the whores don’t fare any better.” She brushed a stray black hair off her face. “You could say he is kind to Elsa. The other palace courtesans avoid him because he…is never satisfied with them. And he’s not nice about it when he finds a woman not to his liking.”

“It is a shame that such a virile male is a poor lover,” Druscilla said.

“Poor Druscilla has already been through so much with Adonis,” Snotti said to Kiera. “I’ll not subject her to Modez. That leaves you, Kiera. I have been planning on offering you to him for days now. But if you assist in ridding the villa of Cassia, I will choose another female.”

“I still cannot see how I could help you.” Snotti didn’t know that Kiera had already promised to lay with Modez. “Lord Ross made it clear that Cassia is not to be harmed.”

“You’ll think of a way. I want her out of the villa. Gone forever. Dead, if you can manage it. Make it look like an accident.” Snotti’s lips curled up into a smile that looked artificial. “I will give you a week. That’s enough time. Do not disappoint. If you accomplish this task for me, I’ll speak to Diermont about reinstating you as one of my ladies. You’ll be a serf no longer.”

Kiera didn’t trust Snotti. She sensed the woman lied about reinstating her. Once a serf, one generally remained a serf. Snotti wanted Kiera to do her dirty work and then she’d be blamed for it. Punished for it. Killed for it, more than likely. She wasn’t going to lift one finger to help Snotti with the APS project. “I cannot help you.” Snotti was noticeably angry. The princess turned her nose into the air and sighed in an overly dramatic fashion before storming out of the room.

Kiera turned to Druscilla. “How are things going for you?”

Druscilla bit her lip and her fingers drummed on the table. “I am okay. It didn’t work out with Adonis but there will be other opportunities.”

“Of course. The Season hasn’t even begun. When we return to the palace, there will be tons of balls to attend. Scores of them will be mating balls.” Druscilla would be issued invitations but Kiera knew that she would not. Serfs didn’t attend grand events.

“The princess has been putting pressure on me to do something about the Roman woman. But what can I do?” Druscilla frowned. “At least you have access to her. You’re sharing her room.”

“It’s not so simple. Lord Ross would make a formidable enemy. You should steer clear of the whole mess.” Kiera hoped Druscilla would take her advice. If something went wrong, Snotti would leave Druscilla high and dry. “The Roman woman is no threat. Lord Ross cannot mate with a hybrid female. Everyone knows all of his previous attempts have failed.”

“It’s hardly the point. If Lord Ross mates with a human, other noblemen will think to do the same.” Druscilla jumped from her chair and paced inside the spacious chamber, clearly agitated. “And those others are more than capable of mating with us. Some of them could be potential mates for us. But if they become interested in human females, none of us will stand a chance.”

Kiera was done with it all. That dream was dead and it was a relief to be free of that burden. “It’s not worth it. All this preoccupation with mating just leads to misery. For everyone involved.”

“You’ve lost your ambition.” Disappointment and disapproval showed on her face. “You used to want to be somebody. Now you’re content to fade into the background.” Druscilla opened the door and gestured for Kiera to walk with her. “I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket. If things don’t work out with Snotti, I’ll still have the prince. I’m cultivating some relationships that will help me advance my position. I suggest you do the same.”

“You want me to kiss Diermont’s ass?” Little good that would do.

“Not just the prince. There is Lord Halloran to consider. You could offer yourself to him. Maybe then he would treat you favorably.”

The very idea! What was her friend thinking? “Dru, you know his reputation. No woman can satisfy that man, sexually or otherwise. Elsa is his preferred courtesan. She is said to be favored because he does not criticize her services like he does the others. They say there is no real affection between them. Nothing of what you’d normally see between lovers. He treats her with bored indifference.” She wasn’t fool enough to think he would treat her any differently.

“I know he’s not one to show his appreciation, but he may feel it nonetheless.”

“He doesn’t like me.” Kiera didn’t think sex would soften his feelings toward her. She knew he experienced lust and physical desire. But he had no real preference for her. He only wanted to prove his power over her. She was just another conquest.

Kiera followed Druscilla out of the room. They spent time in the courtyard and Kiera was surprised by the number of warriors that approached. She wore the saffron tunic which signified her loss of status. She was easy prey for those males looking for a bed servant.

“Will you go into battle today?” Druscilla asked the circle of warriors that surrounded them.

“We battle every day,” Seamus boasted. “You should have seen the loot we brought back from the last place we visited. We found bars of gold as well as wheelbarrows full of precious gemstones. The place was loaded with goodies.”