Page 1 of Her Royal Master
1
Day One
Chelsea
Naked, chained to a wall on the Prince of Halsburg’s yacht, I struggled to breathe.The other four girls bound near me giggled and flirted.Apparently they’d understood what they’d signed up for.Welcomed and enjoyed being stripped and put into bondage by a group of testosterone-laden young royals who had more interest in the silver platter of cocaine than the naked women strung up for them.
Me?I’d bitten off more than I could chew.In so many ways.I had no business being here.For one thing, I wasn’t a call girl like the rest of them.And I wasn’t here for the money, although five grand for three days’ worth of work had sounded amazing.
But now, I was pretty sure I was going to die.And if I did happen to survive this insane experience, I would probably come out so scarred, I’d be damaged goods for life.
One of the young prince’s party boy entourage fastened a collar around my neck.I jerked my head away, which brought a sharp slap across my face.He pinched my cheeks, scrunching my lips up.
“None of that, or you’ll get your first whipping.”His tone sounded cruel through the thick Austrinian accent, but he grinned as he twisted to look over his shoulder at his friends.This was all just a big game to the pretty boy young royals.“This one’s feisty.”I heard enthusiasm in his voice, like he relished putting me in my place.Big shot dom wanted to show off his skills to his playboy friends.
Jesus, fuck.What had I gotten myself into?
He tightened the collar, and I gagged against it.
“Too tight,” I choked.I had strangulation issues.Always had.When I was a kid, my brother knew my best tickle spot was my neck because I hated being touched there.So it’s possible the collar wasn’t too tight, and it was my own panic that made me hyperventilate, but knowing that didn’t help.
My vision tunneled as I fought for breath.Lights started to dance in front of my eyes.I yanked at the wrist cuffs pinned to the wall above the giant, room-sized orgy bed, but couldn’t twist my hands free.
Through my hazy vision, I saw a dark figure approach.
Oh God—not him.Anyone but him.
Darius, the prince’s older and disgraced cousin.The angry, tattooed black sheep of the Halsburg royal family.His brows were down in slashes, mouth firm, and his gaze was locked on me.
I squirmed harder against my bonds.Of all the wild party boys, Darius was the last one I wanted to piss off.He’d been charged with assault and battery on his girlfriend last year in a scandal that rocked the entire royal family and solidified the nickname he’d earned in his twenties—the Devil Duke.
He leaned over me.Lip curled in scorn, he slid a finger under my collar.“You’re not choking, princess.”For some reason, his accent was sexier than the rest of theirs.He unbuckled the collar anyway, and I went limp with relief.
“I’m taking this one.”He unclipped my wrist cuffs.
“What?”the prince called over the noise of boisterous laughter.“Where are you going?”
“I need a little private time with her.”
“Hell no!We want to watch,” one of them called in a stuffy British accent.
“Oh, come on,” another jeered.“We’re already short a girl, and Darius has to take one for himself?”
My heart slammed against my ribs.My head swam, and I was pretty sure I was close to cardiac arrest.
The duke pulled my wrists to lift me toward him, then angled his wide shoulder under me, tossing me upside down over it.
I shrieked, kicking, and his fingers tightened on my thigh as he strode out of the bedroom and into the tiny corridor.I swung my head around, catching a view of the expensive, wood-paneled walls and the duke’s muscled ass, which filled his worn designer European jeans in a way that ought to be illegal.The duke’s black dog, Shadow, trotted behind us, tail wagging, trying to lick my face, like it was a big game.
“Fucking dom wannabes,” I thought I heard Darius mutter before he kicked open a door at the end of the hallway, and I went flying onto a queen-sized bed in a small bedroom.
He shut the door, commanding his dog to stay outside, and folded his arms over his well-built chest.“Okay, little girl.Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing here?”
~.~
Six Hours Earlier
Chelsea
