Page 14 of Her Royal Master
His sexy grin was reward enough.“You may.”
I padded to the bathroom and stopped in the doorway.“Will I be allowed to leave your room today?”I asked casually over my shoulder.
“No.”
Damn.
“Would you mind grabbing my bag from Prince Kaspar’s room?”I wanted my laptop or phone to start taking notes.I also wanted to research every aspect of the Madison James story.
Of course, Darius was onto me.His eyes narrowed.“What do you need from it?”
“Um… just my toiletries, I guess.”Damn.Damn.Damn.
“All right.I’ll be back.”Shadow leaped to his feet as Darius neared the door.“Don’t leave this room.”
“I won’t,” I promised.But after I used the bathroom, I stood at the door in a t-shirt and pair of boxer shorts borrowed from Darius, having an internal debate about the wisdom of taking a peek outside.
Were the other girls still chained up?Or had their ‘masters’ been as kind and lenient underneath it all as mine had?Was this simply a game to all of them?It must be.
Marina certainly hadn’t even thought the BDSM worth mentioning.No, she probably just didn’t want to risk me turning the job down.
I turned the door’s handle and stepped into the corridor on bare feet, listening for any sounds of life.I heard none.Padding softly, I headed down the corridor.All the cabin doors were shut.The stairs to sunlight and fresh air beckoned me.I’d been cooped up in Darius’ cabin for nearly twenty hours.
I climbed the narrow steps, only to have a strong arm wrap around my waist and haul me back down.My back hit a hard, muscled body.When a hand wrapped around my throat, I whimpered.
“What did I tell you about leaving the room, princess?”Darius growled in my ear.
I clawed at the hand on my throat, even though his fingers weren’t closed and no real pressure was being applied.
“Hmm?”
“Darius,” I gasped, my vision starting to close in on me.“Please.I’m sorry.”
“Fuck, I love when you beg like that.Who owns you, baby?Who are you supposed to obey?”
He was turned on?By my begging?A hot flash of anger seared me, but right on its heels came lust.His desire called to mine, dragging me through my fear and into some strange realm where fear and passion mingled, making an exotic cocktail of endorphins and pheromones.
“You.”I trembled, my knees wobbling.
“Mmm hmm.”His lips brushed over the shell of my ear.The seduction in his voice made my pussy clench.“Now I’m going to have to punish you.”Yes, he definitely sounded excited.
Which excited me.I forced my breathing to slow.Even though I still wanted his hand off my neck, I understood there was no actual threat.He was toying with me, and my reaction turned him on.
How fucked up.And hot.
“Get back in my room.”He released me and gave me a playful slap on the ass, confirming it was all a game to him.
“Y-yes, sir.”My voice wobbled.
The duke picked up a plate of food and my cosmetic bag from the steps and followed me back to his room.
“Clothes off, princess.”The irony that he called meprincesswhen he was the royalty wasn’t lost on me.
As I stripped out of his clothing, he filled Shadow’s bowl with food and set it outside the door, banishing the dog from the room.
He sat on the edge of the bed and beckoned me over.“Come here, pretty girl.”The harshness I sometimes observed on his handsome face was gone, eyes dark with hunger as he watched me approach.
He likes me.
