Page 71 of Bred
He didn’t touch all of them — he stopped long enough to rub his fingers along one woman’s collarbone before moving away.
I overheard some of their conversation. A question about their families and where they came from. One woman laughed, but stopped herself at a sharp glance from Artin.
When he finally reached me, I looked up into his dark eyes before he had a chance to touch me or speak to me.
“A beauty,” he murmured. “What is your name?”
“Liana,” I replied quickly. I knew I should have looked away, but I couldn’t. “Before you ask, I don’t come from a good family, and my father doesn’t breed horses.”
His lips curved into a smile, and my stomach tightened. “What does he do?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. I never met him. And my mother died giving birth to me.”
The king glanced at Artin, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Where did you find this one?” he chuckled.
“She didn’t find me,” I answered for her, and the king looked at me in surprise.
“Indeed,” he said. His eyes were brown, dark, and rich, and I couldn’t look away even though I knew I should have.
My cheeks were warm and my heart thundered in my chest.
“Is she fertile?” he asked Artin as though I wasn’t even there.
“She is,” the brothel owner replied through clenched teeth. “A child would come as sure as spring if you were to take her.”
His hand came up to my jaw, and he stroked his fingers along it briefly before his gaze dropped to my breasts. His hand trailed down over my throat, pausing to caress the pulse that thundered there, and then down over the tops of my breasts, pushed even higher by the lacing of the gown.
His palm pressed against my breasts, and even through the fabric of the gown I could feel the heat of his hand. Desire flamed in my belly in an instant, and I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning aloud.
“Promising,” he murmured. “Have her made ready.”
Artin nodded. “Of course, Majesty.” She glanced at me and then at the other girls. “Any of the others?”
His hand was still on my breast, and I leaned forward slightly. “No,” he said. “Just her.”
“But, Majesty… would you not wish to have more opportunity—”
His hand slipped from my breast as he turned to Artin. “I have made my command.”
She averted her eyes and curtseyed as he passed by her. “Of course.” When she rose, Artin fixed me with a furious glare before gesturing to the servants, who waited for her instruction.
“Take her to the royal suite,” she hissed. “And be quick about it.”
My breath caught. Was it really so easy?
A servant took hold of my arm and pulled me away from the other young women. One of the tapestries was pulled back to reveal a hidden door, and I stumbled after the woman who held my arm.
Behind me, the room erupted and filled with outraged voices.
“Her? But I thought he would choose more of us—”
“My lady, shouldn’t there be more time—”
The door slammed shut behind us and I tripped on the stone steps as I tried to keep up with the servant’s quick pace.
“What— what happens now?” I choked out.
