Page 18 of Somber Prince

He held me to him, firmly but gently. “Such is your purpose.”

“And your punishment,” General Oskura chimed in from the door.

I glanced her way briefly, but my awareness remained on Prince Rha’s arms holding me and the fact that I was topless. Other than the black ribbons circling my neck, arms, and under my breasts, I didn’t have a stitch of clothing above my waist.

What was worse, I’d just had the longest, most amazing orgasm, with the prince’s hand on my naked breast and a whole bunch of strangers in attendance. I desperately wished for the floor to part and swallow me whole. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Instead, my mortification boiled over with rage.

“Let me go.” I tried to shove the prince away, but it was like moving a wall.

“If I do that, you’ll fall,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I’ll carry you back to your room.”

He made a move to lift me into his arms, but I pressed my hands into his shoulders, pushing away from him as hard as I could. “No, not you. Anyone but you.”

His eyebrows moved closer together, forming a deep groove between them. Those golden eyes of his narrowed. The moment I made eye contact, however, he immediately glanced away.

“Fine,” he conceded. “General Oskura will take you back. Will that be acceptable to you?”

The general came forward. I nodded, and the prince backed away, letting the woman take me. Instead of simply helping me walk, she lifted me into a cradle hold with one arm under my shoulders and the other under my knees.

Before we could leave, however, the prince stopped us by lifting a hand in a regal gesture.

“What would you like for dinner tonight?” It took me a moment to realize he was asking me.

Was it supposed to be a joke?

“Are you serious?” I glared at him, but there was not a shadow of a smile on his lips.

“Yes.” He spoke as if it was a normal thing for us to get together for dinner.

I opened my mouth to say something snappy to decline, but then changed my mind. Since he asked, why not put an order in? The more ridiculous an order, the better, especially after the nasty, tasteless stuff they had served me for breakfast.

“All right. I’ll take a caprese salad, with shrimp cocktail as an appetizer. A filet mignon with balsamic reduction and truffle potatoes for the main course, and crème brûlée with fresh raspberries for dessert, paired with red wine, the best that you have.”

I flicked my wrist nonchalantly, as if ordering a meal like that was a normal occurrence for me. In reality, I’d never seen truffles in my life, and I’d only tried filet mignon once at a posh party I’d gone to with a guy I’d dated at some point.

The prince looked unfazed by my over-the-top demands, however.

“Have a good rest.” He tipped his head, letting the general take me away.

Chapter Seven

DAWN

Weak and trembling, I curled into myself the moment General Oskura placed me on my bed. I didn’t remember how she left my room or when I passed out. But I woke up thirsty and ravenously hungry.

Sitting up in bed, I tried to gather my bearings. The memories of the “fitting” assaulted me. I groaned, hugging my arms, but I couldn’t feel the harness under my palms.

Did I dream it all up?

Sitting up straighter, I inspected my left arm. Sadly, it hadn’t been a dream. The harness was there. Black ribbons of shimmering velvet circled each of my upper arms twice. One loop was above my elbow, the other one just below my shoulder. There was also a ribbon under my breasts around my chest. One would be around my neck, too, but I couldn’t see that one without a mirror.

I didn’t actually feel the ribbons either with my hands or on my skin. I scratched against the one on my arm, trying to get a finger under it, but it was no use. The ribbon had melted into my flesh to the point that it appeared painted on my skin now.

The golden-star rosettes twinkled in the yellow light from the glowing ceiling. When I twisted my arm, I felt a gentle press of the ornate metal filigree against my muscles. However, when I touched a star, I felt nothing but my skin.

“How do I get rid of it?” I muttered under my breath.

A food tray slipped under my door, snapping my attention to it. Sadly, it held only a water bag with not even a morsel of food.

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