Enslaved by a King [Sold! 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (4 page)

Spellbound by the contrast of his shiny hair against the lavender of his skin, Noah forgot his worries and simply stared. He was still a little concerned about the state of his hygiene, and what being a shield was all about, but one thing he knew for certain was that he wasn’t going to tire of looking at his new master any time soon. With Hindur, the curiosity of a talking white tiger had faded pretty damn fast after he’d revealed his true nature, but with Mingor, there simply wouldn’t be a rude awakening.

Or maybe that was exactly what Mingor wanted him to think. Sadly, there wasn’t any way for Noah to be sure that the deal he’d made was really of his own free will. Noah had never considered himself heroic, so why would he suddenly sacrifice himself for hundreds of others? Sure, intellectually the idea of one for many seemed sound, but didn’t his survival instinct run far deeper than that?

“Noah?”

“What?”

“You seemed reconciled to your fate earlier, but now you seem deeply concerned. If there is anything you need for your comfort, you have but to ask.”

“I doubt there’s a drugstore anywhere around here.” Noah would leave off discussing his concerns with the creature he’d enslaved himself to. Sooner rather than later he’d know if he made a good trade or not. Still, anything—almost anything—had to be better than spending another day in Hindur’s care. He only wished he was a little more presentable. But then again, it didn’t seem that Mingor was interested in him in the least. Noah couldn’t decide if he was relieved or insulted.

“That word doesn’t translate that well. Are you looking to purchase chemical stimulants?”

“No.” Noah laughed. “I’m not a druggy. But I need personal items.”

“Are you injured?”

“Only my pride.” Noah laughed and then shook his head. Explaining to Mingor that he was disappointed he wasn’t interested in him wouldn’t go over well. “Never mind. I’m fine for now. I’m sure you will take good care of me.”

“I will.” Mingor closed his eyes. He seemed to settle into the seat.

Unsure if he was resting, or mentally conferring with the person driving the vehicle, Noah kept his mouth shut. And then, to his great surprise, he yawned. Now that he was away from Hindur, all his stress melted away and genuine peace again filled him. There was a world of unknown waiting for him on Thand, but he wasn’t overly concerned. Mingor wasn’t anything like Hindur. Besides, he’d discovered that since he’d sworn himself to the Thandling for the rest of his life, there really wasn’t anything for him to do until his master—his very beautiful and intriguing master—told him what to do.

“We have a ways to go to get to my transport, so you may sleep if you wish.” Mingor’s voice seemed very far away.

Noah was going to say something, but his sense of safety was so great he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep. He had no notion of how much time had passed when he woke up. He was still in the transport, but Mingor was gone. A shiver of panic made Noah turn and search desperately for him. If Mingor was gone, then already Noah wasn’t being a very good shield. Mingor could call it what he liked, but it seemed to Noah he was Mingor’s lifelong protector. His kind had a fancy word for it,
sephir
, but basically that was what Noah would do for him.

“Do not worry. I am here.” Mingor leaned into the transport and offered out his hand.

Noah found it odd that a man so much smaller than himself would offer him assistance, but then the remembrance of how good it felt to touch him came back, prompting Noah to take his hand. Just like last time, there was a spark of joy that deepened and seemed to saturate every cell in his body.

“Why is your touch so pleasurable to me?”

“I do not know. But yours is to me as well.”

That gave Noah back a little of his pride. He’d always thought he was attractive, but after the way Hindur’s pals treated him—as if he were only interesting to fuck because he was so ugly—he’d lost his self-confidence. After a very small amount of time in Mingor’s care, he was gaining it back. Carefully, holding Mingor’s hand but not putting any strain on him, Noah exited the transport to find himself in a massive room. “What is this place?”

“It is the cargo hold of my starship.”

Even when Noah strained to feel movement, he didn’t feel anything. For all he could tell, he was in some big room back on the planet. His attention fell off the room and onto his host. Mingor had the veil pushed off his head so that it fanned out over his shoulders like a cape. The headband encircled his beautiful gray hair.

“It’s not a headband, is it?”

“No.” A slight smile lifted the edge of Mingor’s lips.

“Who are you?”

“I am Mingor Faur.”

“No, I mean it’s obvious you aren’t just some gorgeous purple guy.” Noah looked at the golden crown. “Is that how you got all those beings to do your will?”

“No.”

“Your crown isn’t some kind of a tool?”

Mingor removed it from his head and handed it over to Noah. Just as he’d thought, the metal was soft and flexible. When he pushed against it, the surface gave easily, but then returned to its normal shape. It seemed heavier than it should be for its size, which meant the metal was very dense. Noah thought about putting it on his head, but then realized doing that would somehow be wrong. He handed it back.

Mingor put it on his head, and the metal molded itself to him.

“It’s made for you and you alone to wear.”

“Yes.”

Noah couldn’t help himself, he laughed. “You and your short answers.”

“What would you like to know?”

“How did you do that to those guys back there?”

“I already explained that to you.”

“Not in any way I could understand.”

“That is not my fault.” Mingor’s attention turned toward the far end of the cargo area. “Come. I will show you to our room.”

Noah fell into step beside Mingor.

“Hey, wait.” He stopped and looked around the cargo area. It was big yet they were the only two in the whole place. “Where is everyone?”

“Who?”

“The other Thandlings. Don’t you have a staff or a crew to run your starship?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it.” Noah laughed despite his annoyance. “You and your one-word answers.”

“Perhaps you should try asking questions that require more in-depth answers.”

“Is this a way of making me think before I speak?”

“Perhaps.” Mingor obviously tried to suppress his smirk, but failed.

“Well, at least you didn’t say
yes
.” Noah looked around at the cargo area again. “Where are all the other Thandlings?”

“I am the only Thandling on the ship.”

“You’re flying it without touching the controls?”

“No.”

Noah waited for more. When Mingor didn’t go on, he simply said, “Explain.”

“Despite the large size of the ship, it only takes a very small crew to handle things. The souls I hired are busy overseeing the various systems.” Mingor continued on his way out of the cargo area and into a hallway.

It was a little cramped, but Noah didn’t mind being close to Mingor. So far, his job as shield was pretty easy. “Hey, wait a minute.”

“You wish to stop again?”

“Not that.” They kept walking as Noah spoke. “I just don’t understand something. If you can do that mind trick thing, then why would you fear a physical attack?”

“I don’t.”

“But then why do you need a protector?”

There was a hesitation as the word was translated. “I did not claim you to protect me from a physical attack. You are to be my
sephir
.”

The word again translated to
shield
. “Please explain to me exactly what that word means.”

“Are you regretting our bargain?”

“No.” Noah shook his head. “I made a deal with you. I’ll keep my word.”

“Are you worried that the slaves were not freed?”

“Not at all. I know you kept your word to me.”

“Then what is wrong?”

“I don’t understand exactly what I’m supposed to do for you.” Noah thought Mingor all on his own was plenty powerful enough to take care of himself. Christ, maybe he’d only taken Noah for some arm candy or something like that.

Mingor kept on going down the hall to a large door that opened automatically when he approached it. He entered with Noah right behind him. Just like the transport they’d taken to the starship, this room was plush without being garish. Obviously, Mingor was exceedingly wealthy, which made sense if he wore a crown.

“Please, I would have you be completely comfortable before I explain.” Mingor moved over to the far side of the suite. “There are hygiene facilities in here.”

“Oh, you are a tricky one.”

“I am?” Mingor looked deeply concerned.

“Offering me the chance to clean up will certainly keep me from asking any more questions. At least for a while.”

“You have found me out.” Mingor smiled warmly. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

“Food?”

“Of course.” Mingor bowed and then turned away. “I shall endeavor to find out what you can safely consume.”

Before he went into the bathroom, Noah watched the way the robe clung to Mingor’s form. He was just a few inches shorter than Noah at six three, but he was easily a hundred pounds lighter. When Noah found himself wondering what he would look like without the robe, he went into the room and closed the door. He was here to protect Mingor, not hook up with him. The man was a king, so he probably had a stable of little purple ladies who couldn’t wait for him to get home.

Sighing, Noah considered the room. Like everything else he’d seen so far, this was luxurious, but not overly lavish. Understated. That was the word. Everything about Mingor and his possessions was understated. Maybe even
too
understated. Noah stood staring at the facilities having no idea how to use them. After a bit of visualizing, he managed to figure out and use the toilet, but he still couldn’t grasp the shower, tub, combo unit or whatever it was.

As best he could figure, he stood in the barrel and poured water over his head with the bucket. But there was no hole in the bottom of the barrel, the bucket was attached to the floor, and he didn’t see a spigot for the water. After standing there, pondering, he finally opened the door and discovered that Mingor was settled in a unit just like the one Noah was considering.

Since he was sitting down, all Noah could see was his upper body. He was so startlingly human that Noah found himself desperately curious about what his cock would look like. When Mingor dipped a tiny cup into the bucket and then poured that over his head, his gray hair turned dark charcoal and revealed there was no hair under his arm.

“Do you enjoy watching others bathe?” Mingor didn’t turn to look at Noah. Instead, he scooped up more water and poured it over his hair. Frankly, Noah couldn’t remember ever watching anyone bathe, but he was spellbound when Mingor did it.

“I didn’t know how to use the tub or whatever it is. I do now.” Noah turned away to give Mingor privacy but then turned back around. “How do I make the water come on?”

Rather than speak, Mingor stood, revealing that his body was very humanlike. He was hairless and his cock— “Whoa.”

“I do not know the meaning of that sound.”

“I uh…” Noah trailed off, unable to articulate as he looked at a perfectly human-looking cock that was easily as big as his own but lavender. The startling size and that wicked color combined made him utterly unable to look away. “Nothing. I’m just—you really don’t have to get up. I’ll figure it out.”

Noah was soft, but just looking at Mingor caused his cock to harden.
Not now
. He hadn’t had an erection since the night he’d been on the alien slave stage. Why in the world couldn’t his body behave? He was supposed to protect this guy, not get all warm for his form.

“Is there an issue with nudity for your species?” Mingor briskly dried his hair with a fluffy towel.

“No.” Noah turned around and tried not to look back. “I’ve been naked since I got here. I mean since I got out in space. I haven’t worn anything but a collar for so long I’m used to being naked.”
But I’m not used to babbling like a fool because Hindur would have backhanded me half a dozen times by now.
Noah left that part unspoken.

“I meant with my nudity.” Mingor’s voice was right behind him. “Is there an issue with you seeing me unclothed? I can endeavor to stay covered if there is.”

“Nope. You should do whatever you want to do. I’m just not used to you being purple.”
And now I sound like a moron
. “I mean I’m not used to naked purple guys.”
Oh, man, I’m making a total dork out of myself
. Noah struggled to gather his random thoughts together but failed miserably. All he could think about was licking Mingor’s purple prick and finding out exactly what he tasted like. For some utterly insane reason he kept thinking he would have the flavor of a purple Popsicle.

Just when he thought he was getting a handle on things, Mingor stepped past him and walked into the bathroom. He was still nude, but this time Noah got a good look as his lavender butt. His ass was high, tight, and perfectly formed.
I’m never going to survive
. Noah looked down and realized his prick was standing at attention, pointing toward Mingor as if to say,
him, that’s what I want
!