Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (42 page)

“Lady Cassandra?” Saria asked when she received no response. Cassie blinked rapidly and turned to Saria.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. This slave reminds me of someone I once knew, and I was a bit shocked. That is all.” She offered a weak smile to the Queen as her eyes returned to the now-trembling slave beside her.
 

Timidly, he met her eyes, and it was there that the similarity ended. The slave’s eyes were soft and fearful. He possessed none of Michael’s self-confidence and determination. Cassie sighed inaudibly. The resemblance was simply uncanny.

“No need to apologize. Say the word, and he is yours for your stay—or even permanently,” Saria offered. “I would be delighted to gift you with him.” The slave stared at her expectantly.
 

Cassie swallowed, weighed the thought, and then shook her head.

“I thank you, but no. He is handsome and well-mannered, but my house is full at home, and you have provided me with ample male entertainment here. Thank you, Your Highness,” she said sincerely and smiled at Saria. The slave wore a disappointed look as he bowed and moved away, and Saria nodded with a pleasant expression. Her eyes drifted to the dancing men before her.

“Cassandra, when do you plan to return to Erla?” Lee asked.

“I have leave from my Queen to remain here for at least one week. Then, I shall take my Princess home to her mother,” Cassie said, winking at her friend.
 

A pretty slave came to Lee’s side and poured some Jul into her goblet. Lee pulled his head down for a long kiss.
 

Cassie had been sipping at her Jul carefully, mindful of the effects, but the passionate kiss between the two beside her sent chills through her abdomen.
 

Lee broke off the kiss and chanced to see Cassie’s face and laughed.

“I am surprised to see you drinking Jul, Cassie; you tend to leave it alone.” A lecherous grin lit her face and Cassie laughed.

“I usually do, but it is a special occasion, and the slaves I have been lent are very desirable!” Cassie started giggling. She was more than a little tipsy as she and Lee had consumed a great deal of wine before they began drinking the Jul.

“Lady Cassandra, I am going to bed now. Will I see you tomorrow?” Danai stood at her side, and Cassie rose to bow to her Princess. The little girl threw her arms around Cassie’s legs, causing Cassie to reach down and swing her up for a hug and a kiss.
 

Quinn appeared and bowed to Cassandra before taking his tired daughter in his arms and carrying her to bed.
 

Settling back into her chair, Cassie surveyed the crowd. As the children left, so did a great deal of inhibition. A tall, thickly muscled warrior appeared next to Cassie holding a gorgeous young slave by the arm.

“Lady, I am Hilda of the Queen’s guard. It would be my honor for you to use this slave for the night. He is young—only eighteen summers—but he is pretty and very willing to please.” The woman’s voice was gruff, and her face was lined with scars and wrinkles which made her appear slightly older than she was.
 

Hilda had a brusque, honest personality which Cassie respected immediately. The slave met Cassie’s eyes eagerly. All of his body language was screaming for her to accept, and since the Jul had begun its work, she nodded in assent.

“I thank you, Hilda. I am honored to receive such a kind offer. Will I see you on the training field the day after tomorrow?” The woman’s face broke into a bright smile that was incongruous with her rugged face.

“Yes, Commander. I look forward to sharing techniques with you!”

“I look forward to it myself,” Cassie said as she stood and clasped arms with the woman, appreciating the firmness of her grip. Hilda bowed and returned to her seat at a lower table, and Cassie eased her chair back from the table and motioned to the young man in front of her.
 

He was only a couple of inches taller than she was with sky-blue eyes and jet-black hair that hung freely on his shoulders. Youthful thinness clung to his hips, but he had most definitely been working out as his arms, shoulders, and abs all made clear. All in all, he was very sexy.

“What is your name?” she asked, taking a deep drink of Jul.

“Marcus, My Lady,” he answered. His eyes glanced up at her before immediately dropping back down. Cassie looked over at Saria who grinned and waggled her eyebrows, and then she looked at Lee who was leering at the young man and laughing softly.
 

The crowd was louder now. Women and men mingled as they laughed and talked. Clothes were becoming optional on the slaves present, and couples were finding dark corners in which to relieve some of their Jul-induced passions before returning to the celebration.

“Cassie, why don’t you unwrap your present and let’s have a look, shall we?” Lee asking, slurring her words a bit.

“Lee, you’re drunk!” Cassie laughed. It was suddenly hilarious that her friend was inebriated, and she found it rather difficult to curb her own laughter. Lee laughed right along with her as Saria looked on indulgently.

“Remove your clothes, Marcus.” Cassie grinned at him as his cheeks turned pink. The slave quickly obeyed and dropped his clothing to the floor. A murmur of appreciation sounded from the women close by as he stood naked in front of them. Cassie drank in his male beauty. She reached out and ran her hand down his belly to his manhood, stirring it to life with her touch. She looked up to see the want in his eyes.
 

Marcus was in awe of the warrior before him. Her reputation had preceded her, and she was incredibly beautiful. He knew that to be singled out like this would make him the envy of all of the other slaves tonight, and he was eager to be had by her.
 

Cassie crooked her finger, motioning him to lean down for her kiss and cupping his face with her hands as her lips met his in a toe-curling kiss, which left him gasping for air. Holding up her goblet, she bade him drink the Jul. She was interested in how it would affect him, and at her urging, he drained it.
 

Lee laughed.

“Cassie! Men do not often take Jul; you will spoil him!” She laughed as she ran her hand down Marcus’s thigh and took him in her hand, weighing and measuring his turgid member. “This is very nice indeed; Hilda has a jewel in this one.” Cassie motioned him into Lee’s lap, and the woman kissed him deeply. Lee’s hand played with him intimately before she broke the kiss and pushed him from her lap, laughing.

“Go to Lady Cassandra!” she said as she hiccupped and laughed.
 

Cassie had foolishly drained another goblet of Jul as she watched them, and feeling the effects acutely, she rose and took his hand, pulling him into a dark corner, which was blessedly hidden from view by a drapery.
 

Pushing Marcus down onto a chair, she straddled him. Her body was humming with desire and throbbing almost painfully. Their lips met, tongues clashed, and then she began gnawing on his full lower lip.
 

Cassie’s body ached, fire was raging through her belly, and she could not wait for any niceties as she quickly impaled herself on his thick member. They both moaned in pleasure. Now that she was familiar with Jul, she knew she had consumed just enough because every nerve ending in her body hummed with pleasure as his hands roamed her flesh, his teeth raking her sensitive nipples.

“Yes, Marcus!” she cried. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she slammed her body against his deep and hard. Their bodies strained together as he grasped her hips and thrust up to meet her. His clever fingers found her clit and worked it feverishly.
 

Cassie threw her head back and roared when she came, and Marcus’s final groans mingled with hers. She leaned her forehead against his as each fought to regain their breath. Sweat glistened on his bare flesh.
 

Sighing, she kissed him and swung her leg over to stand up. Marcus stood and swayed as his legs betrayed him, making Cassie laugh gently as he quickly went to get her a warm cloth. He cleaned her and then himself before they returned to the table.
 

Lee was grinning widely as she watched Cassie approach.

“How was he, Cass?” she asked before hiccupping loudly. Cassie laughed again.

“Fantastic! Care for a go?” she rejoined.
 

Lee’s smile widened as she rose. Marcus was feeling the effects of the Jul and knew he would have no problem satisfying the Queen’s Second, and he more-than-willingly took her hand as the other slaves watched him even more enviously than before.
 

Cassie collapsed into her seat, noticing that Saria’s chair was empty. Picking up her goblet, she sipped the Jul (slowly this time). Custom and good manners demanded she use all three of the slaves she was given tonight, and she knew she would surely need the Jul to accomplish this feat.

She stared into the pink depths of the cup; it truly was an amazing drink. Aside from the aphrodisiac qualities, it sensitized the skin to touch, magnifying and lengthening orgasms. As she smiled into her glass, she felt a presence next to her, and looking up, she met the eyes of the gorgeous slave who had been serving her so patiently all day.

“Mistress, how may we serve you?” Liam asked with desire shining in his eyes.
 

Cassie lifted the goblet and threw back the contents and felt it heat her insides immediately. Looking around the room, she saw that the revelers were not so careful about hiding their trysts now that the evening had progressed.

“That would depend on how inventive you can be,” she replied and grinned up at him. Liam’s eyes widened and then burned with a slow, seductive smile.

“I can do anything you wish, My Lady . . . and as often as you wish it done,” he said. Cassie’s brows flew up as he poured her more Jul. Dylan and Karl moved forward.

“It is our honor to give you all the pleasure you require, My Lady.” Dylan smiled at them as Lee and Marcus returned. Lee was glowing and seeking her slaves’ eyes. She was ready to go home and continue enjoying the results of the Jul she had consumed. The women toasted each other, drained another cup, and then bid each other good night.
 

Cassie motioned to the slaves who had been attending her and headed for her suite with them following eagerly in her wake.

XXVI

Cassie forced her eyes open with a groan as she disentangled herself from the naked limbs of the men piled upon her bed and staggered towards the bathroom.
 

Turning on the water faucets, she let the tub fill. Groaning again, she slid into the water until she was completely submerged—head and all. A moment later, she lifted her head from the water and wiped her eyes.
 

Her entire body was sore. She didn’t even want to think about the erotic activities which left her feeling all of these aches.
 

Jul
.
 

She had a feeling she would never learn. Sighing, she scrubbed herself and washed her hair before climbing out and drying herself off with a fluffy towel. The good part about Jul was the total lack of a hangover, and she was very grateful for that much.
 

Stretching, she walked back to her bedchamber and pulled out some riding clothes, knowing a good ride would clear her head. Cassie looked at the naked men on her bed and a ripple went through her belly as she remembered the intense pleasure they had provided for her the previous night.
 

It had been incredible on a purely sexual basis; the only thing missing was the love she had for her men.
 

Cassie sighed again as she laced up her boots and slipped out quietly, trying not to disturb them.

She found a Palace guard and asked the woman for directions to the stable and thanked her warmly as she bounded out towards her destination.
 

It was very quiet; most everyone who had been at the celebration was still sleeping it off.

Cassie saw Danai and Quinn standing at the stables. The little girl was requesting horses to be saddled for them.

“Saddle mine, please. Quinn, you may take the morning off. I will care for the Princess,” Cassie said. Danai whirled around, squealing and launched herself into Cassie’s arms.

“Cassie, are you really going to take me riding?” Danai’s excitement was contagious and Cassie grinned at her.

“Yes, I am, Quinn. I have her now. Thank you,” she said.

“Very well, Lady Cassandra. Good luck to you.” His eyes glinted mischievously. Cassie winked at him and settled Danai atop the horse the groom had brought forth.

“Thank you, Quinn,” Danai piped, blowing him a kiss that he caught and carried to his lips before he turned and went back to the Palace. Cassie handed Danai her reigns before mounting her own horse.

“I am happy to see you this morning, Cassie. Did you have fun last night?” Danai’s bright eyes sought Cassie.

“I did. Perhaps too much fun, though,” Cassie replied as she grinned at her.
 

Cassie set an easy pace as they moved out of town and into a beautiful green meadow. Field slaves stopped their work to look as the pair rode by, and Danai waved regally to the men as they stared and then bowed respectfully.
 

“Shall we let them run a bit?” Cassie asked.
 

Danai nodded vigorously. She was an excellent horsewoman even at her young age, and she enjoyed a fast gallop. They kicked their horses forward, flying across the fields and meadows. The wind tore their hair free from all restraints, and it flowed loosely behind them.
 

Danai shared her father’s dark hair, and her waist-length tresses were gorgeous as they flew in the wind. They wheeled the horses about and raced back towards town, laughing and challenging each other. The people they passed stared in wonder at the lovely pair as they flew past.
 

Cassie slowed their pace as they reached the city. She realized she felt much better after having gotten out for a bit.