In the Palace of Lazar (6 page)

"Have you ever
felt
a man before?"

She shook her head again and placed the tip of her tongue against his dick to sample.

"Have you ever
tasted
a man before?"

She shook her head, and looked into his eyes as she eased her mouth over his velvet tip, tasting the smooth skin, caressing his shaft with every pass of her hunger.

His low moan delighted her as she raised her mouth up and down his entire shaft. The salty taste, the musky scent, caused a heat between her legs that begged for satisfaction. She sucked, she licked, she did everything she could think of to please Donte.

As his cock pressed against the back of her throat, she looked up and made eye contact with him. His steely-blue eyes were such a contrast to his dark features. The intensity in his stare sent a shock wave of lust through her body.

He began to thrust his hips and drove his dick deeper, demanding she open wider for him. His breathing labored, his eyes closed, and he released a deep moan as his seed shot to the back of her mouth. Briar swallowed as quickly as she could, surprised by the liquid that surged into her throat. Seeing his pleasure gave Briar a sense of power she never had before.

His body quivered for a moment, and then he commanded, "Go lie on your back on my bed and spread your legs."

Briar rose from her kneeling position as quickly as she could. She wiped at her mouth, ridding the small drops of come that had escaped. When she reached his bed, she took in the elegance of the fabrics and pillows. Dark hues of purple and red cascaded over a bed larger than any she'd seen before. A canopy of sheer fabric cornered the four posts made of carved wood. Decadence engulfed this bed.

She crawled onto it and did as he asked. She spread her legs as wide as she could, allowing the air to waft across the moist skin of her bare pussy. Before she could lie there long, Donte crawled between her legs, the bed dipping beneath his weight, and placed his lips to her clit and kissed.

He paused after the simple, but delicious touch, and whispered, "Have you ever been kissed here before?"

Briar shook her head. Her voice had been stolen by lust.

He kissed again, but this time followed the kiss with a lick. His tongue circled the clit over and over. The mesmerizing act captured every breath Briar released. She moaned with every flick, she gasped with every sensual kiss, and she screamed when his finger pressed past the entrance of her pussy. He licked, he kissed, he sucked, and he thrust his finger until she could feel the building heat take over.

"Donte," she murmured. She wanted to say more but could only manage to say his name.

"Come for me, Briar. Allow the pleasure to consume your body."

His words were all it took to push her over the ledge. An orgasm shook her body to the point that colors blurred around her. A surge of passion took over her entire being.

As the orgasm gradually left her body, Donte flipped her body over so she was lying on her stomach. He crawled up beside her so his nude body pressed against hers. He pressed the palm of his hand against her sensitive behind and whispered, "Everything about you surprises me again and again."

The weight of Briar's eyelids, the comfort of the bed, the consuming orgasm, all aided in sleep taking over. As darkness washed over her, the heat of Donte's muscled body reminded her of whose bed she slept in.

It wasn't the sunlight peeking through the window, or the weight of Donte's arm draped over Briar that woke her from her slumber. It was the deep breathing against her ear. They had spent the night together. She rested beneath the safety and protection of Donte's embrace. Punished and pleased in the same night, and now rewarded by his morning presence.

"Good morning, Briar." Donte spoke her name with a soft intimacy.

"Good morning." She moved her body just enough so she could look into his eyes. His arm still shielded over her breasts. "I must have fallen asleep."

Donte smiled. The small wrinkles in the corner of his eyes gave him a boyish appearance she hadn't witnessed until now. His dominance, now replaced with softness, his authority, now replaced with ease.

"Tell me. What did you think of last night?" he asked, his voice husky from the night's sleep.

His question brought back the euphoric sensations of only a few hours prior. "Well…" She paused. "I think that after last night, I would much prefer to be punished by Mistress Krin." She giggled. "You lived up to your reputation. Or at least your hand did." She rubbed her tender bottom for emphasis.

Donte laughed, and rolled onto his back, releasing her of his embrace. "I was not aware there was a reputation."

Briar nodded, pleased that she was able to make him laugh so freely.

"I do have a question though," Briar said.

Donte stopped laughing and looked back at her. "And what is that?"

"Is the reason you didn't take me fully last night, because my virginity is to be saved for one of the brothers?"

A loud knock at the door had both of them jumping up in surprise. Donte swiftly pulled on his pants, leaving his dark-rippled chest bare. He smiled at Briar and directed, "Stay where you are." He walked to the door as fast as he dressed.

He opened the door, but stood in the doorway blocking Briar's view of who stood on the other side. The loud voice from the hallway surprised her in its urgency. "We just got word from the scout. It is as we feared."

"How many?" Donte asked. His spine stiffened against the door frame.

"Enough. More than we could handle."

"Start our plan in action."

"Sir, we did not take into account the sheer numbers."

Briar's heart skipped. She pulled the satin sheet up to shield her nudity. Something scared her about the concern in both the men's voices.

Donte nodded. "I understand that. But for now, move forward with the plan, and we will address the rest later." He closed the door and made his way back to the bed. "I am sorry you had to hear that."

"Is it Jaden?" Briar asked, not thinking that her question could be crossing a line.

Donte's eyebrow rose. "I am surprised your mind went straight to Jaden."

"Is it?"

Donte paused, studied her for a moment, and then nodded. "Yes."

"Are they coming to attack us?" Fear paralyzed her.

Donte walked over and kissed her cheek. "No need to worry."

Briar pulled away from the kiss and shook her head. "Please don't coddle me like a child. Is Jaden and its army coming here?"

He stood as a storm washed over his eyes. "It is not your concern."

"But I can help. I was there. I might have information that can help you prepare."

Donte pulled on a shirt and ran his hand though his tousled hair. "It is time you return to the harem." He walked to the door and looked over his shoulder. "I have matters I need to attend to. I am sure you can manage finding your way back." The door slammed behind him as fear roiled in her stomach.

Briar sensed his presence the moment he walked in. Donte—the man she hadn't been able to get out of her mind since she arrived at the harem—was staring at her as she did her morning exercise with Maysa. Up and down the courtyard stairs had become their usual routine. Maysa had lightheartedly informed Briar that a firm butt was a necessity. Briar didn't mind the climbing of stairs unless a larger than normal plug was planted firmly in her bottom. Regardless, she and Maysa never faltered from their habitual workout.

She picked up her pace a little, her emotions getting the best of her. There was something about him that made her heart beat faster, her core seemed to heat up, and she couldn't control her need to stare. She knew she was here for the brothers, but after last night, Briar wanted to give her body fully to Donte. As she watched him stride across the courtyard to where Mistress Krin stood, she nearly stumbled on her next step.

"Careful there," Maysa warned. "Why are you going so fast? The plug in my behind is demanding I take this a bit slower."

Briar watched the pained expression on her friend's face and giggled. She slowed her climb with a wink.

She couldn't help but stare at Donte as he discussed something that seemed of importance with Mistress Krin. Her gaze rested on the bulge in his pants. She wished she had been able to please him again this morning before he rushed off. She could almost taste the saltiness of his sex at the thought. The image of his cock, inches from her face, would forever be burned into her memories.

Swiping at her loose hair, her pulse sped as she glanced his way. Donte's steely eyes made contact with hers. He stood with his arms across his chest as he studied the way she marched up the steps. Never taking his eyes off her, he leaned and whispered something to Mistress Krin. He appeared… angry. Had she done something wrong?

He took large strides her way and stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Briar, I would like a word with you."

She stopped and made her way to where he stood, noticing that Maysa continued her climb, no doubt wanting to avoid Donte's wrath.

His boyish smile of the morning had gone. "Follow me." He turned and headed to the palace. Briar hesitated for a moment, but quickly followed step.

They entered a part of the palace she had never been in. Donte opened a large wooden door and motioned for her to enter. A quick scan of the room informed her they were not alone. Hovering by a large table were two uniformed men who had swords hanging from their sides. They appeared different than the guards she had seen around the palace. They scanned her body, making Briar grateful she wasn't nude. Her silks seemed see-through with their razor glares. Fear crowded in. She stopped walking and waited until Donte stood beside her.

His hand pressed firmly against her lower back, not giving her the reassuring feeling it once did. Something was wrong.

"We have some questions we need to ask you," Donte said evenly as he led her to a chair. "We want to know why you came to the Palace of Lazar," he continued.

She took a seat, desperately wanting to escape the men's stares. "I told you. I wanted something different from what most communes offered."

"Why did you leave the commune of Hope?" one of the uniformed men asked. Even though it was a question, it sounded as if it were an order.

Her heart stopped. She didn't want to talk about her past. She looked down at the ground. "It was over-crowded."

"So your family left?" the man continued.

Briar shook her head. Tears welled in the back of her eyes, but she willed herself to keep them at bay.

"You left alone?" the man pressed.

She nodded.

"So, you are saying that as a young woman, you left your birth commune all alone because you felt it was too crowded?" Briar hated the tone of this man's voice.

She nodded again, refusing to look at anyone.

The man walked over and slammed his hand on the table, causing Briar to jump in her seat. "Look at me when I speak to you!"

Donte closed in and pushed the man back. "Enough." His order was sharp, direct and unyielding. "Address the lady with respect."

The uniformed man glared at Briar, but walked to the other side of the table.

His suspicious eyes examined her closely as he spoke. "Hope is further than most men can journey. Tell me how a young girl, all alone, trekked her way through the desert and landed here."

Briar looked at Donte who nodded slightly, giving her the strength to answer. "I didn't have a choice." She took a breath, now feeling like a weight rested on her chest. "Hope reached capacity and began to evict the sick, weak, and old. I wasn't any of those, but my grandmother was. I couldn't allow an old woman to be cast to the desert alone. How would she survive? What would she do?" Briar swiped at a fleeing tear. "So I gave her my space in the commune. My chances of surviving the desert were greater than hers. I at least had a chance."

"So where did you go?" the man pressed.

Briar looked down at the ground but continued. "I traveled the desert for two days when I reached the commune of Luge. I stayed there for a few days and then journeyed to the commune of Salen." Briar looked up and met his stare. "I've been to twelve communes, with one goal. My final destination was the Palace of Lazar."

"What about Jaden? How long were you in Jaden?" He continued with the interrogation.

She looked at Donte who studied her every move. She remained silent.

"Answer the question," Donte encouraged.

"Why are you asking me these questions?"

The man slammed his hand on the table again. "Answer the question!"

Donte glared at the man. "I won't warn you again. You will not speak to her in any way but with respect!"

The man huffed, but acquiesced by sitting down.

She studied the interrogating man and realized what was happening. "You think I'm a spy for Jaden. They're getting ready to attack, and you think they sent me. Don't you?"

She looked up at Donte whose stare never wavered.

"You think I was sent here to help them take over. You don't believe my story. Do you?"

"I do not think a young woman could possibly travel the distance you claim. I also do not think it is possible that you could have survived the journey from even Jaden, let alone Hope," the man said with venom dripping from his voice.

Briar looked back at Donte. "What about you? Do you think Jaden sent me?" Panic almost paralyzed her. What would they do if they thought she was a spy? Would they kill her? Cast her out to the desert? What would happen if they didn't believe her story?

"How long were you in Jaden?" Donte asked.

"A week… a little over a week. I was there long enough to see that they were building their army. But I wasn't part of it. I swear!" Fear caused her voice to crack.

"Tell us what you know about Jaden," Donte ordered softly.

Briar watched each man as they studied every move and every word she released. She could tell they thought she knew more than she was letting on. She knew this was her only chance to convince them her actions were true.

"Every man and woman of strength were being turned to soldiers. Jaden was one of the few communes actively requesting new residents. The word spread fast in the other communes. Jaden became the destination of many pilgrimages. When I arrived, I soon saw that Jaden was no different than any other community. Over population, disease, hate, crime—just like the rest of them. But what Jaden had that the others didn't, was structure. The militant environment frightened me. Power hungry soldiers stood on every corner." She paused to take a deep breath. "Tents were being set up outside the city boundaries to house even more soldiers. Blacksmiths were brought in to create more weapons. I've never seen anything like it. Jaden was by far the largest commune I had seen."

"Did you ever see a water source?" Donte asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you see a lake? A river? A large well of some sorts? Where did the residents get their water?"

"There was a lake in the middle," she said. "There were large pumps coming from the lake, so I guess they got it from there."

Donte began to pace the room. "What type of weapons? What were the blacksmiths making?"

Briar pointed to the sword on the uniformed man's leg. "Swords like that one. It seemed that there were more weapons than food."

Donte's eyebrow rose. "Food? Was food scarce?"

Briar nodded. "Just like every other commune."